Branson, Mo. - The Missouri Southern Softball team opened the 2025 season in Branson, Mo., at the Branson Leadoff Classic. The Lions defeated five of the six opposing teams, including a nationally ranked opponent in extras, to open their season with a 5-1 record.

Game 1: Missouri Southern (1-0) vs. Arkansas-Monticello (0-1)
W, 6-1

After two scoreless innings to open the game, the Lions took their first lead of the season in the third inning. After Bailey Dillon tripled with two outs, Taylor Nuckolls reached first base on an error that scored Dillon. Katie Gray would then reach first base on an error, scoring Nuckolls. Abby DeSanto followed Gray with a single to right field, which drove in Gray and Hannah Duin to give the Lions a 4-0 lead at the end of the third inning. Maddie Rolfs added another run to the Lions lead in the fourth inning with her first collegiate homerun over the left field fence. 

The Lions' defense continued to hold the Blossoms scoreless through five innings. In the sixth inning, Duin singled to left field, which drove in Dillon (singled) to increase the Lion's lead to 6-0. The Blossoms could only respond with one run in the bottom of the seventh as the Lions won the season opener, 6-1.

Statistical Leaders
2B: n/a
3B: Bailey Dillon - 1
HR: Maddie Rolfs - 1
RBI: Abby DeSanto - 2
Pitching:
    -Avery Tallman (W, 1-0): 4.0 IP, 3 SO, 4 H, 0 ER
    -Natalia Sewell: 2.0 IP, 2 SO, 2 H
    -Kadence Janney: 1.0 IP, 1 SO, 1 H, 1 ER

Game 2: Missouri Southern (2-0) vs. Southwestern Oklahoma State (1-1)
W, 10-1

The Lions jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top half of the first inning, scoring two runs from an RBI single from Emily Perry and an RBI sacrifice fly from Carsen Tinkler. After the Bulldogs scored one run in the second inning, Perry drilled a line drive down the left field line that scored Kylee Jacks (tripled) and Bailey Dillon (walked) in the third inning. Later in the third, Katie Gray singled to left field and drove in Perry to give the Lions a 5-1 lead. After both defenses held the other scoreless in the fourth, Hannah Duin drove in Taylor Nuckolls (singled) with an RBI double to grow the Lions' lead to 6-1 after five innings played. 

The Lions' offense exploded in the sixth inning with four runs. Ashlyn Hulett opened the inning with a double for her first collegiate career hit and reached home on an error on the following play. Maddie Rolfs, Jacks and Dillon scored in the sixth, coming from RBIs from Dillon, Nuckolls and Gray to bring the Lions' lead to 10-1. The Lions defense sealed the run-rule victory with three straight outs to close the game in six innings.

Statistical Leaders
2B: Emily Perry, Hannah Duin, Ashlyn Hulett - 1
3B: Kylee Jacks - 1
HR: n/a
RBI: Emily Perry - 3
Pitching: 
    -Kiki Pickens (W, 1-0): 4.0 IP, 3 SO, 3 H, 1 ER
    -Lauren Fuller: 2.0 IP

Game 3: Missouri Southern (3-0) vs. #20 Southern Nazarene (2-1)
W, 14-13 /11 inn.

The Lions jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top half of the first inning with an RBI single from Taylor Nuckolls, a sacrifice fly from Hannah Duin, and a bases-loaded error scoring the third run. The Crimson Storm responded with a run in the bottom half of the first to cut their deficit to 3-1. In the top of the third inning, the Lions added two more runs from Ashlyn Hulett (scored on an error) and a sacrifice fly from Carsen Tinkler. Southern Nazarene narrowed Missouri Southern's lead to one run after three innings played, 5-4. Emily Perry (walk) and Hannah Duin (hit-by-pitch) got on base in the fourth inning, setting Gray up a three-run home run over the center field fence to give the Lions an 8-4 lead. The Crimson Storm fought their way back and tied the game at 8-8 in the bottom half of the fifth inning. 

