DeSanto named MIAA Hitter of the Week

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

Missouri Southern sophomore infielder Abby DeSanto was announced as the MIAA Hitter of the Week by the conference office on Monday Mar. 27th.

DeSanto helped the Lions to MIAA sweeps over Northeastern State and No. 2 Rogers State at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex. She had an historic game at the plate in the 15-9 win over NSU in game two to claim the sweep over the RiverHawks going 3-for-3 with three home runs, four runs scored and seven RBI to tie the program record for home runs in a game and tied for the second most RBIs in a game. 

The sophomore from North Richland Hills, Texas was just a grand slam short of completing the home run cycle with a two-run shot in the second inning, solo and a three-run homer in the fifth. For the week, DeSanto hit .333 with a 1.083 slugging percentage and eight RBI.

Southern and DeSanto will be back in action on Friday Mar. 31st in Kearney, Neb. to play the Nebraska - Kearney Lopers in a double header beginning at 2:00pm from Patriot Park. Following the game against the Lopers it will be a Saturday Apr. 1st double header at Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan. beginning at 12:00pm from Fleharty Family Field to conclude the weekend.

MSSU Baseball completes sweep over Emporia State

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

The seventh ranked Lions completed the sweep of Emporia State on Sunday Mar. 26th at Warren Turner Field in a 1-0 pitchers duel.

The Lions (23-7, 13-3 MIAA) were led by Kyle Moore with two strikeouts in five innings of shutout ball from the bullpen with Owen Schneider getting the no decision after four shutout innings and two strikeouts. Chayton Beck scored the lone run of the game and Nate Mieszkowski picked up the RBI.








Southern and Emporia State (11-19, 6-10 MIAA) would get runners in scoring positions in the first two innings with both teams able to get a runner on third as the Lions walked into a bases loaded situation but couldn't score a run with an inning ending fielders choice. In the fifth inning the Lions would get a run thanks to a Beck single and two errors by the Hornets advancing him to third and a Mieszkowski sacrifice fly to center field allowed Beck to score, breaking the deadlock.

Emporia State got a hit to begin the eighth inning but a Mieszkowski-to-Henry Kusiak-to-Matt Miller double play at first base halting the Hornets advance, Moore would induce a fly ball to Tyler Ferguson in left field to preserved the one run lead. In the ninth Ferguson swapped left for right field as Moore sent the Hornets down in order thanks to fly outs to center and right field and a groundout to Kusiak at shortstop.

In the series against Emporia State the Lions only allowed one run in 23 innings (0.39 ERA) striking out 22 (7.3 per game) and held the visitors to a .141 batting average. Offensively the Lions scored 27 runs (9.0 per game) with 30 hits (10.0 per game) and four home runs for a weekend average of .353.

Up next for the team will be a busy week beginning with a midweek MIAA game against Rogers State in Claremore, Okla. from the Diamond Sports Complex on Mar. 28th at 2:00pm. Following the game against the Hillcats the Lions will return home for an early season makeup game against Southwestern Oklahoma State on Wednesday Mar. 29th at 2:00pm from Warren Turner Field. After the game against the Bulldogs it will be a three game MIAA series against Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan. at Larks Park beginning on Mar. 31st at 1:00pm.

Southern softball sweeps doubleheader from Rogers State

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

The Missouri Southern softball program claimed the third sweep in MIAA play beating No. 2 Rogers State 6-3 and 4-0 on Sunday Mar. 26th at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.

The Lions (22-7, 7-1 MIAA) were led by Emily Perry going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and scoring once, Josie Tofpi had two RBIs and scored once as well. Avery Tallman earned her 12th win of the season with five innings of work and Bailey Lacy pitching the last two innings with no hits allowed and three strikeouts.

Rogers State (23-6, 2-4 MIAA) got on the board first with two runs in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead. Southern responded in the second inning with six runs with an Adrianna Young single through the right side scoring Kara Amos, Perry hitting a double to center field scoring Katie Gray and Young, Tofpi singling home Perry and Yazmin Vargas and an Ashlynn Williams single up the middle scored Tofpi.

