Tuesday, April 22 – Maryville, Mo.
Wayne State at Northwest Missouri State, 2 p.m./4 p.m. (Doubleheader)
MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, April 26 – St. Joseph, Mo.
Northwest Missouri State at Missouri Western, 12 p.m./2 p.m. (Doubleheader)
MIAA NETWORK | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University softball squad will wrap up regular season play with a home doubleheader Tuesday against Wayne State and a road twinbill Saturday at Missouri Western.
 
The Bearcats are 20-25 overall and 8-14 in MIAA play. Northwest picked up a pair of shutout wins over Lincoln last Friday (W, 8-0; W, 3-0). It is the first back-to-back shutouts of a Bearcat opponent since Northwest blanked Missouri Western April 14, 2023 (W, 1-0; W, 2-0).
 
Northwest is tied for ninth place in the MIAA standings. The top 10 teams will qualify for the single-elimination MIAA Tournament, which is set for April 30-May 4 at Fleharty Family Field in Hays, Kan.
 
2025 MIAA Standings
1. Central Oklahoma    18-4
    Pittsburg State 18-4
3. Rogers State    14-8
    Missouri Southern    14-8
5. Central Missouri      14-10
6. Washburn                 12-10
7. Missouri Western     11-11
8. Emporia State 9-13
9. Northwest Mo. St.    8-14
    Fort Hays State        8-14
    Nebraska-Kearney   8-14
    Northeastern St.       8-14
13. Newman                 2-20
 
Northwest and Wayne State will meet at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Bearcat Softball Field for the final home doubleheader of the season. The Wildcats are 28-19 overall and 13-10 in the NSIC. Northwest scored a 4-2 win over Wayne State when the teams met Feb. 23 at Silver Lake High School in Silver Lake, Kan., just outside of Topeka, Kan. Northwest owns a 26-17 lead in the all-time series with Wayne State. Northwest has won three straight matchups with Wayne State.
 
The Bearcats will complete MIAA play Saturday with a doubleheader at Missouri Western. First pitch is slated for Noon in St. Joseph, Mo. The Griffons sit at 28-19 overall and 11-11 in MIAA play. Missouri Western will play two games Tuesday at Missouri-St. Louis prior to Friday's games in St. Joseph. The Griffons lead the all-time series vs. the Bearcats, 73-64. Northwest has won four of the last five matchups with Missouri Western.
 
Northwest ranks No. 4 in the nation in fielding percentage (.977). Northwest and Pittsburg State have made the fewest errors in MIAA games (13).
 
NCAA Div. II Team Fielding Percentage
1. Central Oklahoma    .980
2. UT Tyler                  .979
3. Biola                        .978
4. Northwest Mo. St.    .977
5. Angelo St.                .976
6. Central Missouri      .976
7. Southern Arkansas   .975
8. Colo. Christian         .975
9. Bridgeport                .975
10. Ferris St.                .974
 
Northwest has outscored its opponents in the first two innings of games this season, 75-38. Northwest owns a 44-28 scoring advantage in the first inning and a 31-10 lead in the second inning. Overall, the Bearcats have outscored the opposition, 216-174.
 
Northwest is hitting .312 as a squad, which ranks No. 4 in the MIAA. Northwest is fifth in the MIAA in hits (383). Northwest ranks No. 5 in the league in on-base percentage (.383). Northwest is 19-6 when it has more hits than its opponent. The Bearcats are 1-19 when they have the same or fewer hits than their opponents.
 
The Bearcats possess a 3.58 team earned run average. Bearcat pitchers have struck out 207 batters. Opponents are hitting .272 vs. Bearcat pitching.
 
Northwest is 13-2 when leading after six innings. In contrast, the Bearcats at 1-21 when trailing after six innings. Northwest is 13-2 when scoring six runs or more. The Bearcats are 7-23 when scoring five runs or less. Northwest is 15-2 when it holds the opposition to two runs or less. Northwest is 5-23 when the opponent scores three or more runs.
 
Three Bearcats have played all 45 games at the same position this season – Lillie Filger (CF), Skylar Pieper (1B) and Curstin Todd (SS). Malia Cuevas has started 44 of the 45 games at second base. Filger is the only Bearcat batter to have batted in the same spot (leadoff) in the batting order in all 45 games.
 
