Friday, March 20 – Claremore, Okla.
Northwest Missouri State at Rogers State, 3 p.m. & 5 p.m. | WATCH | STATS
 
Saturday, March 21 – Tahlequah, Okla.
Northwest Missouri State at Northeastern State, 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. | WATCH | STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University softball team will play a pair of road doubleheaders this week to begin MIAA play with matchups set for Friday at Rogers State and Saturday at Northeastern State.
 
Northwest was slated to play a non-conference doubleheader Wednesday at Augustana. However, those two games in Sioux Falls, S.D., have been postponed due to winter weather. The games are scheduled to be made up April 21.
 
Rogers State is 17-9 overall and 1-3 in MIAA play. The Hillcats lost both games at Emporia State and split a doubleheader at Washburn to open league play last weekend. Rogers State is 8-2 at home this season. Rogers State is 11-1 all-time vs. Northwest. The Hillcats have won 11 consecutive games against the Bearcats. Northwest's only win (W, 2-0) vs. RSU came Feb. 23, 2007, in Springfield, Mo.
 
Northeastern State is 16-9 overall and 3-1 in MIAA action. The RiverHawks swept Washburn to begin conference play and split a pair of contests at Emporia State. NSU is 3-1 at home this season. Northwest owns a slim 20-19 advantage in the all-time series. NSU won both games in Maryville, Mo., last season (6-4, 4-1).
 
The Bearcats are 20-5 overall and have won a school-record 12 consecutive games. The Bearcats possess the MIAA's longest active current win streak. The 12-game win streak is tied for the fifth-longest active streak among NCAA Div. II softball programs.
 
NCAA Div. II Longest Active Winning Streaks
1. Colorado Christian             22
2. Saint Leo                             18
3. Southern Arkansas              13
    Lenior-Rhyne                      13
5. Northwest Mo. St.              12
    UIndy                                  12
7. Tampa                                 11
8. McKendree                         10
9. Missouri Southern              8
    MSU Denver                       8
    Lander                                 8
    Saint Martin's                     8
    Minnesota State                  8
 
The previous school record for consecutive wins was 11 in a row from March 29-April 9, 2006.
 
Northwest is 2-0 on the road this season having swept a doubleheader at William Jewell.
 
Northwest is 9-1 in one-run games and have collected four walk-off victories this season.
 
The Bearcats rank No. 10 in the nation in stolen bases with 69. The Bearcats are 69-for-78 in stolen base attempts this season. Emma Hauge leads the way with 15 thefts.
 
NCAA Div. II Stolen Base Team Leaders
1. Missouri Southern  96
2. Washburn                94
    Miles                       94
4. Chowan                   82
5. AUM                       81
6. Tuskegee                 80
7. Ill.-Springfield        75
    San Fran. St.           75
9. St. Mary's (TX)      72
10. Northwest Mo. St. 69
 
Northwest ranks No. 13 in the nation and first in the MIAA in fielding percentage (.977). Northwest has made 17 errors in 25 games.
 
Junior Emma Hague is batting a team-best .422 and riding a 12-game hitting streak into MIAA play … she leads the team in stolen bases (15) … she has played in 23 games with 20 starts in center field … has scored 14 runs and driven in eight … has seven multi-hit games … two multi-RBI games … Drove in a season-high 3 runs on March 7 at William Jewell, going 3-for-5 with 2 doubles… Collected a season-high 3 hits on March 13 vs MSU Moorhead, including a triple… Stole a season-high 2 bases vs Truman State on Feb. 7, vs Drury University on Feb. 22 and at Concordia-St. Paul on Feb. 28.
 
Senior Jaeleigh Darnell leads the Bearcats with four home runs and a .688 slugging percentage … she has a 1.148 OPS … she his batting .313 with 15 hits, 11 runs and eight RBI … she has homered in three of the last eight games … Recorded 40 fielding assists… Highlight game on March 7, 2026, against William Jewell with 4 runs, 3 hits, including a home run and a double, and 1 RBI… Hit a home run and drove in 2 runs with 2 hits, including a double, against MSU Moorhead on February 27, 2026… Combined for a series on February 12, 2026, with 3 hits, 1 double, and 2 runs scored against Southwest Baptist and Truman State… Registered 1 home run, 2 hits, and 1 RBI against Quincy on February 28, 2026… Delivered a home run, 2 hits, and 1 RBI with 1 run scored against Montana State-Billings on February 21, 2026.
 
Senior Omara Love has reached base in 18 consecutive games … Love leads the team in hits (35), RBI (24) … she ranks second on the team in batting average (.402) and runs scored (19) … has accumulated eight extra-base hits (4 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs) … has 10 multi-hit games … has five multi-RBI games … Had two sacrifice flies, contributing an RBI against Minnesota-Duluth on January 31… Struck out only twice this season… Made 33 putouts with two fielding assists… Delivered a season-best performance against Lewis on January 30 with three hits and four RBI… Contributed two hits and one RBI in a series against William Jewell on March 7 … delivered a walk-off single in a 1-0 win over MSU Moorhead (March 13) … Love ranks No. 4 on Northwest's all-time stolen base chart with 50 … She ranks No. 6 on Northwest's all-time batting average list at .365 with 185 career hits.
 
