Missouri
0-1
Penn State
1-0
Softball Drops Doubleheader to Open NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic
2/6/2026 4:50:00 PM | Softball
The Tigers fell to Penn State 7-4 in 10 innings and Oregon 3-0.
Mizzou softball dropped its first two games of the season, as the Tigers opened at the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic on Friday, Feb. 6, at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla.
MU fell short in an extra-inning (10 innings) thriller, 7-4, against Penn State in the first leg of the doubleheader opener, before losing to No. 5 Oregon, 3-0.
Penn State 7, Mizzou 4 – 10 Innings
The Tigers and Nittany Lions would be in for a tightly contested game throughout, as there would be four ties and two lead changes within the 10-inning frame. MU would have four athletes who contributed RBIs in this one, as sophomore Madison Uptegrove would be the one to send into extras with a single up the middle to make it three all.
Penn State began extras with a sacrifice fly, and the Tigers would answer as the lone player to have a multi-hit game, senior Kayley Lenger, would single to center field and put the score at 4-4.
However, the Nittany Lions took the lead and extended it further with a single scoring the runner from second, followed by a two-run home run to deep left. That three-run inning would finalize the score as the Tigers dropped their season opener for the first time since 2023.
Freshman Sidney Forrester earned her first career hit in the first inning, as she singled through the right side.
Seniors Cierra Harrison and Courtney Donahue would each pitch five innings, as Harrison gave up three runs and Donahue gave up four in extra innings.
No. 5 Oregon 3, Mizzou 0
Senior Marissa McCann started the game off strong, throwing five scoreless innings and posting a complete game with three runs given up and striking out five.
The Tigers were unable to post a hit in this affair, as Oregon's Lyndsey Grein also went the distance, walking two and striking out 14 in seven innings.
Senior Emma Jackson and freshman Addy Waits both helped break up the perfect game by earning walks during the afternoon game.
GAME NOTES
- Freshmen Addy Waits, Sidney Forrester and Abby Hay earned their first career starts. Forrester collected her first career hit in the first inning of the game against Penn State.
NEXT UP
- Mizzou will continue the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic Saturday with a pair of games.
- The first of the two games will be against No. 21/23 Liberty on the MLB Network at 12 p.m. on Field eight at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
- MU continues the tournament with a game against BYU on Field three starting at 5 p.m.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
- For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouSoftball (X, Instagram, Facebook).
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Bridget Nemeth (1-0)
L: Donahue, Courtney (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Kirsten Finarelli 1 ; Natalie Lieto 1
3B: Michela Barbanente 1 ; Cara Bohner 1
HR: Allison Oneacre 1
RBI: Michela Barbanente 1 ; Brooke Klosowicz 1 ; Kirsten Finarelli 1 ; Natalie Lieto 1 ; Allison Oneacre 3
SH: Brooke Klosowicz 1 ; Natalie Lieto 1
SF: Allison Oneacre 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kaylie Walters 1 ; Michela Barbanente 2 ; Kirsten Finarelli 3 ; Allison Oneacre 1
Batting:
2B: Smith, Sophie 1
RBI: Uptegrove, Madison 1 ; Hay, Abby 1 ; Lenger, Kayley 1 ; Smith, Sophie 1
SH: Waits, Addy 1 ; Jackson, Emma 1
SF: Smith, Sophie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Abruscato, Stefania 1 ; Jackson, Emma 1 ; Uptegrove, Madison 2
HBP: Jackson, Emma 1