The Hillcats got one more run in the fifth but were kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way with the Lions picking up the 6-3 win in game one.

In game two Lacy got the start and threw a complete game shutout with four strikeouts for her sixth win of the season, Williams had two RBIs to lead the team with Perry going 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Southern got on the board first with a Williams RBI in the first inning giving the Lions an early 1-0 lead. The scoring would resume in the third inning with a delayed double steal by Perry and Withers would score Perry as back-to-back RBI hits by Williams and Amos gave the Lions a 4-0 lead.

Lacy would get out of a jam in the sixth inning with runners on first and third with a fly out to short stop to end the inning and ended the game with a groundout to herself in the seventh to complete her first shutout and complete game of the season.

For the weekend the Lions scored 31 runs (7.8 per game) from 41 hits (10.3 per game) for a .402 batting average.

This was the first sweep of a ranked opponent for coach Hallie Blackney as the Lions head coach and the first time in her tenure beating two ranked opponents in a season with the Lions beating then ranked #16 Southern Arkansas 6-2 on Feb. 19th at Yukon High School in the last game of the MIAA/GAC Crossover. Blackney has now coach three wins over a ranked Rogers State team with a 5-3 victory in game one of the Apr. 10th, 2021 double header against a then ranked #22 Hillcats team in Joplin. Southern beat a then ranked #17 Augustana in St. Joseph at the Hy-Vee Classic 3-1 in game one of a double header on Mar. 23rd, 2019 in Blackney's first season leading the program to round out her wins against ranked oppositions for the Lions.

Up next for the Lions will be a conference road weekend first at Nebraska - Kearney followed by Fort Hays State. Southern will play the Lopers in Kearney, Neb on Friday Mar. 31st at Patriot Park in a double header beginning at 2:00pm. To end the weekend teh Lions will play the Tigers in Hays, Kan. on Saturday Apr. 1st at Fleharty Family Field in a double header beginning at 12:00pm.

Career Update

Bailey Lacy - Moved past Ashley Lutz (2015-16) for third in career strikeouts with 254 following the games against Rogers State.

Ten MSSU basketball players named Scholar Athletes

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

The Missouri Southern basketball programs had 10 individuals named onto the MIAA Academic Honor Roll and one named Scholar-Athlete as announced by the conference office Thursday Mar. 23rd.

To be recognized on the Academic Honor Roll, a student-athlete must have a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.00 or above at the certifying member institution. 

The individual must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. For the women Cameron Call, Anjelina Humphreys, Kaitlin Hunnicutt, Amaya Johns, Layne Skiles, Madi Stokes, Lacy Stokes and Mia Topping were named to the Honor Roll as the men were represented by Tyriqe Jackson and Ndongo Ndaw.

To be recognized as a Scholar-Athlete an individual must has a grade point average used by the institution for purposes of NCAA academic certification of 3.50 or better at the certifying member institution. They must also have at least two terms of attendance at the certifying member institution, excluding summer terms. On the court, the student-athlete must receive All-MIAA honors for the current season. Skiles was named a Scholar-Athlete for the first time in her career after being an All-MIAA honorable mention selection this season and the finance major having a 3.94 GPA.

Academic awards for first-year and transfer student-athletes will be announced at a later date in the year.

The Missouri Southern women's basketball season is presented by People's Bank of Seneca, a proud supporter of Lion Athletics.

MSSU baseball to play host to Emporia State this weekend

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

The Seventh ranked Missouri Southern baseball program will host a three game MIAA series against Emporia State beginning on Friday Mar. 24th at Warren Turner Field with first pitch set for 6:00pm.

Southern (20-7, 10-3 MIAA) is ranked seventh in the latest NCBWA poll and for the second week in a row leads the Central Region while being second in the MIAA. Emporia State (11-16, 6-7 MIAA) is not featured in the national or region polls by the NCBWA and is sixth in the MIAA.