Senior outfielder Lillie Filger has scored a team-best 35 runs and is batting .380. Filger ranks No. 7 in hits in the MIAA with 60. Filger has 16 stolen bases to rank tied for No. 10 in the MIAA. Filger has tallied 10 stolen bases in MIAA play, which ranks as the sixth-highest total in league games this season. Filger has led off an inning with 36 hits this year (37-of-69 - .536 average). She is credited with 68 career multi-hit games, including 20 this season. Filger has produced 17 three-hit games in her Bearcat career. Filger ranks No. 8 on Northwest's all-time hits list with 205. She has a career average of .396, which would rank first in Bearcat history. Filger is one of eight Bearcats to have recorded 200 or more hits in a career. Filger's 42 career stolen bases ranks No. 6 on Northwest's all-time steals list.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER HITS
1. 244, Rebecca Maher (2015-2018)
2. 237, Kendra Smith (1997-2000)
3. 235, Torri Blythe (2014-2017)
    235, Kaitlyn Weis (2017-2021)
5. 232, Olivia Daugherty (2019-2023)
6. 217, Erin Leslie (2007-2010)
7. 210, Chantel Adams (2014-2017)
8. 206, Lillie Filger (2023-pr.)
9. 192, Katy John (2003-2006)
10. 190, Angie McCoy (2001-2004)
    190, Jaedra Moses (2016-2019)
 
NORTHWEST CAREER BATTING AVERAGE (min. 250 AB)
1. - Lillie Filger (2023-pres.) - .396 (206-520)
2. - Kendra Smith (1997-2000) - .396 (236-596)
3. - Stephanie Mark (2014-2015) - .388 (126-325)
4. - Kaitlyn Weis (2017-2021) - .382 (235-615)
5. - Casey Carper (2008-2009) - .368 (117-318)
6. - Rebecca Maher (2015-2018) - .361 (244-675)
7. - Olivia Daugherty (2019-2023) - .356 (232-652
8. - S. Armstrong (1991-1993) - .345 (89-258)
9. - Erin Leslie (2007-2010) - .344 (217-631)
10. - Amanda Urquhart (1997-2000) - .341 (189-554)
11. - Megan Spring (2001-2004) - .341 (189-555)
 
NORTHWEST CAREER STOLEN BASES
1. - Torri Blythe (2014-2017) - 68
2. - Katy John (2003-2006) - 67
3. - Kendra Smith (1997-2000) - 51
4. - Lindsay Stephenson (2003-2007) - 48
5. - Erin Leslie (2007-2010) - 45
6. - Lillie Filger (2023-pr.) - 42
7. - Omara Love (2023-pr.) - 34
8. - Karen Hopewell (1982-1986) - 33
9. - Jordan Ereth (2012-2014) - 31
10. - Hailee Hendricks (2010-2013) - 29
 
Junior Omara Love leads the team in hitting with a .389 batting average and in slugging percentage (.573). Love has posted a team-best 61 hits. She ranks second on the squad with 15 stolen bases in 18 attempts. She also ranks second on the team with 32 RBI. She tops the squad in triples (5), doubles (13) and extra-base hits (20). Love is tied for eighth in the MIAA in doubles (13). Love's five triples is tied for the sixth-most in a single season by a Bearcat hitter. Love has garnered 16 two-out hits this season. She has posted 20 multi-hit games this season and has 43 multi-hit games in her career. Love has stolen 34 career bases to rank No. 7 on Northwest's all-time stolen base list. Love was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week (March 31) after she led the Bearcats to a 3-1 mark vs. Central Oklahoma and Newman. Love cracked her first collegiate home run, a grand slam vs. Newman. It was her first home run in 370 collegiate at bats.
 
Love needs three more hits to join the top-10 list for the season-season hit leaders.
 
NORTHWEST SINGLE SEASON HITS
1. - Kendra Smith (2000) - 83
2. - Lillie Filger (2024) - 80
3. - Casey Carper (2008) - 76
4. - Erin Leslie (2010) - 73
5. - Torri Blythe (2016) - 69
6. - Lillie Filger (2023) - 66
7. - Rebecca Maher (2015) - 64
    - Stephanie Mark (2015) - 64
    - Katy John (2006) - 64
    - Katy John (2005) - 64
 
Junior Alexis Brown is third on the squad in hitting (.364). Brown has posted 14 multi-hit games this season. Brown has collected 28 career multi-hit games. She leads the team with 14 two-out RBI. In the doubleheader vs. Emporia State, Brown went 5-for-8 with two ripples and six RBI. Brown tied a Bearcat single-game record by recording five hits in a 7-6 win over Illinois-Springfield. It is the sixth time in school history a Northwest softball player has recorded five hits in a game. Prior to Brown's feat against UIS, Lindy Tomlinson was the last Bearcat to achieve a five-hit game as she did it against Central Missouri on March 29, 2001. She was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week after she went 11-of-15 at the Alvy Early Classic.
 
In MIAA play this season, senior Grace Lubben is batting .375 with 21 hits in 56 at-bats. In league games, Lubben has clubbed three homers and ripped seven doubles with 12 RBI. She has also drawn 18 walks in 22 MIAA contests, which ranks as the second-best total in the league. In all games, Lubben is batting .316 with 24 hits in 76 at-bats. She is second on the team in slugging percentage (.553). Lubben is tied for the team lead in walks drawn (20).
 
