ROLLA, Mo. – Missouri S&T softball continues its road stretch this week as the Miners travel to Branson, Missouri to face Minnesota Duluth before opening Great Lakes Valley Conference play later in the week against Drury in Springfield, Missouri.  

 

Missouri S&T enters the week with an 11-9 overall record after a strong start to the 2026 season, powered by a balanced lineup and steady pitching. The Miners are hitting .287 as a team with 152 hits and 17 home runs, while scoring 98 runs through their first 20 games. Leading the offense is Claire Lopez (Olathe, KS/Olathe Northwest), who is batting .438 with 28 hits and a .544 on-base percentage, while Taylor Nelson (Hailey, ID/Phillips Exeter Academy) has provided power in the middle of the lineup with a .386 average, six home runs, and 16 RBIs.  

 

Missouri S&T has also received contributions throughout the lineup, including Trista Grobe (DeSoto, MO/DeSoto) (.308, six doubles) and Morgan Williams (Midland, MI/Midland) (.308, 11 RBIs). In the circle, the Miners have been led by AJ Agers (DeSoto, MO/St. Pius X), who holds a 2.68 ERA with five wins and 27 strikeouts in 49.2 innings, while Mia Miller (Waterloo, IL/Waterloo) has added five victories and 38 strikeouts across 52.2 innings. As a staff, Missouri S&T owns a 4.33 team ERA and has limited opponents to a .282 batting average, helping the Miners remain competitive heading into a busy week of games. 

 

Minnesota Duluth enters the matchup with a 14–5 overall record and has been strong offensively early in the season, hitting .347 as a team with 21 home runs and 144 runs scored through 19 games. Daphne Evans leads the Bulldogs at the plate with a .515 batting average, while Sierra Thomas (.444) and Ava Johnson (.429) have also been key contributors in the middle of the lineup.  

 

In the circle, Minnesota Duluth carries a 3.82 team ERA, led by Emmie Sylvia-Cochran who is 7–0 with 59 strikeouts in 44.2 innings this season. Ashley Mandell has also been effective with a 1.42 ERA, helping the Bulldogs build a strong start to the year behind a balanced combination of pitching depth and productive offense. 

 

Drury enters GLVC play with a 7–10 overall record and has relied on a mix of pitching depth and timely hitting early in the season. Claire Nelson leads the Panthers offensively with a .295 batting average, while Haley Bryant (.265) and Kaley Adzick (.256) have also contributed in the lineup. As a team, Drury is hitting .227 with 97 hits and 42 RBIs through its first 17 games.  

 

In the circle, the Panthers carry a 3.36 team ERA, highlighted by Kaley Adzick who holds a 1.75 ERA in 36 innings this season. Jordyn Foley has also logged significant innings with a 3.53 ERA, giving Drury multiple options in the pitching rotation as they prepare to open conference play against the Miners.