Game times this weekend will be 6:00pm on Friday, 1:00pm on Saturday and 1:00pm on Sunday with all games to be played at Warren Turner Field.

Statistically the Lions have one of the best offensive lineups in Division II with a division leading 53 home runs while having the third best home runs per game average at 2.04, sixth in slugging percentage at .562, 11th in hits with 287, 13th in doubles with 59, 14th in runs scored with 236, 17th in scoring per game at 9.1 and 25th in doubles per game at 2.27. In MIAA ranks the team leads in home runs, home runs per game, runs, scoring and slugging percentage while being second in doubles, doubles per game and hits.

Individually Southern is led by Nate Mieszkowski with a .414 average with 37 runs scored, 48 hits, seven doubles, nine home runs and 36 RBIs while slugging .724 with a .489 on-base percentage for a 1.213 OPS. Garrett Rice is hitting .354 with 31 runs scored, 40 hits, six doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBIs while slugging .611 with a .440 on-base percentage for a 1.051 OPS. Ethan Clark is hitting .352 with 14 runs scored, 25 hits, nine doubles and 21 RBIs, Matt Miller is hitting .343 with 30 runs scored, 34 hits, five doubles, 10 home runs and 32 RBIs while slugging .697 and a .446 on-base percentage for a 1.143 OPS. Will Doherty is hitting .330 with 25 runs, 34 hits, nine doubles, four home runs and 23 RBIs to round out the hitters batting above .300. Henry Kusiak is hitting .297 with 27 runs scored, 33 hits, seven doubles, five home runs for 21 RBIs.

On the mound the Lions as a staff has a 5.59 ERA with opponents hitting .279 and striking out 8.4 per game. Cole Woods leads the way with a 5-1 record in seven starts for a 3.46 ERA in 41.2 innings striking out 45 while walking only nine and opponents hitting .224. Owen Schneider is 1-1 in seven starts in 26.0 innings striking out 23 and opponents hitting .280. Cole Gayman, Cale McCallister, Trent Harris and Steen Lane have started games for the Lions with Gayman 3-0 in seven appearances in 25.2 innings striking out 23. Laif Hultine leads the bullpen with 13 appearances with a 1-1 record, three saves and a 4.15 ERA in 13.0 innings while striking out 11 and opponents hitting .229. Kyle Moore has made 10 appearances with a 3-2 record, two saves and a 4.30 ERA in 29.1 innings striking out 31 and opponents hitting .245.

As a team the Hornets average 8.3 hits and 6.4 runs per game and as a pitching staff has a 6.33 ERA with opponents hitting .273 and striking out 7.8 per game. Leading the charge is Noah Geekie with a .323 average, 13 runs scored, 21 hits, four doubles and 17 RBIs. Chandler Bloomer is hitting .304 with 16 runs scored, 21 hits, three doubles and 11 RBIs to round out the normal batters hitting above .300.

Kadyn Williams is hitting .297 with 18 runs scored and 27 hits with five doubles and three home runs for 25 RBIs. Andrew Rantz is hitting .206 with 20 runs scored, 21 hits and a team-high seven home runs. Quinton Carlbert is hitting .241 with 25 runs scored, 20 hits for six home runs and has been walked 20 times.

On the mound Geekie is 4-1 in seven starts for a 4.35 ERA in 41.1 innings striking out 41 while walking 11 and opponents hitting .247. Graham Brunner is 0-2 in seven starts for a 8.78 ERA in 27.2 innings striking out 19 and walking 15 with opponents hitting .313. Ian Lanik is 4-3 in six starts for a 3.15 ERA in 40.0 innings striking out 31 and opponents hitting .199. Cade Barton is 1-4 in five starts for a 12.19 ERA in 20.2 innings while striking out 22 walking 19 and opponents hitting .365. Will Hann and Braden Meek have both made 11 appearances from the bullpen with Hann pitching 16.0 inning with a 1.13 ERA, 12 strikeouts and one walk with opponents hitting .254. Meek has pitched 12.0 innings with a 9.00 ERA, eight strikeouts and two walks with opponents hitting .411. Greg Ross has a 1-2 record and four saves in nine appearances for a 4.18 ERA in 23.2 innings with 33 strikeouts and opponents hitting .221.

