EMPORIA, Kan. — Top seeded and No. 7-ranked Missouri Southern softball (48-7) captured the 2026 MIAA Tournament Championship with a 4-1 victory over No. 6 seed Rogers State (36-19) Saturday afternoon at Trusler Stadium.
MSSU earned its sixth MIAA Tournament title in program history and its first since 2001. The Lions competed in the MIAA Tournament Championship Final for the first time since 2023, Saturday.
Kiki Pickens was named the Most Outstanding Player for the 2026 MIAA Championship Tournament while
Gianna Saggese,
Carsen Tinkler,
Taylor Nuckolls and
Maddie Rolfs were named to the 2026 MIAA All-Tournament Team.
The Championship was highlighted by a three-run seventh inning to clinch the win. MSSU allowed only one hit and struck out 11 batters, showcasing strong pitching throughout the matchup.
Rogers State tied the game in the sixth inning when Raelle Gorman scored on a hit-by-pitch, capitalizing on a fielding error and a pair of wild pitches to level the score at 1-1. However, Missouri Southern seized control in the seventh inning, fueled by a crucial three-run homer from
Emily Perry. After
Katie Gray doubled and
Carsen Tinkler was intentionally walked, Perry's home run to left center provided the decisive offense to secure the victory.
Earlier, Missouri Southern had taken a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning, when
Micah Snider, pinch-running for Tinkler, scored on a sacrifice fly by
Gianna Saggese. Despite the brief setback in the sixth, MSSU maintained its composure, with Perry's home run proving to be the pivotal moment that defined the game.
The game remained scoreless through the first three innings, with both teams unable to capitalize on early opportunities.
In the fourth inning, Southern broke the deadlock. Tinkler doubled to left field, and Snider entered as a pinch runner, later scoring on Saggese's sacrifice fly. At the end of the fourth inning, the Lions led 1-0.
RSU responded in the sixth inning, leveling the score. Gorman reached first base on a fielding error, advancing runners that eventually allowed a run to score on a hit-by-pitch. This left the score tied at 1-1 after six innings.
Southern then took control in the seventh inning. Gray doubled, and a strategic intentional walk to Tinkler set the stage for Perry, who hit a three-run homer to left center to claim the Championship.
Emily Perry led the way for the Lions with a home run, collecting three RBI and stealing a base.
Carsen Tinkler contributed by scoring a run, registering a hit, and securing a stolen base.
Kiki Pickens delivered a strong performance, pitching 6 1/3 innings with only one hit allowed and one earned run. Pickens struck out 10 batters and issued just one walk, maintaining control with 75 strikes out of 115 pitches.
Pickens now has a career-best 172 strikeouts this season which surpasses her total of 164 set in 2025. She moves to second all-time in MSSU single-season history, overtaking Britany Hargis (167 in 2001).
Pickens is also now second all-time in MSSU program history with 446 career strikeouts, moving ahead of Holly Trantham (438 in 1994-97).
Emily Davis contributed by pitching the final 2/3 inning Saturday, adding one strikeout and securing the win, bringing her season record to 19-4.
MSSU's 48 wins in 2026 rank third all-time in program history, only trailing 50 in 1992 and 52 in 2001.
The Lions will next await their postseason fate, with the 2026 NCAA Division II Softball Championship Selection Show set for Monday at 9 a.m., CT. MSSU is ranked first in the Central Region.
