Friday, Jan. 30 – Lone Star D2 Classic (Mansfield, Texas)
Northwest Missouri State vs. Drury, 2:30 p.m. – Field 4 | LIVE STATS
Northwest Missouri State vs. Lewis, 4:45 p.m. – Field 4 | LIVE STATS
 
Saturday, Jan. 31 – Lone Star D2Classic (Mansfield, Texas)
Northwest Missouri State vs. Oklahoma Baptist, 12 p.m. – Field 1 | LIVE STATS
Northwest Missouri State vs. St. Edward's, 2 p.m. – Field 1 | LIVE STATS
 
Sunday, Feb. 1 – Lone Star D2Classic (Mansfield, Texas)
Northwest Missouri State vs. UMSL, 1:30 p.m. – Field 4 | LIVE STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University softball season will get underway this weekend with five games scheduled at the Lone Star D2 Classic in Mansfield, Texas.
 
Fifth-year head coach Naomi Tellez will guide the Bearcats into action against Drury, Lewis, Oklahoma Baptist, St. Edward's and Missouri-St. Louis. Northwest registered a mark of 22-27 last season. Tellez has produced 93 wins in her first four seasons at the helm of the Bearcat softball program. She is looking to become the fifth Bearcat softball coach to reach 100 victories.
 
Northwest Coaching Victory Leaders
1. Ryan Anderson (2007-21)              345
2. Gayla Steenbergen (1982-84)         273
3. Pam Knox (1997-02)                      146
4. Susan Anderson (2003-06)             124
5. Naomi Tellez (2022-pr.)                 93
 
Tellez has added two new assistant coaches for the 2026 season in Lillie Filger and graduate assistant Mariah Wheeler.
 
Northwest's top returning hitter is outfielder Omara Love, who batted .366 last season. Love tallied 63 hits, 13 doubles, five triples, two homers, 35 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 2025. Love notched honorable mention all-MIAA status last year. Love ranks No. 7 on Northwest's all-time stolen bases chart with 36. Love is a career .357 hitter, which ranks No. 7 on Northwest's all-time batting average list.
 
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 (2023-2025) - 43
7. - Omara Love (2023-pr.) - 36
8. - Karen Hopewell (1982-1986) - 33
9. - Jordan Ereth (2012-2014) - 31
10. - Hailee Hendricks (2010-2013) – 29
 
Northwest Career Highest Batting Average (min. 250 AB)
1. - Lillie Filger (2023-2025) - .397 (213-536)
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. - Omara Love (2023-pr.) - .357 (150-420)
8. - Olivia Daugherty (2019-2023) - .356 (232-652
9. - S. Armstrong (1991-1993) - .345 (89-258)
10. - Erin Leslie (2007-2010) - .344 (217-631)
 
Outfielder Alexis Brown also returns after starting 48 games in 2025. Brown hit .349 with 53 hits, five doubles, four triples and nine stolen bases.
 
The Bearcats also return middle infielders shortstop Curstin Todd and second baseman Malia Cuevas. Todd and Cuevas each played in all 49 games last season. Todd gained a spot on the MIAA's Gold Glove Team and Cuevas as an honorable mention all-MIAA pick last year.
 
Northwest's top returning pitcher is senior Jadyn Streigle. Streigle was an honorable mention all-MIAA selection as she went 10-8 with a 2.91 earned run average. She struck out a team-high 71 batters in 2025. Streigle ranks tied for No. 10 in program history with 33 pitching victories. She has produced 11 shutouts, which ranks No. 9 in school history.
 
Northwest Career Pitching 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
    Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) – 33
 
Northwest Career Shutouts
1. Shelley Lewis (1982-1985) - 17
2. Cola Krueger (2006-2009) - 16
    Shelly MacDonald (2002-2005) - 16
4. Jenna Creger (2010-2013) - 15
5. Kelly Morris (2006-2008) - 13
6. Shelly McClure (1984-1987) - 13
    Shelly Navara (1986-1987) - 13
    Michele Ansley (1997-2000) - 13
9. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) - 11
10. Jennifer Spencer (1995-1996) - 10
 
The Bearcats were projected to finish ninth in the preseason MIAA coaches poll.
 
2026 MIAA SOFTBALL PRESEASON RANKINGS
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 141 points
2. Central Oklahoma [1] – 125 points
3. Missouri Southern [1] – 116 points
4. Rogers State [1] – 111 points
5. Central Missouri – 101 points
6. Washburn – 96 points
7. Missouri Western – 84 points
8. Emporia State – 65 points
9. Northwest Missouri State – 49 points
10. Fort Hays State – 45 points
11. Nebraska Kearney – 43 points
12. Northeastern State – 26 points
13. Newman – 12 points 
[#] - First Place Votes