It's been a shaky year for Missouri softball coach Ehren Earleywine. The subject of a 4 1/2-month investigation by the athletics department and MU's Title IX Office, Earleywine was cleared of any violations and retained as the team's coach in August. Since then, the Tigers seem to be moving in a positive direction after their tumultuous offseason.

Not only did Missouri signed the No. 9 recruiting class this year -- featuring 11 players in FloSoftball's Top 200 -- but it also landed a huge donation that will take their softball program to the next level. The $3.1 million donation will be split evenly between the softball program and the Tiger Scholarship Fund. The Tigers will also open the spring with a new stadium.

Seven of Mizzou's 11 new signees were in FloSoftball's Top 200 rankings, which tied with Auburn as the most of any team.

"I landed five or six players originally, and I felt content but every time I went recruiting, I'd see another 2017 player that I really wanted," Earleywine told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "The last time I had a class this size, they ended up going to three consecutive Women's College World Series. Only time will tell for this Class of 2017, but the talent is definitely there."

It will be Earleywine's 11th season at Mizzou, and he holds a record of 453-154.

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Top 2017 College Recruiting Classes
​2017 Hot 100: 100-91
2017 Hot 100: 10-1