MSSU baseball defeats Missouri S&T 14-5

(From Missouri Southern Sports)

Rolla, Mo. - The 7th ranked Missouri Southern baseball program defeated Missouri S&T 14-5 on Wednesday Mar. 22nd in a non-conference midweek tilt at the Ballpark at S&T.

The Lions (20-7, 10-3 MIAA) had four hitters have two RBIs, four scoring two or more runs and three that walked twice. Matt Miller scored three times had two RBIs and walked twice with one hit and a stolen base, Garrett Rice scored three times and had two walks with a hit to go 1-for-2. 

Steen Lane picked up his second win of the season with six strikeouts in five innings giving up two hits as Kyle Kaempf, Jacob Davis and Kaydon Patrick recorded a strikeout each from the bullpen.

Southern scored first in the third inning as an Ethan Clark double to right field scored Matt Miller and Henry Kusiak to cap off an early 5-0 lead over Missouri S&T (9-11, 1-7 GLVC). The Miners would score in the fourth inning before two more runs were added by the Lions in the fifth inning from a wild pitch and a Miller double to left center scoring Will Doherty to make it a 7-1 lead. In the sixth Nate Mieszkowski singled home Drew Davis for the lone run in the inning as a Chayton Beck double to left field scored Tyler Ferguson and Miller before Mieszkowski drove in Beck to make it a 11-1 lead.

The Lions would get two more runs in the eighth as a Tyler Ferguson bases loaded walk scored Doherty and a Davis sacrifice fly to center field scored Miller, Missouri S&T would score two runs in the bottom half of the inning to force a ninth inning as a Kusiak double to left center scored Rice to finish the scoring at 14-5.

Up next for the Lions will be Emporia State in an MIAA home weekend at Warren Turner Field. Game times are set for 6:00pm on Friday, 1:00pm on Saturday and 1:00pm on Sunday.

MSSU golfers take eighth at Broncho Invitational

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

Edmond, Okla. - The Missouri Southern men's golf program wrapped up the Broncho Invitational from the Rose Creek Golf Course on Tuesday Mar. 21st, finishing eighth as a team with a 305-round score for the day.

The Lions were led by Tradgon McCrae who finished tied for sixth with a 73-round score, for the round had four birdies and on par fives averaged 4.50 stokes. Josh Hamnett finished tied for 45th with a 77-round score, for the round had three birdies and on par fives averaged 4.75 strokes.

Jonathan Sancez finished tied for 58th with a 76-round score, for the round had two birdies and on par fives averaged 4.75 strokes. Ben Marckmann finished tied for 58th with a 83-round score, for the round had a birdie and on par threes averaged 3.50 strokes.

Ben Epperly finished tied for 62nd with a 79-round score, for the round had three birdies and on par fives averaged 5.00 strokes. Competing as an individual Luis Limon finished tied for 37th with a 75-round score, for the round had three birdies and on par fives averaged 4.25 strokes.

Central Oklahoma was the best team with the host having a team score of 894 from three rounds, 289-305-300, the Bronchos Bennett Baldwin led all individuals with a 219 three round score, 69-76-74.

Up next for the Lions will be the DBU Invite on Apr. 3rd and Apr. 4th at the Wild Horse Golf Course in Denton, Texas. Following the DBU Invite Southern will compete in the MIAA Championships from Arp. 17th - Apr. 19th at Silo Ridge Golf Course in Bolivar, Mo.

MSSU baseball to play Missouri S&T Wednesday

(From Missouri Southern Sports)

The 11th ranked Missouri Southern baseball program will play Missouri S&T in a midweek game Wednesday Mar. 22nd from the Ballpark at S&T at 2:00pm.

