JOPLIN, Mo. — No. 7-ranked Missouri Southern softball (17-3) dropped its home doubleheader to No. 24 McKendree (8-2) Saturday at Joplin High School. The Bearcats took the opener, 8-4, before securing the sweep with a 6-3 win in game two.
MSSU now moves to 17-3 in 2026 while McKendree improves to 8-2 this season.
The Lions conclude their home-opening MIAA/GLVC Crossover, 2-2, after earning a pair of run-rule wins over Missouri-St. Louis on Friday.
No. 24 McKendree 8, No. 7 MSSU 4
Missouri Southern fell to McKendree with a final score of 8-4 on Saturday in its doubleheader opener.
McKendree capitalized on a strong start, scoring seven runs in the first two innings, which set the tone for the remainder of the game at Joplin High School.
McKendree took an early lead in the first inning with a series of singles culminating in a three-RBI double by Laynee Tapp, bringing the score to 4-1. Missouri Southern responded with an RBI sacrifice fly by
Emily Perry, scoring
Taylor Nuckolls. The score at the end of the first inning was 4-1 in favor of McK.
In the second inning, McKendree extended its lead with a two-run homer by Ali Grenzebach and a subsequent RBI single by Paisley Twait, pushing the score to 7-1. MSSU narrowed the gap as
Bailey Dillon and Nuckolls each hit RBI singles, ending the inning with a score of 7-3.
The fifth inning saw Missouri Southern inch closer when Perry hit a solo home run, bringing the score to 7-4. However, McKendree added another run in the sixth inning on an RBI single by Grenzebac, making it 8-4.
Perry contributed significantly with a home run and two RBI. Nuckolls added a triple and an RBI while scoring one run. Rolfs recorded two hits, including a double, and scored one run. Dillon collected two hits, drove in one run, and stole a base.
Kiki Pickens (6-2) started the game but faced challenges, allowing five earned runs on six hits over one inning, with no walks or strikeouts.
Kadence Janney took over in relief, delivering an impressive six innings with only two earned runs allowed and four hits, striking out three and walking just one. Janney's effective pitching resulted in a WHIP of 0.83, demonstrating control and efficiency across 75 pitches, 50 of which were strikes.
No. 24 McKendree 6, No. 7 MSSU 3
MSSU was then defeated 6-3 by McKendree on Saturday in the doubleheader finale at Joplin High School.
The Lions scored all three of their runs in the third inning, highlighted by a home run from
Katie Gray, but was unable to overcome McKendree's two home runs and six runs across the fifth and sixth innings.
In the third inning, Missouri Southern took the lead with a three-run home run by Gray, scoring
Taylor Nuckolls and
Maddie Rolfs. It marked Gray's eighth homer of the 2026 campaign. This put the Lions ahead 3-1 after three innings.
McKendree responded in the fifth inning with a three-run home run by Ali Grenzebach, shifting the lead back in its favor, 4-3. The Bearcats extended their lead in the sixth inning with a two-run double by Addie Clark, bringing the score to 6-3.
Despite efforts in the seventh inning, Missouri Southern was unable to add to its score.
Gray led the offense with a strong performance, hitting a home run and driving in three runs. Nuckolls contributed by scoring a run, collecting two hits, and stealing a base. Rolfs added speed on the bases, scoring a run and stealing a base after getting hit by a pitch.
Emily Davis (6-1) pitched 5 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits, including two home runs, and striking out two while walking two. Davis threw 79 pitches, 49 for strikes, and ended with a WHIP of 1.73.
Kadence Janney relieved Davis, pitching 1 1/3 innings without allowing a hit or run, issuing one walk, and recording three flyouts. Janney threw 29 pitches, 16 for strikes, finishing with a WHIP of 0.91.
NEXT: MSSU next heads to Shawnee, Kansas, for the Midwest College Classic Feb. 28-March 1.
