JOPLIN, Mo. — No. 7-ranked Missouri Southern softball swept day one of its home-opening MIAA/GLVC Crossover Friday at Joplin High School. The Lions picked up a pair of run-rule victories, downing Missouri-St. Louis, 11-3 in five innings and 10-2 in six innings, across the doubleheader.
MSSU has now won 11 straight games to improve to 17-1 in 2026.
Emily Perry notched a career-best matching two homers in the Friday opener as the Lions had three homers in its 11-3 win over the Tritons.
In the night cap, leadoff hitter
Bailey Dillon paced MSSU with a four-RBI outing featuring a homer and a double.
No. 7 MSSU 11, Missouri-St. Louis 3 – 5 Innings
Missouri Southern registered an 11-3 victory over Missouri-St. Louis on Friday afternoon, highlighted by three home runs and nine RBI in a decisive performance.
The Lions tallied six hits and three stolen bases, capitalizing on three walks and three hit-by-pitches, while holding UMSL to four hits in five innings.
In the first inning,
Emily Perry hit a three-run homer, driving in
Gianna Saggese and
Katie Gray, who had reached on a walk and a hit by pitch, respectively. This gave Missouri Southern an early lead after the Tritons had scored once. By the end of the first inning, the score was Southern 3, UMSL 1.
During the second inning, the Lions extended their lead.
Easton Walter scored on a passed ball after reaching on a single. Later, Gray hit a three-run homer, bringing home
Taylor Nuckolls and
Bailey Dillon. The inning concluded with MSSU leading 7-1.
After a quiet third inning, the Lions continued their scoring in the fourth inning. Dillon doubled, advanced to third on a sacrifice by Nuckolls, and scored on an error. Perry hit her second home run of the game, a three-run shot that brought in Saggese and a pinch runner,
Avery Sue Davis. The inning ended with Southern ahead 11-2.
UMSL added a run in the fifth inning, but it was not enough to challenge Southern's commanding lead.
Perry posted a standout performance, recording six RBI and hitting two home runs. Gray contributed significantly with three RBI and a home run while also adding two runs scored. Dillon added value with two hits, including a double, and scored two runs.
Kiki Pickens pitched a complete game for Southern, throwing five innings and allowing four hits and three runs. Pickens struck out six batters and walked two, maintaining a WHIP of 1.20. Despite surrendering two doubles and a wild pitch, Pickens effectively managed baserunners, limiting the Tritons to only two earned runs. With 51 strikes out of 85 pitches, Pickens improved to 6-1 in 2026.
No. 7 MSSU 10, Missouri-St. Louis 2 – 5 Innings
MSSU secured a decisive 10-2 victory over Missouri-St. Louis on Friday evening, highlighted by a four-run sixth inning.
The Lions capitalized on a program-record tying 11 walks. MSSU previously had also posted 11 walks against Midwestern State (2-11-22), Illinois-Springfield (2-16-13) and Westmar (3-12-96).
Southern also stole nine bases to dominate the contest.
MSSU opened the game by matching UMSL's early run in the first inning.
Bailey Dillon walked and later stole home, tying the score at 1-1 by the end of the first inning.
In the second inning, Southern took the lead with Dillon's two-run homer, bringing
Carsen Tinkler home after a walk. This gave the Lions a 3-1 advantage by the end of the inning.
The fourth inning saw Missouri-St. Louis narrow the gap with a run, but MSSU responded strongly. A pinch-hit walk by
Grace McNulty set the stage for Dillon's two-RBI double, extending the lead. Dillon then stole home for another run, pushing Southern to a 6-2 lead by the inning's conclusion.
In the sixth inning, Missouri Southern further solidified its lead.
Emily Perry's RBI single and Tinkler's two-RBI single highlighted the inning, followed by
Maddie Rolfs' RBI single. This offensive surge brought the score to 10-2.
Dillon led the charge with four RBI, recording a home run and a double, while also scoring three runs and stealing four bases. Tinkler contributed with two RBI and scored twice, adding a hit and reaching base on a walk and a hit by pitch.
Katie Gray displayed patience at the plate, drawing three walks and scoring a run, while also stealing two bases. Perry added to the offense with a hit and an RBI, scoring once and stealing a base.
Kadence Janney pitched four innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs with four strikeouts and four walks. Janney faced 22 batters and threw 88 pitches, 49 of which were strikes, resulting in a WHIP of 2.25. She picked up the win to improve to 4-0 in 2026.
Emily Davis contributed two innings of scoreless relief, giving up no hits and striking out two batters while walking one, with a WHIP of 0.50 over 17 pitches.
NEXT: MSSU completes its MIAA/GLVC Crossover Saturday, hosting No. 24-ranked McKendree in a top-25 doubleheader at Joplin High School. The doubleheader starts at 1 p.m., CT.
