Natalie Bird and the Western women sit in second place after day one of the MIAA Women’s Golf Championships held in Smithville, Mo. at Pardise Pointe Country Club. As a team the Griffons fired 336 just three strokes back of leader Fort Hays State (333) and two strokes ahead of Northwest Missouri State (338).

Casi Webb sits in 6th place firing an 82 while Shelby Stone, Kristen Cooley and Darcy Smith fired 86, 89 and 91 respectively. The leader of the first day is Northwest Missouri State’s Cassie Lowell firing three better than Bird with a 76.

Lincoln and Truman round out the team scores with 348 and 362 respectively.

The event will conclude tomorrow with first group of the day teeing off at 7:30 am. The first MWSU group will tee off at 8:20 am with the final group teeing off at 9:00 am. Western will be paired with Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State.

MISSOURI WESTERN    336    +48    2nd
Bird,Natalie        79    +7    2nd
Webb,Casi        82    +10    6th
Stone,Shelby        86    +14    t-10th
Cooley,Kristen        89    +17    t-14th
Smith,Darcy        91    +19    t-17th

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Griffon men shot the third lowest score in round two firing a 301 which gave them a two round total of 609 (308-301) putting them in sole possession of fifth place after day one of the MIAA Championships. Western is just one stroke behind Fort Hays State, 608 (305-303) for fourth and two strokes behind Pittsburg State, 607 (300-307) for third place. Washburn University leads the event after two rounds by seven strokes firing a 585 (289-296). Central Missouri is in second with a 592 (295-297).

Griffon senior Tyler Gast sits in a three way tie for 2nd place after firing the best two consecutive rounds of the spring with a 145 (72-73). He is tied with Chris Grause of Washburn and Cy Moritz of Central Missouri. Riley Piles of Washburn leads the field with a 2-under 142 (71-71).

Logan Gilliland, James O’Brien and Kenny Stone all fired lower scores in round two than they did in round one. Gilliland and O’Brian are tied for 20th firing 155’s. Gilliland fired one stroke better in round two with a 77 while O’Brien bettered his first round total by seven strokes firing a 74. Kenny Stone is in a tie for 25th place with a 156 (79-77) while Scott Sheldon remained steady with a 158 (79-79).

Missouri Southern, Lincoln and Southwest Baptist sit in 6th, 7th and 8th with scores of 617 (312-305), 624 (308-316) and 654 (335-319) respectively.

The final round of the event will be played tomorrow with the first group teeing off at 7:30 am. The Griffons will play with Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern with tee times starting at 8:10 am and the last group going off at 8:50 am. The final group of the event will tee off at 9:40 am.

Missouri Western       308     301   609    +33   5th
Gast,Tyler                 72         73       145    +1       t-2nd
Gilliland,Logan         78         77       155    +11    t-20th
O’Brien,James         81         74       155    +11    t-20th
Stone,Kenny           79         77       156    +12    t-25th
Sheldon,Scott        79         79       158    +14      t-32nd

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western baseball team continued its offensive dominace against the Pittsburg State Gorillas earning the four game series sweep. Western dominated all day closing out the suspended game with a 15-1 victory before winning 13-5 and 17-6 in eight innings in the final two games. Western earned its third four game MIAA series sweep of the season (Missouri Southern and Washburn) and first road MIAA sweep. Western improves to 27-11 overall and 20-8 in MIAA play.

Western had 71 hits with 37 being for extra bases. The Griffons also scored while scoring 57 runs in the series.

Suspended Game: MWSU 15, PSU 1
Western closed out the suspended game picking up five more runs earning the 14 run victory. Western pounded out 23 hits int he game with Michael Schulze going 4-for-5 with three runs scored.

Grant Fink had five RBI with two runs scored while Kyle Peterson, Fink, Spencer Shockley, Jimmy Smelcer and Shawn Egge all collecting three hits. Egge went 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored.

Nik Jurado improves to 6-0 on the season going five innings giving up just two hits with three srikeouts. Chris Allen pitched four innings giving up three hits and one earned run.

Game 1: MWSU 13, PSU 5
In game one of the doubleheader Western continued to hit the ball well getting 17 hits. Schulze, Fink and Egge each had three hits with Schulze scoring four runs and three RBI while Egge had three RBI and three runs scored.

Western had seven doubles in the game to go along with two triples and two home runs. Ethan Ward improved to 5-2 overall going seven innings with 10 hits and five earned runs. He also struckout six in the outing.

The Griffons scored runs in five of the seven inning which included four in the fourth and seventh innings.

Game 2: MWSU 17, PSU 6
The offensive dominance continued for Western in game four of the series getting 20 hits and 17 RBI. Schulze went 4-for-6 with two RBI and 2 runs scored while Shockley and Dotson both had three hits.

Western had six more doubles a triples and four home runs. Western scored runs in seven of the eight innings earning its 6th straight road victory.

Oliver Kadey improved to 2-1 on the season going six innings with two hits and four earned runs while striking out eight. Jake Jones went two innings with four hits while giving up two earned runs.

The Griffons return to action next weekend when they take on the Truman State Bulldogs in Kirksville, Mo. in a four game series. The two teams will open up the series on Friday, April 20 with a nine inning game. First pitch is set for 4:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The No. 15 Missouri Western softball team (36-7, 18-2) exploded for 21 runs and swept a doubleheader from Lincoln (12-31, 3-11) in two run rule shortened games. Seniors Blair Stalder and Leah Steele were honored after game two as part of senior day festivities. The 1982 NAIA National Championship team was also recognized in between games.

Game 1: MWSU 10, LU 1 (5 innings)
The Griffons scored in every inning and Jackie Bishop just missed a no-hitter as Western took game one in five innings 10-1. Bishop held the Blue Tigers hitless through 3 1/3 before Brianna Akers doubled off the top of the left field wall to break up the no-no attempt.

