The University of Missouri softball team picked up a win over the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Panthers to finish non-conference play. Dominant pitching and timely offense powered the Tigers to a 4-1 victory on Wednesday.  

The Tigers were led by sophomore pitcher Lilly Whitten, who made her home debut in front of over 2,000 spectators at Mizzou Softball Stadium. When it was all said and done, Whitten’s state line read: six innings pitched, two hits, one earned run, one walk, and six strikeouts. This marks the third time this season Whitten has eclipsed the six-K mark.

The Tigers started the game hot. Whitten shut down the Cougars in the top of the first, including two strikeouts of Jenna Herron and Grace Lueke. In the bottom, senior shortstop Jenna Laird singled to lead off the game for the Tigers offensively and stole second base a pitch later. Senior second baseman Maddie Gallagher promptly brought Laird home with a RBI single to left center. 

SIUE would respond quickly, as in the top of the second junior Lauryn Yslava would work a full count walk before junior Kaylynn Salyars would lace a RBI double down the left field foul line to tie the game. This would be the only run allowed by Whitten for the rest of the evening.

The Tigers would get back to work in the bottom of the second, as SEC Freshman of the Week Stefania Abruscoto drew a full count walk to lead off the inning. Two batters later, right fielder Kayley Lenger would drive a ball high and deep over the left field wall for a two-run homer to give the Tigers a 3-1 advantage heading to the third. The moonshot was the second on the season for the sophomore from Liberty, Mo.

From that point on, the game turned into a pitchers duel. Whitten would pick up four more strikeouts and only allow one baserunner in the final three innings of her outing. Cougar pitcher Sydney Baalman would stand her ground as well, at one point retiring 11 consecutive Tiger batters.

 Baalman put up a valiant effort in the contest, however her offense couldn’t back her up. SIUE’s offense was not able to take the lead at any point. Baalman performed brilliantly and was the sole reason the Cougars stayed in the game. She ended her night with six innings pitched, five hits, four runs (all earned), one walk, and three strikeouts.

This was no solo mission for the Tigers pitching either. Whitten was backed up by stellar defense all day, highlighted by Second Basemen Maddie Gallagher ending the top of the sixth by diving to her right for a grounder, making a backhanded stab, and throwing from her knees in the knick of time to beat out Lueke for the third out. 

When I asked Whitten about the play she said, “I knew she had it, I mean… it’s Gally!”

The Missouri bats would awake once more in the bottom of the sixth. Freshman first basemen Abby Hay would line a single to left center with two outs, immediately followed by Abruscoto ripping an RBI single to the wall in right center, scoring freshman pinch runner Claire Cahalan all the way from first. 

The Tigers would turn to sophomore closer Taylor Pannell to shut the door in the seventh inning. She retired the side in order with three groundouts, including the final to herself, to notch her nation-leading ninth save of the season. 

When speaking with Coach Larissa Anderson following the game, she said Pannell had lofty goals for herself.

“Her first goal was to lead the country in saves. Second goal, she said, ‘I want to break the save record.”

Although Pannell continued to shine on the mound, Whitten was the star of the show. With the win, she improved to 5-0 on the season, with an eye-popping 27 strikeouts to only nine walks. 

A complete team win for the Tigers on a sunny Wednesday evening was capped with a student home run derby following the contest. Following a record setting weekend for attendance, more than 9,000 fans packed the stands over a three game period marking a program record, the Tiger faithful is showing a vested interest in the program currently ranked 13th in the country (Coaches Poll & USA Softball). 

“When everybody is standing up and applauding, and when they’re in the moment, the buzz is there… You can feel it, we can feel it,” Anderson said.

Missouri will hit the road again, heading to Athens, GA, to take on the No. 9 Bulldogs in a three game weekend series starting Friday. The Tigers will return home for the final time this season when they host No. 25 Mississippi State for a three game set starting on Saturday, April 27th. All is looking up for the Tigers, as the team is righting its early season woes at the right time and gearing up for a run in the SEC Tournament.