March 5, 2013

COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou softball team (9-1) was ranked fifth and seventh in the country by the USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 and ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 polls, respectively, the organizations announced on Tuesday.

The Tigers were idle for the previous week after the All-Missouri Cancer Awareness Classic hosted by Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau, Mo., was cancelled due to inclement weather.

Missouri went 3-0 in its games at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (Feb. 21-22) in Palm Springs, Calif., including an exciting 4-3 win in 12 innings over new Southeastern Conference foe Florida (Feb. 22). The Tigers prefaced their victory over the Gators with two wins on Feb. 21: Maryland in five innings (13-1) and San Diego State by a score of 2-1.

Mizzou ended its West Coast trip by splitting a doubleheader at Cal State Fullerton (Feb. 23), dropping to the Titans, 5-4, in the first game before winning 7-0 in the second.

The Tigers open their inaugural season of Southeastern Conference action in the team's initial home games of the season, facing No. 7/5 Texas A&M (22-1) at University Field from Friday, March 8-Sunday, March 10. The Tigers begin with a Friday, 6 p.m. contest against the Aggies before a 2 p.m. start on Saturday. The two teams close the series with a Noon game on Sunday.

Mizzou softball fans are reminded that 2013 season tickets are on sale. More information is available here.

The full USA Today/NFCA can be viewed here, while the entire ESPN.com/USA Softball poll can be viewed here.

Fans are encouraged to check MUTigers.com and the softball team's social media outlets, @MizzouSoftball and Facebook, for updates and information throughout the season.