Missouri
No. 11 Seed 18/21 Ole Miss
No. 14 Seed Softball Opens SEC Tournament Tuesday against No. 11 Seed Ole Miss
5/5/2025 1:42:00 PM | Softball
COLUMBIA, Mo. – University of Missouri softball (25-30) will open the 2025 SEC Tournament this week in Athens, Georgia, as the No. 14 seed. The Tigers will play No. 11 seed Ole Miss (35-16) in the opening round Tuesday at Jack Turner Stadium.
MU earned the No. 14 seed with the tiebreaker over Auburn which was win-loss record versus the highest seeded common opponent (Texas A&M). Mizzou went 1-2 against Texas A&M while Auburn went 0-3.
First pitch for Tuesday's game is set for 35 minutes after game one (approximately 3 p.m., CT) between No. 12 seed Georgia and No. 13 seed Kentucky. That matchup is set for noon, CT Tuesday.
Mizzou's opening round matchup against Ole Miss will be live on SEC Network. Beth Mowins, Michele Smith, and Holly Rowe will be on the broadcast.
Fans can also listen to the game on the SEC Radio Network at Sirius XM channel 374.
The winner will advance to face No. 6 seeded Florida Wednesday at 4 p.m., CT.
Missouri is ranked 32nd in the latest NCAA RPI rankings. MU is also third for strength of schedule and fourth for toughest schedule.
SCHEDULE
- No. 14 Seed Missouri vs. No. 11 Seed (No. 17/19 ranked) Ole Miss | Tuesday, May 6 | First Pitch 35 minutes following game one at noon, CT (approximately 3 p.m., CT)
GAME 2 OF THE SEC TOURNAMENT
Location: Athens, Georgia (Jack Turner Stadium)
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Live Video: SEC Network
Game Notes: Mizzou
OLE MISS SERIES HISTORY
- Mizzou leads the all-time series with Ole Miss, 17-12.
- The two teams met this season in Oxford, Mississippi, March 30-31.
- The Tigers took the series finale, 9-5, after the Rebels took the series-opening doubleheader (1-0, 5-3 Ole Miss wins).
- Head coach Larissa Anderson is 8-9 in her coaching career against Ole Miss.
- The two teams also met in Mizzou's first 2024 SEC Tournament game with MU downing the Rebels, 3-1, on May 8 in Auburn, Alabama.
SEC TOURNAMENT HISTORY
- Mizzou is 11-10 all-time in the SEC Tournament (7-3 in the past three tournaments). Head coach Larissa Anderson is 8-5 over five NCAA Tournaments (2020 cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic).
- Seeded fifth, the Tigers went 3-1 in the 2024 SEC Tournament, advancing to the Championship Final.
- The Tigers opened their stay in Auburn, Alabama, at Jane B. Moore Field, with a 3-1 win over No. 13 Seed Ole Miss on May 8, 2024. Laurin Krings was efficient in the circle, allowing just one earned run on three hits to go with a walk on 79 pitches.
- Mizzou then edged No. 4 Seed (16/13) Arkansas, with a 3-1 win on May 10, after the game was suspended on May 9.
- Maddie Gallagher knocked a walk-off sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to propel the fifth seeded Tigers to the 2024 SEC Tournament Championship game, as Mizzou overcame eighth seeded No. 10/9 LSU, 2-1, in extra innings.
- Mizzou then fell to second seeded No. 8/7 Florida, 6-1, May 11 at Jane B. Moore Field in the 2024 SEC Tournament Championship game.
- Seniors Maddie Gallagher, Jenna Laird and Laurin Krings were named to the 2024 SEC Softball All-Tournament Team following the game.
- The Tigers highest seed in the SEC Tournament is third in both 2013 and 2014.
- Missouri has finished as the SEC Tournament runner-up three times in 2013 (three seed), 2022 (seven seed), and most recently 2024 (five seed).
