JOPLIN, Mo. — No. 12-ranked Missouri Southern softball (43-7, 18-4 MIAA) completed a doubleheader sweep of No. 17-ranked Central Oklahoma (39-12, 16-6 MIAA) Saturday at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
The Lions took game one, 6-3, before capturing the sweep in game two, 6-1.
Kiki Pickens and
Emily Davis combined for consecutive complete-game victories in the top-20 battle Saturday.
Southern now has a record of 43-7 and is second in the MIAA standings with an 18-4 mark. UCO has a record of 39-12 and holds third place in the MIAA standings with 16-6.
The 43 wins for MSSU are the most since 1994 (42-16) and are the most during the
Hallie Blackney era.
The Lions are currently on a seven-game winning streak heading into its final MIAA doubleheader May 2 at No. 2 Pittsburg State.
MSSU picked up the doubleheader sweep of UCO for the first time since 2001 (3/22/01) in Chandler, Oklahoma. It was the first home doubleheader sweep of the Bronchos for the Lions.
#12 Missouri Southern 6, #17 Central Oklahoma 3
Missouri Southern secured a 6–3 game one victory over Central Oklahoma Saturday at the Pat Lipira Complex. The Lions collected 10 hits, including two home runs, to earn the win.
Central Oklahoma initially took a 3–0 lead in the first inning with a three-run homer by Kennedy Clark. MSSU responded in the bottom half, as
Katie Gray delivered a three-run home run to right field, scoring
Bailey Dillon and
Taylor Nuckolls, tying the score at 3–3 by the end of the inning.
In the subsequent innings, Missouri Southern capitalized on crucial moments. In the second inning, Nuckolls launched a solo home run to center, securing a 4–3 advantage. The third inning saw
Maddie Rolfs advance to third following a bunt single, an error and a stolen base, then score on
Avery Sue Davis's sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 5–3. The fifth inning featured an RBI single from
Easton Walter, bringing in Rolfs, pushing the lead to 6–3.
Southern maintained its defensive composure throughout the remaining innings, highlighted by a key double play in the seventh inning. A steady defense and strong outing from
Kiki Pickens kept the Bronchos scoreless for the remainder of the game.
Taylor Nuckolls contributed significantly by scoring two runs and hitting a home run, adding one RBI.
Katie Gray added to the team's offense with a home run and recorded three RBI while also drawing three walks. Gray has now matched a career-best 15 homers in 2026 (also had 15 homers in 2025) for 40 career homers as a Lion.
Maddie Rolfs tallied two hits and two runs and successfully stole a base.
Kiki Pickens delivered a complete game performance for Missouri Southern, pitching seven innings and recording eight strikeouts. She allowed three earned runs on three hits, including one home run, while issuing two walks. Pickens threw 82 pitches, 55 of which were strikes, and secured her 18th win of the season, improving to 18–3 in 2026 (8-1 MIAA). It marked her second-straight complete-game of the weekend and third in her last three starts.
#12 Missouri Southern 6, #17 Central Oklahoma 1
The Lions secured a decisive 6-1 victory over Central Oklahoma to secure the doubleheader sweep Saturday. The game featured a strong offensive display by MSSU, including a home run and a triple among its 10 hits, while
Emily Davis held Central Oklahoma to just one run on six hits.
Central Oklahoma momentarily leveled the score in the third inning with an RBI single by Kennedy Clark, but MSSU swiftly regained control in the fourth inning. The inning began with
Maddie Rolfs doubling to left field, followed by an RBI sacrifice bunt by
Avery Sue Davis, bringing Rolfs home.
Gianna Saggese doubled to center, setting up
Easton Walter's RBI double to left.
Bailey Dillon then singled, driving in another run to extend the lead.
MSSU capitalized again in the sixth inning. After Saggese singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Dillon executed a bunt for a triple, adding another run.
Katie Gray's aggressive baserunning following a walk led to Dillon stealing home, sealing the scoring. Missouri Southern's defense held firm, preventing any further scoring threats from the Bronchos and securing the win.
Missouri Southern secured a solid victory against UCO with a final score of 6-1. The game began quietly, as both teams were scoreless in the first inning. In the second inning,
Carsen Tinkler put the Lions on the board with a solo home run to left field, giving MSSU a 1-0 lead. The Bronchos responded in the third inning when Rylee Lemos scored on a single by Kennedy Clark, tying the game at 1-1.
The fourth inning saw Southern break the tie with a three-run effort. Rolfs doubled and later scored on a sacrifice bunt by
Avery Sue Davis. Saggese doubled to advance Rolfs, and she scored on a double by Walter.
Micah Snider, pinch running for Walter, scored on a single by Dillon, extending the lead to 4-1.
In the sixth inning, MSSU added two more runs. Saggese singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, then scored on a bunt triple by Dillon. Dillon later stole home, finalizing the score at 6-1.
Southern maintained its lead through the seventh inning, with
Emily Davis delivering a complete game performance from the circle.
Bailey Dillon recorded three hits and drove in two runs while also stealing two bases in the game.
Carsen Tinkler contributed with a home run and collected two hits, driving in one run.
Gianna Saggese crossed home plate twice and tallied three hits, including a double.
Emily Davis delivered a complete game performance for Missouri Southern State, pitching seven innings with no walks and allowing only one earned run. Davis struck out five batters while giving up six hits, throwing a total of 76 pitches with 61 of them being strikes. This victory improved her season record to 17-4 (8-3 MIAA).
NEXT: MSSU next wraps the MIAA regular-season with a showdown at No. 2-ranked and MIAA leader Pittsburg State (45-4, 17-3 MIAA) May 2 in Pittsburg, Kansas.
