Mizzou softball salvaged a potentially disastrous weekend, defeating LSU 1-0 in the series finale to avoid the sweep. Cierra Harrison was the star of the show inside the circle, pitching a complete game shutout. Her 7.0 innings was complimented by three strikeouts while allowing no runs. She worked around four hits and two walks to keep LSU off the scoreboard in her most impressive outing of the season.
“It was just a little bit of a mindset switch and to come out and just compete,” Harrison said.
She was helped by a defense that finished the game with no errors with several crucial double-plays to pick off baserunners. Abby Hay was a major standout at first base, including a leaping grab plus tag out for the final out of the game. In addition to the defense, Hay had the only RBI on the day for either team with a single.
“Abby Hay, I feel is a Golden Glove Award winner with the defense that she played today,” head coach Larissa Anderson said.
The one run came in the third inning off the back of a walk and two hits. Mizzou had quality at-bats all game, forcing LSU to attack the strike zone and capitalizing on those good pitches. The Tigers finished the game with four hits while drawing four walks.
“I felt it was better pitch selection, better timing,” Anderson said. “When you start to draw some walks, which we were able to do today, then I know that they’re seeing the strike zone a little bit better.
Here’s the complete play-by-play of the win:
Harrison forced three quick outs with the help of her fielders in the first inning. While Mizzou didn’t score in the first, they had a plethora of productive at-bats. This led to walks from both Stefania Abruscato and Hay while forcing LSU pitcher Patyn Monticelli to throw 31 pitches to escape the inning without any runs allowed.
Harrison’s perfect start was ruined by a single in the second inning. But her hot streak continued, allowing no more baserunners at keeping the LSU offense at bay. The second was less productive for the Mizzou offense, as they were sat down in consecutive order with back-to-back strikeouts to close the inning.
LSU put its first runner in scoring position with a single/walk with two outs, but a lineout to center shut down the rally to keep them at zero runs. Mizzou finally broke the tie with a run in the third. Waits walked before Sidney Forrester broke the no-hitter with a single. Hay followed up with a single of her own that hit off the glove of the shortstop, allowing Waits to reach home and the Tigers take a 1-0 lead. This marked Hay’s third-straight game with a hit and second one with an RBI.
Mizzou forced LSU into another 1-2-3 inning including a strikeout for Harrison. Kayley Lenger hit a two-out single in the bottom of the fourth but was the only baserunner as the Tigers couldn’t extend their lead.
LSU opened the fifth with a walk before Waits snagged a bunt that was popped up, throwing it back to first for the double play. Harrison closed the inning by forcing a groundout. Waits contributed on the offensive end with a leadoff single before LSU brought in ace Jayden Heavener.
Harrison’s continued to stifle the LSU offense with three-consecutive outs including two outs on her own accord, grabbing both a groundout and lineout right back to her face. Gracie Britton was hit by a pitch and Avery Adcock was walked to put LSU in trouble, but a groundout prevented any further damage.
LSU threatened with a leadoff single but a lineout grab from Madison Uptegrove at short allowed her to throw it over to first for a double play. The visitors kept up the pressure with another single before Harrison secured the shutout and the win with a groundout.
This win was a perfect bounceback after Mizzou lost the first two games of this series by a combined 20 runs. The Tigers are now back above .500 and seven wins away from being postseason eligible.
“What is so fun about this team is their youth because they want to get better every single day,” Anderson said. “I see little things that they’re getting better at [every day].”
Mizzou is back in action at 5 p.m. Friday on the road against the 10th-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. All three games in Athens will be available to watch on SEC Network+.
