Game One: Stars 7, Tigers 10
Stephens dropped a 10–7 decision to Doane University on February 7 in Branson, Missouri, despite recording 12 hits in the game.
Doane jumped out to an early lead in the first inning with a pair of home runs, including an inside-the-park homer from Milannie Gonzalez and a solo shot from Faith McDonald. The Tigers added two more runs on a triple later in the inning to take a 4–0 advantage.
Stephens answered in the bottom of the first. Addi Flores and Mylee Hawkins both reached base to start the rally, and Abby Schmidt drew a bases-loaded walk to bring in the first run. Kyndal Vincent followed with an RBI single to cut the deficit to 4–2.
Doane added two runs in the second and two more in the third to extend the lead to 8–5, but the Stars stayed within striking distance thanks to a big second inning. After Celeste Athon reached and stole second, Flores singled before Elise Kendrick launched a three-run home run to left field, bringing Stephens within one run at the time.
The Tigers were held scoreless for several innings before adding two insurance runs in the seventh on a two-run double to make it 10–5.
Stephens made a late push in the bottom of the seventh. Vincent singled and AJ Thurston was hit by a pitch to put two runners on base before Flores delivered a two-run single to cut the deficit to 10–7. The rally ended there as Doane closed out the game.
Flores led the Stars offensively with three hits and two RBIs. Hawkins added two hits, while Kendrick finished with two hits and three RBIs, highlighted by her home run. Vincent also recorded two hits and an RBI as Stephens totaled 12 hits in the game.
Game Two: Stars 6, Valor 8
Stephens fell to Evangel University 8–6 in Branson, Missouri, despite collecting 11 hits in the game.
Evangel struck first in the opening inning with solo home run to center field to give the Valor a 1–0 lead. Stephens answered in the second inning when Skylar Jacobs delivered an RBI single to left field, bringing Morgan Ulrich home to tie the game at 1–1.
Evangel responded with a three-run second inning. A fly ball resulted in two runs scoring on an error, and later crossed the plate to extend the lead to 4–1.
Stephens began to close the gap in the fifth. Elise Kendrick scored on a groundout from Kyndal Vincent, and Katie Dennis later came home on a wild pitch to make it a 4–3 game. Evangel added two runs in the bottom half of the inning on RBI singles to push the lead back to three.
The Stars put together their strongest inning in the sixth. Mylee Hawkins singled to drive in a run before Dennis delivered a two-run double to left field, tying the game at 6–6.
Evangel answered immediately in the bottom of the sixth. Stephens threatened but was unable to add another run in the seventh as Evangel closed out the win.
Dennis led the Stars with two hits and two RBIs, while Hawkins added two hits and an RBI. Kendall Rhorer recorded three hits, and Jacobs finished with two hits and an RBI. Kendrick and Hailey Ebert also added hits as Stephens totaled 11 in the game.
