2012 (Sophomore): After serving primarily as a reserve over the first month-and-a-half of the season, Sykes forced her way into the lineup with solid, consistent play that eventually led to her being named a First Team All-Big 12 selection. She went 4-for-4 with a triple, four runs and three RBI in the last three games of the DeMarini Invitational and hit safely in the last two games against Kansas while scoring a run. At Texas, Sykes went 2-for-3 with two runs in Mizzou's game two victory and added a single in the rubber match. She hit her first home run of the season against Texas Tech, a three run walk off blast in the bottom of the eighth inning to give the Tigers a win to close the series. She hit safely in all three games at No. 5 Oklahoma, going 4-for-10 with a run, an RBI and two walks. Sykes also had a three-game stretch where she recorded five hits - including a home run - and plated five RBI, doing so in two games against Iowa State and the first game of the Murray State doubleheader. Sykes had two hits in the first game of the NCAA Super Regionals against LSU. Sykes finished the season with 20 runs, five doubles, a triple and two homers while getting on base at a .346 clip. In Big 12 play, Sykes hit .333 with nine runs, two homers, 10 walks, a .448 on base percentage and a .521 slugging percentage. Honors: First Team All-Big 12, First Team Academic All-Big 12
2011 (Freshman): Sykes served as a primary bat off the bench for the Tigers as a freshman, while also spending time at third base and in the outfield. She recorded six hits with four RBI on the season, while also scoring six runs. She got her first career start at third base against Western Michigan, where she drew two walks and blasted her first career home run, hitting a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning for her first collegiate hit. Against Texas Tech, she came off the bench and delivered a pinch hit single and would later come around to score. A week later against Evansville, Sykes hit a pinch hit home run for her second long ball of the year. She got the start against Western Illinois on May 4 and went 1-for-3 on the day. At the NCAA Regionals against DePaul on May 22, Sykes came off the bench again and delivered another pinch hit single, driving in a run in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Tigers up 6-0 in the championship game.
Blue Springs: Playing both shortstop and third base, Sykes competed for the Wildcats of Blue Springs. In her four years, Sykes helped lead the `Cats to a state championship, a third-place finish at state and two district championships. In 2008, Sykes earned All-State honors for her performance. In total, Sykes earned seven letters in high school, as she played basketball along with softball. She was picked to the Principal's Honor Roll during all four years of high school for her academic achievements.
Personal: Mackenzie Sykes, born on May 18, 1992, is the daughter of Jeff and Melanie Sykes. She has one younger sister, Madison. Her father, Jeff, played baseball at Northwest Missouri State. Sykes chose Missouri because she had dreamed of playing softball for the Tigers since she was a child. Majoring in sports management, Sykes chose Mizzou over Missouri State and Iowa State.
