Missouri Western Head Football Coach Jerry Partridge has announced the addition of Joel Beard to fill the role of Quarterbacks Coach on his staff. Beard, who has been the Wide Receivers Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at Southeast Missouri State since 2011, joins the staff after former Offensive Coordinator Tyler Fenwick was named Head Coach at Missouri S&T.

He has twelve years of coaching experience at Division I, II and III, as well as the high school level.

“We feel Coach Beard is the perfect fit for us,” Head Coach Jerry Partridge said. “He has had a diverse and successful offensive background.  He has a history with our scheme and we feel he will be able to step in very quickly.”

Beard was previously the Head Coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead. He was named to that position after working as the Dragons Offensive Coordinator for three seasons and Interim Head Coach for the final five games of the 2009 campaign.

A participant of the 2006 NCAA Football Coaches Academy, Beard was appointed Wide Receivers Coach at MSU Moorhead in March of 2007. He was promoted to Offensive Coordinator by the start of that season.

Prior to MSU Moorhead, Beard spent six seasons coaching at the high school level in the state of Wisconsin.

During his college days, Beard was a two-sport athlete at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville where he played football and basketball.  He lettered four years in basketball and was a member of two National Championship teams coached by current University of Wisconsin Head Coach Bo Ryan.

On the gridirion, Beard played the quarterback position and established single-season passing records in attempts, completions and yards gained during his senior year.

Beard obtained a degree in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout.  He and his wife, Sara have a daughter, Nyah.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s tennis team gave the Emporia State Hornets a competitive match but only picked up two points in a 7-2 loss in MIAA competition on Wednesday afternoon. The Griffons fall to 3-12 overall and 0-7 in MIAA competition.

In doubles matches the Griffons fell in a hard fought match at No. 2 doubles. Kayla Dysart and Alyssa Dougan fell 8-6 against Kayla Fraley and Alex Crowe. Denise Chiao and Meara Smith fell at No. 1 doubles 8-3 against Nicole Jara and Taylor Smith.

In singles action the Griffons picked up two points as Chiao won at No. 2 singles. After falling 6-2 in set one she responded nicely winning 6-2 and 6-1 in the second and third set taking the victory. At No. 4 singles Ceara Boldridge picked up a 6-4, 6-4 victory over Jennifer Gerhardt. Dysart fell in a heartbreaker in No. 3 singles. After winning the first set 6-4 she would fall 6-2 and 7-6 losing the match against Tiffany Khounsombath.

The Griffons return to action on Friday, March 29 against the Lindenwood Lions in St. Charles, Mo. Match time is set for 2:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western softball team is currently on an eight game winning streak and moved into the National Fastpich Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 at 24th. They will try and keep the momentum going this weekend when they hit the road for a pair of MIAA doubleheaders.

The Griffons will be in Joplin, Mo. on Friday, March 29 for a doubleheader with Missouri Southern State University. Game times are set for 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. On Saturday, March 30 they will try an avenge an earlier loss against the Pittsburg State Gorillas in an MIAA doubleheader starting at 12:00 pm in Pittsburg, Kan.

After dropping their first two MIAA games MWSU has played well winning their last four MIAA games and last eight games in a row. Last weekend they had to cancel their MWSU Invite but were able to pick up four games. The Griffons defeated MIAA opponents Lincoln (8-3) and Emporia State (4-2) in non-conference action and then swept a doubleheader with NSIC opponent Northern State by scores of 11-6 and 15-1 in five innings.

Missouri Western is coming off a season where they made their sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the past eight years. They were 42-13 overall record and an 18-2 record in MIAA play giving them a second place finish in the standings. The Griffons are currently 20-8 overall and 4-2 in MIAA action.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The MIAA announced Monday the MIAA Television Network Schedule for the 2013 football season.

Missouri Western will be on once during the 2013 season which will by on Thursday, September 5 against Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.

The second week of MIAA play Missouri Southern will travel south to Northeastern State on September 14.

Week number three will feature Lincoln on the road at Missouri Southern on Sept. 21 from Joplin. Central Oklahoma will travel to Washburn on Sept. 28 as the Ichabods look to avenge a loss last season on MIAA TV.

Oct. 5 Lindenwood, coming off a Mineral Water Bowl appearance, will travel north to face Nebraska-Kearney. Southwest Baptist will then hit the road on Oct. 12 to face Kanza Bowl winners Emporia State. The next week SBU will again hit the road on Oct. 19 this time bound for Fort Hays State.