MISSOURI AGAINST THE REST OF THE TOURNAMENT FIELD
- 1. Oklahoma (43-7, 17-7 SEC)
Oklahoma leads the all-time series with Mizzou 51-41. The two teams met in 2025 at Mizzou Softball Stadium where the Sooners took two of three games in the series. The Tigers beat the No. 1 ranked Sooners 3-1 in game two of the series. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 1-5 all-time versus Oklahoma.
- 2. Texas A&M (43-9, 16-7 SEC)
Texas A&M leads the all-time series with Missouri, 44-36. The two squads met in 2025 where the Tigers took one of three against the then No. 1 Aggies at Mizzou Softball Stadium. MU claimed it largest all-time victory over the nation's top team with a 9-1 run-rule win over Texas A&M in the series finale. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 8-4 against the Aggies.
- 3. Texas (45-9, 16-8 SEC)
The Tigers faced then No. 1 Texas in April this season at Mizzou Softball Stadium, falling to the Longhorns in all three games. Game three was pushed to eight innings where the Tigers were eventually bested, 3-1. The Longhorns lead the all-time series 21-20. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 0-4 in her career against Texas.
- 4. Tennessee (40-13, 14-17 SEC)
Tennessee leads the all-time series with Mizzou 15-8. The two teams didn't face off in 2025. The Vols swept MU in 2024 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 4-8 in her career against the Lady Vols.
- 5. Arkansas (38-11, 14-10 SEC)
MU leads the all-time series with Arkansas, 18-13. The two teams did not meet in 2025. Missouri took one of three in Fayetteville, Arkansas, during the 2024 regular season. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 6-5 against Arkansas.
- 6. Florida (43-13, 14-10 SEC)
Florida leads the all-time series with Mizzou, 19-8. In 2024, Missouri took two of three on the Gators in Columbia. Mizzou picked up its first series win over Florida since 2014 (April 25-27, 2-1). The two teams did not face each other in 2025. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 4-8 against the Gators in her career.
- 7. South Carolina (39-14, 13-11 SEC)
Mizzou is 17-9 versus South Carolina all-time. The Tigers did not face South Carolina in 2025. Mizzou swept South Carolina over the final regular-season series in Columbia, South Carolina, in 2024. Larissa Anderson is 11-4 against the Gamecocks in her coaching career.
- 8. Mississippi State (37-16, 13-11 SEC)
Mizzou leads the all-time series against the Bulldogs, 15-12. In Starkville, Mississippi, the Tigers took one of three games this season. Head coach Larissa Anderson is .500 (8-8) against Mississippi State.
- 9. LSU (40-13, 12-12 SEC)
The two Tigers did not face each other in the 2025 season. In the prior year's series, MU won its series with then No. 2/3 LSU, 2-1, March 22-24 in Columbia, Missouri. Missouri is 14-19 all-time against LSU. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 6-7 in her career against LSU.
- 10. Alabama (36-20, 12-12 SEC)
Alabama leads the all-time series with Mizzou, 23-11. In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Crimson Tide took all three games this season. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 3-11 against Alabama in her career.
- 12. Georgia (30-19, 7-16 SEC)
Georgia leads the all-time series 17-13 but Mizzou secured the series win, 2-1, to cap the 2025 regular-season this past weekend. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 7-8 against the Dogs.
- 13. Kentucky (29-22, 7-14 SEC)
The two teams faced off in the 2025 SEC opening series in Lexington, Kentucky. The Wildcats took all three games as Mizzou dropped to 12-16 in the all-time series against Kentucky. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 6-6 in her career against Kentucky.
- 15. Auburn (30-21, 6-18 SEC)
In 2025, these two teams did not meet. In the year prior, Mizzou took the series on Auburn, winning two of three over the Tigers' 2024 SEC Opening Weekend. Mizzou and Auburn are tied at 13-13 in the all-time series. Head coach Larissa Anderson is 5-6 against Auburn in her career.
GEORGIA RECAP
- Mizzou captured its first SEC series victory of the season, taking two of three on No. 24 Georgia to wrap the regular season. The Tigers took the opener, 4-2, before securing the series win with a 1-0 victory in the finale. The Dogs took game two, 3-2, to force the rubber match.