After Brea Fleschner led off the game with a line out to center, Kendall Sorensen and Blair Stalder provided consecutive doubles to go up 1-0. Stalder came across to make it 2-0 after an error allowed Taylor Anding to reach.

Keri Lorbert led off the Griffon third with a single to left center. Erin Widrig pinch ran for Lorbert, advanced to second on a Maegan Roemmich single, stole third, then scored on a wild pitch. Western went on to add five more in the inning, and tacked on another in the fourth.

The game was called after Bishop retired Lincoln in order in the fifth, with the Griffons leading by more than eight. The one-hit win moved Bishop’s record to 20-2 on the year. Bishop allowed just one run, no walks and struck out eight. Fleschner was 1-4 with two RBI and a solo home run in the second. Stalder was 2-3 with two RBI and Sarah Elliott drove in two and went 1-2 at the plate.

Game 2: MWSU 11, LU 3 (5 innings)
The Griffons used a seven-run fourth inning to break the game open on the way to their second run rule game of the day. Annalee Rubio struck out four and allowed three runs on three hits, improving her record to 13-5 on the year.

Up 4-2 entering the bottom of the fourth inning, Michelle Stevenson led off by lining out to second base. Brea Fleschner then laid down a bunt single and scored on a throwing error after Kim Robinson singled to right. Blair Stalder doubled down the left field line, scoring Robinson from second to put Western up 6-2. Keri Lorbert followed with a single to center that brought Stalder across the plate. After Lorbert was called out at second on a fielder’s choice by Maegan Roemmich, Taylor Anding’s double brought Roemmich in. Leah Steele cleared the bases with a two-out, two-run homer to left center. Stevenson stepped to the plate after Tiffany Gillaspy’s single with a chance to represent the first and third outs of the inning, instead Stevenson singled to center and scored Gillaspy for the final run of the inning.

Anding was 2-3 with a run scored and three RBI, and Stalder was 2-3 with two runs scored and one driven in. Western is scheduled to wrap up the home portion of its schedule Sunday when Lindenwood University visits the Griffon Spring Sports Complex. The doubleheader will begin at 1 p.m. Sunday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Only a force of nature could stop Missouri Western’s offensive assault Friday.  Mother Nature did just that.  Thunderstorms delayed the second game of the Griffons doubleheader at Pittsburg State, with Western leading 10-0 in the 6th inning.  The Griffon bats had showed no signs of slowing down, after winning game one 12-1.  Game two will resume Saturday with a start time still yet to be determined.  Western and Pitt are scheduled to play two more games after resuming Friday’s game.  The Griffons are now 24-11 overall and 17-8 in MIAA Conference play.

Game 1: MWSU 12, PSU 1
In game one, the Griffons scored runs in every inning but two on their way to the 12-1 victory. Western capitalized on five Gorilla errors and scored eight runs in the first three innings to put the game out of hand.  Staff ace Brandon Simmons went the distance to pick up the victory for the Griffons, improving his record to 8-12 on the season.

Game 2: MWSU 10, PSU 0 (PPD 6th inning)

The Griffons picked up where they left on game one, exploding for four runs in the 4th inning, and pounding out 15 hits into the 6th inning, when the game was postponed due to thunderstorm in the Pittsburg area.

Western has hit four home runs in the game, including two from Grant Fink.  The Griffons have scored three runs in the 6th inning, and are still batting with one on and out out when play resumes Saturday.  Nik Jurado has allowed just two hits through five scoreless innings.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western tennis team fell on Friday afternoon in MIAA action against the Truman State Bulldogs at the Noyes Tennis Courts. The Griffons fall to 3-9 overall and 1-5 in MIAA play.

The Griffons battled tough in the No. 1 doubles match after getting down 7-0 the duo of Ceara Boldride and Kayla Dysart battled back cutting the Truman lead to 7-6. Unfortunatly they could not finish the come back falling 8-6 against Ellen Russell and Damar Velez.

In singles competition the Griffons struggled winning just two games in the 3-6 matches. Erin Wad fell 6-0 and 6-2 in No. 4 singles against Maggie Schutte of Truman.

In No. 1 singles Nicole Kerr fell against Rusell 6-1 and 6-2 while Boldridge played well in No. 2 singles but fell 3-6, 6-1, 12-14.

Western returns to action tomorrow in a non-conference match against NAIA opponent Baker University. Match will be played either at the St. Joseph Tennis and Swim Club or Noyes Tennis Courts depending on the weather. First serve is set for 12:00 pm.

Truman State University 9, Missouri Western 0
Apr 13, 2012 at St. Joseph, Mo. (Noyes Tennis Courts)

Singles competition
1. Russell,Ellen (TSU) def. Kerr,Nicole (MWSU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Velez,Dagmar (TSU) def. Boldridge,Ceara (MWSU) 6-3, 1-6, 14-12
3. Birenbaum,Kim (TSU) def. Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) 6-0, 6-0
4. Schutte,Maggi (TSU) def. Ward,Erin (MWSU) 6-0, 6-2
5. Hawkins,Jennifer (TSU) def. Jenkins,Alecia (MWSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. Austin,Kati (TSU) def. Field,Katie (MWSU) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition
1. Russell,Ellen/Velez,Dagmar (TSU) def. Boldridge,Ceara/Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) 8-6
2. Schutte,Maggi/Birenbaum,Kim (TSU) def. Kerr,Nicole/Field,Katie (MWSU) 8-0
3. Porter,Kelsey/Gennuso,Jessica (TSU) def. Jenkins,Alecia/Ward,Erin (MWSU) 8-0

— MWSU Sports Information —