JOPLIN, Mo. — No. 12-ranked Missouri Southern softball (41-7, 16-4 MIAA) registered a doubleheader sweep of Newman (10-38, 4-16 MIAA) Friday at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
MSSU shutout out the Jets, 4-0, behind a complete-game shutout from
Kiki Pickens before securing the sweep with a 6-1 decision in the game two finale.
With the pair of wins Friday, Southern improved to 41-7 in 2026 and heads into its final regular-season home doubleheader on Saturday riding a five-game win streak. MSSU is also now 16-4 for second overall in the MIAA conference.
The Lions have also surpassed its win total from 2025 (39) and it's the second time MSSU has posted 41 wins during the
Hallie Blackney era (41-15 in 2023). It's also the ninth time in MSSU program history that the Lions have won 40 or more games.
#12 Missouri Southern 4, Newman 0
Missouri Southern secured a decisive 4–0 victory over Newman in game one Friday at the Pat Lipira Complex.
Kiki Pickens delivered an outstanding performance, allowing only one hit while striking out seven batters.
Newman was unable to overcome a decisive sequence by the Lions in the second inning, where back-to-back doubles proved critical.
Carsen Tinkler ignited the momentum with a single, followed by
Maddie Rolfs' RBI double to center field, bringing Tinkler home.
Cady Dickey continued the surge with another double, driving in Rolfs and giving Southern an early 2–0 lead.
The third inning saw Missouri Southern sustain its pressure.
Taylor Nuckolls singled and, showcasing aggressive base-running, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out.
Emily Perry capitalized, delivering an RBI single to extend the lead.
Nuckolls remained a constant threat, adding another run in the fifth after stealing second and third before scoring on a catcher's error.
Despite the Jets' efforts, they were unable to mount a comeback, held scoreless throughout the game.
The Lions secured a 4–0 victory over NU, highlighted by a strong performance both at the plate and in the circle.
In the second inning, Tinkler singled to center field, setting the stage for Rolfs, who doubled to center field to bring in Tinkler for the first run. Dickey followed with a double to left field, allowing Rolfs to score. The inning ended with Missouri Southern leading 2–0.
The third inning saw Nuckolls reach base with a single and advance to third on a fielder's choice. Perry drove in Nuckolls with a single to second base, extending the lead. The score was 3–0 after three innings.
Southern added another run in the fifth inning. Nuckolls singled and stole second base. After stealing third, Nuckolls scored on a throwing error. This brought the score to 4–0.
Kiki Pickens delivered an impressive performance in the circle, pitching a complete-game shutout over seven innings. Pickens allowed just one hit, struck out seven batters, and did not issue any walks, effectively shutting down Newman's offense. With 70 pitches thrown, 54 of which were strikes, Pickens demonstrated precise control and efficiency, securing the win for the Lions.
The junior from Beebe, Arkansas, improved to 17-3 (7-1 MIAA) following her ninth complete-game (three shutouts in 2026).
Taylor Nuckolls scored two runs and stole three bases in the game, showcasing her speed on the basepaths.
Maddie Rolfs contributed with a crucial double, driving in one run and scoring another.
Carsen Tinkler added two hits and crossed home plate once, bolstering the Lions' offense.
#12 Missouri Southern 6, Newman 1
Missouri Southern defeated Newman 6–1 in its Friday doubleheader finale at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex. MSSU recorded 10 strikeouts and seven stolen bases in the league game.
MSSU secured a decisive victory over Newman, largely due to a productive fifth inning.
Emily Perry was hit by a pitch and scored on
Carsen Tinkler's RBI double. Tinkler then scored on
Maddie Rolfs' sacrifice fly. Later,
Avery Sue Davis singled and advanced to third on a wild pitch, setting up
Cady Dickey's RBI single, bringing the score to 6–0.
Earlier in the game, the Lions applied pressure with timely hitting and aggressive base running.
Bailey Dillon's first-inning single and stolen base set the tone, leading to a sacrifice fly by Tinkler that opened the scoring. In the third inning,
Taylor Nuckolls reached second on an error following a basehit and stole third, allowing
Katie Gray to deliver an RBI single.
In the seventh inning, NU managed to score, but Southern's lead remained secure. Audry Rumsey doubled and eventually scored on Kaila Kaahu's RBI single, yet it wasn't enough to threaten the Lions' commanding lead.
MSSU secured a 6–1 victory over the Jets with a strong performance Friday. In the first inning, Dillon scored the opening run on a sacrifice fly by Tinkler, giving Southern an early lead. The score at the end of the first inning was 1–0.
The third inning saw Nuckolls score after a single and reaching second on an error and being driven in by Gray's single. This extended the lead to 2–0.
In the fourth inning,
Gianna Saggese, who entered as a pinch hitter, singled and later scored on Dillon's RBI single, increasing the advantage to 3–0.
The fifth inning was the most productive for the Lions. Perry, hit by a pitch, was driven home by Tinkler's double. Tinkler then scored on a sacrifice fly by Rolfs, and
Avery Sue Davis, who singled, scored on a basehit by Dickey. This inning secured a commanding 6–0 lead.
Newman managed to score a run in the seventh inning when Audry Rumsey doubled and was driven home by Kaila Kaahu's single. However, Missouri Southern maintained control and concluded the game with a 6–1 victory.
Carsen Tinkler led the way for the Lions, driving in two runs and scoring once in a solid performance.
Avery Sue Davis was a threat on the bases, successfully stealing three bases and adding a hit.
Bailey Dillon contributed offensively with two hits, one run, and an RBI, also managing to steal a base.
Emily Davis excelled in the circle, pitching five innings without allowing a run, giving up only three hits while striking out eight batters. She threw 61 pitches, 46 of which were strikes, earning her 16th win of the season (16-4 in 2026, 7-3 MIAA).
Kadence Janney entered in relief, pitching two innings and conceding an earned run on four hits, while striking out two batters.
NEXT: MSSU next hosts No. 17-ranked Central Oklahoma in a top-20 doubleheader Saturday at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex. The games are set for 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., CT.