Northwest Career Stolen Bases
1. - Torri Blythe (2014-2017) - 68
2. - Katy John (2003-2006) - 67
3. - Kendra Smith (1997-2000) - 51
4. - Omara Love (2023-pr.) - 50
5. - Lindsay Stephenson (2003-2007) - 48
6. - Erin Leslie (2007-2010) - 45
7. - Lillie Filger (2023-2025) - 43
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. - Omara Love (2023-pr.) - .365 (185-507)
7. - Rebecca Maher (2015-2018) - .361 (244-675)
8. - Olivia Daugherty (2019-2023) - .356 (232-652)
9. - S. Armstrong (1991-1993) - .345 (89-258)
10. - Erin Leslie (2007-2010) - .344 (217-631)
 
Sophomore Mackenzie Mlnarik is batting .364 and ranks third on the team with 13 stolen bases … she has scored a team-best 23 runs and ranks second on the squad with 28 hits … she has nine multi-hit games … she has two multi-RBI games … Achieved a team-high eight sacrifice hits, which leads the MIAA … has been hit by a pitch five times to rank second on the team… Scored three runs and hit one home run with two RBI against Truman State on February 12 … Delivered two hits and one run against Arkansas Tech on February 6 … Against Missouri-St. Louis on February 13, drove in two runs with one hit and one walk … Collected two hits, one double, and scored two runs in a doubleheader against William Jewell on March 7.
 
Senior Alexis Brown has started all 25 games in right field … she is batting .244 with 21 hits and 16 runs scored … is 10-for-11 in stolen bases … has three multi-hit games … season-high four hits against Montana State-Billings on February 21… Scored 15 runs and stole 10 bases… Hit one double and one triple, both against Oklahoma Baptist on January 31… Registered four RBIs, with two coming against Rockhurst on February 20… Walked five times and did not strike out… Led the team in plate appearances with 25 and fly outs with 27… Also led in total bases with seven and grounded into two double plays… Recorded 22 putouts and four fielding assists from the right field position.
 
Sophomore Kaylee Cords is third on the team in batting average (.347) … she ranks fourth on the team also in hits (26) and second on the team in RBI (19) … has drawn 11 walks … has eight multi-hit games … has five multi-RBI contests … tallied a pair of game-winning walk-off hits at the Lone Star D2 Classic … came through in the ninth-inning with a two-out, run-scoring single to plate Curstin Todd and give Northwest a 3-2 win over Drury … worked her magic again in the bottom of the seventh with a walk-off double to right field that scored Omara Love for an 8-7 victory over Lewis … In a two-game series against William Jewell on March 7, logged 10 putouts… has thrown out three would-be base stealers … has allowed only one passed ball.
 
Sophomore shortstop Curstin Todd has made five errors in 106 chances in the field … Todd is batting .148 with nine hits, including four doubles … she has scored five runs and knocked in six … she is 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts … has two multi-hit games … leads the team with 76 fielding assists, which ranks No. 7 in the nation and first in the MIAA.
 
Senior Sara Farlow has reached base in 20 straight games … leads the team with 17 walks … is batting .283 with 15 hits and two home runs … has totaled 173 putouts, leading the team … connected on Northwest's only home run of the Lone Star D2 Classic against Minnesota-Duluth … has hit four career home runs as a Bearcat … Hit a home run and a double against William Jewell on March 7… Notched a season-high two hits and one home run against Minnesota-Duluth on January 31… Contributed two RBIs and a home run against William Jewell on March 7… Delivered two hits, including a home run, with one RBI against Concordia-St. Paul on February 28… Secured two hits and one RBI against Montana State-Billings on February 21.
 
Sophomore Timber Wilson leads the team with seven doubles … is batting .327 with 11 RBI … has five multi-hit games … Recorded 3 hits and 2 RBI, including 2 doubles, against Lewis on Jan. 30... Went 2-for-3 with a double and 1 RBI against Missouri-St. Louis on Feb. 13... Notched 2 hits, 1 home run, and 2 RBI against Minnesota State on Feb. 27... Tallied 3 hits and 2 RBI in the series finale against William Jewell on March 7.
 
Senior Jadyn Streigle is 9-1 and leads the squad with 44 strikeouts … she has a 1.69 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP … she has thrown a team-best seven complete games with three shutouts … in her last seven starts, Streigle is 7-0 and has surrendered eight earned runs in 44 innings pitched for a 1.27 ERA with 22 strikeouts … she struck out a career-high 11 batters in a 2-1 complete game victory over Southwest Baptist in Bentonville, Ark.
 
Streigle ranks No. 5 in program history with 42 pitching victories. She has produced 14 shutouts, which ranks No. 5 in school history. Streigle has struck out 243 batters in her Bearcat pitching career.
 
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. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) - 42
6. Kelly Morris (2006-2008) - 41
7. Shelley Lewis (1982-1985) - 39
8. Shelly McClure (1984-1987) - 37
9. Breck Dickey (2020-2024) - 36
10. Shelly Navara (1986-1987) - 35


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. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) - 14
6. Kelly Morris (2006-2008) - 13
    Shelly McClure (1984-1987) - 13
    Shelly Navara (1986-1987) - 13
    Michele Ansley (1997-2000) - 13
10. Jennifer Spencer (1995-1996) – 10
 
Sophomore Rien Moore has pitched a 57.0 innings with a 2.58 ERA … she is 7-0 with 42 strikeouts and a save … she has tossed three complete games … she has appeared in 12 games with seven starts … opponents are batting .195 vs. Moore this season … she struck out a season-high 10 batters vs. Drury on Jan. 30.
 
Junior Olivia Moyer is 3-2 with a 4.20 ERA and two saves … has appeared in 11 games and made five starts in the circle … Moyer has struck out 29 batters.
 
Sophomore pitcher Erika Gore picked up a save by tossing three innings against Montana State-Billings at the Washburn Invite … Gore has appeared in seven games with three starts … She is 1-2 with a 5.04 ERA in 16 2/3 innings pitched … she has struck out 12 batters.
 
Fifth-year head coach Naomi Tellez has produced 113 wins in her five seasons at the helm of the Bearcat softball program. She became 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.)                 113
 
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