MIAMI – The No. 23 Missouri Softball program (9-2) captured the 2023 FIU Panther Invitational Tournament Championship after they overcame Pittsburgh (6-3), 6-4, Sunday afternoon at Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium.
With the win, Mizzou extended its win streak to six games after a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Invitational.
Trailing 4-1, the Tigers scored five unanswered runs to complete the comeback.
Alex Honnold provided Missouri a 1-0 edge with a first-pitch homer to left center in the bottom of the first.
The Panthers responded with a four-run second frame to pull ahead, 4-1.
Kylie Griggs hit a RBI single before scoring on a RBI double from Yvonne Whaley.
Bailey Drapola then connected on a two-run home run to left.
The Tigers fought back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on two hits.
Addie Lange opened the inning with a walk before being lifted for pinch runner Kayley Lenger. Lenger advanced to second on a Maddie Snider base hit to left.
Honnold then ripped a double to left center to score Lenger and Snider to cut the deficit to one run (4-3).
Julia Crenshaw was plunked by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch as Honnold stole third.
Kara Daly then came aboard on a Panthers error, which brough Honnold home and evened the game at 4-4.
Crenshaw then scored on a wild pitch to put the Tigers up 5-4.
Missouri would increase the lead to 6-4 on a Jenna Laird RBI single to right. Lange would get hit by a pitch and head to second on a Snider base hit to set the table for Laird's knock.
Starter Laurin Krings improved to 3-0 in 2023. She let up four runs on eight hits with a walk to go with three strikeouts.
NOTES
With the win, Mizzou extended its win streak to six games after a perfect 5-0 weekend at the Invitational.
Trailing 4-1, the Tigers scored five unanswered runs to complete the comeback.
Alex Honnold provided Missouri a 1-0 edge with a first-pitch homer to left center in the bottom of the first.
The Panthers responded with a four-run second frame to pull ahead, 4-1.
Kylie Griggs hit a RBI single before scoring on a RBI double from Yvonne Whaley.
Bailey Drapola then connected on a two-run home run to left.
The Tigers fought back in the bottom of the fifth, scoring four runs on two hits.
Addie Lange opened the inning with a walk before being lifted for pinch runner Kayley Lenger. Lenger advanced to second on a Maddie Snider base hit to left.
Honnold then ripped a double to left center to score Lenger and Snider to cut the deficit to one run (4-3).
Julia Crenshaw was plunked by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch as Honnold stole third.
Kara Daly then came aboard on a Panthers error, which brough Honnold home and evened the game at 4-4.
Crenshaw then scored on a wild pitch to put the Tigers up 5-4.
Missouri would increase the lead to 6-4 on a Jenna Laird RBI single to right. Lange would get hit by a pitch and head to second on a Snider base hit to set the table for Laird's knock.
Starter Laurin Krings improved to 3-0 in 2023. She let up four runs on eight hits with a walk to go with three strikeouts.
NOTES
- Alex Honnold paced the Tigers with a season-best matching three hits (3-for-4, double and home run) with three RBI, two runs and a stolen base.
- For Alex Honnold, the homer is her third of the season which is a new career high. She previously had two in 2022.
- Maddie Snider registered a career-best matching two hits (2-for-3) with a run. She notched a hit in every Panther Invitational game this weekend and made six starts this week (UCF and Panther Invitational) in the outfield.
- Jenna Laird was 1-for-4 with a RBI.
- Maddie Snider, Julia Crenshaw, Addie Lange, and Kayley Lenger all scored in the win.
- Laurin Krings improved to 3-0 in the circle with the win. She is now 31-12 in her career at Missouri.
- Missouri picked up two wins over Pittsburgh, two wins over Butler, and a win over host, FIU, this weekend in Miami at the Panther Invitational.
- Sunday's game with Pittsburgh was shortened to six innings due to Missouri travel arrangements.
- The No. 23 Tigers next head to Palm Springs, California, for the Mary Nutter Cathedral City Collegiate Classic, its third non-conference tournament of the season. The Tigers will face Cal Poly, BYU, 19/24 Oregon State, 24/22 Oregon, and Long Beach State over the three-day tournament Feb. 23-25
