Friday, April 24 – Maryville, Mo.
Nebraska-Kearney at Northwest Missouri State, 2 p.m. & 4 p.m. | WATCH | STATS
 
The Northwest Missouri State University softball team will play host to the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers Friday in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.
 
Northwest (29-18 overall, 8-12 MIAA) will celebrate Family Day at the Bearcat Softball Field against Nebraska-Kearney (14-33, 3-15 MIAA). UNK is 2-9 in road games this season. Northwest is 6-4 at home.
 
Northwest leads the all-time series with UNK, 18-17. The two teams have split the season series in each of the past two years.
 
The Bearcats are in ninth place in the MIAA standings. The top 10 teams will qualify for the 2026 MIAA Tournament set for May 6-10 in Emporia, Kan. UNK is 3-15 and is in last place in the league standings.
 
Northwest has produced 29 wins and is tied for the seventh-most in a single-season in Bearcat softball history. It is the third time that head coach Naomi Tellez has produced 28 wins in a season since taking over the program. Northwest has had six 30-win seasons in the history of the program with the latest coming in 2016 when Northwest went 37-16 under then head coach Ryan Anderson.
 
Northwest Most Wins Single Season
1. 40-15 (2006)
2. 37-16 (2016)
3. 34-18 (1986)
    34-27 (2005)
5. 32-22 (2008)
6. 30-21 (2003)
7. 29-15 (2002)
    29-21 (2017)
    29-17 (2026)
10. 28-27 (1987)
    28-20 (1995)
    28-23 (2000)
    28-24 (2023)
    28-25 (2024)
 
The Bearcats rank No. 44 in the nation and No. 5 in the MIAA in stolen bases with 81. The Bearcats are 81-for-92 in stolen base attempts this season. The Northwest single-season record for team stolen bases is 82 set in the 2025 season. Mackenzie Mlnarik leads the team with 19 stolen bases. Emma Hauge ranks second with 17 stolen bases. Omara Love and Alexis Brown are tied for third on the team with 14 thefts.
 
 
Northwest Single-Season Stolen Base Leaders
1. 33, Katy John (2005)
2. 24, Katy John (2006)
3. 22, Torri Blythe (2016)
4. 21, Torri Blylthe (2014)
5. 20, Kendra Smith (1997)
6. 19, Erin Leslie (2010)
    19, Lillie Filger (2023)
    19, Mackenzie Mlnarik (2026)
9. 17, Kelly Randles (1995)
    17, Kendra Smith (1998)
    17, Lillie Filger (2025)
    17, Omara Love (2025)
    17, Emma Hague (2026)
 
Northwest ranks No. 15 in the nation and No. 1 in the MIAA in sacrifice bunts (45). Mackenzie Mlnarik has dropped down a team-high 14 sacrifice bunts.
 
Northwest ranks No. 19 in the country in double plays (19). The Bearcats rank first in the MIAA in double plays turned.
 
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.
 
 
PLAYER NOTES
 
Junior Emma Hague is batting .325 with a .425 slugging percentage and a .411 on-base percentage … she leads the team with 10 doubles … she ranks second with 17 stolen bases … she is one of five Bearcats to have scored 20 or more runs this season … has nine multi-hit games … four 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 … posted two doubles in the second game of a doubleheader with No. 3-ranked Pittsburg State (Apr. 10).
 
Senior Jaeleigh Darnell leads the Bearcats with eight home runs and a .638 slugging percentage … she has a 1.076 OPS … she his batting .2887 with 27 hits, 18 runs and 18 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 … connected on home runs against Fort Hays State and Central Missouri … hit a three-run homer against No. 3-ranked Pittsburg State (Apr. 10).
 
Senior Omara Love is one of nine Bearcats in the history of the program to reach 200 hits … she will bring a five-game hitting streak into the UNK doubleheader … Love leads the team in batting average (.359), hits (55), RBI (34) … she ranks third on the team in runs scored (26) … has accumulated 10 extra-base hits (6 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs) … has 16 multi-hit games … has seven 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) … came through with a walk-off RBI-single to defeat Fort Hays State (March 27) … ranks No. 4 on Northwest's all-time stolen base chart with 50 … She ranks No. 7 on Northwest's all-time batting average list at .358 with 205 career hits … ranks No. 9 on Northwest's all-time hits list with 205.
 
