KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Missouri Western Baseball head coach Buzz Verduzco said it was probably the best pitching performance by a Griffon in at least 15 years and it was certainly the best in the MIAA last week. Anthony Castaneda’s complete game shutout at Missouri Southern last week earned the senior hurler MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors.

Castaneda struck out 12 Lions and allowed just four base runners – three hits, one walk – through nine innings at what was then the No. 25-ranked team in the nation. It was an impressive performance that allowed MWSU to bounce back from a ninth-inning loss in the first half of the doubleheader and set up the Griffons for a 2-1 series win.

The Woodlands, California native is 3-0 on the season with a 1.55 ERA. He leads the MIAA with 43 strikeouts and is tied for the association lead with three wins. Castaneda’s honor gave the Griffs back-to-back MIAA honors after Fahd Shakeel was named MIAA Hitter of the Week seven days ago. Castaneda and the Griffons are at Northeastern State for a three-game series on Thursday and Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced the All-MIAA Men’s Basketball selections on Tuesday afternoon, with Missouri Western’s Lavon Hightower, Bryan Hudson, and Tyrell Carroll all receiving All-MIAA honors.

ALL-MIAA SECOND TEAM
Lavon Hightower

ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION
Bryan Hudson
Tyrell Carroll

Lavon Hightower becomes the first Missouri Western men’s basketball student-athlete to receive more than honorable mention since the 2011-12 season when Lavonte Douglas was named Third Team All-MIAA. He receives second team honors after being named All-MIAA Honorable Mention as a junior last season.

Hightower established himself as the Griffons’ most productive and consistent offensive threat, leading the team with 18.7 points per game and scoring in double-figures in 27 of the team’s 30 games this season. Hightower set a new Missouri Western single-season record with 231 total rebounds (7.7 per game). His 562 points this season ranks him third in the last 20 seasons at Missouri Western. He was also one of just three players in the MIAA this season in the top-10 in both points and rebounds per game.

Bryan Hudson earns All-MIAA Honorable Mention after his final season at Missouri Western. In his senior season, Hudson was the team’s second-leading scorer with over 15 points per game. He was the most improved player on the Griffons’ roster, upping his points per game from 5.3 as a junior. The most impressive part of Hudson’s scoring production was his efficiency throughout the season. Hudson ranked seventh in the MIAA with a 52 percent field-goal percentage, and was one of just two guards in the MIAA in the top-10. He was also second on the team with 45 made three-pointers and shot them at a team-high 41 percent.

Tyrell Carroll receives All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors in his first season at Missouri Western. The point guard averaged 14.3 points and 3.5 assists per game as a true freshman. After taking over the starting role eight games into the season, Carroll’s production increased as the season progressed. He averaged nearly 18 points per game in the second half of the season, scoring in double figures in each of Missouri Western’s final 15 games. Carroll dished out five or more assists in 11 games this season, including three games in which he finished with seven assists.

— MWSU Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The MIAA announced the Women’s Basketball All-MIAA teams on Tuesday. Katrina Roenfeldt, Melia Richardson, and Brittany Atkins all received All-MIAA recognition.

ALL-MIAA FIRST TEAM
Katrina Roenfeldt

MIAA ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Melia Richardson

ALL-MIAA HONORABLE MENTION
Brittany Atkins
Melia Richardson

Katrina Roenfeldt was named First Team All-MIAA after returning from a season-ending injury last season. The redshirt junior guard was one of the top scorers in the conference, finishing second in the MIAA with 467 total points (16.7 per game). Roenfeldt broke the Missouri Western single-season record for three-pointers in a season with 84 made three’s. Roenfeldt was known for more than just her scoring, also leading the team in rebounds (5.1) and minutes (33.8) per game. She was the most consistent offensive threat for the Griffons as she scored in double figures in 25 of the team’s 28 games. Roenfeldt enters the MIAA Championships on the most productive scoring stretch of her career, averaging nearly 20 points per game over her last 10 games.

Melia Richardson receives both MIAA All-Defensive and All-MIAA Honorable Mention honors. Richardson has now been named All-MIAA Honorable Mention in back-to-back seasons. Richardson wraps up her four-year career at Missouri Western with 114 games and over 3,000 minutes played. The senior averaged 8.5 points per game while also leading the team with 2.5 assists per game. She registered double-figure scoring in eight games this season, including a season-high 22 points at Southwest Baptist on Feb. 21.

Brittany Atkins earns All-MIAA Honorable Mention recognition in her final season at Missouri Western. She was the Griffons’ second-leading scorer with 11.7 points per game. Atkins scored at least 10 points in 12 of her 19 games played, which included a streak of six-straight games. She poured in season-highs with 24 points, nine rebounds, and five assists in the Griffons’ win at Lincoln on Feb. 7.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – Due to weather and field conditions in St. Joseph, Missouri Western baseball’s scheduled weekend series with Northeastern State has been moved to Tahlequah, Oklahoma.

