Griffon softball gets swept at home by No. 20 Emporia State

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team had its offense stymied in a doubleheader sweep at the hands of No. 20 Emporia State in MWSU’s final regular season games of the season. Kaitlyn Caston won both games for Emporia State, holding MWSU to two runs and 11 hits on the day.

GAME 1: Emporia State 2, MWSU 1

All the scoring in game one came in the first frame as No. 20 Emporia State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning of game one with a two-run home run from Danielle Sprinkle off Janie Smith.

The Griffons added one in the bottom half of the inning when Kailey Green grounded into a fielder’s choice that scored Tiffany Gillaspy. Missouri Western got just four hits off Kaitlyn Caston in the game and stranded four runners on base. Katie Klosterman went 2-3 at the plate with Morgan Rathmann and Gillaspy picking up the other Griffon hits.

Smith was solid after the first, holding the Hornets to just those two runs on nine hits. She struck out seven and walked two. The loss dropped Smith to 16-9 on the season.

GAME 2: Emporia State 5, MWSU 1

Three unearned runs in the top of the fifth broke a scoreless tie and gave the Hornets the only runs they needed to complete the sweep.

With two already out in the top of the fifth an error by Griffon shortstop Shelbie Atwell kept Emporia State alive. The Hornets followed the error with two-straight RBI singles and a wild pitch allowed the third run of the inning to score. The Griffons had a chance to answer in the bottom half of the inning. Sydney Washington doubled with one out and Atwell followed with a single, then a stolen base to put two runners in scoring position with one out. Rebekah Mueller struck out to record the second out and Brooke Schaben ended the inning with a foul out.

MWSU threatened again in the bottom of the sixth but Caston was able to get out of it again. Emporia State scored their fourth and fifth runs of the game, all with two outs, when Caston hit a two-run home run in the top of the seventh.

After the game, seniors Tiffany Gillaspy and Brooke Schaben were honored for their contributions to the Griffon Softball program. The team finished the regular season 33-17 overall and 17-9 in the MIAA. They will move on to play in the MIAA Tournament next weekend. Tournament play begins Thursday in Overland Park, Kansas.