Mizzou Softball tops ranked Duke for the second consecutive season

Tigers rally for five-run comeback in the late innings to defeat No. 19 Blue Devils

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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Mizzou Softball overcame an early 4-0 deficit to defeat No. 19 Duke 5-4 in the finale of the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational. Freshman Abby Carr pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn the save, while sophomore Madison Uptegrove delivered the game-tying and game-winning RBI double in the fifth inning to complete the comeback.

Why it matters

The win marks Mizzou's third ranked victory of the season and avenges the Tigers' elimination from the 2024 Women's College World Series at the hands of Duke. The comeback win could provide a much-needed boost for Mizzou as it looks to climb back to .500 on the season.

The details

Mizzou fell behind 4-0 early as Duke scored four runs off starter Marissa McCann. But the Tigers rallied with a five-run fifth inning, capped by Uptegrove's two-run double that tied the game and gave Mizzou the lead. Nathalie Touchet pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief before Carr closed out the win.

  • Mizzou trailed 4-0 after the first couple of innings.
  • The Tigers scored five runs in the fourth and fifth innings to take a 5-4 lead.
  • Carr pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn the save and preserve the 5-4 win.

The players

Abby Carr

A freshman two-way player who pitched the final 2.1 innings to earn the save for Mizzou.

Nathalie Touchet

The Aledo, Texas, native pitched 3.1 innings of scoreless relief for the Tigers.

Madison Uptegrove

A sophomore who delivered the game-tying and game-winning RBI double in the fifth inning to complete Mizzou's comeback.

Larissa Anderson

The head coach of Mizzou Softball who emphasized aggression at the plate during a mid-game interview.

Duke

The No. 19 ranked Blue Devils, who eliminated Mizzou from the 2024 Women's College World Series.

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What they’re saying

“Winning feels good and we've got to do more of it.”

— Larissa Anderson, Head Coach (Yahoo Sports)

“The weather's turned back in Columbia, Missouri. So we will be able to get on dirt at home. It'll be huge for us to get into a routine.”

— Larissa Anderson, Head Coach (Yahoo Sports)

What’s next

Mizzou (4-7) will look to climb back to .500 with games against Houston, McNeese State and Louisiana next weekend.

The takeaway

Mizzou's comeback win over a ranked Duke squad could provide a much-needed boost as the Tigers look to rebound from a tough 3-7 start to the season. The victory also continues the growing rivalry between the two programs, with Mizzou now having won the last two matchups.