No. 1 Texas Softball Preview: Missouri Tigers

The Texas Longhorns will meet former Big 12 rivals Missouri in their fourth SEC series.

Texas' Reese Atwood (14) steals second as Oklahoma infielder Avery Hodge (82) drops the ball in the second inning of Game 2 of the NCAA softball Women's College World Series Championship Series game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Texas Longhorns at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June, 6, 2024. | SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

Almost exactly 13 years ago, Missouri softball took the trip to Austin to take on the Texas Longhorns in what would be their last conference matchup in over a decade. On July 1, 2012, the Tigers officially left the Big 12 joined the Southeastern Conference alongside Texas A&M.

Though the two have met three times since then in non-conference play, with Texas winning the last two, it's Missouri who still claim the last conference series 2-1.

Opposite to Texas' undefeated conference series record, Missouri is yet to claim a series. The Tigers started the season with a tough opponent in then-No. 1 Oklahoma. They fell 8-0 in five innings in the opening game, but game back in the second with a 3-1 win. Oklahoma ultimately took the series with a 5-1 win on Sunday.

In the second series against Ole Miss, Mizzou loss the first two games before getting a win in the third.

Jun 6, 2024; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns infielder Viviana Martinez (23) turns after making a backhanded grab in the first inning against the Oklahoma Sooners during game two of the Women's College World Series softball championship finals at Devon Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images | Brett Rojo-Imagn Images

If Texas takes the first game in Columbia, it will mark the first time since 2005 and 2006 that the Longhorns claim a three-game winning streak in series history.

Junior catcher Reese Atwood could join a small list of two Texas softball student-athletes in program history to drive in 50-or-more runs on multiple occasions throughout their collegiate careers. The first two are both active players in sophomore Katie Stewart and junior Viviana Martinez, who's out for the season with an injury. Martinez recorded 52 in both the 2023 and 2024 career, while Stewart had 58 as a freshman and 56 already this year. After a stellar 90 in 2024, Atwood is just one away at 49 this season.

Texas and Missouri will face each other at the Mizzou Softball Stadium from Friday to Sunday. The first two games will be streamed on SEC Network, while the series finale will be on ESPN2.