KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The NCAA said the University of Missouri's baseball and softball teams will be allowed to qualify for the postseason in 2021.
The two teams along with football received a one-year postseason ban from the NCAA stemming from academic fraud involving student athletes from the three programs, who had classwork performed for them by a tutor.
“Our program is clearly pleased with today’s news," Tigers baseball coach Steve Bieser said in a statement from the school. "Our players and coaching staff have faced great challenges on and off the field. Following the shortened 2020 season and now the renewed ability to compete in postseason play, we are extremely eager to prepare for and contend in the 2021 campaign."
Missouri softball coach Larissa Anderson, who will be entering her third season next spring, also was understandably pleased with the news.
“After two years of overcoming adversity, I’m excited we’re now able to turn the page and move forward," she said in a statement. "When our players chose to come to Mizzou, their dream was to reach the Women’s College World Series. Now we can focus on our goal of bringing postseason softball back to Columbia, and returning to the pinnacle of our sport.
The school appealed the ruling, but the NCAA upheld the Committee on Infractions' decision and barred Tigers football from a bowl game last season, when MU lost five of six to close the campaign and coach Barry Odom was fired.
The question remained whether last spring would satisfy the postseason ban for the other two programs after all NCAA spring sports were canceled midseason and no postseason tourneys were played.
Mizzou announced Monday that NCAA had informed the school that its baseball and softball teams would be eligible for 2021 postseason tournaments and considered the bans served.
🗣 Some GREAT news to brighten your Monday morning ⤵
Mizzou Athletics received confirmation late last week from the NCAA that @MizzouBaseball & @MizzouSoftball are eligible for 2021 postseason tournaments. The bans have been served.#MIZ l #ShowMe 🐯
— Mizzou Athletics (@MizzouAthletics) July 6, 2020
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