Missouri Western defeated Rockhurst University 13-7 Tuesday evening at the Spring Sports Complex.

The win is the second in a row for the Griffons, who split with Washburn on Monday.

Missouri Western jumped on the scoreboard early after Rockhurst went scoreless in the top of the first.

After Trevor LaHonta walked, Jeremy Monty singled to center field to move LaHonta to third. Jake Schrader’s single scored LaHonta and oved Monty to third. The Griffons eventually added three more runs to go up 4-0 after one inning.

David Chew added an RBI in the third inning and the Griffons took a 5-0 lead after three. Missouri Western put up three more runs in the fourth inning and took a commanding 7-0 advantage halfway through the game.

But the Hawks came back in the fifth and sixth innings.

Rockhurst added three runs in both innings to come back and cut the lead down to one run. Rockhurst tied the game at seven in the top of the seventh inning when Calin McCourt singled to left fied for an RBI that scored Dalton Thompson.

The 7-7 tie didn’t last long, as the Griffons added two runs in the bottom of the seventh and another four runs in the eighth innings to add insurance.

Degner’s single and Chew’s single started the seventh off with a score after Rockhurst had two errors. In the eighth inning, Degner hit a two-run homer followed by Will Carter’s double to left field after Chew walked. The double scored Chew, and Carter eventually scored after Dylan Koch hit a single to right field.

Monty went 2 of 5 with an RBI. Chew was 2 of 3 with three RBI. Carter also had three RBI. Tyler Tuepker had the win for the Griffons, who are 8-8.

Missouri Western takes a trip to Emporia, Kan. next to play Emporia State on Friday, March 14 for four games against the Hornets.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished in 11th place at the Dave Falconer Memorial Invite firing a two day total of 623 (311-312). The finished one stroke ahead of Pittsburg State for 12th and five strokes back of Southern Arkansas for 10th. The winner of the event was Henderson State who fired a two day total of 580 (287-293). They were six strokes better than Southwestern Oklahoma State.

Scott Sheldon was the top Griffon finisher firing a 153 (80-73) which put him in a tie for 37th. Derek Hawksin fired a 158 while Evan McCarthy and james O’Brien finished with 159 and 162 respectively. Tyler Gast fired a 162 as well. Individually Dylan Watts finished with a 157 tying him for 59th.

The winner of the event was Michael Hearne of Southern Nazarene University with a 140 (68-72).

The Griffons return to action on Monday, March 17 and Tuesday, March 18 participatinig in the Washburn Invitational at the Topeka Country Club in Topeka, Kan.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished 13th at the UCO Kickingbird Classic held at Kickingbird Golf Course. The Griffons fired a two round 703 (348-355) which was eight strokes back Nebraska-Kearney who shot a 695 (334-361). The winner of the event was Oklahoma Christian who fired a 611 (316-295) which was two shots better than Arkansas Tech who fired a 613 (306-307).

The Griffons were led by sophomore Callie Wilson and freshman Madison Romjue who both fired 174’s. Wilson fired an 85-89 while Romjue fired an 82-92. Anna Kloeppel and Amber Chivington finished with 179 (92-87) and 180 (89-91) while Shelby Stone finished with a 185 (97-88).

Elia Folch of Oklahoma City University won the event with a 145 (72-73) which was three strokes ahead of Anna Arrese Cortadel of Oklahoma Christian and Taylor Neidy of Central Oklahoma.

The Griffons return to action on Sunday, March 23 and Monday, March 24
when they host the MWSU Golf Invitational. The event will be played at the St. Joseph Country Club.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western baseball team was able to snap a five game losing skid splitting a pair of one run games in the final two games of their series with Washburn. The Griffons fell in game one 4-3 before mounting a comeback in game two winning 12-11. The Griffons are now 7-8 overall and 5-5 in MIAA play.

Game 1
Washburn 4
Missouri Western 3

The Griffons tried mounting a rally in game one but came up short stranding David Chew at third base in the bottom of the 7th inning. The Griffons battled from behind the whole game losing their fifth straight.

In the top of the first inning the Ichabods got things going getting two hits and scoring one run. Wes Jones singled to right field and then scored on a triple to right center by Matt Jackson.

The Griffons got at least one runner on base in every inning which included stranding two on in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the first the Griffons stranded a lea doff double by Trevor LaHonta. In the second the Griffons tied the game when Chew tripled and scored on a passed ball.

In the fourth inning the Ichabods struck out swinging and later scored on a bunt single by Kyle Carnahan. The Griffons got out of the inning when Connor Crimmins flied out to right field and Kell was thrown out at the plate by LaHonta.

In the fifth Washburn tacked on another run when Wes Jones grounded to second base scoring T. Herrington after a triple. The score was 4-1 after four and a half innings. In the bottom of the fifth the Griffons got one back when Cody Childs led off with a single and then scored on a passed ball making it 4-2 after five.

In the sixth the Griffons stranded two and in the seventh they they cut the score to 4-3 off a Chew double but he was stranded at third ending the game.

The Griffons had seven hits in the game with Chew and Childs each getting two. Mason Queen got the loss going four innings. He gave up five hits and one earned run. He falls to 1-2 on the season.

The Ichabods had six hits with Jones going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Eric Shmid got the win going five innings. He gave up four hits and two runs while striking out six. AJ Green picked up his first hit of the season going one inning giving up two hits and one earned run.

Game 2
Missouri Western 12
Washburn 11

In a poorly pitched final game of the four game series the Missouri Western baseball team snapped a five game losing streak picking up a 12-11 victory. The two teams combined for 21 hits and 23 runs while using 11 pitchers that walked 20 batters. The Griffons also used the long ball to mount the comeback.

In the first inning Washburn scored four two out runs on three hits. The big hit came from Cimmines who doubled to right center scoring three runs. The Griffons responded in their half of the first when Jake Schrader blasted his fifth homer of the season to right center which scored Jeremy Monty. After on the Ichabods led 4-2.

In the second the Ichabods plated three more runs on two hits taking a 7-2 lead after two and a half innings of play. The Griffons once again responded scoring two runs in the second inning. Cody Childs blasted his first homer of the season scoring Matt Russell cutting the Ichabod lead to 7-4 after two.

The scrore stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth. The Griffons used four hits and an error scoring five runs. LaHonta led off with a single and stole second. He scored on a throwing error by the Ichabod shortstop. Ryan Degner, Mitch Thorman and Childs all had RBI hits in the inning. After four innings the Griffons led 9-7.

In the back and fourth game the Ichabods responded with three runs on one hit in the top of the 5th regaining the lead 10-9 after five and a half. Fortunately in the bottom of the fifth Chew nailed a three run homer giving the Griffons a 12-9 lead with four innings to play.

The Griffons allowed one run the rest of they way hanging on for the one run victory. Griffon reliever Banks Born got the victory going one inning giving up one hit and one earned run. Tyler Sanders picked up his second save of the year going one inning with one strikeout.

Five Griffons had two hits in the game with Childs leading the way with four RBI while Chew and Schrader had three and two respectively.

Washburn starter Maustin Otterstatter went three full innings and pitched into the fourth. He gave up six runs off six hits and four walks as he made his first start. Reliever Alex Laughlin took the loss as he gave up three runs through two thirds of an inning.

Washburn falls to 7-5 overall and 7-5 in MIAA play. They had nine hits with Jones and Kyle Carnahan each getting two.

The Griffons will step out of MIAA play on Tuesday, March 11 with a non-conference game against the Rockhurst Hawks. The Hawks come into the contest 0-4. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm from the Griffon Baseball Field at the Spring Sports Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —