No. 7 Mizzou softball recovers, beats Indiana in NCAA Tournament elimination game (2024)

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri softball stayed alive.

The No. 7 Tigers beat Indiana 5-1 during an NCAA Tournament elimination game Saturday, bouncing back from a Friday defeat to maintain the possibility of advancing from a home regional in the postseason.

Mizzou’s bats found some consistent contact while primary starting pitcher Laurin Krings only allowed three hits in 6 1/3 innings of work. Closer Taylor Pannell finished out the game for the Tigers, though the four-run advantage she had when she entered the game means she did not pick up the save she needs to tie the NCAA single-season record for that metric.

The win gave MU a quick turnaround before it faced Washington in another elimination game Saturday night, 35 minutes after the end of its win over Indiana. Go to stltoday.com for coverage.

Leadoff double triggers hot start

After needing six innings to get a run on the board against Omaha on Friday, Missouri’s offense started much hotter, taking a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning.

Leadoff hitter Jenna Laird smacked the third pitch of the game past a diving outfielder for a double. Alex Honnold followed her onto the basepaths with a walk. After failing to convert that kind of situation — two runners on, no outs — into runs Friday, the Tigers rectified the matter with some help from Indiana.

Maddie Gallagher, MU’s third hitter, poked a dribbler toward IU pitcher Brianna Copeland. She mishandled the ball, and the Hoosiers subsequently fumbled the play at first base. Laird scored easily on the errors, Honnold advanced to third and Gallagher wound up on second.

Cleanup hitter Abby Hay brought Honnold home with a grounder, driving in Mizzou’s second run.

Though the Tigers welcomed the change in scoring pace, the first-frame opportunity could’ve been worth more. A baserunning mistake — something that cost MU in the loss to Omaha — saw Gallagher picked off third when she turned the corner too aggressively on Hay’s ground ball.

Mizzou had a chance to add more to its early tally in the second inning when designated player Stefania Absruscato reached on another ground ball that Indiana struggled to field cleanly. A bunt and single got her to third, but coach Larissa Anderson held her there on the latter hit, averting the risk of a throw to the plate — something that the Tigers fell victim to in the regional opener. After switching pitchers, the Hoosiers stranded Abruscato at third.

Timely defense boosts Krings

Indiana put a hit past Krings in the second inning as second baseman Aly VanBrandt pushed a two-out single into right center with a run-up swing. The Hoosiers tried to capitalize on their first baserunner of the game, but MU shut down that notion promptly.

When VanBrandt took off in an attempt to steal second, Missouri catcher Julia Crenshaw came out of her stance firing. Her throw won the race to the bag by a considerable margin, ending the second inning.

By catching the Hoosiers’ lone baserunner of the first four innings, the Tigers got outs from the first 12 Indiana players to step up to the plate, one way or another. Krings allowed just one hit and struck out only one batter during that span, relying on her defense. She helped herself with a bit of fielding work in the third inning, hustling out of the circle to grab a bunt, turn and toss it to first to end that frame.

A unique play on the basepaths also helped Mizzou. Indiana’s Alex Cooper singled to start the Hoosiers’ half of the fifth inning but ran into a ground ball during the next at-bat, leading to an unconventional out. IU got its first runner into scoring position during that inning but didn’t leverage the situation.

Late insurance

Mizzou added to its lead in the top of the sixth inning. Gallagher was hit by the first pitch of the frame and Hay tucked a curving line drive just inside the foul pole for a double.

Crenshaw loaded the bases with no outs, bunting in what could have been a squeeze situation — if Gallagher hadn’t stayed closer to third base out of caution.

With no outs, Indiana fielded a ground ball and wisely threw to home plate for a run-saving force out. Mizzou hit into an infield fly before IU’s Sophie Kleiman walked in the Tigers’ third run.

The lead-padding effort ended in confusing fashion. Crenshaw charged toward home to score on a passed ball, wrapping around the plate to touch it as she tried to avoid a tag. The tag missed but Crenshaw was called out despite touching the bag. Mizzou challenged the odd decision, but umpires upheld it — evidently ruling that Crenshaw stepped outside the basepaths in her effort to avoid contact with the catcher.

The Tigers scored again in the final inning. Laird singled, stole second, advanced to third off a Honnold hit and scored when Gallagher grounded out to short. Honnolrd scored from second on the next play, thanks to an RBI single from Hay.

Indiana busted Krings’ shutout bid in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run from Sarah Stone.

Who wants to play two?

The win set Missouri up for a quick turnaround, starting its next game just 35 minutes after the game against Indiana. The Tigers faced Washington (32-14, 13-10 Pac-12).

The Huskies beat the Hoosiers in a game full of late offense to open the tournament on Friday but succumbed to the developing Cinderella run of Omaha in Saturday’s first game. The Mavericks, fresh off an upset of Mizzou on Friday night, scored three runs in the fourth inning to sink Washington, winning 3-2.

Saturday’s doubleheader for the Tigers and Huskies was also an elimination game, given that both teams had one loss. That game’s victor will play Omaha on Sunday with a chance at advancing from the region.