Southern (19-7, 10-3 MIAA) as a team averages 11.0 hits and 9.1 runs per game and as a pitching staff has a 5.61 ERA with opponents hitting .283 and 8.3 strikeouts per game. 

Individually the Lions are led by Nate Mieszkowski hitting .414 with 36 runs scored, 46 hits, seven doubles, nine homers and 34 RBIs while slugging .739 with a .489 on-base percentage. Garrett Rice is hitting .351 with 28 runs scored, 39 hits, six doubles, seven home runs and 25 RBIs, Will Doherty and Matt Miller are hitting .347 with Doherty having nine doubles and 23 RBIs and Miller with 0 homers and 30 RBIs. Henry Kusiak is hitting .299 with 26 runs scored, 32 hits, six doubles, five homers and 19 RBIs, Ethan Clark is hitting .358 with eight doubles and 20 RBIs.

On the mound Cole Woods and Owen Schneider have started seven games with Woods having 41.2 innings of work and 45 strikeouts. Cale McCalister, Cole Gayman, Trent Harris and Steen Lane have started games this season with McCallister throwing 17.0 innings, Gayman throwing 25.2 innings with 23 strikeouts and Harris throwing 18.1 innings with 20 strikeouts. Laif Hultine has appeared in 13 games for 13.0 innings and Kyle Moore has appeared in 10 games for 29.1 innings with 31 strikeouts.

Missouri S&T (9-10, 1-7 GLVC) as a team averages 8.5 hits and7.5 runs per game and as a pitching staff has a 7.22 ERA with opponents hitting .278 and 7.4 strikeouts per game. Individually the Miners are led by Chase Burgess hitting .349 with 23 runs scored, 22 hits and six doubles, Cole Hampton (.327) and Dakota Sill (.319) round out the normal hitters batting above .300. Doug Wood leads the team with three home runs and 28 RBIs while hitting .270, Burgess (12-13), Sill (10-12) and Brady Voss (8-11) are the top threats to steal a base.

On the mound Ethan Morrow, Estin McBroom and Dylan Mollett have started five games with Morrow having 20.2 innings of work and 19 strikeouts. Ben Belgrave is 1-2 with three starts for 12.2 innings and 13 strikeouts. Matthew Kaiser and Jacob Cook have made seven appearances with Kaiser throwing 11.1 innings and striking out 13 this season.

MSSU baseball splits doubleheader with Washburn

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

Topeka, Kan. - The 11th ranked Missouri Southern baseball program split a double header against Washburn to claim the fourth MIAA series this season from Falley Field on Mar. 19th.

The Lions (19-7, 10-3 MIAA) were led by Kyle Moore picking up his third win of the season with 5.2 innings of shutout ball in relief while striking out six. Henry Kusiak had a home run and Case Tucker had two RBIs.

Southern got on the board in the second inning of the first game with Tucker and a Chayton Beck RBI single making it a 2-1 lead over Washburn (17-10, 10-3 MIAA). In the fourth inning Tucker singled through the right side to score Will Doherty and in the bottom half of the inning the Ichabods scored to make it a 3-2 game. Both teams were kept off the scoreboard until the ninth where an error and three run homer by Kusiak proved the difference for a 7-2 win by the Lions.

For the second game Southern was led by Doherty with two RBIs and Nate Mieszkowski with three RBIs as the bullpen combined for nine strikeouts.

Washburn scored two in the second inning to take an early 2-0 lead until the fourth inning as Doherty hit a two run homer and a bases clearing single by Mieszkowski gave the Lions a 5-2 lead. The Ichabods would score in the fitfh, sixth, seventh and eighth inning for a 10-5 final score.

Up next for the Lions will be a midweek game against Missouri S&T on Tuesday Mar. 21st from the Ballpark at S&T in Rolla, Mo. at 2:00pm.

MSSU softball splits twinbill with Winona State

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

The Missouri Southern softball program split against Winona State in a non-conference double header on Sunday Mar. 19th at the Pat Lipira Softball Complex.