Both teams' defenses held the other scoreless over the remainder of the two innings in regular play, forcing extra innings. Nuckolls hit an RBI single to open the eighth, but the Crimson Storm returned with a run to force a 9th inning. Both teams traded a run in the ninth inning. In the 10th inning, Bailey Dillon launched a home run over the right field fence, scoring Kylee Jacks (placed on second base due to extra inning rules). Gray closed the top half of the 10th inning with an RBI single, giving her five RBIs in the game, and gave the Lions a 13-10 lead. The Crimson Storm forced an 11th inning with a three-run home run to tie. Dink Grimes stepped up in the 11th inning with an RBI single, scoring the only run for the Lions in the 11th. The Lions' defense held firm and recorded three straight outs to record the only extra inning without a run and defeat the no.20 Crimson Storm, 14-13, in 11 innings.

Statistical Leaders
2B: Katie Gray, Dink Grimes - 1
3B: n/a
HR: Bailey Dillon, Katie Gray - 1
RBI: Katie Gray - 5
Pitching:
    -Avery Tallman: 4.0 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 2 BB
    -NaTalia Sewell: 1.2 IP, 1 SO, 3 H, 0 ER, 1 BB
    -Lauren Fuller: 1.0 IP, 3 H, 2 ER
    -Lily Rand: 0.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER
    -Kadence Janney (W, 1-0): 4.1 IP, 3 SO, 1 H, 2 ER, 3 BB

Game 4: Missouri Southern (4-0) vs. Arkansas Tech (3-1)
W, 8-0 /6 inn.

Kylee Jacks opened the bottom of the first inning with a single, to which Taylor Nuckolls hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Jacks and give the Lions a 1-0 lead. The Lions added to their lead in the third inning with an RBI double from Emily Perry and an RBI single from Katie Gray. The Lions continued to shut out the Golden Suns as the Lions held onto a 3-0 lead through the fifth inning. After Peyton Hawkins and Bailey Dillon reached on a walk, Nuckolls (RBI single) and Perry (two RBI single) added three runs to their lead. With Perry on base, Gray blasted a walk-off home run to right field, securing an 8-0 victory for the Lions in the sixth inning via run rule.

Statistical Leaders
2B: Emily Perry - 1
3B: n/a
HR: Katie Gray - 1
RBI: Emily Perry, Katie Gray - 3
Pitching:
    -Kiki Pickens (W, 2-0): 6.0 IP, 6 SO, 1 H, 0 ER

Game 5: Missouri Southern (4-1) vs. Maryville (6-0)
L, 2-0

Both teams were locked at a stalemate through the first five innings of the game. The Saints took the first lead over the Lions of the weekend with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Maryville held onto a 2-0 lead to win the game.

Statistical Leaders
2B: n/a 
3B: n/a
HR: n/a
RBI: n/a
Pitching:
    -Avery Tallman (L, 1-1): 6.0 IP, 4 SO, 6 H, 2 ER

Game 6: Missouri Southern (5-1) vs. Oklahoma Baptist (2-4)
W, 5-3

The Bison struck the scoreboard first with a run in the top of the first inning, and the Lions responded quickly with a run of their own in the bottom half on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch. After Ashlyn Hulett (double) and Kylee Jacks (single) got on base with one out in the second inning, Bailey Dillon lined a double into right field that drove in both runners to give the Lions a 3-1 lead. Taylor Nuckolls added to the Lions' lead with a bases-loaded single to bring the score to 4-1 after five innings played. After the Bison cut their deficit to 4-3 in the top of the sixth inning, Hulett added a run for the Lions with an RBI single to lead 5-3. The Lions' defense closed the game by recording three straight outs in the top half of the seventh to win 5-3.

Statistical Leaders
2B: Bailey Dillon, Katie Gray, Ashlyn Hulett - 1
3B: n/a
HR: n/a
RBI: Bailey Dillon - 2
Pitching:
    - Kiki Pickens (W, 3-0): 7.0 IP, 4 SO, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB

Up Next
The Missouri Southern Softball team will travel to Bentonville, Ark., to compete in the Alvy Early Memorial Classic. The Classic will begin on Friday, February 7, as the Lions take on the no.1 University of Texas at Tyler Patriots. First pitch is set for 11:00 AM at Bentonville High School. Read Full Article