Missouri Western softball players Jackie Biship and Tiffany Gillaspy have been named to the Daktronics Central Region First team which was released Monday afternoon. Bishop was also named the region Pitcher of the Year for the second time in her career.
Bishop is completed one of the most successful playing careers in Missouri Western softball history. The Kirksville, Mo., natvie is a four-time First Team All-MIAA selection, two time MIAA Pitcher of the Year (2012-2014), four-time First Team All-Region recipient and an All-American selection in 2012. Bishop was also the MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2011. Bishop holds MWSU softball career records for wins (96), strikeouts (977), innings pitched (828.0), appearances (142) complete games (105) and shutouts (29). Additionally the two-time MIAA Pitcher of the Year holds MWSU single-season records for strikeouts (291) and shutouts (12) and is an integral member of a senior class that went 159-62 in its time dawning the Black and Gold. This season, the right-handed pitcher finished with a 26-10 overall record with a 1.36 ERA. The 26 wins is the most she had in a single season. She finished leading the MIAA with 291 strikeouts. She pitched 31 complete games with 12 shutouts and two saves this season. She gave up just 4.4 hits per games while striking out 8.3 per game. She thrw three no-hitters this season and four in her career. She was named the MIAA AstroTurf Pitcher of the Week four times this season and 11 times in her career.
Gillaspy topped off an impressive junior campaign being named first team All-Region and first team All-MIAA for the first time in her career. Gillaspy a two-time MIAA AstroTurf Hitter of the Week finished her season getting a hit in 23 of her last 25 games and had an 19 game hitting streak during that run. She also hit safely in 45 of the Griffons 57 games this season. She finished the season leading the Griffons and was in the top-10 in the MIAA in batting average (.390), hits (73), doubles (13), home runs (13), RBI (60), total baseas (125) and slugging percentage (.668). Gillaspy was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection a in 2013. She had double digit hits in 21 games including going 4-for-4 against Central Missouri on March 14. She has also had five RBI in a game three times and hit two home runs and a double against Lincoln on April 12. On the final day of the season she went 4-for-7 with two runs scored, four RBI a double and a home run in the NCAA Central Regional.
The Griffons finished their season 39-18 overall and won their first ever MIAA Tournament Championship going 4-0 and outscoring their opponents 41-9. They Griffons have won 30+ games in four straight seasons.
Each member of the first-team All-Central Region squad will join first-team members from each of the other seven regions on the ballot for the Daktronics All-America Team.
The D2SIDA All-America softball team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. The teams are voted on by the members of D2SIDA, NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors Association.
— MWSU Sports Information —