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Columbia, Missouri

Mizzou masters Mean Green with Krings' nine K shutout

218 days ago
Missouri Athletics
Photo: Missouri Athletics

COLUMBIA, Mo. - Fresh off her third career no hitter, junior Laurin Krings went the distance once again, pitching a complete-game shutout as the University of Missouri softball team (29-20) capped its three-game slate with North Texas (26-20) Sunday afternoon at the Mizzou Softball Stadium with a 5-0 win to sweep the non-conference series.

Krings allowed just three hits and one walk while registering nine strikeouts on 91 pitches over 7.0 innings Sunday. The junior from Loveland, Colorado, finished the weekend series against UNT with 26 punchouts.

With the victory, the Tigers extended their win streak to four games.

Dominant pitching was the story of the weekend for Missouri, holding North Texas to just one run off just eight hits in 21 combined innings throughout the series.

The Tigers' lineup was led by centerfielder Alex Honnold (2-for-2) and third base Kara Daly (2-for-3) each chipping in a couple of hits and bringing home one run apiece.

With the game scoreless, Mizzou broke the stalemate in the bottom half of the third with a trio of runs.

Leadoff hitter Jenna Laird reached base on four balls, before stealing second and advancing to third on a Mean Green error. Honnold followed with a walk of her own before a Tigers double steal made the score, 1-0.

Daly extended the Tigers' advantage with a RBI triple to the right centerfield wall, driving home Honnold. Maddie Gallagher then capped off the eventful half inning with a line drive to left, bringing home Daly to make it a 3-0 ballgame.

More Missouri magic ensued in the batter's box in the fifth inning, A solo shot over the right field wall from Honnold stretched the Tigers lead even more. For the West Des Moines, Iowa, native, the homer was her 11th of the campaign.

Julia Crenshaw joined in on the fun, driving home Daly via a double off the right field wall, widening the lead to five runs.

Working with a lead, Krings retired 11 of the last 13 batters she faced in the final three innings - including a run of three consecutive strikeouts.

GAME NOTES

  • The Tigers moved to 7-1 against North Texas all-time following this weekend's series sweep.
  • Mizzou is currently on a four-game win streak, its longest since claiming eight in a row from Feb. 15-23.
  • Alex Honnold extended her reached-base streak to 13 games with two walks and two hits to go with two runs and a RBI Sunday.
  • Kara Daly notched her second triple of the season in the third inning. She is tied for third on the team with Jenna Laird.
  • Maddie Gallagher extended her reached-base streak to 12 games (four-game hit streak) with a single, a walk and a RBI Sunday.
  • Laurin Krings struck out nine in the game to increase her team-high total to 123. She finished the week (Kansas through North Texas series April 19-23) with 28.
  • Kara Daly notched her ninth multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3 with a RBI, walk and two runs.
  • Julia Crenshaw posted her team-leading 11th double of the campaign, finishing 1-for-3 with a RBI. Laurin Krings picked up her third-straight win Sunday.
  • Alex Honnold hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season and second of the week (Kansas through North Texas series April 19-23). She also posted her 16th multi-hit game.
  • Laurin Krings earned her second straight complete-game shutout. She has pitched 15 consecutive scoreless innings this week.
  • Laurin Krings increased her career strikeout total to 430 which moves her into ninth all-time in Missouri program history ahead of Kristin Nottelmann (429 strikeouts, 2009-12).
  • Laurin Krings has notched five-or-more strikeouts 13 times in 2023 including 12 of her last 14 starts. The Tigers picked up their first series sweep of the season.

UP NEXT

The Tigers are next set to host SIUE in a midweek matchup on Tuesday at Mizzou Softball Stadium. First pitch is set for 7 p.m., ET with the game being broadcasted on SEC Network+.