Friday, March 27 – Maryville, Mo.
Fort Hays State at Northwest Missouri State, 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. | WATCH | STATS
PROMOTION - BARK IN THE PARK
 
Saturday, March 28 – Maryville, Mo.
Central Missouri at Northwest Missouri State, 12 p.m. & 2 p.m. | WATCH | STATS
PROMOTION - KIDS DAY (RUN THE BASES/AUTOGRAPHS FOLLOWING THE SECOND GAME)
 
The Northwest Missouri State University softball team returns home to take on a pair of MIAA foes in Fort Hays State and Central Missouri.
 
The Bearcats and Tigers will play a doubleheader Friday beginning at 1 p.m. Northwest and Central Missouri will take to the field for a twin bill Saturday starting at 12 p.m.
 
Northwest is 22-7 overall and 2-2 in MIAA play. The Bearcats sit in a tie for sixth place in the MIAA standings.
 
Fort Hays State is 14-15 overall and 3-5 in MIAA action. The Tigers are 3-3 on the road this season. Northwest leads the all-time series, 22-20. FHSU swept Northwest last season in Hays, Kan.
 
Central Missouri is 18-8 overall and 4-2 in league play. The Jennies are 5-5 in road games this year. Northwest and UCM are tied 66-66 in the all-time series. The squads have split the season series in each of the last four seasons.
 
Northwest split both games of doubleheaders this past weekend at Rogers State and Northeastern State.
 
Senior outfielder Alexis Brown was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week. Brown batted .727 with eight hits in 11 at-bats. She knocked in six runs and scored four as Northwest went 2-2 in MIAA play. In game one at Rogers State, Brown went 2-for-3 with a triple, two RBI and a run scored. In a doubleheader at NSU, Brown did not make an out in six at-bats. She went 6-for-6 with four RBI, a triple and three runs scored.
 
Northwest set the program record with 13 consecutive wins from Feb. 20 through March 20. The previous school record for consecutive wins was 11 in a row from March 29-April 9, 2006.
 
Northwest is 9-2 in one-run games and have collected four walk-off victories this season.
 
The Bearcats rank No. 17 in the nation and No. 3 in the MIAA in stolen bases with 71. The Bearcats are 71-for-82 in stolen base attempts this season. Emma Hauge leads the way with 16 thefts.
 
Northwest ranks No. 19 in the nation and No. 2 in the MIAA in sacrifice bunts (28). Mackenzie Mlnarik has dropped down a team-high 12 sacrifice bunts.
 
PLAYER NOTES
 
Junior Emma Hague is batting a team-best .411, which ranks No. 6 in the MIAA … she has a .511 on-base percentage, which ranks No. 5 in the MIAA … she has stolen a team-best 16 bases … she has reached base in 16 consecutive games … she has played in 27 games with 24 starts in center field … has scored 16 runs and driven in 12 … has seven multi-hit games … three multi-RBI games … Drove in a season-high 3 RBI in two games: at William Jewell on Mar. 7 (3 hits, 2 doubles) and at Northeastern State on Mar. 21 (2 doubles, 2 runs scored)… Stole a season-high 2 bases in three games: vs Truman State on Feb. 7, vs Drury University on Feb. 22 and at Concordia-St. Paul on Feb. 28… Tripled once vs MSU Moorhead on Mar. 13, going 3-for-4 with a stolen base.
 
Senior Jaeleigh Darnell leads the Bearcats with four home runs and a .586 slugging percentage … she has a 1.005 OPS … she his batting .276 with 16 hits, 12 runs and nine RBI … 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 leads the team in hits (37), RBI (25) … she ranks second on the team in batting average (.381) and third on the team in 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 .362 with 187 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.) - .362 (187-517)
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 .341 and ranks tied for second on the team with 14 stolen bases … she has scored a team-best 23 runs and ranks third on the squad with 29 hits …
she has nine multi-hit games … she has two multi-RBI games … Achieved a team-high 12 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 29 games in right field … she is batting .299 with 29 hits and 20 runs scored … is 10-for-11 in stolen bases … has six 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… went 6-for-6 in a doubleheader at Northeastern State … MIAA Hitter of the Week (March 23).
 
Sophomore Kaylee Cords is fourth on the team in batting average (.329) … she ranks fifth on the team also in hits (28) and second on the team in RBI (20) … 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 four would-be base stealers … has allowed two passed balls.
 
Sophomore shortstop Curstin Todd has made six errors in 124 chances in the field … Todd is batting .147 with 10 hits, including four doubles … she has scored eight runs and knocked in six … she is 3-for-3 in stolen base attempts … has two multi-hit games … leads the team with 81 fielding assists, which ranks No. 13 in the nation and first in the MIAA.
 
Senior Sara Farlow has drawn a team-best 20 walks and owns a .500 on-base percentage …
is batting .271 with 16 hits and two home runs … has totaled 194 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 .290 with 12 RBI … has six 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 10-2 and is second on the squad with 452 strikeouts … she has a 1.59 ERA and a 1.05 WHIP … she has thrown a team-best nine complete games with three shutouts … she struck out a career-high 11 batters in a 2-1 complete game victory over Southwest Baptist in Bentonville, Ark.
 
Streigle ranks tied for No. 4 in program history with 43 pitching victories. She has produced 14 shutouts, which ranks No. 5 in school history. Streigle has struck out 251 batters in her Bearcat pitching career, which ranks as the eighth-best mark in school history. She has pitched 444 1/3 innings, which is also the eighth-best total in program 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
    Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) - 43
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
 
Northwest Career Strikeouts
1. Jenna Creger (2010-2013) – 554
2. Breck Dickey (2020-2024) – 426
3. Cola Kreuger (2006-2009) – 368
4. Kelly Morris (2006-2008) – 320
5. Sarah Baldwin (2014-2016) – 302
6. Rachel Smith (2016-2020) – 285
7. Kendle Schieber (2015-2016) – 255
8. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) – 251
9. Michele Ansley (1997-2000) – 240
10. Hyaden Simmons (2021-2024) – 229
 
Northwest Career Innings Pitched
1. Cola Krueger (2006-2009 – 594.1
2. Jenna Creger (2010-2013) – 591.2
3. Michele Ansley (1997-200) – 552.2
4. Shelly MacDonald (2002-2005) – 518.2
5. Shelly McClure (1984-1987) – 518.1
6. Christy Blankenau (1988-1991) – 476.1
7. Breck Dickey (2020-2024) – 469.0
8. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) – 444.1
9. Shelly Lewis (1982-1985) – 430.2
10. Kristi Sweeney (1993-1996) – 416.1
 
Northwest Career Pitching Appearances
1. Cola Kreuger (2006-2009) – 135
2. Jenna Creger (2010-2013) – 112
3. Breck Dickey (2020-2024) – 107
4. Shelly MacDonald (2002-2005) – 105
5. Michele Ansley (1997-2000) – 94
6. Morgan Brunmeier (2010-2013) – 89
7. Christy Blankenau (1988-1991) – 88
8. Kelly Morris (2006-2008) – 87
9. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) – 84
10. Abbie Vitosh (2012-2015) - 83
 
Sophomore Rien Moore has pitched a 62.2 innings with a 2.98 ERA … she is 8-1 with a team-best 54 strikeouts and a save … she has tossed five complete games … she has appeared in 14 games and has made nine starts … opponents are batting .221 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 4.62 ERA and two saves … has appeared in 12 games and made five starts in the circle … Moyer has struck out 30 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 115 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.)                 115
 
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