- Freshman Madison Uptegrove paced the Tigers over the series, batting .400 with two homers and a 1.600 slugging percentage (.625 on-base percentage). She notched home runs in consecutive games to conclude the series and now has five in 2025.
- Mya Dodge and Abbie Wilhelm connected on back-to-back home runs to power Mizzou past UGA in the opener. It marked the first back-to-back home run game for MU since Alex Honnold and Julia Crenshaw completed the feat against BYU on Feb. 23, 2023.
- Dodge, a senior from Hiawatha, Iowa, blasted a two-run pinch-hit homer to make the score, 3-2. The home run marked the second of the season for Dodge and the 36th in her collegiate career. She notched her second multi-RBI game of the season Thursday. The pinch hit home run was Mizzou's first since Megan Moll tallied one against Georgia on April 15, 2022.
- Wilhelm, a freshman from Lee's Summit, Missouri, followed suit with her first collegiate hit, a solo blast to right center. She started in all three games versus Georgia (four starts in 2025) at second base.
- Marissa McCann picked up the win in the circle in game one to improve to 10-11 in 2025 (3-7 in SEC). She registered a career-best matching seven strikeouts (second time in 2025), allowing just two earned runs on six hits over six innings.
- NCAA Division I active career saves leader Taylor Pannell picked up a pair of saves this weekend and now has 24 in her career (three in 2025).
- Cierra Harrison threw six scoreless innings for the Tigers in game two, her first scoreless outing since April 2 against Missouri State. She allowed just two hits with a strikeout Saturday to improve to 10-8 in 2025 (3-4 SEC).
- Senior Taylor Ebbs is currently on a 12-game reached base streak.
- Madison Walker is currently on a nine-game reached base streak.
- Mizzou celebrated the careers of seniors Taylor Ebbs, Julia Crenshaw, Mya Dodge, Kara Daly and Jayci Kruse following game two of the series on May 2. The five seniors also participated in Alternate Spring Graduation Sunday (May 4) ahead of the 2025 SEC Tournament.
RETURN OF CRENSHAW & DALY
- Seniors Julia Crenshaw and Kara Daly both returned to the field over the Texas A&M series after sustaining injuries against Mississippi State and Texas, respectively.
JULIA CRENSHAW
- Julia Crenshaw continues to pace the Tigers offensively, hitting .362 with a team-high 55 hits and 48 runs, 14 doubles, 14 homers, 32 RBI and seven stolen bases. She also paces MU with 16 multi-hit games to go with eight multi-RBI games.
- She owns a .730 slugging percentage and .495 on-base percentage this season. Her slugging percentage ranks seventh in MU single-season history.
- Crenshaw paced Mizzou in game two of the series at Alabama (April 26), going 2-for-3 offensively with four RBI over a career-best two home runs. The O'Fallon, Missouri, native, previously had two homers against BYU on Feb. 23, 2023.
- With the two home runs April 26, she now has a career-best 14 in 2025 (seven in SEC play in 2025) which surpasses her combined home run total of 13 over her first three seasons (1 in 2022, 9 in 2023, 3 in 2024, 27 in career) as a Tiger.
- She also now has five leadoff home runs in 2025.
- Crenshaw has drawn 37 walks this season, which ranks tied for seventh all-time for a single season at MU.
- She hit .400 in her return to the lineup over the Texas A&M series.
- Crenshaw ranks as one of the top catchers in the SEC. She is the second ranked catcher for batting average (.362), first ranked catcher for slugging percentage (.731) and third ranked catcher for on-base percentage (.495).
- Defensively, she is first in the SEC with nine runners caught stealing.
KARA DALY
- Kara Daly hit her 40th career home run on April 18 – a three-run shot in the first inning. The senior is tied for ninth in program history for career homers and has reached double-digit home runs for the third time in her career (10 in 2025).
- Daly is batting .264 with 35 RBI, nine multi-RBI games and nine multi-hit games. April 18's win over No. 1 Texas A&M marked her sixth game this season with at least three RBI.
