EDMOND, Okla. – Carsen Tinkler of Missouri Southern State University was named the Athletic Solutions “A Game” Scholar-Athlete of the 2026 MIAA Softball Championship.
 
The top ten teams from the regular season are in Emporia, Kan., this week for the Association’s postseason softball championship tournament, hosted May 6-9 at Emporia State University’s Trusler Sports Complex. Among all the NCAA Division II softball student-athletes competing in the championship, Missouri Southern’s Carsen Tinkler was selected as the championship’s “A Game” Scholar-Athlete for her performances on and off the field.

Established by the MIAA in 2022, “A Game” Scholar-Athlete Award presented by Athletic Solutions acknowledges the overall excellence of a student-athlete by recognizing one individual who has contributed to their team’s success while also achieving the highest academic standard among peers. The student-athlete honored with the “A Game” Scholar-Athlete Award must be an active member of a qualifying team and must have a minimum of two terms completed at the institution.
 
Tinkler is a senior from Overland Park, Kan., on the Lions softball team. Academically, she owns a perfect 4.0 grade point average with 110 credits completed. Tinkler will graduate from the university this May with her bachelor’s degree in marketing.
 
On the field, Tinkler was named an All-MIAA Third Team selection at third base in the 2026 season. She enters the MIAA postseason with a .370 batting average, accumulating 54 hits, 33 RBI, and 23 runs scored in the regular season. She’s also registered 36 outs and 94 assists as the Lions’ starting third basemen.
 
Tinkler and the Lions earned the top seed in the 2026 MIAA Softball Championship after finishing 20-4 against conference opponents in the regular season. Missouri Southern’s first game in the postseason tournament is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, against No. 8 seed Washburn.
 
Tinkler is the fifth student-athlete from Missouri Southern to receive the “A Game” Scholar-Athlete honor and the first Lions softball player to earn the award. To view past “A Game” Scholar-Athlete award winners and find more information about the award, visit theMIAA.com/scholar-athletes.
 
The MIAA will present Tinkler with the “A Game”  Scholar-Athlete trophy prior to the start of Southern’s quarterfinal on Thursday. To view the official bracket and find more information on the 2026 MIAA Softball Championship, visit theMIAA.com/softballchampionship.
 
ABOUT ATHLETIC SOLUTIONS:
Athletic Solutions is an e-commerce and merchandise company created by former athletes and supporters with the mission of providing better gear and branding opportunities for schools, clubs, and student-athletes. The company specializes in print-on-demand technology, offering custom apparel and accessories for online team stores. One of their key focuses is supporting the growing Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) space by helping athletes launch their own online stores and benefit from an industry-leading revenue share.