Missouri softball fails to make NCAA regional for second straight year
· Yahoo Sports
Missouri softball will not make an NCAA Regional for the second straight year.
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In a must-win spot to keep its season alive, 11-seeded Mizzou lost 6-2 to 14-seed Auburn in the opening round of the SEC Softball Tournament on Tuesday in Lexington, Kentucky. MU had a two-run lead heading into the sixth inning but gave up six unanswered runs across the final two innings.
The loss means Mizzou’s record dropped to 28-29 this season. To qualify for at-large NCAA Tournament consideration, teams must have a .500 record at the end of their conference tournament.
Missouri does not have any more opportunities to reach .500 this year, as the SEC Softball Tournament is a single-elimination format. With a win over Auburn, Mizzou was guaranteed to finish with a qualifying record.
Mizzou likely would have received an at-large berth for an NCAA Regional if it had defeated Auburn on Tuesday. It had wins over the No. 1 and 2 teams, Arkansas and Alabama, in the NCAA Softball RPI standings, where it was ranked No. 36 nationally. Last season, every eligible SEC team made a regional.
It has been 24 years since Mizzou failed to earn a regional berth in back-to-back seasons.
The last time MU did not make an NCAA Regional for two straight years was in 2001 and 2002 under then-head coach Jay Miller, per the team’s record book. The last time Mizzou finished two straight seasons with a losing record was in 1978-79.
Missouri fell short of a regional berth in 2025 with a 25-31 record and a loss to Ole Miss in the first round of the SEC Tournament.
Mizzou softball head coach Larissa Anderson had her contract extended after the 2024 season, when MU fell one game short of making the Women’s College World Series. Her current deal is signed through June 2028. She is expected to earn a base salary of $375,000 between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026.
Her base salary increases to $400,000 beginning July 1 2026 and $425,000 beginning July 1, 2027, which is the final year of her current deal.
Before June 30, 2026, Missouri would owe Anderson 75% of her remaining base salary to terminate her contract without cause. After July 1, the buyout amount drops to 50% of her remaining base salary.
Mizzou finished this season 28-29, including a 9-15 mark in SEC regular season play.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri softball’s season ends after late blown lead to Auburn