COLUMBIA, Mo. — Led by Laurin Krings' no hitter, the University of Missouri softball team (27-20) edged Conference USA's North Texas (26-18), 1-0, Friday in its series opener at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.
Krings' no hitter and complete-game shutout featured a career-high 17 strikeouts. The junior from Loveland, Colorado, punched out 14 of the first 15 batters she faced, while she recorded the other out in the sequence on a sliding catch on a popped-up bunt.
For Krings, the no hitter was the third in her career at Mizzou (she compiled a perfect game on March 6, 2022). The no hitter was also the 46th in Missouri program history and the second of the 2023 campaign for the Tigers as Jordan Weber earned the feat on Feb. 18 at FIU in Miami, Florida.
As Krings led the Tigers from the circle, her battery mate, Julia Crenshaw, paced Mizzou at the dish, blasting a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the second to provide Mizzou a 1-0 advantage they wouldn't relinquish.
Payton Jackson and Maddie Gallagher each added hits for the Tigers Friday night.
Jackson smashed a triple in the bottom of the fourth and protected Krings' no hitter with consecutive flyouts from right field in the seventh.
GAME NOTES
Missouri will return to the diamond for game two of the series on Saturday at Mizzou Softball Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., CT with the game broadcasted on SEC Network+.
Saturday's game is All for Alex. All 13 SEC teams will participate in the third annual "All for Alex" weekend to honor the legacy of Mississippi State's Alex Wilcox. Wilcox was a member of the 2018 Mississippi State softball team who inspired the nation with her courageous fight against ovarian cancer. Mizzou will wear specialty teal jerseys to recognize her impact on the softball community nationwide and in the fight against ovarian cancer.
Sunday's 12 p.m. finale is Bark in the Park and Family Funday Sunday (postgame autographs and base running).
Krings' no hitter and complete-game shutout featured a career-high 17 strikeouts. The junior from Loveland, Colorado, punched out 14 of the first 15 batters she faced, while she recorded the other out in the sequence on a sliding catch on a popped-up bunt.
For Krings, the no hitter was the third in her career at Mizzou (she compiled a perfect game on March 6, 2022). The no hitter was also the 46th in Missouri program history and the second of the 2023 campaign for the Tigers as Jordan Weber earned the feat on Feb. 18 at FIU in Miami, Florida.
As Krings led the Tigers from the circle, her battery mate, Julia Crenshaw, paced Mizzou at the dish, blasting a solo shot to left field in the bottom of the second to provide Mizzou a 1-0 advantage they wouldn't relinquish.
Payton Jackson and Maddie Gallagher each added hits for the Tigers Friday night.
Jackson smashed a triple in the bottom of the fourth and protected Krings' no hitter with consecutive flyouts from right field in the seventh.
GAME NOTES
- Julia Crenshaw's solo home run Friday was her second in the last three games. Crenshaw posted her ninth dinger of the 2023 campaign. She has posted a hit in each of the last three contests and reached base in each of the last seven.
- Laurin Krings' 17 strikeouts set a new career high.
- The strikeout total ranks tied for fourth in Missouri program history with Chelsea Thomas (April 17, 2011, and April 16, 2011).
- Friday was Laurin Krings' second outing of the season with 10 or more strikeouts, and the third time she reached 14 or more strikeouts in her career.
- The no hitter for Laurin Krings was the third of her career (no hitter on 2/19/22, perfect game on 3/6/22) and the 46th no hitter in Missouri program history.
- Laurin Krings surpassed 100 strikeouts (114) for the third-straight season.
- Laurin Krings ranks 10th all-time in Mizzou program history with 421 career strikeouts behind Kristin Nottelmann (429, ninth, 2009-12).
- Alex Honnold extended her reached-base streak to 11 games with a walk in the sixth.
- Maddie Gallagher pushed her reach-base streak to 11 games (three-game hitting streak) with a walk and a single Friday.
Missouri will return to the diamond for game two of the series on Saturday at Mizzou Softball Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m., CT with the game broadcasted on SEC Network+.
Saturday's game is All for Alex. All 13 SEC teams will participate in the third annual "All for Alex" weekend to honor the legacy of Mississippi State's Alex Wilcox. Wilcox was a member of the 2018 Mississippi State softball team who inspired the nation with her courageous fight against ovarian cancer. Mizzou will wear specialty teal jerseys to recognize her impact on the softball community nationwide and in the fight against ovarian cancer.
Sunday's 12 p.m. finale is Bark in the Park and Family Funday Sunday (postgame autographs and base running).
