The All-MIAA softball team was released Thursday night with seven Missouri Western players earning All-MIAA honors. The Griffons had two first-team and five honorable mention selections.
Jackie Bishop collected her second straight First-Team All-MIAA award and her third straight honor in as many years. Maegan Roemmich was also named first team with it being her her second straight first team honor.
Keri Lorbert, Kendall Sorensen, Sarah Elliott, Tiffany Gillaspy and Michelle Stevenson were all named Honorable Mention All-MIAA.
The Griffons continue MIAA action this weekend in the MIAA Tournament. The winner receives an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Jackie Bishop, Jr., Pitcher, Kirksivlle, Mo.
Bishop finished the regular season among the best pitchers in all of Division II. Bishop helped the Griffons finish 3rd in the conference, thanks in large to her performance on the mound. Bishop had a 1.61 ERA, good for second in the league, and finished the year 20-6. The junior had 32 appearances on the mound and had 26 starts. Bishop also had three saves to go with her 20 wins. She gave up just 125 hits, 55 runs and 51 walks on the season. In MIAA games, she went 12-4 and had a 1.39 ERA. This is Bishop’s third straight First Team All-MIAA award. She was named 2011 MIAA Freshman of the Year and 2012 MIAA Pitcher of the Year. This past season she broke career record at MWSU for wins, strikeouts and apperances.
Maegan Roemmich, Sr., Outfield, Des Moines, Iowa
Roemmich started all 50 games this season for the Griffons and batted a team-high .388. Roemmich scored 33 runs and had a team-high 57 hits in 2013. Her batting average ranks sixth in the conference. The senior finished the season with six doubles and a career-high nine home runs. She has 38 RBI and a .612 slug percentage. In the MIAA alone, she had a .464 batting average with eight home runs. Roemmich has played three different positions for the Griffons in her four years. She played third base her first two seasons before moving to the outfield. As a junior she played right field and this season she was moved to center field. This is Roemmich’s third straight year being named to an All-MIAA team, as she was First Team in 2012 as well as second team in 2011.
Sarah Elliott, Sr., Third Baseman, Platte City, Mo.
Elliott has an outstanding senior season finishing the regular season with a .340 batting average. She had 52 hits, which included seven doubles, a triple and four home runs. Elliott led the team with 10 bases on hit by pitches. She also went 23-for-28 on stolen bases. Elliott was also named honorable mention in 2012.
Tiffany Gillaspy, So., First Baseman, Johnston, Iowa
Gillaspy’s first year starting at first base was a solid one for the sophomore. She belted nine home runs in the regular season, tied for second on the team with Roemmich behind Lorbert. She also had 56 hits and a team-high 12 doubles. Gillaspy showed her power hitting the ball throughout the year finishing with a .611 slugging percentage. She had a team highes in RBI with 42 and total bases with 99.
Keri Lorbert, Sr., Catcher, Kearney, Neb.
Lorbert continued to be a stellar performer for the Griffons. The senior wrapped up the regular season with a .329 batting average starting all 50 games. Lorbert had a career-high 13 home runs, and broke the all-time record for homers at Missouri Western last Sunday against Northeastern State when she belted her 38th home run. She ranks third in the conference in home runs this season. Lorbert also has 48 hits and 40 RBI. Lorbert was a second team All-MIAA selection last season and an honorable mention selection as a sophomore.
Kendall Sorensen, Sr., Outfielder, Dixon, Calif.
Sorensen started all 50 games, batting sixth on the team with a .317 batting average. She tallied 44 hits with 23 runs scored. She finished with 21 RBI and a career-high five home runs this year. Sorensen had a .482 slug percentage and tied for a team-high with five sac bunts and one sac fly. This is her second straight honorable mention honor after transferring to Missouri Western from Sacramento City College.
Michelle Stevenson, Jr., Second Baseman, Smithville, Mo.
Stevenson finished the season with a .357 batting average, which ranks her second on the team. In 154 at bats, the junior crushed five homers and had 55 hits. She led the team with four triples, which ties her for first in the MIAA. Stevenson also had 10 doubles and scored 36 runs. She led the team with a .424 on-base percentage and was a perfect 5-for-5 on stolen base attempts. She was walked 16 times and started all 50 games in her first year as a starter.
The Griffons finished their season 36-14 overall and 20-8 in the MIAA which allowed the to finish 3rd in the MIAA. The Griffons are set to open up the MIAA Tournament on Friday, May 3 against the Truman State Bulldogs at 2:00 pm from the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan.
— MWSU Sports Information —