The Lions (18-7) were led by Avery Tallman with her fifth complete game of the season for her 11th win while striking out four. Josie Tofpi went 3-for-3 with two RBIs, Kara Amos had an RBI with Yazmin Vargas and Adrianna Young both coming away with two hits.

Southern got on the board in the first inning after a Tofpi double down the left field line scored Vargas and in the fifth a Tofpi single up the middle scored Vargas along with an Amos single down the right field line scoring Peyton Hawkins for a 3-0 lead. Winona State (16-8) would get a run in the sixth but were kept off the scoreboard for the rest of the game as the Lions claimed a 3-1 win in game one.

For the second game Ashlynn Williams led the way with two RBIs, Leighton Withers and Amos had an RBI each with Vargas and Young coming away with two hits again.

In the first quarter the Lions got three runs from a Williams double to center field scoring Leighton Withers and Vargas and an Amos single to center field scoring Williams. Winona State got one back in the thrid innings with a Withers homer her ninth of the season making it a 4-1 lead. The Warriors would get five runs in the fifth to claim a 6-4 decision.

Up next for the Lions will be an MIAA double header against Northeastern State on Friday Mar. 24th from the Pat Lipira Softball Complex set for 4:00pm.

MSSU Baseball defeats Washburn 4-1 in series opener

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

Topeka, Kan. - The 11th ranked Missouri Southern baseball program picked up a 4-1 series opening win over Washburn at Falley Field in a cold and snowy evening game on Friday, Mar. 17th.

The Lions (18-6, 9-2 MIAA) got a good showing from Cole Woods in his fourth win of the season with seven innings with no walks issued and six strikeouts, Kyle Moore picked up his second save of the season with two shutout innings. Nate Mieszkowski went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI, Matt Miller hit a home run and drew a walk.

Washburn (16-9, 9-2 MIAA) had Casey Steard on the mound go the distance giving up six hits, four runs, three earned from 117 pitches.

Southern got off to a sizzling start as a first pitch double to left center by Mieszkowski was a sign of things to come as after five pitches by the Ichabods pitcher Mieszkowski had scored. Woods get out of an early jam in the first inning with a strikeout looking with a runner on third to ensure an early 1-0 lead for the Lions.

In the third inning Chayton Beck doubled down the right field line on the first pitch he saw and on a 3-1 count Mieszkowski singled up the middle to score Beck. Woods would make quick work in the bottom half of the inning with seven pitches thrown with a first pitch ground out and foul out paired with a strikeout looking making it a 2-0 lead for the Lions.

Neither team got on the scoreboard again until the sixth inning as a leadoff single by Mieszkowski to left field and a Kusiak single to center field allowed Mieszkowski to score for a 3-0 Lions lead. The seventh inning would see a towering home run to right field by Miller for his 45th in his career to claim sole possession of fourth in MIAA career ranks passing David Gauntt (Washburn, 2013-16) and Nathan Lipowicz (Central Missouri, 1997-2000), the homer was his 10th of the season to lead the MIAA this season.

Washburn got on the board in the bottom half of the seventh but a strikeout looking and Beck-to-Miller pick off ended the inning with the Lions up 4-1. Moore came in to finish the game and got three fly outs and ground outs to close a game that took an hour and forty two minutes to complete.

Game two of the series is currently scheduled for Saturday, but with frigid temperatures forecasted for tomorrow it may result in a double-header on Sunday. Announcement of game time and date will be posted on Twitter by the MSSU Baseball account @MSSUBaseball when a decision is finalized.

Lacy Stokes named WBCA All-American

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

Missouri Southern women's basketball sophomore guard Lacy Stokes was named an WBCA All-American as announced by the organization Friday Mar. 17th.

Stokes is the fourth player in Lions history to have back-to-back seasons earning All-American honors joining Margaret Womack (1984-86), Anita Rank (1986-88) and Sonya Harlin (1993-95). Last season Stokes was a D2CCA All-American selection after averaging 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.3 steals a game with a 2.94 assist-turnover ratio as a freshman.