On Oct. 26 it will then be FHSU’s turn to hit the road as they travel to Lincoln. Washburn will travel to NCAA Division II Regional participant Northwest Missouri on Nov. 2. On Nov. 9 Pittsburg State will go on the road to Lindenwood. The season’s final television game, as in past season’s will be a flex game as the MIAA will attempt to feature the best late season contest.

All games times and affiliates will be released at a later date and can be found at www.themiaa.com.

Thursday Sept. 5 Missouri Western at Central Missouri
Saturday Sept. 14 Missouri Southern at Northeastern State
Saturday Sept. 21 Lincoln at Missouri Southern
Saturday Sept. 28 Central Oklahoma at Washburn
Saturday Oct. 5 Lindenwood at Nebraska-Kearney
Saturday Oct. 12 Southwest Baptist at Emporia State
Saturday Oct. 19 Southwest Baptist at Fort Hays State
Saturday Oct. 26 Fort Hays State at Lincoln
Saturday Nov. 2 Washburn at Northwest Missouri
Saturday Nov. 9 Pittsburg State at Lindenwood
Saturday Nov. 16 TBA GAME

— MWSU Sports Information —

Less than a week after former Missouri Western football Offensive Coordinator Tyler Fenwick became the Head Coach at Missouri S & T, head coach Jerry Partridge has announced that current Offensive Line Coach Todd Throckmorton has been promoted to Offensive Coordinator.

Throckmortum, a MWSU alum, begins his 14th season (3 different stints) at MWSU this year and will also continue his role as Offensive Line Coach.

Throckmorton was the offensive line coach at Missouri Western from 2004-05, the second stint at his alma mater. Throckmorton was an assistant from 1990-96 and graduated from Missouri Western in 1987.

Prior to Missouri Western, Throckmorton spent four years as the head coach at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colo. He compiled an overall record of 11-33 from 2000-03, including 7-25 in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC).

Prior to Fort Lewis, Throckmorton was at San Jose State, where he was an assistant coach for three seasons from 1997-99.

Throckmorton spent seven years at Missouri Western from 1990-96, coaching a variety of positions for the Griffons, including wide receivers, offensive line and linebackers. He was Missouri Western’s assistant head coach during the 1996 season.

Throckmorton was a graduate assistant coach on the offensive line at the University of South Dakota in 1989. He served as the restricted earnings coach at East Tennessee State University during the spring of 1990, responsible for tight ends and tackles.

A former offensive and defensive lineman, Throckmorton received his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Missouri Western in 1987. Throckmorton graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1989 with a master’s degree in physical education.

Coach Partridge hopes to be able to announce a new addition to the staff in the coming days.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western baseball team got back on the right track scoring two runs in the bottom of the 8th inning coming away with an 11-9 victory against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos in the series finale. The Griffons improve to 19-4 overall and 14-1 in MIAA play.

The Griffons scored eight runs in the first two innings taking a commanding 8-2 lead after two. In the first the Griffons had four hits scoring four runs and in the second they also had four hits scoring four runs on one UCO error. The Griffons took a 9-4 lead after five innings but the Bronchos scored five unanswered to tie the score a nine after seven and a half innings of play.

In the bottom of the eighth the Griffons got three hits which included the go ahead RBI single by Jimmy Smelcer giving the Griffons the 10-9 lead. Michael Schulze walked with the bases loaded giving MWSU the 11-9 lead heading to the top of the ninth. Logan Hollingsworth shut down UCO in the ninth improving to 4-0 on the season. He went 2.1 innings giving up five hits while striking out four.

The Griffons had 17 hits with Grant Fink going 4-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Bubba Dotson, Nate Ramler and Smelcer all had three hits in the game.

The Bronchos fall to 16-8 overall and 13-8 in MIAA play. They had 16 hits with Matt Malloy going 3-for-5 with two RBI and a hit. Mikel Beltran falls to 1-1 going 2.2 innings giving up five hits and one earned run.

The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, March 26 with a doubleheader against Northwest Missouri State. Game time is set for 4:00 pm at the Griffon Baseball Field.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western softball team exploded offensively smacking 25 hits and scoring 26 runs in a doubleheader sweep over the Northern State Wolves by scores of 11-6 and 15-1 (5 innings). Bre Fleschner went 8-for-8 with six RBI and five runs scored on the day. The Griffons have won eight in a row improving to 20-8 overall.

Game 1
MWSU 11, NSU 6

The Griffons struck first in game one in the bottom of the first inning when Michelle Stevenson doubled in Fleschner and Tiffany Gillaspy giving MWSU the 2-0 lead. Northern State capitalized on a Griffon error in the top of the second tying the score at two after one and a half.