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. Rebecca Maher (2015-2018) - .361 (244-675)
7. Omara Love (2023-pr.) - .358 (205-573)
8. Olivia Daugherty (2019-2023) - .356 (232-652)
9. S. Armstrong (1991-1993) - .345 (89-258)
10. Erin Leslie (2007-2010) - .344 (217-631)
 
Northwest Career Hits
1. Rebecca Maher (2015-2018) – 244
2. Kendra Smith (1997-2000) – 237
3. Torri Blythe (2014-2017) – 235
    Kaitlyn Weis (2017-2021) – 235
5. Olivia Daugherty (2019-2023) – 232
6. Erin Leslie (2007-2010) – 217
7. Lillie Filger (2023-2025) – 213
8. Chantel Adams (2014-2017) – 210
9. Omara Love (2023-pr.) – 205
10. Katy John (2003-2006) – 192
 
Sophomore Mackenzie Mlnarik is batting .309 … she leads the team in runs scored (41) and stolen bases (19) … she ranks third on the team with 43 hits … she has 13 multi-hit games … she has five multi-RBI games … Achieved a team-high 12 sacrifice hits, which leads the MIAA … has been hit by a pitch six 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 … she reached base in all nine plate appearances in a doubleheader sweep of Newman (April 4).
 
Senior Alexis Brown has started all 47 games in right field … she is batting .308 with 44 hits and 31 runs scored … is 14-for-15 in stolen bases … has eight multi-hit games … has four multi-RBI 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… was named the MIAA Hitter of the Week (March 23) as she batted .727 with eight hits in 11 at-bats … 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.
 
Sophomore Kaylee Cords has delivered a team-best 10-multi RBI games … she ranks second on the team in RBI (33) … third on the squad with four home runs … ranks four on the team also in hits (41) … has drawn 14 walks … has 10 multi-hit games … is third on the team in batting average (.313) … 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 seven would-be base stealers … has allowed two passed balls.
 
Sophomore shortstop Curstin Todd has made 11 errors in 208 chances in the field … Todd is batting .168 with 19 hits, including four doubles … she has scored 15 runs and knocked in eight … she is 3-for-4 in stolen base attempts … has three multi-hit games … leads the team with 132 fielding assists, which ranks No. 4 in the nation and first in the MIAA.
 
Senior Sara Farlow has drawn a team-best 26 walks and owns a .460 on-base percentage …
is batting .286 with 30 hits and five home runs … has totaled 316 putouts, leading the team … connected on Northwest's only home run of the Lone Star D2 Classic against Minnesota-Duluth … 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 … hit her third homer of the season at Newman (April 4) … hit her fourth HR at Emporia State (April 18) … launched her fifth home run of the season at Augustana (April 21).
 
Sophomore Timber Wilson is batting .274 with 20 RBI … she is tied for second on the team with 10 doubles … she has nine multi-hit games and five multi-RBI contests … 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.
 
Junior Avery Mayberry cracked her second home run of the season in a 14-12 win at Augustana (April 21) … she has appeared in 27 games and made eight starts … Mayberry has scored seven runs and has tallied eight hits on the season.
 
Senior Jadyn Streigle is 14-7 and is second on the squad with 72 strikeouts … she has thrown a team-best 15 complete games with four 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. 3 in program history with 47 pitching victories. She has produced 15 shutouts, which ranks tied for No. 4 in school history. Streigle has struck out 271 batters in her Bearcat pitching career, which ranks as the seventh-best mark in school history. She has pitched 492 1/3 innings, which is the sixth-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
     Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) - 47
5. Shelly MacDonald (2002-2005) - 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
    Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) - 15
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. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) – 271
8. Kendle Schieber (2015-2016) – 255
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. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) – 492.1
7. Christy Blankenau (1988-1991) – 476.1
8. Breck Dickey (2020-2024) – 469.0
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. Jadyn Streigle (2023-pr.) – 93
7. Morgan Brunmeier (2010-2013) – 89
8. Christy Blankenau (1988-1991) – 88
9. Kelly Morris (2006-2008) – 87
10. Abbie Vitosh (2012-2015) - 83
 
Sophomore Rien Moore has pitched a 110 1/3 innings with a 4.49 ERA … she is 11-6 with a team-best 95 strikeouts and a save … she has tossed nine complete games … she has appeared in 23 games and has made 17 starts … opponents are batting .254 vs. Moore this season … she struck out a season-high 10 batters vs. Drury on Jan. 30 … Moore pitched all 10 innings of a 3-2 win over Fort Hays State (March 27).
 
Junior Olivia Moyer is 3-3 with a 6.14 ERA and two saves … has appeared in 15 games and made six starts in the circle … Moyer has struck out 37 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 13 games with three starts … She is 1-2 with a 3.78 ERA in 29 2/3 innings pitched … she has struck out 17 batters.
 
Fifth-year head coach Naomi Tellez has produced 122 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.)                 122
 
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