ST. JOSEPH – The 2018 Griffon softball season will begin two days earlier than originally scheduled.

Missouri Western will now open play in the Arkansas-Monticello Division II Challenge on Thursday, Feb. 8 in Bentonville, Arkansas. A less than favorable forecast in the area forced the crossover to be moved up two days. The Griffons’ opponents and game times will remain the same as scheduled.

Missouri Western begins the event against Harding on Feb. 8 at noon. That game is followed by a match-up with Arkansas-Monticello at 2 p.m. on Feb. 8. The Griffons close out the event on Feb. 9 with a 10 a.m. non-conference game against Emporia State and a noon game against Arkansas Tech.

Just like Griffon softball, Missouri Western’s baseball team will not have to wait as long for this week’s competition. The Griffons’ weekend series at Arkansas Tech became a Thursday, Friday series due to the threat of inclement weather in Russellville, Arkansas.

Missouri Western and Arkansas Tech will now play doubleheaders on Thursday, Feb. 8 and Friday, Feb. 9. Both doubleheaders will begin at 2 p.m. The series was originally scheduled to be played Feb. 9-11. The Griffons are 2-1 after a season opening series win at Harding. Arkansas Tech entered the week 3-1 with wins over Central Oklahoma, Emporia State and Washburn last week in Grand Prairie, Texas.

— MWSU Athletics —