Missouri Southern Fall Report: Lions Look to Rekindle Championship Magic

The Missouri Southern Lions enter the 2026 season looking to build upon a legacy of consistency that has defined the tenure of Head Coach Bryce Darnell. Now entering his 19th season at the helm with a career record of 551-374 and a .596 winning percentage , Darnell has led the program to 11 consecutive winning seasons. The 2025 campaign saw the Lions finish with a 28-25 overall record and an 18-18 mark in the highly competitive MIAA, good for 8th place and a subsequent MIAA Tournament appearance.

While the season was a step back from the dominant 44-win and 45-win performances of 2024 and 2023 , the Lions proved they could still compete with the best, securing a late-season victory over a Central Missouri squad that eventually finished as the National World Series Runner-Up. The 2025 journey was marked by significant highs, including a sweep of Arkansas-Fort Smith and a thrilling 25-24 victory over Newman, but also the challenge of replacing elite production that had previously made Joplin a regional host site.

The Offense

The Lions’ lineup returns 60.1% of its offensive production from a year ago, anchored by a core of battle-tested seniors. Brayden Luikart returns as a premier two-way threat in the outfield after earning Third Team All-MIAA and All-MIAA Gold Glove honors. In 213 ABs, Luikart hit .347 with 9 doubles, 3 triples, 7 HR, and 52 RBI, while his disciplined eye led to a 7% strikeout rate that ranked 4th in the conference. Joining him in the middle of the order is Ethan Clark, another Third Team All-MIAA selection. In 229 ABs, Clark hit .332 with 14 doubles and 8 HR, leading the returning group with 54 RBI and ranking 14th in the conference for runs batted in. Behind the plate, senior Jacob Filip provides a steady presence and a high-on-base profile; in 153 ABs, he hit .314 with 8 doubles and 5 HR while driving in 27 runs.

The Lions also anticipate the full return of Will Doherty, a redshirt junior infielder who missed much of last season due to injury. Doherty was a Third Team All-MIAA performer in 2024, and his return to the everyday lineup provides a massive boost to a group that already features reliable contributors like Cy Darnell and Blake Jones. Darnell, in 189 ABs, hit .286 with 10 doubles, 3 triples, and 30 RBI, while Jones showcased significant power in a smaller sample, hitting .275 in 131 ABs with 8 HR and 29 RBI. Adding depth to the infield is senior newcomer Jason Lazo, a transfer from Texas Southern who brings Division I experience and a career .394 on-base percentage to the mix.

The Pitching Staff

On the mound, the Lions face the challenge of replacing several key arms, as only 32.3% of the team's innings pitched return for 2026. Leading the charge is redshirt junior left-hander Owen Schneider, who displayed versatility last season by starting 7 games and making 15 total appearances. Schneider posted a 5-3 record with a 5.52 ERA in 45.2 IP, recording 50 strikeouts against 25 walks. He is joined by junior right-hander Keaton Anderson, who made 10 starts a year ago and will look to refine his command after a season where he recorded a 1-5 record with an 8.73 ERA in 44.1 IP. Walker Sweet also returns to the bullpen after a junior campaign where he made 15 appearances, striking out 14 batters in 18.2 IP.

The staff also features Lane Chapman, who gained experience in 7 appearances last year, and senior Kyle Kaempf, who will look to build on a season where he struck out 7 batters in limited action. A wild card for the Lions is junior left-hander Michael Mullhollon, a transfer from Wichita State. Though he missed 2025 due to injury, he previously showed swing-and-miss stuff at the Division I level, striking out 11 in 8.1 innings. Finding stability in the rotation will be a primary goal for the coaching staff during the spring.

Key Departures

The Lions must replace the massive production of Drew Townsend, an ABCA Second Team All-Central Region and Second Team All-MIAA outfielder. Townsend was the engine of the offense last year, hitting .367 in 215 ABs with 15 doubles, 11 HR, and 29 RBI, while leading the team with a 1.101 OPS. Also departing is second baseman Nate Mieszkowski, an Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection who hit .286 in 199 ABs with 7 HR and 34 RBI. The pitching staff loses its former ace Cole Gayman, a First Team All-MIAA selection in 2024 who logged a team-high 64.2 innings last year. Additionally, Treghan Parker, an Honorable Mention All-MIAA pick in 2024, leaves a void in the outfield after hitting 5 HR and driving in 37 runs last season.

Schedule & Outlook

The 2026 schedule is designed to test the Lions early with a heavy dose of regional powerhouses. Missouri Southern opens the year on January 30th in Hot Springs, Arkansas, against Henderson State, a team that reached the Central Regional in 2025. The opening weekend continues with matchups against Southern Arkansas, and regional team University of Arkansas at Monticello. February brings a high-profile home series in the MSSU Lion Classic against Minnesota State, the defending NSIC Champions who won 51 games last year, and UIndy, who hosted a Midwest Super Regional in 2025.

As MIAA play begins, the Lions face a gauntlet of conference rivals, including an early-season road trip to Rogers State and a March series against Northwest Missouri State, the 2025 MIAA Tournament Runner-Up. April features a critical home series against Central Oklahoma, a regional participant and the reigning MIAA Tournament Champions. The regular season concludes in early May with a massive road series against Central Missouri, the defending conference regular-season champions and World Series Runner-Up. If the Lions can navigate this challenging slate and solidify their pitching rotation, they have the veteran offensive core to once again contend for a top spot in the MIAA and a return to the NCAA postseason. If you value this in-depth, non-paywalled coverage of D2 Baseball, please consider supporting our independent reporting efforts. Your contribution helps us continue providing free access to all our articles without relying on restrictive paywalls. To support our work, please visit our Patreon page: patreon.com/diviibaseball