MANSFIELD, Texas — No. 24-ranked Missouri Southern softball (2-0) earned a pair of victories Friday at the Lone Star D2 College Classic to commence the 2026 season.
MSSU opened Friday with a 5-3 win over Texas Woman's in the morning before downing the Colorado School of Mines, 7-1, in the afternoon. Both contests were played at the Fields at Station 63.
Head coach
Hallie Blackney picked up her 200th career win at the helm of the Lions in the opener against TWU.
No. 24 MSSU 5, Texas Woman's 3
MSSU secured a season-opening victory with a 5-3 win over Texas Woman's (0-1) on Friday at Fields at Station 63.
Southern recorded eight hits, including a home run, a double, and a triple, while holding Texas Woman's to five hits in the contest.
Cady Dickey recorded a home run and collected one RBI in her performance.
Taylor Nuckolls crossed the plate twice and drove in a run to contribute to the team's efforts.
Bailey Dillon added a triple and two hits (2-for-4), advancing three runners during her at-bats.
Kadence Janney (1-0) started the game, pitching four innings and conceding two earned runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout in the victory. Janney faced 18 batters, throwing 67 pitches, and recorded eight flyouts to help keep the game close.
Emily Davis delivered three innings from the circle, allowing one earned run on one hit and striking out four, while securing the save. She threw 54 pitches, 32 of which were strikes, and effectively limited TWU hitters to just a .100 batting average.
Missouri Southern started strong in the first inning with Nuckolls reaching third base on a fielding error, followed by
Katie Gray's RBI double to left center.
Carsen Tinkler then singled to bring Gray home, giving the Lions an early 2–0 lead. The Pioneers responded in the second inning with a two-run homer by Ashley Allinger, leveling the score at 2–2.
In the third inning, MSSU regained the lead when Dillon tripled and was driven in by Nuckolls' single.
Emily Perry's groundout allowed Nuckolls to score, extending the lead to 4–2. Dickey added a solo home run in the fourth inning, increasing the advantage to 5–2.
Texas Woman's cut the deficit in the sixth inning with an RBI single by Trinity Perry, but solid pitching and defense from Southern closed out the game. Missouri Southern secured the victory, prevailing over the Pioneers with a final score of 5–3.
No. 24 MSSU 7, Colorado School of Mines 1
Missouri Southern secured a decisive 7-1 victory over Colorado School of Mines on Friday afternoon, accumulating 11 hits and allowing only four.
Nuckolls led the Lions with two runs scored and contributed two hits (2-for-4) along with an RBI.
Daniela Gutierrez added one hit in her two plate appearances, advancing three runners in scoring position. Dickey, in a pinch-hit appearance, drove in a run with her sole hit in the game.
Emily Davis (1-0) pitched four innings without allowing a hit or a run, striking out eight batters to secure the win. She faced 15 batters and threw 60 pitches, with 40 going for strikes.
Kiki Pickens started the game, pitching three innings and conceding one earned run on four hits, while striking out one and issuing a walk. She threw 57 pitches, 34 of which were strikes, and recorded four groundouts in her outing.
Missouri Southern broke the game open with a pair of three-run innings in the fifth and sixth, bolstered by a pitching staff that recorded nine strikeouts.
The Lions secured an early lead in the second inning when Dillon's single brought home Perry, putting Missouri Southern on the board. Mines responded with a run in the third, leveling the score at 1-1.
However, the Lions reclaimed control in the fifth inning with a series of well-timed hits. Nuckolls' single scored a run, followed by Dickey's RBI single, which was complemented by a successful double steal that allowed
Avery Sue Davis to steal home, giving Missouri Southern a 4-1 advantage.
In the sixth inning, MSSU continued their offensive momentum. Nuckolls drove in another run with a bunt single, and
Tinkler's single up the middle added another RBI, extending the Lions' lead.
Tinkler went 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a walk.
Davis brought in the final run of the inning with a fielder's choice, pushing the Lions further ahead.
Southern's defense held strong, securing a 7-1 victory over the Orediggers. MSSU finished with 11 hits and no errors.
NEXT UP: MSSU next faces Southern Nazarene Saturday in Day 2 of the Lone Star D2 College Classic. First pitch is set for 4:15 p.m., CT at the Fields at Station 63 (Field 6) in Mansfield, Texas.