The weekend forecast in Tahlequah also resulted in the coaches altering dates and game times. Missouri Western will play as the home team at Northeastern State in a doubleheader on Thursday, March 7 that begins at 11 a.m. and a single game on Friday at 1 p.m.

It would have been the Griffons’ fourth home series of the season, instead its the fourth-straight home series the Griffons have had to cancel or move to another site due to weather. Missouri Western canceled a series with St. Cloud State; moved its MIAA opening series with Fort Hays State to Edmond, Oklahoma and canceled a two-game non-conference series with Southern Indiana. The Griffons’ next scheduled home contest is Wednesday, March 13 against Maryville.

Missouri Western is 7-6 overall and tied atop the MIAA standings with a 5-1 conference record after taking two out of three at No. 25 Missouri Southern last week.

— MWSU Athletics —

TOPEKA, Kan. – Just four days after nearly upsetting the top-ranked team in the nation at Northwest Missouri, Missouri Western (12-18, 6-13 MIAA) had a chance in the final minute to tie the second place team in the MIAA at Washburn (22-6, 15-4 MIAA). The Griffons’ potential game-tying three was no good as Washburn survived the 93-90 scare on Saturday.

NOTABLES

• Washburn had the advantage out of the opening tip, jumping out to a 13-point lead with nine minutes to play in the first half.
• The Missouri Western offense then began to find its rhythm, making eight of its next 11 shots and all seven free-throw attempts on a 26-9 run to take a 39-35 lead in the first half.
• Washburn’s three-pointer in the final seconds of the first half gave the Ichabods a 46-43 edge at the halftime break.
• Tyus Millhollin’s 15 points and four triples led all scorers at the half.
• Washburn stretched its lead to a game-high 18 points on a Javion Blake three-pointer while the Ichabods held the Griffons to just two field goals in the first seven minutes of the second half.
• Lavon Hightower scored eight-straight points for the Griffons to pull Missouri Western within reach at 88-85 with less than two minutes to play.
• After Washburn increased its lead to six in the final minute, Tyrell Carroll converted the and-one layup to make it 93-90 with 27 seconds remaining.
• Missouri Western then fouled Washburn’s Tyler Geiman, who missed both free throws, giving the Griffons a chance to tie the game.
• The Griffons went to Hightower for the game-tying attempt in the final seconds, but the senior’s three was off as Washburn held on for the win.
• Hightower and Carroll combined for 19 of the team’s final 21 points.
• Missouri Western’s 12 wins this season is more than each of the last two seasons.
• Hightower set a new Missouri Western single-season record with 231 total rebounds (7.7 per game) this season.
• Hightower’s 562 points this season is the third-most in the last 20 seasons at Missouri Western.

LEADERS

• Hightower stuffed the stat sheet in his final game as a Griffon, finishing with 22 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists.
• Tyrell Carroll posted a team-high 23 points to go along with nine boards and four assists.
• Millhollin added 20 points and five-made three’s
• Senior Bryan Hudson finished with 16 points.

— MWSU Athletics —

TOPEKA, Kan. – Missouri Western Women’s Basketball (13-15, 8-11 MIAA) outscored Washburn (19-9, 14-5 MIAA) by eight in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome an 18-point first-half deficit, as the Ichabods beat the Griffons 78-68 on Saturday afternoon.

NOTABLES

• Washburn held a five-point lead after a low-scoring first quarter that featured just two made baskets in the final four minutes of the quarter.
• The second quarter proved to be the most costly for the Griffons, as the Ichabods closed the half on a 21-5 run to take a 40-22 lead at the half.
• Katrina Roenfeldt paced the Missouri Western offense with 10 points in the first half.
• Missouri Western used an 11-3 run to open the fourth quarter, cutting the Washburn deficit to just nine points with seven minutes left to play.
• After Washburn stretched its lead back to 14 points in the final quarter, the Griffons fought back again to trail 70-62 with just over two minutes remaining.
• Washburn made all six of their free throws in the final two minutes to pull away for the 10-point win.
• The Griffons shot 46 percent in the second half compared to just 30 percent before halftime.
• Washburn’s offensive ball movement resulted in 21 team assists.
• The Griffons had the advantage in turnovers, forcing 18 in the game.

LEADERS

• Roenfeldt finished the game with a team-high 15 points.
• Jessica Davies scored 14 points with 11 of those coming in the second half.
• Anastacia Johnson pulled down a career-high eight rebounds.

UP NEXT

• Griffon Women’s Basketball will open play in the MIAA Championships on Wednesday, March 6 against Nebraska-Kearney. The Griffons are the No. 9 seed and Nebraska-Kearney is the No. 8 seed.

