Malori Moss is in her sixth season as an assistant coach for the RSU softball program in 2022. As the lead assistant, she serves as the hitting coach and is responsible for the team’s offensive production. A former Hillcat utility player, Moss also coaches the outfielders and assists with recruiting.
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In each of the last four full seasons, the Hillcats have finished in the top-25 of Division II in home runs per game.
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In 2021, RSU ranked in the top-15 nationally for fielding percentage (.974) and home runs (52). The Hillcats posted their highest full season winning percentage (.690) in the Division II era, while reaching the conference tournament championship for the second time in the last three complete seasons. RSU appeared in 12-of-15 NFCA Polls, including a program-best ranking of No. 9 during a stretch of four consecutive weeks in the top 12. Seven Hillcats were named to the MIAA All-Conference team, while four players would later earn all-region accolades. Pitcher Andrea Morales garnered All-American status from the NFCA and D2CCA, while also being named the conference pitcher of the year for the second time.
The 2020 season went down as one of the best in program history, and at the same time, a season of what could have been had the COVID-19 pandemic not forced the NCAA to cancel Spring Championships in early March. After a 12-2 start, Rogers State cracked the NFCA top 25 for the first-time ever, showing up at No. 22 on the first in-season poll. RSU ascended as high as No. 11, remained in the top 25 all season, and closed the year at No. 17. The Hillcats also set records for runs in an inning (14 at Newman) and runs in a game (21 vs Arkansas-Monticello). The Hillcat offense showed its normal power, but also added plate presence to the mix that was unmatched in the NCAA. The Hillcats led all levels of the NCAA with 141 walks, with the next closest being Arizona State (NCAA D1) with 133.
In 2019, the Hillcats finished third in the conference standings, their highest ever in the Heartland Conference, and made their second straight conference tournament appearance. Rogers State remained one of the top power hitting teams in the country, ranking 19th in Division II in home runs per game. For the second straight year, Danelle Day led the Heartland Conference and ranked in the top 10 of Division II in home runs, finishing with 17. She also led the league in RBI (51), slugging percentage (.706) and total bases (113) on her way to becoming the first Hillcat ever to earn NFCA All-Region honors. Day and pitcher Andrea Morales were both named first team all-region by the D2CCA and first team All-Heartland. Morales was also named a second team All-American by Fastpitch News after capturing the conference pitcher of the year award.
In 2018, RSU’s second year of NCAA Division II postseason eligibility, the softball program won their first-ever Heartland Conference Tournament Championship and made their first NCAA Division II Regional appearance. Head Coach Andrea Vaughan was recognized as the Heartland Conference Coach of the Year and was voted the NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year by Hero Sports. The Hillcats posted an 18-game winning streak on their way to a 39-20 record, their best-ever since transitioning to NCAA Division II prior to the 2014 softball season. Six players were named All-Heartland Conference. The Hillcats were one of the top power hitting teams in the country, ranking 11th in home runs per game behind Day and Merissa Smith who led the conference with 19 and 16, respectively.
In her first season on staff in 2017, the Hillcats finished 28-24, marking the program's first winning season since joining NCAA Division II. Four Hillcats earned First Team All-Heartland Conference honors, including Kenzie Lloyd who was also selected as the Conference Freshman of the Year. Morgen Blanchard became the first player in the Division II era to earn all-region honors as she was named to the D2CCA South Central Region second team.
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Moss finished her two-year career with the Hillcats in 2016 playing in 89 career games in both the infield and outfield as a utility player, making 79 starts for the Navy and Red. She came to RSU from Western Oklahoma State where she earned second-team all-region honors in 2013.
A native of Chico, Texas, Moss completed her Bachelor of Science in sport management from Rogers State in 2016. She was named the Outstanding Graduate of the sport management program in the School of Business and Technology.
