Joplin, Mo. - Missouri Southern softball coach Hallie Blackney has announced the addition of Lexi Kinnaird to the coaching staff.

Kinnaird joins Southern with three years of MIAA coaching experience (2022-24) as a pitching coach for Missouri Western State University where she led the Griffons pitching to top five finishes in earned run average and All-MIAA honors all three years on staff. 

"I am grateful for the opportunity to join the staff at Missouri Southern and get the opportunity to work under a head coach like Hallie. In my time at MWSU I was able to watch her make the program her own and with that came success as well so I'm excited to learn from her," Kinnaird commented, "The MIAA is an extremely competitive conference so I'm thankful to have the opportunity to stay in it and I'm excited for what is to come."

Prior to coaching, the native of Tiffin, Iowa, Kinnaird played one season at Missouri Western in 2019, pitching in 21 games. Kinnaird finished with a 12-5 record with a 4.06 ERA in 98.1 innings for the Griffons. Prior to Missouri Western, Kinnaird went 55-6 in the circle during her two seasons at Kirkwood Community College where she broke the school record for wins.  She had a 1.93 ERA as a freshman in 2016 and a 1.47 ERA in 2017 as a sophomore.  Kinnaird helped the Eagles go 113-12 over her two years at Kirkwood and earned NJCAA All-American honors both years. 

"We feel extremely grateful to have someone like Lexi join our program," coach Blackney commented, "She is a proven winner, knows how to compete, develops and guides pitchers extremely well, and will be a great representative for MSSU. She is already extremely knowledgeable of our program and the MIAA conference, and I can't wait for her to bring her own energy into our program. I am ecstatic for our players, and our coaching staff, to learn from her. Welcome to the Pride, Lexi!"