Missouri Softball Falls to Baylor in Final Game of Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

The Tigers couldn't hold onto an early lead, as they drop their second game of the season on a seventh-inning walk-off.

No. 11/13 Missouri softball had already made its mark at various replica major league ballparks this weekend in Cathedral City, Ca. The Tigers (sort of) emulated the Bronx Bombers at Yankee Stadium and and were defensive monsters at Fenway Park. 

Unfortunately, in Missouri's matchup against Baylor at Wrigley Field, it exited as the cubs, as the Baylor Bears ended the night being the victorious animal, using a methodical comeback to end the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a 5-4 win. 

The Tigers started off the night strong — that wasn’t anything new for them, as they were used to either scoring in the first inning or first altogether. Missouri added to that total when Maddie Gallagher doubled home Jenna Laird in the top of the first 

It wasn’t too long until Missouri added onto its lead. Honnold and Julia Crenshaw hit back-to-back RBI singles to make it 3-0 Tigers. Crenshaw’s RBI single was especially encouraging considering how many times she’d come up short with runners on base in previous games. Even better, Crenshaw came through again the next inning with a runner on third. With two outs, she singled home Kayley Lenger. 

It seemed to be smooth sailing for the Tigers, especially with Cierra Harrison on the bump. Through the first three and two-thirds innings, Baylor was able to generate contact off of Harrison, but the contact wasn't very good. While she only struck out three batters, she only allowed two hits.

Unfortunately for Missouri, Harrison's groove was disrupted just as it looked like she was about to get out of another inning unscathed. After recording two quick outs, Harrison hit a batter, then allowed three consecutive singles that scored two runs. 

After the second run, Larissa Anderson pulled Harrison for Laurin Krings, who'd pitched a complete game against UCF just over 24 hours prior to Sunday night. Krings immediately quelled the storm, getting out of the inning in four pitches. 

However, that storm would soon return. Krings hadn't looked mortal for much of the season at all — even when she was, according to Anderson, gassed against Clemson. Baylor homered themselves right back into the game when Sydney Collazos hit a solo shot. The Bears tied the game when Leah Cran hit an RBI single; the runner who scored, Kaci West, got on base with a walk and advanced to third on a wild pitch. 

After Missouri went down 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh, Taylor Pannell relieved Krings with one out and a runner on first in the bottom half of the inning. Like Krings, Pannell hadn't been exploited often — that was, until tonight. Pannell allowed back-to-back singles, the latter of which won the game for Baylor.

Laird and Crenshaw led the Tigers at the plate with two hits apiece. Pannell took the loss, her first of the season. 

The Tigers won't be back in action until next week, when they travel to Lincoln, Ne. for the Big Red Invitational. Their first game will be against Wichita State on Saturday at 11 a.m., which is the first game of a doubleheader. Missouri will then play Nebraska at 4 p.m. CST. 

Missouri Softball Goes 2-0 on Day 2 of Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic