The Missouri Western softball team struggles in Kansas continued on Monday afternoon falling 4-3 and 7-3 against #21 Emporia State. The Griffons have lost four in a row and sit at 10-8 overall and 0-4 in MIAA play.

Game 1
Emporia State 4
Missouri Western 3

In game one the Griffons struggled to string any hits together falling 4-3. The Griffons had just four hits the Hornets 10 and left six runners on base to the Hornets eight.

The Griffons got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning when Tiffany Gillaspy hit her fourth homer of the season. That lead was short lived as the Hornets responded in their half of the fourth when Jacie Stephen hit a two run homer giving ESU the lead for good. Emporia tacked on two more in the 5th inning. They had five hits while scoring two runs taking the 4-1 lead after five.

In the sixth the Griffons left one runner on base and in the 7th they put used two hits and two walks to score two runs. With runners bases loaded and one out Brooke Schaben hit into a fielder choice scoring one and Gillaspy grounded out to third ending the game.

Gillaspy had two of the Griffons four hits while Bishop falls to 6-3 on the season. She gave up 10 hits and four earned runs while striking out three and hitting three batters.

Emporia State pounded out 10 hits with Taylor Zordel, Tricia Vogel and Andrea Piezuch each getting two. Kaitlyn Caston improved to 11-3 overall going all seven innings. She gave up four hits and three earned runs while walking four and striking out just one.

Game 2
Emporia State 7
Missouri Western 3

In game two the struggles continued for the Griffons getting outscored 7-1 in the final five innings falling 7-3. The Griffons had just four hits and three errors in the contest.

Once again the Griffons got on the board first scoring two runs in the second inning off a two run homer from Kat Steponovich. It was Steponovich’s second homer of the season.

The lead was short lived as the Hornets answered the two runs on three hits. Stephens got an RBI single and Eryn Stockman got an RBI on a fielders choice tying the score at two after two innings.

The Griffons stayed calm going ahead in the third as Bre Fleschner led off with a double and scored on a Gillaspy sacrifice fly giving the Griffons a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the third ESU blew things open using two hit by pitches putting runners on first and second with one out. With two outs the Hornets doubles by Stockman and Madison Rich giving the Hornets the 6-3 lead after three.

The Griffons left at least one runner on in the last four innings but could not get any momentum to make the comeback. The Hornets tacked on one more run improving to 15-4 overall and 4-0 in MIAA play.

In game two Steponovich led the way with two hits while Janie Smith falls to 4-5 overall. She gave up 10 hits and 7 earned runs with two strikeouts.

The Hornets were led by Jessica Gragg, Stephens and Rich as they all had two hits. Stockman led the way with three RBU while Rich had two. Stockman improves to 4-1 going all seven innings. She gave up four hits and three earned run. she walked four and struck out just one.

The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, March 11 with an MIAA doubleheader against rival Northwest Missouri State. It is an important doubleheader for both teams as they both sit at 0-4 in MIAA play. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm from the Griffon Softball Field at the Spring Sports Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team sits in 11th place in the 17 team field after day one of the Dave Falconer Memorial Invite. The Griffons fired a round one 311 which is two strokes behind Pittsburg State (309) who is in 10th and six strokes behind Southeastern Oklahoma State (305) who is 9th. The Griffons are two strokes ahead of 12th place Washburn who fired a 313. Henderson State and Arkansas Tech lead the event with 287. The event is being played at Chamberlyne Golf Club.

The Griffons were led by James O’Brien who shot a two over 73 which puts him in a tie for 10th in the 95 player field. Tyler Gast sits in a tie for 48th with a 78 while Scott Sheldon and Derek Hawkins are in a tie for 66th with 80’s. Evan McCarthy finished with an 82. Dylan Watt finished with a 79 playing for an individual.

The leaders of the event are Michael Hearne of Southern Nazarene and George Adams of Southern Arkansas as they both fired 68.

The final round of the event will be played Tuesday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf teams sits in 13th place after day one of the UCO Kickingbird Classic firing a 348. The Griffons trail 12th place Central Missouri by three and 11th place Northwest Missouri State by nine. The leader of the event is Arkansas Tech firing a 306 which is four strokes ahead of Oklahoma City and Central Oklahoma.

Freshman Madison Romjue leads the way for MWSU firing an 82 which puts her in a tie for 24th. Callie Wilson and Amber Chivington shot a 85 and 89 while Anna Kloeppel and Shelby Stone fired 92 and 97.

The leader of the event is Elia Folch of Oklahoma City and Taylor Neidy of Central Oklahoma both firing two over 72. They are one stroke ahead of Margaret Alumno (73) of Drury and two strokes ahead of Rebecka Surtevall (74) of Arkansas Tech.

They will wrap up the final round of the event Tuesday, March 11.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western baseball team fell in a home doubleheader on Sunday afternoon against the Washburn Ichabods. The Griffons fell in game one 2-1 and in game two 8-2. Missouri Western has lost four games in a row falling to 6-7 overall and 4-4 in MIAA play. The two teams play the final two games of their series in a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 1:00 pm.

Game 1

Washburn 2
Missouri Western 1

In a well pitched first game the Griffons fell 2-1 against the Washburn Ichabods. The Ichabods got on the board first in the top of the first using a lead off walk by Tyler Herrington. After a stolen base by Herrington, Parker Gibson singled through the left side giving Washburn the 1-0 lead after a half inning.

The score stayed that way until the bottom of the third when the Griffons tied it up. Mitch Thorman singled through the left side and later scored on an error by the Ichabods shortstop. The very next inning the Ichabods responded with the game winning run. David Gauntt got hit by a pitch and then scored on a Klye Carnahan single into right field.

The rest of the game the Griffons could not get anything going off Ichabods starter Mark Biesman as he went all seven innings giving up four hits and one run with six strikeouts. He improves to 1-1 with the victory. Gibson had two of the Washburn five hits.

The Griffons were led by Thorman as he went 2-for-2. Jake Jones got the loss going four innings giving up three hits and two earned runs. Tyler Sanders went three innings in relief giving up two hits with two strikeouts.

Game 2
Washburn 8
Missouri Western 2

Depite pounding out eight hits the Griffons could only manage two runs in an 8-2 defeat against the Ichabods. Freshman Tyler Tuepker had a perfect game going into the fifth inning. But in the fifth he gave up four hits and three earned runs falling to 1-1 on the season. He struckout two in the game.

The Griffons got the first run of the game when Trevor LaHonta double which was followed up by a triple by David Chew giving the Griffons the 1-0 lead after three innings.

The score stayed that way until the fifth wehn the Bods got to Tuepker scoring three runs on four hits. Connor Crimmins double gave Washburn the 3-1 lead. The Ichabods continued to play well going up 8-1 before the Griffons got things going in the bottom of the 9th.

The Griffons loaded the bases with no outs but only managed one run falling in the night cap.

Thorman and Ryan Degner had two hits in the contest for the Griffons.

The Ichabods had 10 hits with Matt Jackson, Kyle Carnahan and Cole Gardner each getting two hits. Taylor Gentry went six innings giving up five hits with five strikeouts. He improves to 1-0 with the victory.

— MWSU Sports Information —