- Daly has compiled 139 RBI in her career, tying Barb Wright (94-97) for 10th in Mizzou program history.
- She ranks eighth in the NCAA Division I active career leaders with 236 games played.
KAYLEY LENGER
- Junior Kayley Lenger had a personal best 3-for-3 day at the plate against SIUE. She also matched a personal-high two RBI to go with a home run, triple, run and a walk.
- Lenger hit .375 over the Texas A&M series with an .875 slugging percentage (.500 on-base percentage). She launched her career-best fourth home run of the season in game three against No. 1 Texas A&M.
- The center fielder has four multi-hit games and three multi-RBI games in 2025.
- She is hitting .319 (15-for-47) over her last 20 starts in center with a .617 slugging percentage (.439 on-base percentage) and eight RBI.
- The 2024 SEC All-Defensive Team selection (right field) has been stellar defensively this season, registering a .989 fielding percentage (1.000 in SEC play). She was featured fifth on SportsCenter's Top-10 for her diving catch against No. 1 Texas on April 5.
MADISON WALKER
- Madison Walker notched her 18th home run of the season (sixth in SEC play in 2025) in game two at Alabama on April 26. Walker, a sophomore from Olathe, Kansas, connected on a two-run homer in the sixth. She ranks third in the SEC for homers in 2025.
- She now sits alone at third all-time in the Mizzou single-season record books for home runs. Walker will move into tied for second with Kimberly Wert (19 in 2019) with another and can match the single-season record of 20 set by Amanda Renth (20 in 2008) with two.
- Walker finished April 26 at Alabama 2-for-3 with two RBI for her team-high 12th multi-RBI game and her 10th multi-hit game in 2025. Walker hit .556 over the series in Alabama.
- She is currently on a nine-game reached base streak and is batting .370 with three homers and nine RBI during the span. Walker is also slugging .704 (.433 on-base percentage) over her streak.
- Walker smashed her third grand slam of the season (third of career) in game one of the Tigers' series with Texas A&M and delivered a game-tying two-run single in game two. She hit .300 over the series with seven RBI and two homers.
- She launched home runs in consecutive games against South Dakota State and Princeton and has hit round trippers in back-to-back games three times this season.
- Walker has also notched two, two-homer games this season including most recently against Nebraska (March 2).
TAYLOR EBBS
- Taylor Ebbs registered a hit in all three games of the Alabama series and has reached base safely in 12 straight games.
- She knocked a solo blast in the series opener at Alabama. 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 April 25, going 2-for-3 with a walk for her 12th multi-hit game of the season.
- Over her current 12-game reached base streak, Ebbs is batting .355 with 11 hits, two doubles, three home runs and nine RBI for a .710 slugging percentage (.487 on-base percentage).
- Overall, she has a .293 batting average (.283 in SEC play), career-best matching 10 home runs, 31 RBI, 41 hits and 22 runs with eight doubles and a .579 slugging percentage. She is second on Mizzou with 10 multi-RBI games and 12 multi-hit games.
- Ebbs also has a career-best .393 on-base percentage over her senior campaign.
QUICK HITTERS
- Missouri is 25-30 overall and 6-18 in SEC heading into the 2025 SEC Tournament.
- Mizzou has nine ranked wins (six SEC ranked wins) this season, having taken down No. 20/21 Northwestern, No. 7/8 Duke, No. 16/18 Nebraska, No. 1/1 Oklahoma, No. 19/21 Ole Miss, No. 15/16 Mississippi State, No. 1/1 Texas A&M and No. 24 Georgia twice.
- Mizzou has two No. 1 ranked wins and has faced the top team in the country over three series this season.
- Missouri is ranked 32nd in the latest NCAA RPI rankings. MU is also third for strength of schedule and fourth for toughest schedule.
- Mizzou is fifth in the SEC with 71 home runs, which ranks tied for sixth in MU program history. The Tigers last had 67 or more homers in a season in 2011.
- The Tigers are outscoring opponents 61-38 in the first inning.
