ROLLA, Mo. – The Miners will return to the softball field this Friday, as they begin their title defense following a Great Lakes Valley Conference championship last season.

Weekend Schedule:

Jan. 31: Missouri S&T at Ouachita Baptist, 2 p.m.
Jan. 31: Missouri S&T vs. Northeastern State, 6 p.m. (at Henderson State)
Feb. 1: Missouri S&T vs. Northwest Missouri State, 11 a.m. (at Henderson State)
Feb. 1: Missouri S&T at Henderson State, 3 p.m.
Feb. 2: Missouri S&T at Henderson State, 12 p.m.

About the Tigers

Ouachita Baptist went 15-37 last season with an 8-25 record in the GAC. They did end the 2024 season with momentum as they were on a five-game winning streak. The Tigers lost their biggest offensive player in Erin Williams as she recorded a .331 batting average with 10 home runs and a 1.031 OPS.

S&T is 2-5 all-time versus Ouachita Baptist dating back to 2008. However, the Miners are on a two-game winning streak against the Tigers. In last seasons matchup on Feb. 2, Trista Grobe (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) homered for the Miners in a 7-5 win.

About the Riverhawks

Northeastern State is coming off a 10-35 season with a 5-21 record in MIAA play last year. Leading pitcher Korynn Tindel is back for her sophomore campaign as she led the team with a 4.02 ERA in 30 total appearances. Madison Heinle is also back after she recorded 95 strikeouts in 2024.

The Miners are 4-12 against the Riverhawks going back to 1982. In their previous meeting on Feb. 19, 2024, S&T found heroics from a fielder's choice in the seventh inning to win 3-2. Before that win, Northeastern State hadn't lost to S&T since 2017.

About the Bearcats

Northwest Missouri State is fresh off a 28-25 season with a 15-11 MIAA record. They clinched a spot in the MIAA tournament but fell to Washburn in the first round. Leading hitter Lillie Filger returns for her senior season following a season where she hit .435 with 80 total hits.

The Bearcats are 36-17 all-time versus the Miners. In their last contest on Mar. 5, 2023, S&T blanked the Bearcats 4-0. Mayce Barber (Excelsior Springs, Mo./Excelsior Springs) pitched a shutout in that game on just five hits and no walks allowed.

About the Reddies

Henderson State went 22-30 overall in 2024 with a 13-20 GAC record. They did clinch a spot in the GAC tournament but lost to Arkansas Tech 5-6 in the first round. Leading pitcher Presley Applegate put up a 1.74 ERA in 20 appearances last season and returns for her junior season.

S&T is 2-4 against Henderson State since 2005. The last Miners win came on Mar. 30, 2010, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. In a 1-2 loss on Feb. 2, 2024, Grobe went 2-for-4 with a run scored in the eight-inning contest.

About the Miners

Missouri S&T is ready to defend its GLVC title following the run they made in the tournament in 2024. They picked up the title win over Indianapolis 3-2 in eight innings back on May 5, 2024. That title was the first ever conference tournament championship for any women's program in Missouri S&T history. They were also the lowest-seeded team to ever win a GLVC title as they were the seventh seed.

Leading hitter Sydney Anderson (Elkhart, IA/North Polk) is back for her senior season as she hit .374 with 22 doubles last season. In the power department, Grobe returns as she blasted five home runs last year with 11 doubles. Julia Kanoy (Hamilton, Mo./Penney) was third on the team last year with a 3.46 ERA in 10 games.

S&T is also under a new head coach this season in Summer Anagnostopoulos. She was previously an assistant coach at Three Rivers Community College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. She primarily served as the pitching coach in her four years with Three Rivers. As a player, she played for Three Rivers and was named a Region XVI Player of the Year. Anagnostopoulos transferred to Mizzou and was there for two seasons.

Anagnostopoulos' husband, Michael Anagnostopoulos, will be joining the S&T team as well and will serve as the assistant coach.

What's Next

Following their trip to Arkansas, the Miners will go to the Raising Canes Classic in Edmond, Oklahoma, on Feb. 9-10 to play four games. The home opener for Missouri S&T is still over a month away on Mar. 9 versus Drury.

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