JOPLIN, Mo. – A program-best fifty-four wins. Four titles. A World Series berth.
 
The 2026 Missouri Southern softball season will go down as one of the best seasons in program history.
 
MSSU registered a program-best record of 54-10, capturing the 2026 MIAA Regular-Season, 2026 MIAA Tournament, 2026 NCAA DII Central Regional 1 and 2026 NCAA DII Central Super Regional titles.
 
Southern also finished 20-4 in MIAA play, securing the program's best conference record since 2023.
 
The Lions advanced to the NCAA Division II Women's College World Series for the third time in program history. MSSU picked up its first NCAA DII Women's College World Series win since 1992.
 
The Lions climbed as high as No. 3 in the NFCA Coaches Poll during the season, the highest national ranking in program history in the NFCA online records era, and finished the regular season ranked fifth among the nation's top teams throughout the spring.
 
Head coach Hallie Blackney registered her 200th career victory in January and 250th career victory in the Central Region 1 clincher on May 16. She owns a 253-140 career record in eight seasons leading the Lions.
 
MIAA Regular-Season Champions
MSSU captured the 2026 MIAA Regular-Season Championship with a series sweep of rival Pittsburg State on May 2. The Lions claimed the outright title with a 13-6 run-rule game one victory in Pittsburg, Kansas.
 
The MIAA Championship was MSSU's sixth in program history (1990, 1992, 1993, 1998, 2001, 2026) and first since 2001.
 
After splitting MIAA-opening road doubleheaders at Fort Hays State and Nebraska Kearney, MSSU went on a 10-game win streak during conference play.
 
The Lions picked up series sweeps over Washburn, Emporia State, Northeastern State, Missouri Western, Rogers State, Newman, #17 Central Oklahoma and #4 Pittsburg State.
 
MIAA Tournament Champions
As 2026 MIAA Regular-Season Champions, Missouri Southern earned the top seed in the MIAA Tournament in Emporia, Kansas.
 
MSSU picked up a 2-1 win over No. 8 seed Washburn in the Quarterfinals. Carsen Tinkler accounted for both Lions' runs in the opening-round win.
The Lions then downed host and No. 4 seed Emporia State, 6-1, in the Semifinals. Katie Gray, Maddie Rolfs and Avery Sue Davis all had homers in the victory.
 
In the Championship Final, MSSU walked off No. 6 seed Rogers State with a 4-1 victory fueled by a crucial three-run bottom of the seventh homer from Emily Perry.
 
MSSU earned its sixth MIAA Tournament title in program history and its first since 2001.
 
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.

Pickens started all three games of the 2026 MIAA Championship Tournament, posting a 0.81 ERA with a 2-0 mark over 17.1 innings with 23 strikeouts. She tossed a complete game in the opener against Washburn and limited opposing batters to a .156 batting average over the Tournament. 
 
NCAA DII Central Region 1
As MIAA Regular-Season and Tournament Champion, MSSU earned the top seed and hosted both the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Regional 1 and 2026 NCAA Division II Central Super Regional.
 
In the opener against No. 8 seeded Augustana, the Lions clawed back from a 5-4 deficit. Maddie Rolfs evened the contest with a sacrifice fly before Avery Sue Davis claimed the 6-5 win with an RBI double.
 
MSSU punched its ticket to the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Regional 1 finals with a 2-1 win over No. 4 seed Southern Arkansas. Bailey Dillon's two-run base hit in the second provided to be the difference maker as Kiki Pickens notched a complete-game, allowing one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts.
 
The Lions then secured the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Regional 1 title with a 6-1 win over Southern Arkansas. MSSU extended its win streak to 15 games in the clincher.
 
Missouri Southern tallied 12 hits and capitalized on three sacrifice flies to maintain control throughout the game.
 
The Lions captured their third NCAA Regional title and first since 1992 (also won NCAA Regional title in 1990) when Southern captured the 1992 NCAA Division II National Championship.
 
NCAA DII Central Super Regional Champions
As the top seed and after capturing the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Regional 1 title, MSSU hosted three seed Central Oklahoma in the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Super Regional at Pat Lipira Softball Complex and Joplin High School.
 
The Lions dropped the opener to the Bronchos 8-4 prompting a two-game winner take all second day of Super Regional action.
 
Due to inclement weather and field conditions, day two of the Super Regional was moved to Joplin High School, a turf playing surface, from the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.
 
After dropping the opener of the best of three series to Central Oklahoma, MSSU rallied for a pair of wins over the Bronchos May 23 at Joplin High School for the Central Super Regional title.
 
As the visiting team in both contests, Missouri Southern bested Central Oklahoma, 6-1, and 7-4, to earn the distinction of top team in the Central Region.
 
