Game One: Stars, 2 Bulldogs 11
Stephens dropped an 11–2 decision to McPherson College on February 6 in Branson, Missouri. McPherson used a steady offensive effort throughout the game, scoring in four different innings while collecting 12 hits.
McPherson struck first in the opening inning, taking advantage of a pair of Stephens errors to push across the game's first run. The Bulldogs added two more in the third inning after aggressive base running allowed two runs to score and extend the lead to 3–0.
The lead grew in the fourth when McPherson recorded three straight run-scoring hits, stretching the advantage to 6–0. Stephens answered in the bottom half of the inning when Landry Bales doubled and later scored on a single from Kyndal Vincent to get the Stars on the board.
McPherson broke the game open in the sixth inning with five runs. The inning included several base runners as the Bulldogs extended the lead to 11–1.
Stephens continued to compete in the bottom of the sixth, stringing together three hits from Elise Kendrick, Landry Bales, and Savannah Greathouse. Vincent brought in Kendrick with a groundout to account for the Stars' second run.
Bales led Stephens with two hits, while Vincent added two hits and an RBI. Kendrick, Greathouse, Skylar Jacobs, Leanna Mitts, and Mylee Hawkins each recorded a hit as the Stars finished with nine hits in the game.
Kendrick started in the circle for Stephens, allowing six runs over four innings with four strikeouts. Greathouse pitched the final two innings in relief.
Game Two: Stars 6, Yellowjackets 4
Stephens picked up a 6–4 win over Graceland University on February 6, building an early lead and holding off a late push to secure the victory.
The Stars wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning. Elise Kendrick doubled to start the rally, and Stephens capitalized on a pair of Graceland errors to bring home two runs and take a 2–0 lead.
Stephens added another run in the second inning. After AJ Thurston reached base, Addi Flores singled and later stole second before Mylee Hawkins drove in Thurston with a bunt single to extend the lead to 3–0.
The Stars broke the game open in the third. Katie Dennis tripled to lead off the inning, and Skylar Jacobs followed with a double. Abby Schmidt delivered a two-run single to score both runners, and Flores later added an RBI single to push the advantage to 6–0.
Graceland began to chip away in the fourth inning, scoring twice to cut the lead to four runs. The Yellowjackets added two more in the sixth to make it a 6–4 game.
Dennis settled back in the circle to close things out, pitching a complete game while allowing just two hits and striking out eight to earn the win.
Flores led the Stars offensively with two hits and an RBI while also stealing two bases. Jacobs added two hits, including a double, and Schmidt drove in two runs. Hawkins also recorded an RBI as Stephens finished with 10 hits in the victory.
