University of Missouri
23 Kentucky
Softball’s Comeback Falls Short at No. 23 Kentucky
3/8/2025 6:05:00 PM | Softball
LEXINGTON, Ky. - University of Missouri softball dropped game two of its SEC opening series at No. 23 Kentucky, 5-4, Saturday afternoon at John Cropp Stadium.
With the loss, Missouri moves to 11-12 (0-2 in SEC) this season while Kentucky secured the series and improves to 16-6 (2-0 in SEC).
Mizzou's late comeback fell short as Taylor Ebbs blasted a three-run homer in the top of the fifth to pull the Tigers within one (5-4).
For Ebbs, a Kentucky transfer, the homer was her third of the season. The senior from Keizer, Oregon, finished 2-for-4 Saturday with two runs, three RBI and a double to go with her home run. She has now notched a season-best two hits five times.
Missouri jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Stefania Abruscato in the second frame. Abruscato, a sophomore outfielder from Smithtown, New York, went 2-for-4 at the plate with a double.
Kentucky then answered with five runs all via the long ball including a three-run fourth.
Freshman Madison Uptegrove also had a personal-best matching two hits (2-for-2) Saturday with a double and two walks. The Columbia, Missouri, has hit safely in each of her first two career SEC games.
Julia Crenshaw extended her reached base streak to 12 games (four-game hitting streak) with a double and a walk.
Kara Daly has now reached base safely in 10 games (four-game hitting streak) after registering a double and a walk Saturday.
Claire Cahalan has reached base in each of the last eight games while Mya Dodge increased her reached base streak to six games with a walk.
Cierra Harrison compiled her 200th career strikeout Saturday. She was assessed the loss (4-4 in 2025), allowing five earned runs on six hits with five strikeouts over 3.2 innings.
Jayci Kruse pitched a career-best 1.2 innings in relief, holding the Wildcats scoreless on two hits with a strikeout.
Taylor Pannell wrapped the Saturday contest, throwing a clean sixth inning with a strikeout.
Mizzou hit a season-best five doubles Saturday. It's the most for the Tigers since they compiled a program-record tying six at South Carolina on April 3, 2021.
NEXT UP
- Missouri will wrap its SEC opening series with No. 23 Kentucky Sunday at 3:30 p.m., CT at John Cropp Stadium. The game will be available on SEC Network with Alex Perlman and Madi Shipman on the call for the linear broadcast.
- Following the weekend in Lexington, Kentucky, the Tigers return to Columbia, for the 2025 Mizzou Invitational March 13-15, at the Mizzou Softball Stadium.
- All-Tournament passes ($20) and day passes are currently available for purchase online.
- Missouri will wrap the week of games, hosting Kansas City on March 16.
FOLLOW THE TIGERS
- For all the latest on Mizzou Softball, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team @MizzouSoftball (X, Instagram, Facebook).
- The Diamond Club is accepting new members. Email MAF@missouri.edu or call 573-882-0704 to join.
- Join us in Expanding the Tradition of excellence in Mizzou Softball! This special initiative focuses on building a Rock M at the Mizzou Softball Stadium, a centerpiece of Tiger pride. The Rock M will debut at the Tigers' 2025 Mizzou Invitational starting on March 13.
