Softball Drops Series Opener at No. 15/20 Alabama

Friday, April 25

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

6:30 p.m. CT

University of Missouri

23-27, 4-15

15/20 Alabama

33-18, 9-10

Missouri

Alabama

4/25/2025 10:14:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Final Statistics (PDF)

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – University of Missouri softball fell to No. 15/20 Alabama, 4-2, Friday evening in the series opener at Rhoads Stadium.

With the loss, MU moves to 23-27 in 2025 and 4-15 in SEC play.

The Crimson Tide jumped out to a 3-0 lead on a Brooke Ellestad three-run double in the first inning as Mizzou's late seventh-inning rally would come up short.

Taylor Ebbs responded with a solo blast to left field in the second. The home run marked her career-best matching 10th of the season (sixth in SEC play) and the 35th in her collegiate career. Ebbs matched her 2022 home run total of 10 while a freshman at Kentucky.

The senior from Keizer, Oregon, paced Mizzou at the plate Friday, going 2-for-3 with a walk. She has now reached safely in seven-straight games after her 12th multi-hit game of the season.

Alabama would get the run back with a home run from Audrey Vandagriff in the fifth.

Trailing 4-1 in the seventh, Julia Crenshaw connected on a double before scoring on a wild pitch to cut the deficit in half.

Crenshaw pushed her reached base streak to five games with her 14th double of the season. She is now one double away from joining Stefania Abruscato at 10th all-time for a Mizzou single season.

Madison Walker and Ebbs then put a pair of Tigers on with a base hit and a walk, respectively, before the late threat was dealt with by the Crimson Tide.

Walker finished 2-for-3 with a walk for her ninth multi-hit game of the season. She is currently on a four-game hitting streak.

Taylor Pannell made her second career SEC start following her personal-best 8.1-inning outing against Texas A&M on April 17. She allowed four earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts over 5.2 innings in the loss (5-7 in 2025) Friday.

Abby Hay and Kayley Lenger both drew walks Friday to extend their reached base streaks to five games.

Crenshaw also registered her SEC-leading eighth runner caught stealing.

UP NEXT

Mizzou next continues its SEC road series at No. 15/20 Alabama Saturday. First pitch at Rhoads Stadium is 8 p.m., CT in the primetime matchup on SEC Network.
Game three of the series is set for Sunday at 2 p.m., CT.
The Tigers then return home to face No. 24/24 Georgia, May 1-3 over Senior Weekend at Mizzou Softball Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m., CT on Thursday, 5 p.m., CT on Friday and 1 p.m., CT on Saturday.

FOLLOW THE TIGERS

For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouSoftball (X, Instagram, Facebook).
The Diamond Club is accepting new members. Email MAF@missouri.edu or call 573-882-0704 to join.
Join us in Expanding the Tradition of excellence in Mizzou Softball! This special initiative focuses on building a Rock M at the Mizzou Softball Stadium, a centerpiece of Tiger pride. The Rock M debuted this season at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.