No. 23 Missouri drubbed No. 8 Northwestern 6-1, with five of its six scores coming in the final three innings.
Behind junior Jenna Laird’s two runs and three hits, Missouri posted a well-rounded effort. Laird was joined in scoring by juniors Alex Honnold and Payton Jackson, plus sophomore Julia Crenshaw to name a few.
🐯 > 🐱#OwnIt #MIZ 🥎 pic.twitter.com/K5laBG49Z8
— Mizzou Softball (@MizzouSoftball) February 11, 2023
Missouri’s wave of offense started midway through the matchup. Junior Chantice Phillips tied it up with a single to right field to answer back from an 0-1 deficit. Honnold then blasted a homer in the fifth inning and the Tigers rolled to victory with three more runs at the top of the sixth.
Alex Honnold ! 👏
— GameChanger (@GCsports) February 11, 2023
The junior launches her first home run on the year for @MizzouSoftball -- the third of her career 🐯 !
#MIZ 🐯🥎 pic.twitter.com/HKkQwg1loy
This marks Missouri’s second victory in its opening weekend at the NFCA Division 1 Leadoff Classic. As a D1Softball Preseason D100 selection, Laird continues to steer Missouri’s ship forward as the team’s lead scorer.
Next week it’ll take on a docket of opponents, including Butler and Pittsburgh, at the Panther Invitational. Meanwhile, the Wildcats look to redeem themselves after a loss that follows their stunning 10-9 victory against No. 6 Texas on Feb. 10th.