This season Stokes averaged 17.3 points, 5.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals a game with a 3.32 assist-turnover ratio while helping the Lions to a program record 29 wins, the first MIAA Tournament championship since 1996 and advanced to the Central Region Tournament championship for the first time since 1994. Stokes was named a first-team All-MIAA guard and All-Defensive team selection for the second year in a row along with being named D2CCA All-Region, MIAA Tournament MVP and onto the Central Region All-Tournament team this season.

Among program ranks as a sophomore this season Stokes had the most points, field goals made, free throws made, assists and assist-turnover ratio while being second for steals. At time of publication this season she ranks among NCAA Division II players sixth for assists with 186, seventh for assist-turnover ratio with 3.32, 11th for steals with 88, 13th for field goals made with 223, 14th for assists per game with 5.2, 19th for free throws made with 140 and 39th for steals per game with 2.44. Stokes led the MIAA in assist-turnover ratio, assists, assists per game, field goals made, free throws made and steals while being fourth for points per game with 17.3 and steals per game.

Stokes in career ranks at Missouri Southern is third for steals with 189, fourth for assists with 360, fifth for free throws made and attempted going 303-for-413, seventh for field goals attempted with 1,064 and 10th for scoring with 1,235. 

She is fourth among active players in Division II for career scoring average with 18.4, 11th for assist average with 4.85, 35th for free throws attempted with 413, 37th for free throws made with 303, 39th for assists with 360 and 83rd for points scored with 1,235. 

Among active players listed as sophomores in Division II Stokes leads everyone in career scoring average, assists and assist average and is second for scoring, free throws made and attempted. Overall across all NCAA Divisions for active players Stokes is 23rd for scoring average and 406th for scoring.

The Player of the Year and the 10-member Coaches' All-America team in each division are selected by a committee of WBCA member coaches in that division. Brooke Olson was named the WBCA Division II Player of the Year.

Nominations being accepted for MSSU Athletics Hall of Fame

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

The Missouri Southern athletic department is now accepting nominations for the MSSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Nominations will be accepted until April 14, 2023. 

The Missouri Southern State University Athletics Hall of Fame was established to pay tribute and give deserved recognition to athletic letter-winners, coaches and/or friends of MSSU Athletics who have made distinctive, unique or exceptional contributions to the success of Missouri Southern Athletics.

Hall of Fame Criteria. Nominees must be the attached criteria for consideration for Hall of Fame induction.

Hall of Fame Nomination Form. Forms may be mailed to 3950 East Newman Road, Joplin, Mo. 64801 or emailed to Director of Athletics, Rob Mallory (mallory-r@mssu.edu).

The 2022 Hall of Fame class included four individuals and one team. Terry Joyce (Football - 1975), Erin (Turner) Doll (Softball - 1999-02), Britany (Hargis) Costello (Softball - 1998-01) and Bill Williams (Track and Field Coach - 1993-04), as well as the 1991 Missouri Southern Baseball Team were enshrined in October of 2022.

MSSU baseball to play 3-game series at Washburn

(From Missouri Southern Athletics)

The 11th ranked Missouri Southern baseball program is set to play in a three game MIAA series against conference leaders Washburn this weekend beginning on Friday Mar. 17th at Falley Field with first pitch set for 3:00pm in Topeka, Kan.

Southern (17-6, 8-2 MIAA) is ranked 11th in the latest NCBWA poll and is ranked first in the central region for the first time this season as Washburn (17-8, 10-1 MIAA) was ranked number seven in the central region and did not appear on the national poll.

The two teams will be battling mother nature this weekend in Topeka as the game on Friday was moved up two hours to now begin at 3:00pm, Saturday is still to be determined with the cold weather possibly forcing a double header to being played following the 12:00pm game on Sunday.

Statically the Lions as a team has one of the best offensive lineups in Division II with a division leading 50 home runs this season, second in home runs per game with 2.17, fourth in slugging percentage at .588, eighth in hits with 264, 10th for doubles with 54 and runs scored with 220, 16th for runs per game with 9.6 and is 25th in doubles per game with 2.35. In the MIAA the team is first in home runs, home runs per game, slugging percentage, runs and runs per game while being second for batting average at .323, hits, doubles and doubles per game.

