Tiger softball looking to get on track in Mizzou Invitational
The season hasn’t gone to plan for the Missouri Tigers in the early going. The Tigers dropped to just 11-13, 0-3 SEC after getting swept in the opening series of conference play last weekend.
But starting last night, the Tigers have a chance to get on track as they play at home for the first time this year in the Mizzou Invitational.
“It’s the same situation, not putting all three facets together,” Missouri softball coach Larissa Anderson said. “I thought defensively, we played very well. That was kind of something that we’ve been addressing early on in the year. That defense was hurting us and our defense was great.”
The Tigers opened the Mizzou Invitational with a double-header sweep of South Dakota State (__) and Princeton (__) on the strength of ____.
Missouri will host Michigan at 5:30 p.m. today, Quinnipiac at 4 p.m. Saturday and Kansas City at 1:30 p.m. Sunday (in a rescheduled game after the home opener March 4 was snowed out and is not part of the invitational).
“I think the biggest thing is playing at home, I mean, we’ve only had three practices in our stadium,” Anderson said. “... we’ve played 24 games and they’ve all been on the road and being able to play in our own stadium, in our own locker room, having a real good home game routine, that’s exciting in itself. To bring Mizzou softball back into our home field and being able to get the atmosphere and the energy going. Then to be able to carry that into some of our conference opponents coming up.”
The Tigers have struggled in multiple facets early in the season, but in the series against Kentucky, the issues came from within the circle.
“The disappointing thing (in the Kentucky series) was our pitching staff this weekend,” Anderson said. “We were extremely strong last weekend (in the Shocker Invitational in Wichita from Feb. 28-through-March2) … We just left the ball over the heart of the plate, we didn’t get a lot of swings and misses and Kentucky is an unbelievable team. But I also know we have unbelievable pitchers and I expect a lot more out of them moving forward. We’ve got to be able to figure out how to get some batters out.”
Anderson said the issues came not with getting Strike 1, but what came after with the failure to execute out pitches when ahead in the count.
She said because of the promising outings the Tiger rotation had produced earlier in the season, she isn’t worried about them getting back on track.
But as the pitching has fallen into some struggles, the Tiger defense, which had been a major issue through the first couple of weeks, has improved greatly.
One big piece of that has been getting solid defensive play up the middle from senior Kara Daly, who initially struggled with her move from third to shortstop, but has figured out her new position.
“Extremely strong,” Anderson said of Daly’s play. “I mean, very, very consistent. She’s attacking the ball the way she would at third base and that’s what she needs to do to keep herself on time. … There isn’t a doubt that when the ball’s hit at her, that she’s going to make the play.”
And that improvement on defense has come with a continuation of a strong offensive presence up and down the lineup for a team that averaged 6.67 runs per game in its opening SEC series.
The Tigers are going into their own invitational hoping to get all three facets playing well at the same time and through two games, they have.
Stay up to date on all the Mizzou news with your premium subscription.
Talk about this story in the story thread and discuss so much more in The TigerWalk.
Make sure you're caught up on all the Tiger news and headlines.
Topics
-
Mizzou survives in SEC Tournament
It looked like the Tigers returned to form in most areas Thursday night as Mizzou beat Mississippi State.Yahoo Sports - 12h -
Arnold Palmer Invitational 2025 prize money: Full payout from $20-million purse
Here's a look at how the purse was paid out at the signature-event Arnold Palmer Invitational.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
'The fire has been stoked': Free Jacks looking forward to 2025 home opener in Quincy
After a 1-2 start, the Free Jacks hope to use their St. Patrick's Day home opener festival to get back on track.Yahoo Sports - 9h -
Rory: Tiger injury 'sucks,' hope he plays in 2026
Rory McIlroy doesn't believe golf fans will get to see Tiger Woods competing on the PGA Tour this season, but he said he wouldn't be surprised if the 15-time major champion attempts another comeback.ESPN - 1d -
Cape & Islands high school indoor track awards announced. Who made the All-Star team?
Take a look at the Cape & Islands boys and girls indoor track athletes for the winter season.Yahoo Sports - 8h -
High school track athlete facing battery charge after viral video of competitor hit with baton
A Virginia high school track athlete is facing a misdemeanor charge following a viral video of her at a meet where her competitor gets struck in the head with a baton.NBC News - 1d -
Rematch set. No. 4 Florida basketball gets chance for revenge vs Mizzou in SEC Tournament
Florida basketball will begin SEC Tournament play against a Missouri team that handed UF its lone home loss this seasonYahoo Sports - 12h -
Yahoo Sports AM: The SEC is chasing history
In today's edition: SEC supremacy, six more tickets punched, Yamal looks like Messi, the Cavs can't stop winning, Tiger gets surgery, photo finish, and more.Yahoo Sports - 2d -
Roki Sasaki's splitter already looks like one of the best pitches in baseball
Meet the pitch so weird it's giving MLB's pitch-tracking system problems.Yahoo Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
As the NWSL brings in foreign talent, international players savor new opportunity: ‘Everyone just goes for the win all the time’
A new NWSL season kicks off this weekend, and there are a number of new faces across the league. Many of these players represent a trend in the NWSL: an influx of foreign players as the U.S.-based ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Dallas governor Patrick Dumont on Doncic trade: 'This was a decision about the future'
Trading a 25-year-old Doncic for a 32-year-old Anthony Davis was about the future? Sure.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Free agent LB Eric Wilson leaves Packers to sign with Vikings
Free agent linebacker Eric Wilson is leaving the Packers to sign a two-year deal with the rival Vikings.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Panthers' Jaycee Horn speaks on being the highest-paid DB in NFL history
Jaycee Horn worked hard to get his record-breaking contract extension. And now, he wants to work even harder to get the Panthers some more wins.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Allen O’Donoghue: The Psychological Impact of Liverpool’s Champions League Exit
Mindset, Expectations, and the Weight of Defeat: Liverpool’s Champions League Exit and the Psychological Battle AheadLiverpool’s elimination from the Champions League at the hands of Paris Saint-G...Yahoo Sports - 18m
More in Sports
-
As the NWSL brings in foreign talent, international players savor new opportunity: ‘Everyone just goes for the win all the time’
A new NWSL season kicks off this weekend, and there are a number of new faces across the league. Many of these players represent a trend in the NWSL: an influx of foreign players as the U.S.-based ...Yahoo Sports - 13m -
Dallas governor Patrick Dumont on Doncic trade: 'This was a decision about the future'
Trading a 25-year-old Doncic for a 32-year-old Anthony Davis was about the future? Sure.Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Free agent LB Eric Wilson leaves Packers to sign with Vikings
Free agent linebacker Eric Wilson is leaving the Packers to sign a two-year deal with the rival Vikings.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Panthers' Jaycee Horn speaks on being the highest-paid DB in NFL history
Jaycee Horn worked hard to get his record-breaking contract extension. And now, he wants to work even harder to get the Panthers some more wins.Yahoo Sports - 17m -
Manchester City vs Brighton and Hove Albion (Premier League): Match Preview, Team News, Stats, Head to Head, How to Watch
Manchester City return to action back at the Etihad Stadium against Brighton & Hove Albion this weekend in the last fixture before the March international break.Pep Guardiola and his players are ...Yahoo Sports - 18m