Softball Falls Short in Game One to No. 8/9 Tennessee

Thursday, April 30

Columbia, Mo.

6 p.m.

Missouri

27-27, 8-14

Tennessee

41-8, 15-7

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Tennessee	0	0	0	0	2	1	0	3	10	1
Missouri	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	2

Junior Stefania Abruscato hits her eighth home run of the year against Tennessee

Softball Falls Short in Game One to No. 8/9 Tennessee

4/30/2026 9:58:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

Junior Stefania Abruscato provided the lone run for the Tigers, as they drop back to .500 at 27-27 overall.

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou softball (27-27, 8-14 SEC) fell to No. 8/9 Tennessee (41-8, 15-7 SEC) 3-1 on Thursday, April 30, at Mizzou Softball Stadium.

Junior Stefania Abruscato recorded her ninth home run of the season, as she launched one to right-center in the sixth inning. Starting pitcher Cierra Harrison picked up the loss and moved to 10-11 after throwing five innings and allowing just two earned runs while striking out four.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Mizzou found itself in an early jam following a rain delay in the first inning. However, the Lady Vols' threat was extinguished with the help of a putout from Abruscato, as she threw out the advancing Tennessee runner at second after she tried to extend her one-out single.

On the offensive side, early patience at the plate paid off with three walks. That patience helped Missouri force a pitching change early. However, the Tigers couldn't capitalize on the opportunity, leaving the game scoreless heading to the second.

The Tigers rallied in the third inning after a single by freshman Abby Carr and a walk by Abruscato. Once again, the Black & Gold came up short in the runs column after a double play and a groundout ended the inning.

In the top half of the fifth, Tennessee broke the tie with a two-run single. The Lady Vols scored another one at the top of the sixth, as they hit a home run to take a 3-0 lead. They would threaten again in the inning, as they put together back-to-back singles. With those two runners on, Harrison's day came to an end, as she went five innings, allowing just two earned runs. In her place was Carr, who stranded the runners with the help of a double play at third base.

Mizzou was able to get on the board in the bottom half of the same inning, as Abruscato launched one to right center for her ninth home run of the season.

In the final inning, the Tigers were able to get two runners in scoring position, kick-started by a Gracie Britton single to right field. Freshman Linny Ramsey was able to get on base, thanks to an error. Senior Kayler Lenger moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt and put runners in scoring position with one out. Mizzou ended the opportunity with a strikeout and groundout that ultimately brought the game to a close and secured Tennessee's victory.

GAME NOTES

Larissa Anderson moves to 399-245-1 all-time and is 4-9 against the Lady Vols.
Missouri moves to 8-15 all-time against Tennessee.
Freshman Addy Waits extended her on-base streak to eight consecutive games. She also collected her 40th walk, tying her for fifth-most walks for a single season in program history.

NEXT UP

The Tigers take on Tennessee in game two of the series at 6 p.m. on Friday, May 1 at Mizzou Softball Stadium in Columbia, Mo. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.

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