Individually Southern is led by Nate Mieszkowski with .429 average, 33 runs scored, 42 hits, six doubles, nine home runs, 31 RBIs, slugging .786 with a .504 on-base percentage for a 1.290 OPS. Garrett Rice is hitting .388 with 28 runs scored, 38 hits, five doubles, seven home runs, 25 RBIs, slugging .673 with a .461 on-base percentage for a 1.134 OPS. Will Doherty is hitting .360 with 20 runs scored, 31 hits, eight doubles, three home runs, 21 RBIs, slugging .581 with a .434 on-base percentage for a 1.015 OPS, Matt Miller is hitting .349 with 25 runs scored, 30 hits, four doubles, nine home runs, 29 RBIs, slugging .709 with a .431 on-base percentage for a 1.140 OPS. Henry Kusiak is hitting .309 with 24 runs scored, 29 hits, six doubles and four homers to round out hitters that have played in at least 75% of games and average at least two plate appearances a game. Ethan Clark is hitting .379 with 14 runs scored, 22 hits, seven doubles, 20 RBIs while slugging .552 and Drew Davis is hitting .308 with seven runs scored, eight hits, two doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs.








As a pitching staff the Lions have a 5.81 ERA while averaging 8.3 strikeouts per game and opponents hitting .282. Individually Cole Woods is 4-1 with a 3.89 ERA in six starts for 34.2 innings while striking out 39 and opponents hitting .219 against him. Owen Schneider is 1-1 in six starts for 24.1 innings while striking out 21 and opponents hitting .277 against him. Trent Harris (2-0), Cale McCallister (3-0) and Cole Gayman (3-0) have gotten starts as well this season with Harris striking out 17 in 15.2 innings, McCallister striking out 11 in 17.0 innings and Gayman striking out 21 in 22.1 innings. Laif Hultine has made 12 appearances from the bullpen this season for a 3.09 ERA, 0.94 WHIP with a win and three saves in 11.2 innings while striking out 10 and opponents hitting .190 against him. Kyle Moore leads the bullpen with 21.2 innings from eight appearances with two wins and a save while striking out 25 and opponents hitting .277 against him.

The Ichabods as a team average 11.2 hits and 7.9 runs a game with Ike Book leading the way with a .412 average, 13 runs scored, 28 hits, 20 RBIs with a .574 slugging and .494 on-base percentages for a 1.068 OPS. Cal Watkins is hitting .410 with 31 runs scored, 43 hits, nine doubles, 14 RBIs, slugging .543 with a .467 on-base percentage for a 1.010 OPS. Trey Adams is hitting .356 with 24 runs scored, 32 hits and five doubles as Cale Savage rounds out the qualified hitters batting over .300 with a .322 average, 20 runs scored, 29 hits, six doubles, five home runs, 26 RBIs to slug .578.

The pitching staff for Washburn has a 5.46 ERA while averaging 9.3 strikeouts per game and opponents hitting .262. Casey Steward is the ace with a 4.13 ERA in six starts for a 1-0 record, 32.2 innings, 51 strikeouts and opponents hitting .231 against him. Rane Pfeifer has a 3.68 ERA in six starts for a 2-0 record, 29.1 innings, 43 strikeouts and opponents hitting .155 against him. Jack Brimacombe has a 5.01 ERA in six starts for a 1-1 record, 23.1 innings, 25 strikeouts and 25 walks issued with opponents hitting .298 against him. Jayden Payne has made 10 appearances from the bullpen this season for a 2-0 record, 2.84 ERA in 12.2 innings with eight strikeouts and a .300 opposing batting average. Cole Warner leads the bullpen with 21.2 innings from six appearances for a 3-1 record, 3.74 ERA with 17 strikeouts and opponents hitting .205 against him.