Patrick Crawford, Assistant Director of Strategic Communications – Mizzou Athletics
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Mizzou Softball received a No. 14 ranking in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Preseason Top 25 to start its 2014 campaign, it was announced Tuesday by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. The ranking marks the fifth-consecutive season the Tigers will begin their campaign ranked in the Top 15, nationally.
Head coach Ehren Earleywine welcomes back several proven offensive contributors and a youthful pitching staff for his eighth season leading the program. Sophomore 2B/OF Emily Crane (Troy, Mo.) returns after leading the 2013 squad with a .376 batting average, as well as spending this past summer playing with USA Softball’s Junior Women’s National Team. Junior 3B/C Angela Randazzo (Poway, Calif.) and junior 1B Kelsea Roth (Yorba Linda, Calif.) return after posting team bests in RBI (47) and home runs (16), respectively.
The Tigers compiled a 38-14 overall record and 15-8 mark in Southeastern Conference play last season en route to the program’s sixth-straight NCAA Super Regional appearance. Mizzou finished the season ranked No. 11 by both the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll and the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 poll.
The Tigers are joined by seven fellow SEC programs in the Top 25: No. 1 Tennessee, No. 4 Florida, No. 6 Alabama, No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 12 Kentucky, No. 17 LSU and No. 23 Georgia. The SEC’s eight ranked teams leads the nation.
Mizzou kicks off the 2014 season with its annual Black & Gold Exhibition on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 3 p.m. inside Devine Pavilion. The Tigers officially open the year at the Jacksonville Tournament, hosted by Jacksonville (Fla.) University, from Feb. 14-16. The Tigers’ first home contests of the 2014 season will be against SEC foe Kentucky from March 14-16 at University Field.
Season ticket renewals are currently ongoing, along with additional season ticket requests being taken. For ticket information, please call the Mizzou Ticket Office at 1-800-CAT-PAWS (573-884-7297 in Mid-Missouri).
