The Missouri Tigers defeated the University of Missouri-Kansas City in their home opener Wednesday afternoon at Mizzou Softball Stadium in Columbia, MO. 

Freshman Cierra Harrison got the start in the circle for the Missouri Tigers and came out with power. Through her five innings pitched, she gave up only two hits and one run. She rang up four batters and only allowed one walk. 

Through those five innings, with Harrison in the circle, the Tigers composed a  comfortable 7-1 lead. These runs came through a rally of hits including a Chantice Phillips 3-run blast in the first inning. 

In the fifth inning, UMKC broke its offensive drought with its first run. In the top of the sixth, the Tigers brought in Megan Schumacher to replace Harrison. Schumacher allowed four hits, four runs, and a walk before being relieved by Taylor Pannell. Pannell took to the mound with no outs, two runners on base, and was able to keep the newly awakened Roos offense to only one more run. 

In response to the sixth-inning chaos, Chantice Phillips, who went 2-4 with 4 RBI stated, “They hit us and we’ve just gotta keep fighting.” 

The Tigers showed their grit, responding with four runs of their own in the bottom of the sixth. Pannell was able to finish the game and help Missouri to their 11-5 win. 

Cierra Harrison is given the win, throwing a nearly perfect game. Other notable players for the Tigers include: Jenna Laird who went 1-2 with 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases, Payton Jackson who was 2-2 with 1 RBI and 1 stolen base, and Julia Crenshaw who went 2-5 collecting one RBI. 

The Tigers record improves to 16-6 with this win. They will stay in Columbia for a 3-game series against Kentucky starting March 10.