TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — No. 17-ranked Missouri Southern softball (13-1) registered a pair of dominating run-rule victories Saturday at the D2 Cherokee Nation Festival.
The Lions downed Arkansas-Monticello, 12-3, before upending No. 11-ranked Southern Arkansas, 8-0, to conclude day two of the tournament.
No. 17 MSSU 12, Arkansas-Monticello 3 – Five Innings
MSSU secured a decisive 12-3 run-rule victory over Arkansas-Monticello (6-5) in a neutral-site matchup on Saturday, highlighted by a six-run first inning.
Missouri Southern tallied 12 hits in the game, including a home run and a triple, while limiting UAM to just one hit.
The game began with a strong offensive showing from MSSU in the first inning, where the Lions scored six runs.
Bailey Dillon ignited the offense with a single, and
Katie Gray followed with a double, driving in the first run.
Gianna Saggese and
Cady Dickey contributed with RBI singles, while
Emma Mason capped the inning with a two-run homer. Missouri Southern led the Blossoms 6-0 after the first frame.
In the second inning, the Lions continued to build their lead, adding another run. Gray walked and was brought home by a single from Saggese, extending the lead to 7-0 by the end of the inning. UAM managed to score in the third inning when Lainey Tippen stole home, but MSSU maintained a 7-1 advantage after three innings.
The fourth inning saw Southern further assert its control with a five-run burst. Gray tripled and scored on a single by Saggese. Mason doubled to drive in another run, and
Maddie Rolfs' single brought in two more runs. A fielding error allowed Rolfs to score an unearned run, bringing the score to 12-1 after the fourth inning.
Arkansas-Monticello attempted a comeback in the fifth inning, scoring two unearned runs due to Missouri Southern errors. However, the lead established by Southern proved insurmountable.
Gray led the Lions with three runs, two hits, and one RBI, including a double and a triple.
Saggese posted a strong performance, scoring two runs and collecting three hits alongside three RBI and a stolen base. Mason contributed significantly with two runs, two hits, and three RBI, highlighted by a double and a home run.
Davis pitched a complete game, allowing just one earned run over five innings. She conceded only one hit while striking out five batters and walking one. Over the course of the game, Davis faced 20 batters and maintained a WHIP of 0.40. She improved to 5-0 this season.
No. 17 MSSU 8, No. 11 Southern Arkansas 0 – Five Innings
MSSU registered an 8-0 run-rule upset victory over No. 11-ranked Southern Arkansas (13-1) on Saturday afternoon
Missouri Southern capitalized early with a four-run first inning and added another four runs in the third, while
Kiki Pickens contributed to the shutout with seven strikeouts over five innings.
The Lions initiated the scoring in the first inning with
Taylor Nuckolls drawing a walk, followed by
Katie Gray and
Carsen Tinkler hitting consecutive singles.
Gianna Saggese drove in the first run with a single, and
Emily Perry cleared the bases with a double to left center, bringing in three runs. Missouri Southern led 4-0 after the first inning.
In the third inning, MSSU extended its lead. Saggese reached on a walk and scored on an RBI single by
Easton Walter. A wild pitch allowed
Micah Snider, who pinch ran for Walter, to score, followed by
Emma Mason crossing the plate on another wild pitch.
Maddie Rolfs scored the fourth run of the inning on a triple by Nuckolls to increase the Lions' advantage to 8-0 after the third inning.
The defense of the Lions remained solid throughout the game, holding SAU scoreless despite the Muleriders collecting eight hits.
Nuckolls posted a strong performance with a triple and an RBI, contributing one run while drawing two walks. Perry made a significant impact with a double that drove in three runs. Saggese crossed home plate twice, adding one hit and one RBI.
Pickens delivered a strong performance for the Lions, pitching a complete game shutout over five innings. She allowed eight hits but kept the Muleriders scoreless, striking out seven batters while issuing three walks. Pickens improved to 5-1 in 2026.
NEXT: Missouri Southern next concludes the D2 Cherokee Nation Festival Sunday against Southeastern Oklahoma and Harding. Game times are set for 11 a.m., CT and 1:30 p.m.
