JOPLIN, Mo. — Carsen Tinkler, a senior at Missouri Southern State University, is the recipient of the Elite Scholar-Athlete award for the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's Softball Championship.
Tinkler graduated from Missouri Southern with her bachelor's in Marketing and Finance with a 4.0 GPA in Spring 2026. She was presented with the Elite Scholar-Athlete award during the sport banquet Wednesday (May 27) evening at Erlanger Park in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Following graduation, Tinkler plans to complete her MBA with an emphasis in Applied Data Analytics at Missouri Southern.
The Elite Scholar-Athlete award recognizes the true essence of student-athletes by honoring the individuals who have reached the pinnacle of competition at the national championship level in their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their peers. The Elite Scholar-Athlete award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NCAA's championships.
Eligible student-athletes are sophomores or above academically who have participated in a sport for at least two years with their school. All ties are broken based on the number of credits completed.
Carsen Tinkler
Sr. | Overland Park, Kan. | Third Base | Marketing & Finance | 4.0 GPA
Carsen Tinkler, a 2026 All-MIAA Third Team selection and 2026 MIAA All-Tournament Team member, ranks third on Missouri Southern at the plate in 2026, batting .368 with a .552 slugging percentage and .430 on-base percentage to go with 28 runs, 64 hits, 11 doubles, seven homers, 36 RBI, 96 total bases and 19 walks.
The Overland Park, Kansas, native, has played in all 61 games with 60 starts at the hot corner. She is second on the team with 10 multi-RBI games and is third on MSSU with 18 multi-hit games. Tinkler went on a nine-game hitting streak this season.
She was named the 2026 MIAA "A Game" Scholar-Athlete for Softball, boasting the top GPA in the league for the sport. Tinkler was also selected to the
College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team for the second time in her career Tuesday.
NEXT: The Lions are the second national seed at the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's College World Series and will face No. 7 Seed (RV) Glenville State Thursday at 3 p.m., CT at Frost Stadium at Warner Park.
Gusano's is the Official Watch Party Destination for the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's College World Series. Gusano's located at 3929 East 7th Street E will be streaming Missouri Southern's games at the World Series beginning with Thursday's matchup against No. 7 Seed (RV) Glenville State.
