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Softball Opens 2026 Season Campaign at Hawkins McGhee Memorial

1/28/2026 3:00:00 PM

By: Madelyn Stephen, Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T softball opens its 2026 season this weekend at the Hawkins McGhee Memorial in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, facing a pair of Great American Conference opponents to begin the year.

The Miners will take on Henderson State University on Sunday, Feb. 1, in a doubleheader scheduled for 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Dee White Field, before closing the weekend against Ouachita Baptist University on Monday, Feb. 2, with games set for 12 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. at "Petesy" Langston Softball Field.

About the Miners
Missouri S&T enters the 2026 season after finishing the 2025 campaign with a 19–34 overall record and a 14–14 mark in Great Lakes Valley Conference play, highlighted by a run to the third day of the GLVC Tournament. The Miners averaged 4.2 runs per game last season while producing 40 home runs and 61 doubles, and posted a .248 team batting average with a .386 slugging percentage.

At the plate, S&T featured a balanced offensive attack, led by Taylor Nelson (Hailey, ID/Phillips Exeter Academy) (.320 AVG, eight home runs, 30 RBIs). In the circle, the Miners logged a 4.43 team ERA, led by All-GLVC Third Team selection Mia Miller (Waterloo, IL/Waterloo), who recorded 10 wins and 142 strikeouts across 182.1 innings.

About the Reddies
Henderson State concluded the 2025 season with a 30–24 overall record and a 14–19 mark in conference play, advancing to the Great American Conference quarterfinals before falling to Southern Arkansas. The Reddies were picked seventh in the 2026 GAC Preseason Poll.

Several key contributors return for Henderson State, including All-GAC Second Team selection Hilary Akers, who led the Reddies in most major offensive categories a season ago. Akers recorded 18 doubles in 2025, the second-most in program history. Josie Copeland also returns after earning All-GAC Honorable Mention recognition, finishing last season with a team-best .389 batting average while ranking second on the team in OPS and third in both home runs and RBIs.

About the Tigers
Ouachita Baptist University enters the 2026 season after finishing the 2025 campaign with a 21–32 overall record and a 12–21 mark in Great American Conference play. The Tigers hit .264 as a team last season, producing 28 home runs and 69 doubles, while averaging just under four runs per game. Defensively, Ouachita Baptist posted a 4.39 team ERA and turned 22 double plays, while holding opponents to a .308 batting average. The Tigers were tabbed 10th in the 2026 GAC Preseason Poll.

Offensively, Emily Reed provided power in the lineup with a team-high 11 home runs and 39 RBIs. In the circle, Catie Amador led the pitching staff with 13 wins and 94 strikeouts across 157.1 innings.

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