  The game will tip-off at 6 p.m. in historic Municipal Auditorium. It will be the second consecutive year the two teams meet in the opening round of the MIAA’s postseason tournament. Missouri Western made history as the first-ever No. 12 seed to win a game in the MIAA Championships with a 60-57 win over the No. 5-seeded Lopers. Nebraska-Kearney won the only meeting this season, 62-53 on Jan. 26 in Kearney.

  Tickets are available now at the Missouri Western ticket office. All-session pass tickets, which include all 18 games, are on sale for $50. Adult single session tickets are available for $20 with student tickets priced at $5. Tickets purchased in advance through the Griffon Ticket Office are cheaper than those sold at the tournament gate. To purchase tickets, call 816-271-4481 or visit the lobby of the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex.

— MWSU Athletics —

JOPLIN, Mo. – Griffon Baseball claimed a series win over No. 25 Missouri Southern with a 5-4 victory on Saturday in Joplin.

Missouri Western (7-6, 5-1) broke a scoreless tie with three runs in the third and added two more in the seventh to take the series two games to one over the Lions (11-5, 4-2).

NOTABLES

• All three games in the series were decided by one run
• Southern had two runners in scoring position with one out in the bottom of the ninth, but scored its fourth run on what ended up being a game-ending double play
• Zach Pych gave the Griffons their first run when he led off the third with a triple then scored on a passed ball
• Andrew Curry drove in two with a two-out single to give MWSU a 3-0 lead
• Fahd Shakeel drove in the first of two runs in the seventh with a single
• Casey Danley scored the Griffons’ fifth run on a muffed throw to third while he was stealing third
• Jacob Miller allowed just one run through an 1 2/3, but exited in the second inning after fielding a ground ball
• After two weeks of MIAA play, MWSU is tied atop the conference standings with Central Missouri

LEADERS

• Jacob Cooper (2-0) picked up the win in relief, allowing three hits through two innings
• Pych went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a triple and a run scored
• Danley went 2-for-5 with two runs scored
• Josh Robinson went 1-for-3 with a run scored and two walks
• Curry drove in two runs on his one hit

UP NEXT

• MWSU was originally scheduled for a two-game home series with Southern Indiana on March 5^th and 6^th, that series has been canceled
• The Griffons next scheduled series is a three-game home series with Northeastern State (2-15, 1-5), March 8-10.

— MWSU Athletics —

JOPLIN, Mo. – The top two teams in the MIAA baseball standings after one week of conference play met for a doubleheader Friday in Joplin and the results looked like two teams knotted at the top. Missouri Western (6-6, 4-1) lost a one-run game and won a one-run game at No. 25 Missouri Southern (11-4, 4-1).

The home team scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth in game one to come back and win 5-4. There was no comeback against Anthony Castaneda in game two, a 1-0 win for the Griffons.

GAME 1
Missouri Southern 5, Missouri Western 4

• MWSU took a 4-1 lead with three runs in the top of the eighth
• Missouri Southern scored two in the bottom of the eighth and two more in the bottom of the ninth for the walk-off win
• A pitcher’s duel through the first six-plus innings, MWSU’s Jacob Purl held Southern to one run on four hits through six innings
• Defending MIAA Co-Pitcher of the week Zach Parrish allowed just three hits through seven innings for Missouri Southern
• Nolan Monthei broke a 1-1 tie with a solo home run to left in the eighth inning
• Three of MWSU’s four hits in the game all came in the eighth inning
• Carson Dwyre (2-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in the ninth inning

GAME 2
Missouri Western 1, Missouri Southern 0

• Anthony Castaneda (3-0) pitched a complete game shutout, striking out 12 and allowing just one hit with one walk
• 11 of Castaneda’s strikeouts came in the first seven innings. He didn’t allow a hit until the fourth
• Casey Danley had three of the Griffons’ five hits in the game and was a home run short of the cycle
• Fahd Shakeel, the reigning MIAA Hitter of the Week, drove in the game’s lone run with a sacrifice fly in the sixth

UP NEXT
The rubber match between the two is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday in Joplin.

— MWSU Athletics —

JOPLIN, Mo. – A four-run first inning was all the Missouri Western softball team needed to defeat Cameron (12-8) on a cloudy, cold Friday afternoon in Joplin. The Griffons won the game 4-2 to improve to 10-7 this season.

Cameron scored first, but the Griffs answered in the home half of the first inning. Emma Hoffart tied the game with an RBI single that scored Morgan Frost. Two batters later Brea Blanton blasted the second home run of her young career, a three-run blast to left center.

The lead held as the Griffons were able to work in three of their four pitchers in the team’s only game until MIAA play begins next weekend. Kaili Hinds pitched the first two innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits. Lexi Kinnaird (2-3) got the win, going three innings and allowing just two hits. Olivia Goodale picked up her second save of the season with three strikeouts in two innings.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western opens up conference play with a trip to Oklahoma. The Griffons play at Northeastern State on Mach 10 and at No. 15 Central Oklahoma on March 10.

— MWSU Athletics —