Missouri softball wins extremely rare contest, a double no-hitter

The Missouri softball team was part of an exceptionally rare feat on Friday, when both Missouri and Texas A&M-Commerce threw no-hitters in the same game.

Missouri won 1-0 thanks to a run scored in the bottom of the first inning. Senior Jenna Laird drew a leadoff walk, then stole twice to reach third base. Catcher Julia Crenshaw hit an RBI sacrifice fly to plate Laird for the eventual game-winner.

Neither team secured a hit the entire length of the seven-inning game.

For Missouri, pitcher Cierra Harrison recorded the no-hitter, which was the 47th in the program’s history. Harrison sat down the first seven straight batters to open the game, which included a streak of four consecutive strikeouts.

She allowed a walk in the third inning to break up the perfect game.

Harrison finished the game with eight strikeouts.

Her no-hitter was the first by a Tigers pitcher since April 21, 2023, when Laurin Krings blanked North Texas to open a series that was played in Columbia, Mo.

The shutout was Harrison’s first seven-inning shutout in her career. She had previously recorded a five-inning run-rule shutout.

Meanwhile, Texas A&M’s Julia Sanchez also posted a no-hitter in the game, with the only hiccup the RBI sacrifice fly. She walked only one and struck out two. Sanchez threw only six innings, as Missouri won with the home-field advantage, precluding the bottom of the seventh frame from being played.

Missouri would play a second game on Friday, facing South Dakota State. While there wasn’t a no-hitter — and there certainly weren’t two in the same game — the Tigers came out on top with a 4-3 win.

The Tigers were slated to return to action on Saturday with a pair of games, first against South Dakota State and then against North Texas. The games are being played as part of the Tracy Beard College Classic in Denton, Texas.