Mizzou Softball struggles against No. 25 South Carolina, playoff hopes thin

Tigers drop rubber match as Gamecocks pick up first SEC series win of the season

Apr. 19, 2026 at 9:06pm

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A cubist, geometric illustration depicting a Mizzou Softball game, with overlapping planes of color and shape representing the dynamic action on the field.Mizzou Softball's playoff hopes take a hit after a tough loss against a ranked South Carolina team.Fayetteville Today

Despite a strong 5-0 win on Saturday, Mizzou Softball couldn't get it done against No. 25 South Carolina, falling 4-0 on Sunday in Columbia as the Tigers' playoff hopes become narrower. South Carolina pitcher Jori Heard pitched another shutout, finishing with six strikeouts and just three hits.

Why it matters

This loss puts Mizzou in a tough spot, as they now need to win four of their last seven games to reach the .500 mark and be considered for the postseason. The Tigers have a mid-week matchup against Kansas City that should be a win, but their remaining schedule includes a series against No. 6 Arkansas, making their playoff path even more challenging.

The details

Mizzou struggled to get any offense going, with South Carolina's Jori Heard pitching another complete game shutout. The Gamecocks matched Mizzou's three hits, but they were all home runs. Mizzou used three different pitchers, with Cierra Harrison, Marissa McCann, and Abby Carr all seeing action on the mound.

  • On Sunday, April 19, 2026, Mizzou Softball fell 4-0 to No. 25 South Carolina in the rubber match of their series.
  • Mizzou had won the second game of the series 5-0 on Saturday to force the rubber match.

The players

Jori Heard

The South Carolina pitcher who pitched a complete game shutout, finishing with six strikeouts and just three hits.

Larissa Anderson

The Mizzou Softball head coach, who discussed Heard's performance and the adjustments made by Mizzou pitcher Abby Carr.

Tori Ensley

The South Carolina player who hit a solo home run in the second inning.

Cierra Harrison

The Mizzou pitcher who started the game, finishing with three strikeouts, three hit by pitches, and two earned runs while allowing one hit in 4.1 innings.

Marissa McCann

The Mizzou pitcher who struggled after her strong performance on Saturday, finishing with two earned runs on back-to-back solo shots from South Carolina in the fifth frame.

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What they’re saying

“I thought she worked down in the zone a lot better than Friday. She has that really good drop and in the scouting report she doesn't throw it as often as she threw it to us. She doesn't miss very often.”

— Larissa Anderson, Mizzou Softball Head Coach

“She was tipping her change up on Friday and South Carolina was sitting on it. And that obviously impacts her; it's her best pitch. She worked on her motion. She didn't tip at all and it was really good to see that she made that mechanical adjustment.”

— Larissa Anderson, Mizzou Softball Head Coach

What’s next

Mizzou (24-24) heads to Fayetteville, Arkansas, to take on No. 6 Arkansas starting at 5 p.m. Friday. The Tigers will need to win four of their last seven games to reach the .500 mark and be considered for the postseason.

The takeaway

This loss puts Mizzou Softball in a difficult position, as they now need to win four of their last seven games to have a chance at making the postseason. With a tough remaining schedule that includes a series against No. 6 Arkansas, the Tigers' playoff hopes have become significantly narrower.