- Overall, Julia Crenshaw paces the Tigers offensively, hitting .362 with a team-high 55 hits and 48 runs, 14 doubles, 14 homers, 32 RBI, and seven stolen bases. She also paces MU with 16 multi-hit games to go with eight multi-RBI games.
- Crenshaw leads Mizzou in SEC play, batting .343 with 12 RBI, seven homers and a .731 slugging percentage.
- Defensively, Crenshaw, a senior catcher from O'Fallon, Missouri, is first in the league with nine runners caught stealing.
- Stefania Abruscato has recorded 15 doubles in the 2025 campaign (fourth in the SEC), which ranks 10th all-time for single season doubles at Mizzou. Crenshaw's 14 doubles in 2025 rank sixth in the SEC.
- Taylor Ebbs has a .293 batting average (.283 in SEC play), 10 home runs, eight doubles, 31 RBI and a .579 slugging percentage. She has reached base in 12 straight games. She is second on Mizzou with 10 multi-RBI games and 12 multi-hit games.
- Madison Walker leads Mizzou with 18 home runs (six in SEC play) and 48 RBI. She is slugging .580 this season. Walker is third in the SEC for home runs (18, 0.33/game, fifth in SEC). She is first on Mizzou with 12 multi-RBI games to go with 10 multi-hit games. Walker has reached base safely in nine-straight games.
- Marissa McCann ranks sixth in the SEC with 23 starts, seventh for innings pitched (143.0), seventh for appearances (34), 10th for strikeouts (110) and 14th for complete games (six). Cierra Harrison is third in the league with 24 starts.
- McCann surpassed 200 innings in her collegiate career and has pitched a career-high 143.0 innings over her sophomore campaign.
- NCAA Division I saves leader Taylor Pannell has 24 in her career. She surpassed 100 career innings and 100 career strikeouts over the MSU series. Her three saves in 2025 rank fifth in the SEC.
- Claire Cahalan has knocked three triples in 2025 to lead Mizzou. She and Crenshaw both went on a team-best 15-game reached base streak this season.
- Missouri sits second for sacrifice bunts in the SEC with 33.
- Kara Daly ranks eighth in the NCAA Division I active career leaders with 236 games played.
- Head coach Larissa Anderson picked up her 350th career win with a 10-3 victory over Duke on Feb. 8. Anderson was also inducted into the Gannon University (Erie, Pennsylvania) Athletics Hall of Fame that same day.
- Anderson signed an extension with Mizzou through 2028 over the fall.
- Mizzou is coming off an impressive 2024 that saw the Tigers earn a berth in the NCAA Tournament for the 17th consecutive year (27 total regional appearances). MU made its 10th Supers appearance in program history in 2024.
- The Tigers totaled 48 wins (48-14, 13-11 SEC) in 2024, their highest total in the program's SEC era and fourth most in program history. Missouri's 13 SEC wins in the 2024 campaign are the most since 15 in 2021.
- The Tigers return six starters from the 2024 NCAA Super Regional team including SEC All-Defensive right fielder Kayley Lenger, NFCA All-Region first baseman Abby Hay along with catcher Julia Crenshaw and third baseman Kara Daly.
- Mizzou added 10 newcomers including seven freshmen and three transfers for the 2025 season.
- Missouri returned the 11th best team ERA (2.03) in 2024 led by starters Cierra Harrison and Marissa McCann along with NCAA saves leader Taylor Pannell.
- Missouri ranked fourth in the NCAA in 2024 with an average attendance of 2,784. In the postseason, MU had the highest home attendance of Regionals (10,016) and Super Regionals (11,608, MU record). Mizzou set single-game (4,021, vs. Duke, May 26, 2024) and single-series attendance records over the postseason weekends.
ROAD WARRIORS
- The Tigers opened their 2025 campaign as the only NCAA Division I institution that competed in the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic, Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational Presented by EvoShield and Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic.
- MU returned home after spending 19 days in hotels and traveling a total of 6,986 miles across the country to start the 2025 campaign.
- Missouri is ranked 32nd in the latest NCAA RPI rankings. MU is also third for strength of schedule and fourth for toughest schedule.
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.
