Lions softball to host super regional after 6-1 win over Southern Arkansas
· Yahoo Sports
The No. 5 Missouri Southern State University softball team did what it has done most of the second half of the 2026 season — combine strong pitching, aggressive baserunning, a stingy defense and timely hitting en route to a 6-1 win over the Southern Arkansas University Muleriders Saturday at Pat Lipira Field in the championship finals of their Central Region pod.
With the victory, head coach Hallie Blackney earned her 250th win in eight years at the helm of the program. The 51-win total is the second most in MSSU history.
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The Lions (51-7) will host the University of Central Oklahoma, which won the other four-team Central Region pod Saturday. That super regional will be a best-of-three series that takes place Thursday and Friday at Pat Lipira Field, Game 1 is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, and Game 2 is slated for 3 p.m. Friday. If needed, Game 3 will follow on Friday. A trip to the Division II national championships May 28-June 3 in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is on the line for both teams.
MSSU struck early Saturday, plating a run in the bottom of the first inning. Lead-off hitter Bailey Dillon singled and then proceeded to steal second and then third base. Katie Gray made sure Dillon’s effort paid off as she drove in Dillon with a sacrifice fly to center field to give the Lions an early 1-0 lead.
MSSU added a run each in the second and third innings. In the bottom of the second, Maddie Rolfs scored on an Easton Walter sacrifice to left field, and in the third inning, Rolfs made it a 3-0 game with a double that plated Carsen Tinkler.
Rolfs also made a catch over the top of the center field wall to steal a home run away from Southern Arkansas University’s Regan Dillon.
“It’s not very often that our pitchers give us some action out there,” Rolfs said. “I was just excited to be able to help (pitcher) Kiki (Pickens) out because she throws insane games all the time, and I just love the opportunity to make plays for her.”
The Lions extended their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the fourth when Gray drove in Dillon and Micah Snider.
The lone run for the Muleriders (48-9) came in the top of the sixth when Payton Owens connected for a single that scored Leigha Gilbert.
MSSU added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Dillon scored on another Gray sacrifice fly.
Blackney talked about her team’s ability to stay in the moment regardless of a comfortable lead.
“We have a very mature and experienced team, and we tap into that,” Blackney said. “We had a dropped pop-up in the infield, but there was no panic. The kid that should have caught that came up and made a double play right after that. We’ve really honed in on being able to respond. That’s what these kids do, and it is remarkable.”
Pickens (24-3) earned the win after giving up one run on five hits while striking out three and walking four in 5 2/3 innings. Emily Davis gave up no runs and no hits in 1 1/3 innings of relief. She struck out none and walked two.
“We celebrate today, but tomorrow we go back to work,” Pickens said after the win.
Carsen Tinkler finished 3 for 4 with a run for MSSU. Dillon was 2 for 4 with three runs, Gray was 1 for 2 with four RBIs, and Maddie Rolfs went 2 for 4 with a run and an RBI.
Southern Arkansas’ Emma Duncan (29-5) shouldered the loss after giving up three runs, one earned, on five hits. She struck out one and walked two in three innings.
Owens finished 2 for 3 with one RBI for the Muleriders.