MSSU captured its first-ever Super Regional title and advanced to the Lions' third World Series (1990, 1992, previous two times) in program history. The Lions then competed at the NCAA Division II Women's College World Series for the first time since 1992 when Missouri Southern was crowned National Champions.
 
After surrendering a first inning run, the Lions scored six unanswered runs to force a winner-take all, if necessary, game three. Missouri Southern accumulated 10 hits and scored three runs in the fifth inning to pull away from the Bronchos.
 
MSSU then captured the 2026 NCAA Division II Central Super Regional Championship in game three. The Lions scored four runs in the sixth inning to seal the 7-4 win.
 
Maddie Rolfs blasted a three-run homer in the fourth for a 3-2 Lions' lead before the sixth inning outburst broke the 3-3 tie.
 
NCAA DII Women's College World Series
The Lions made their third program appearance in the NCAA Division II Women's College World Series and first since 1992.
 
MSSU picked up a win at the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's College World Series on May 28, the Lions first World Series win since May 17, 1992.
 
The Lions held off No. 7 seed Glenville State, 5-3, in the World Series opening win. Taylor Nuckolls' two-run double in the fourth pushed MSSU's lead to 4-0. Emily Perry added a fifth-inning homer for a 5-1 MSSU advantage.
 
MSSU then stymied a late Pioneers rally for a 5-3 victory. The Lions pitching corps of Kiki Pickens, Kadence Janney, and Emily Davis combined for a no-hitter, with the only blemishes being six walks, two wild pitches, and two HBPs which accounted for Glenville State's three runs.
 
In games two and three of the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's College World Series, the Lions fought back from adversity.
Trailing 1-0 against No. 6 seed McKendree, Bailey Dillon and Maddie Rolfs combined for home runs in the sixth and seventh frames to put the Lions ahead 2-1. The Bearcats however picked up the 3-2 walk-off win with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Lions then fell in an elimination game to No. 5 seed West Texas A&M in extra innings, 6-3.
 
Down 3-0, MSSU forced extras with a three-run fifth sparked by a Maddie Rolfs solo homer. Katie Gray followed with a two-run single to knot the game at 3-3. WTAMU then captured the win with a trio of home runs in the ninth.
 
Accolades
2026 MIAA Softball Honors
Ten members of Missouri Southern softball were honored with 2026 MIAA Softball laurels ahead of the league's tournament.
 
Kiki Pickens was named MIAA Pitcher of the Year for the second-straight season in addition to 2026 All-MIAA First Team. Pitcher Emily Davis was selected the MIAA Freshman of the Year as the Lions have earned that honor in back-to-back campaigns after outfielder Bailey Dillon led MIAA first-year players in 2025 for the distinction. Davis was also honored on the 2026 All-MIAA First Team and 2026 MIAA Gold Glove Team (Pitcher).
 
First base Katie Gray and Dillon were also both featured on the 2026 All-MIAA First Team.
 
Shortstop Taylor Nuckolls was named to the 2026 All-MIAA Second Team and 2026 MIAA Gold Glove Team. Third base Carsen Tinkler was tabbed to the 2026 All-MIAA Third Team and outfielder Maddie Rolfs earned 2026 All-MIAA Honorable Mention.
 
The Lions coaching staff of head coach Hallie Blackney, associate head coach Lexi Kinnaird and graduate assistant Caitlyn Wells were named the 2026 MIAA Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
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.

MIAA Player of the Week Honors
Emily Davis – Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 2, March 16)
Katie Gray – Hitter of the Week (Feb. 9)
Bailey Dillon – Hitter of the Week (March 30)
Kiki Pickens – Pitcher of the Week (April 13, April 20)
 
2026 All-Region Honors
Four members of Missouri Southern softball team earned 2026 NFCA Division II Central All-Region honors and 2026 D2CCA Central All-Region honors.
 
Kiki Pickens and Bailey Dillon were named to the First Team All-Region while Emily Davis and Katie Gray both were tabbed Second Team All-Region.
 
The Missouri Southern softball coaching staff of Hallie Blackney, Lexi Kinnaird and Caitlyn Wells was named the 2026 ATEC/NFCA Division II Central Region Coaching Staff of the Year.
 
2026 All-American Honors
Missouri Southern softball student-athletes Kiki Pickens and Bailey Dillon were named 2026 National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II All-Americans.
 
Pickens was named a Second Team All-American by both the NFCA and the Division II Conference Commissioners Association, while Dillon was tabbed a Third Team All-American by the NFCA.
 
For Dillon, it marks her second-consecutive All-American honors after also being selected to the NFCA Third Team in 2025.
 