Junior Gaige Pinkerton is one of six Bearcat hitters batting above .300 (.355). She has drawn a team-best tying 20 base-on-balls. Pinkerton is tied for No. 6 in the nation and ranks No. 3 in the MIAA by throwing out 12 would-be base stealers.
 
Senior Skylar Pieper leads the Bearcats in RBI (33). She leads the team in home runs (4). She is batting .297 with a .471 slugging percentage. Pieper has 43 multi-hit games in her Bearcat career, including 12 this year. Pieper has 10 multi-RBI contests this season. Pieper ranks No. 2 all-time on Northwest's career putouts chart with 1,085. She has made only 15 errors in 1,166 chances as a Bearcat.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER PUTOUTS
1. - Janelle Krohn (2005-2008) – 1,230
2. - Skylar Pieper (2022-pr.) – 1,085
3. - Janet Schieber (1984-1986) – 1,083
4. - Nichole Strawn (1998-2001) - 902
5. - Amy Erickson (1986-1989) - 800
6. - Jessica Rawie (2015-2018) - 796
7. - Stephanie Mark (2014-2015) - 677
8. - Megan Spring (2001-2004) - 633
9. - Kristen Hessel (2008-2011) - 625
10. - Ashley Pride (2003-2006) - 610
* Putout statistics were not available in 1991, 1996
 
Freshman Malia Cuevas is hitting .338. She ranks third on the team with 14 two-out hits. She has nine multi-hit games and three multi-RBI contests this season. She gained her first three-hit game of her career at Nebraska-Kearney (March 22).
 
Freshman Curstin Todd has started all 45 games at shortstop. She leads the MIAA in assists in all games (111) and in league games only (53). She has committed only two errors in 162 chances (.988 fielding percentage). She has been a part of seven double plays.
 
Junior pitcher Jadyn Streigle is 8-8 with a 3.32 ERA in 92 2/3 innings in the circle. Streigle leads the team with 61 strikeouts, seven complete games and two shutouts. Streigle has a 2.65 ERA in MIAA games in 60 2/3 innings of work. She is 6-5 with 39 strikeouts in MIAA action. Streigle has tossed 32 career complete games. She is 31-27 with a 2.81 ERA in her Bearcat career. Streigle needs two more wins to join the top-10 list of pitching wins at Northwest.
 
NORTHWEST CAREER WINS
1. - Michele Ansley (1997-2000) - 53
2. - Jenna Creger (2010-2013) - 48
3. - Cola Krueger (2006-2009) - 47
4. - Shelly MacDonald (2002-2005) - 43
5. - Kelly Morris (2006-2008) - 41
6. - Shelley Lewis (1982-1985) - 39
7. - Shelly McClure (1984-1987) - 37
8. - Breck Dickey (2020-2024) - 36
9. - Shelly Navara (1986-1987) - 35
10. - Kendle Schieber (2015-2016) - 33
 
Sophomore pitcher Olivia Moyer has struck out 49 batters in 55 2/3 innings of work in the circle. Moyer is 2-5 with a 4.15 ERA. Moyer has made nine starts this season. Moyer tied a season-high with eight strikeouts in four innings of relief against Northeastern State. Her previous season high of eight strikeouts came in a start against Upper Iowa when she went six innings in the circle.
 
Freshman pitcher Erika Gore tossed her first collegiate shutout with at two-hit gem against Newman. Gore is 2-3 with a 2.02 ERA in 52.0 innings of work.
 
Freshman pitcher Rien Moore is 5-4 in 42 2/3 innings of work and ranks second on the team with 43 strikeouts. She has allowed 35 hits, but only four for extra bases (4 doubles; 1 home run). Opponents are batting .226 against Moore this year.
 
The Bearcats have posted back-to-back winning seasons for head coach Naomi Tellez with 28 wins in 2023 and 28 victories in the 2024 season. Northwest secured its first winning MIAA record (15-11) in 2024 for the first time since a 16-10 mark in the 2018 campaign.
 
Tellez is in her fourth season at the helm of the program and has generated 91 wins, including 43 triumphs in MIAA action. Tellez has an overall record of 91-110. She is 43-57 in league games.
 
The MIAA coaches projected Northwest to finish seventh in the preseason league poll.
 
2025 MIAA SOFTBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Rogers State [7] – 139 points
2. Central Oklahoma [6] – 137 points
3. Pittsburg State – 120 points
4. Washburn – 111 points
5. Missouri Southern – 85 points
6. Missouri Western – 83 points
7. Northwest Missouri State – 79 points
8. Emporia State – 71 points
9. Central Missouri – 69 points
10. Fort Hays State – 48 points
11. Nebraska Kearney – 32 points
12. Newman – 26 points
13. Northeastern State – 14 points