The score stayed that way until the third when MWSU blew things open scoring five runs on four hits. Fleschner scored on a wild pitch while Stevenson platted two more with a single up the middle. The Griffons took a 7-2 lead after three. The score stayed that way until the bottom of the fifth and two in the sixth. In the sixth MWSU got homers by Kat Steponovich and Fleschner giving MWSU the 11-6 victory.

The Griffons had 13 hits with Fleschner getting four with three runs scored and two RBI. Gillaspy and Stevenson both went 2-for-3. Jackie Bishop picked up the victory going seven innings giving up eight hits while striking out three and giving up three earned runs. She is 10-3 with the victory. She is now the all time leader in strikeouts with 569 and is one victory away from tying the career record for wins. She had 59.

The Wolves had eight hist with Kelsey Gale going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Debbie Evans picked up the loss going three innings giving up eight hits and seven earned runs.

Game 2
MWSU 15, NSU 1 (5 innings)

In game two the Griffon bats continued to be on fire scoring 15 runs and getting 12 hits. Fleschner opened up the scoring with a homer over the right field fence giving MWSU the 2-0 lead. The Griffon scored six more runs in the inning after an NSU error giving MWSU the 8-1 lead after one.

Janie Smith pitched a solid game going all five giving up just three hits and one earned run. She improves to 10-3 with the victory.

The Griffon scored three runs in the third and four more in the fifth with three coming off the bat of Sydney McCune as she hit a three run homer. It was her first as a Griffon.

Fleschner had four of the Griffons 12 hits while Sarah Elliott had two hits with three runs scored and three RBI. Taylor Anding also had two hits with three runs scored.

The Wolves fall to 8-10 overall as Kami Smesmo falls to 5-4 giving up 11 hits and five earned runs.

The Griffons will be in action next on Monday, March 25 against NSIC opponents Augustana and Wayne State. Game times are scheduled for 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm respectively from the Griffon Softball Field.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western baseball team split an MIAA doubleheader with the Central Oklahoma Bronchos on Friday afternoon. The Griffons won game one 5-4 before losing the night cap 7-5. The Griffons 17 game winning streak was ended but they are now 18-4 overall and 13-1 in MIAA play.

GAME 1
MWSU 5, UCO 4

The Griffons used a four run second inning and solid pitching from Brandon Simmons and Logan Hollingsworth picking up their 17th straight victory by a score of 5-4 over the Bronchos.

Simmons gave up a two-run homer to Ross Rose in the top of the second inning but from there he would leave two UCO runners on while striking out seven. He went six innings giving up five hits and three earned runs while striking out eight. He now has 200 strikeouts in his career which puts him in fifth place all-time in MWSU history. He is 5-0 on the season.

The Griffons responded in their half of the second using three doubles and four hits gaining a 4-2 lead. Spencer Shockley, Jimmy Smelcer and Shawn Egge all got doubles in the inning.

The Bronchos scratched across runs in the third and fifth tying the score at four. In the bottom of the sixth the Griffons opened up the inning with a triple by Nate Ramler. Pinch runner Jeremy Monty scored on a Grant Fink single down the right field line giving MWSU the 5-4 lead.

Hollingswoth got the save going one inning striking out two. He picked up his third save of the season.

The Griffons had seven hits with Smelcer leading the way with two.

The Bronchos had five hits with Matt Malloy and Cesar Wong each getting two. Landon Hallam got the loss going six innings giving up seven hits, five earned runs while striking out four. He falls to 1-3 with the loss.

GAME 2
UCO 7, MWSU 5

In game two the Griffons had five costly errors and stranded the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth falling 7-5 snapping their 17 game winning streak.

The Griffons opened up a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth inning but an error leading off the top of the 7th led to five UCO runs giving them a 7-3 lead after six and a half.

The Griffons battled back scoring two in the bottom of the eighth but left the bases loaded in the ninth falling by two.

The Central Oklahoma Bronchos sit at 16-7 overall and 13-7 in MIAA play.

The Griffons had 11 hits with Ramler going 3-for-4 with one run and an RBI. Fink and Kyle Simpson each had two hits.

Ethan Ward picked up the loss going 6.2 innings giving up six hits and one earned run while striking out five and walking six. He falls to 1-1 on the season.

The Bronchos had eight hits with Jared Wright going 2-for-4 with three RBI. Jake Tuck picked up the victory going two innings giving up two earned runs and two hits. Ethan Sharp goes 1.2 innings giving up two hits.

The teams will play the final game of the series on Saturday, March 23 with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm from the Griffons Baseball Field.

— MWSU Sports Information —