BRANSON, Mo. – The University of Sioux Falls Softball team opened the 2026 season with a pair of games Sunday at the Branson RecPlex, falling 8–3 to Arkansas Tech before dropping a 9–1 decision to No. 11 Central Missouri in five innings.
The Cougars showed early competitiveness in both contests, trading punches through the opening frames, but late offensive surges by both opponents proved to be the difference on day one of the season-opening weekend.
Game One: Arkansas Tech 8, Sioux Falls 3
Sioux Falls struck first momentum in the opener, answering Arkansas Tech's second-inning run with an RBI single from Morgan Lindstad in the bottom half of the frame. The Cougars continued to apply pressure in the fourth inning, pushing across two runs to take a 3–1 lead.
Arkansas Tech responded with a two-run home run in the fifth to tie the game before pulling away with five runs over the final two innings. The Golden Suns finished with nine hits and six walks, capitalizing on late scoring opportunities to secure the win.
Key Team Stats
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USF recorded five hits and struck out nine times at the plate.
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Arkansas Tech scored seven runs from the fifth inning on.
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Sioux Falls committed one error, leading to an unearned run.
Key Cougars
Game Two: #11 Central Oklahoma 9, Sioux Falls 1 (5 innings)
Sioux Falls faced a ranked challenge in game two against No. 11 Central Oklahoma, as the Bronchos broke the game open with four runs in the second inning and three more in the third. The Cougars worked through traffic defensively early but struggled to slow Central Oklahoma's offense, which capitalized on five walks and multiple extra-base hits.
USF got on the board in the fourth inning when Emma Kristof delivered an RBI double to left field, noting the lone scoring play of the game for the Cougars. Central Oklahoma added two runs in the bottom of the fifth to secure the run-rule victory.
Key Team Stats
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USF finished with two hits and four errors.
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Central Oklahoma scored nine runs on eight hits and drew five walks.
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The Cougars stranded two runners on base.
Key Cougars
Coach's Corner
"I think we competed early in the games and couldn't finish, but it's early, and our first time outside since October. Tomorrow is a new day and another opportunity to be better."
- Head Coach Tommy Downs
Up Next
The Cougars remain in Branson, Missouri for two more games on Monday, set to face Northwestern Oklahoma State at 11:30 a.m. before closing the day against Newman University at 1:30 p.m.
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