Softball Wins Seventh Straight with Doubleheader Sweep Over Illinois

Wednesday, March 18

Champaign, Ill.

1 p.m.

Missouri

13-16

Illinois

8-19

MISSOURI

Illinois

Softball Wins Seventh Straight with Doubleheader Sweep Over Illinois

3/18/2026 6:24:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Tigers head into their second SEC series with a seven-game winning streak and a record of 14-16.

Urbana, Ill. – Mizzou softball (14-16, 0-3 SEC) increases its winning streak to seven games as the Tigers swept Illinois (8-20, 0-3 B1G) in the midweek doubleheader on Wednesday, March 18 at Eichelberger Field.

The Tigers used performances from junior Marissa McCann – a complete game shutout – and freshman Sidney Forrester – a multi-home run game – in Games One and Two, respectively.

Mizzou 3, Illinois 0

The Tigers found the lead early, as they capitalized on a costly dropped bunt from the Fighting Illini. After those two runners found their way on, freshman Addy Waits produced a two-out two-RBI single in the top of the second. Mizzou further extended the early lead with sophomore Sophie Smith's third home run of the season, as she moved it to 3-0 in the top of the fourth.

The Tigers once again threatened in the top half of the fourth, as they loaded the bases with one of their hottest hitters in junior Stefania Abruscato up to bat. MU left the runners stranded as we headed out of the inning.

While Mizzou was successful offensively early, the main story of the first game was on the other side. Starting pitcher McCann headed into the afternoon after posting a .58 ERA over the past two starts. McCann continued that trend as she posted the second seven-inning complete game shutout of her career. The junior allowed just three hits while striking out five in the win.

McCann's last three starts include: 19 innings pitched with a 0.37 ERA, and 19 strikeouts. She is now 5-5 on the season and has won three straight starts for the Tigers.

Mizzou 9, Illinois 4

Game Two had its fair share of fireworks, as Abruscato opened the game with a two-run home run to right field. However, not to be outdone, Illinois hit a three-run shot to left field to make the score 3-2 after the first.

Forrester continued her successful day, as she had two hits in Game One, hitting her team-leading eighth home run of the season, making it 3-3.

The Tigers earned their lead in the fourth inning with two groundouts from freshman Linny Ramsey and Waits to make it 5-3. That was only the beginning, as Forrester and junior Abby Hay went back-to-back for the second time this season to extend it to a 7-3 lead.

MU added another one in the top half of the sixth, as Abruscato singled in a run to make it a five-run ball game.

Senior Cierra Harrison earned her fifth win of the season, as she goes above .500 for the season at 5-4. Harrison settled in after a three-run home run in the first inning, as she didn't allow another run until a solo home run at the bottom of the sixth.

Smith finalized the scoring for the Tigers, as she hit her second home run of the day in the seventh to make the final score 9-4.

GAME NOTES

Larissa Anderson is now 385-234-1 all-time.
The Tigers are now 19-4 against Illinois, and 6-0 in Urbana-Champaign, Ill.
Mizzou is now on a seven-game winning streak and won its first two road games of the season, as it moves to 2-6 in road games.
Freshman Addy Waits extends her reached safely streak to 17 games, as junior's Abby Hay and Stefania Abruscato's streaks end at 14 and 12, respectively.
Freshman Sidney Forrester went 4-8 with two home runs, and sophomore Sophie Smith went 3-6 with two home runs in the double header.
Junior Abby Hay strung together three hits in Game Two, as she finished it 3-for-4.