For Pickens, the All-American honors are the first in her career.
 
Missouri Southern was one of seven programs to have two NFCA All-Americans in 2026.
 
Records
64 Games Played (Matches MSSU Single-Season Record) – Bailey Dillon, Taylor Nuckolls, Maddie Rolfs, Carsen Tinkler
 
225 At bats (MSSU Single-Season Record) – Taylor Nuckolls
 
4 Runs (Matches MSSU Single-Game Record) – Bailey Dillon vs. Cameron (02/01/2026)
 
66 Runs (MSSU Single-Season Record) – Bailey Dillon (Beats her 2025 Record of 57)
 
16 Home Runs (MSSU Single-Season Record) – Katie Gray
41 Career Home Runs (MSSU Career Record) – Katie Gray (2023-2026)
 
124 Total Bases (MSSU Single-Season Record) – Katie Gray
359 Career Total Bases (MSSU Career Record) – Katie Gray (2023-2026)
 
88 Career Extra Base Hits (Matches MSSU Career Record) – Katie Gray (2023-2026)
 
184 Career RBI (MSSU Career Record) – Katie Gray (2023-2026)
 
4 Walks (Matches MSSU Single-Game Record) – Katie Gray vs. Central Oklahoma (4/25/2026)
39 Walks (MSSU Single-Season Record) – Katie Gray
 
15 HBP (MSSU Single-Season Record) – Katie Gray
36 Career HBP (MSSU Career Record) – Katie Gray (2023-2026)
 
49 Stolen Bases (MSSU Single-Season Record) – Bailey Dillon
 
1697 Team At Bats (MSSU Single-Season Record)
366 Team Runs (MSSU Single-Season Record)
560 Team Hits (MSSU Single-Season Record)
104 Team Doubles (MSSU Single-Season Record)
56 Team Home Runs (MSSU Single-Season Record)
866 Team Total Bases (MSSU Single-Season Record)
337 Team RBI (MSSU Single-Season Record)
418 Team Strikeouts (MSSU Single-Season Record)
6.73 Team Strikeouts per 7.0 IP (MSSU Single-Season Record)
54 Team Pitching Victories (MSSU Single-Season Record)
.511 Team Slugging Percentage (MSSU Single-Season Record)
.974 Team Fielding Percentage (MSSU Single-Season Record) - 1308 putouts, 465 assists, 47 errors
 
11 Team Walks (Matches MSSU Single-Game Record) – vs. Missouri-St. Louis (2/20/2026)
10 Team Stolen Bases (Matches MSSU Single-Game Record) – vs. Southeastern Oklahoma (2/6/2026)
15 Strikeouts (Matches MSSU Single-Game Record) – vs. Washburn (3/27/2026)

 
Academics & Community Service
MSSU also saw success off the softball diamond, registering a 3.87 over the Spring 2026 semester with 10 4.0 GPAs. The Lions also completed over 342 hours of community service to lead MSSU Athletics over the 2025-26 academic year.
 
2026 CSC Academic All-District
Missouri Southern softball student-athletes Emily Perry (Business Administration – Marketing | Master of Business Administration| 3.84 Undergraduate GPA, 4.00 Graduate GPA), Carsen Tinkler (Marketing/Finance | 4.0 GPA), Katie Gray (Sports & Recreation Management – Kinesiology | MS Sports & Recreation Management | 3.62 Undergraduate GPA, 4.00 Graduate GPA), Maddie Rolfs (Biomedical Sciences | 4.0 GPA) and Bailey Dillon (Exercise Science | 3.96 GPA) were all named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team.
 
Tinkler, Gray, Rolfs and Dillon were selected as CSC Academic All-America finalists and will advance to the national ballot to be voted on by CSC members. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America honorees will be announced June 16.
 
Carsen Tinkler
Besides 2026 CSC Academic All-District honors, Carsen Tinkler boasted the top GPA in both MIAA softball this season and at the 2026 NCAA Division II Women's College World Series to earn both 2026 MIAA Softball's "A Game" Scholar-Athlete award and 2026 NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete award.
 
Graduates
Five Lions graduated this Spring 2026 semester from Missouri Southern State University in Emma Mason (Exercise Science), Taylor Nuckolls (Sports & Recreation Management – Kinesiology), Carsen Tinkler (Marketing/Finance), Emily Perry (Master's in Business Administration, Summer 2026) and Cady Dickey (Sports & Recreation Management – Kinesiology).
 
Katie Gray graduated with her bachelor's in Sports & Recreation Management – Kinesiology in December 2025. She is currently serving as Missouri Southern Athletics' graduate assistant for Compliance while completing her master's in Sports & Recreation Management.