TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — No. 17-ranked Missouri Southern softball (15-1) closed out the D2 Cherokee Nation Festival Sunday with a pair of victories to finish the tournament, 5-0.
MSSU beat Southeastern Oklahoma, 6-5, before edging Harding, 10-9, in a shootout.
The Lions improved to 15-1 after their perfect weekend in "The Sooner State".
No. 17 MSSU 6, Southeastern Oklahoma 5
MSSU secured a 6-5 victory over Southeastern Oklahoma State University (5-8) to open its Sunday.
Missouri Southern capitalized on Southeastern Oklahoma's three errors and collected 12 hits, including three doubles and a triple, to edge out the win.
The game started with Southeastern Oklahoma taking an early lead, scoring one run in each of the first two innings. The Lions tied the game in the third inning when
Bailey Dillon scored after a single and subsequent error, followed by
Gianna Saggese driving in another unearned run. After three innings, the score was tied at 2-2.
The fifth inning was pivotal for Missouri Southern, as it scored three runs.
Taylor Nuckolls reached on an error and stole third, scoring on a sacrifice fly by
Katie Gray.
Easton Walter then hit a single that cleared the bases, aided by a throwing error, bringing in two more runs. After the fifth, Southern led 5-3.
In the sixth inning, Gray doubled to bring home Dillon, extending the MSSU lead. Southeastern Oklahoma responded in the seventh with two runs, but the Lions held on to secure the 6-5 win.
Dillon contributed with two hits, including a double, and scored two runs. Nuckolls added a triple and scored once while also recording two assists from shortstop. Gray registered one RBI with a double and drew a walk.
Emily Perry led the Lions with three hits and scored one run.
Kiki Pickens started the game for the Lions, pitching 1.1 innings and allowing four hits and three walks, with one earned run. Pickens faced 12 batters, recording one strikeout on 46 pitches, yielding a WHIP of 6.36.
Kadence Janney, entering in relief, delivered a solid performance over 5.2 innings, conceding four hits and one earned run, while striking out three. Janney faced 20 batters and maintained a WHIP of 0.77 over 74 pitches, showcasing effective control with 49 strikes thrown. She picked up the win to improve to 3-0 in 2026.
No. 17 MSSU 10, Harding 9
MSSU then registered a 10-9 victory over Harding (5-9) in the D2 Cherokee Nation Festival finale.
Missouri Southern's offense was bolstered by two home runs and four doubles, contributing to its 16-hit performance.
The game began with MSSU taking an early lead in the first inning when
Taylor Nuckolls scored on a single by
Gianna Saggese, making it 1-0. Harding responded in the second inning by tying the score at 1-1 with an unearned run.
In the third inning, MSSU gained momentum as
Katie Gray doubled and was brought home by a two-run homer from Saggese. This brought the score to 3-2 in favor of the Lions.
After a scoreless fourth inning for Harding, Southern extended its lead further with a three-run inning, aided by an error that allowed
Easton Walter to score, and a single by Nuckolls that drove in another run. The score stood at 6-2 Lions after the fourth inning.
The fifth inning saw the Lions increase their advantage with a solo home run by
Emily Perry and an RBI double by
Maddie Rolfs, advancing the score to 8-2.
Harding remained scoreless in the fifth, but mounted a comeback in the sixth inning, scoring four runs with a series of hits, including a double by Cameron Timmons. The score tightened to 8-6 after six innings.
In the seventh inning, Missouri Southern added two crucial insurance runs with RBI from Rolfs and
Bailey Dillon, bringing the score to 10-6.
Harding made a valiant effort in its final at-bat, scoring three runs and closing the gap. Tori Turner contributed an RBI single, but the rally fell short, and the Lions held on to win the game 10-9.
Nuckolls posted three hits, drove in one run, and stole two bases in the game. Gray finished with three hits, including two doubles, contributing to the offensive effort. Saggese added three RBI and a home run, making a strong impact at the plate. Perry hit a home run, adding one RBI to her performance.
Emily Davis pitched 5.2 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs, with five earned. She struck out three batters while walking one and threw 87 pitches, 54 of which were strikes. She is now 6-0 in the circle this season.
Kiki Pickens entered in relief (0.1 innings), giving up one hit, three runs, and two walks, with two strikeouts.
Kadence Janney closed the game, pitching one inning without allowing a run, giving up one hit, and striking out two, securing the save (first in 2026).
NEXT: Missouri Southern next returns to Joplin to host its home-opening MIAA/GLVC Crossover Feb. 20-21 at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex. The Lions will face Missouri-St. Louis and McKendree in a pair of doubleheaders over the Friday-Saturday homestand.
