Missouri Western senior guard/forward Jessica Koch was named to the WBCA DII Coaches’ All-America Honorable Mention team as it was announced Monday evening. Koch was voted to the Daktronics all-South Central Region second team and all-MIAA first team earlier this year.

Koch finished the season first in the MIAA and fourth in the nation scoring 22.0 points per game. She broke the all-time scoring record which was 1,750 points by Lisa Hughes. Koch now has 1,776 in her career. She also holds records for free throws made with 394. She is second in free throws attempted (524), field goals made (615) and field goals attempted (1,391). She is third in assists with 387 and sixth in three point field goals made with 152.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western baseball team completed the four game sweep over the 11th ranked Missouri Southern Lions taking game four by a score of 5-2. Western used a four run seventh inning improving its record to 12-6 overall and 5-3 in MIAA play. The Griffons have won seven games in a row and are 10-1 at home.

Western smacked 10 hits which included Spencer Shockley going a perfect 4-for-4. He scored the games first run in the bottom of the fourth inning after he singled and Bubba Dotson tripled him in giving Western the 1-0 lead after four.

In the fifth the Lions used two hits and a throwing error by Griffon releif pitcher Matt Bergin claiming a 2-1 lead after five and a half.

In the bottom of the seventh the Griffons got its bats going smaking four hits which included back-to-back doubles by Micheal Schulze and David Chew which plated three of the Griffons four runs. The Griffons fourth run came off Shockley’s fourth hit which plated Chew.

The rest of the game belonged to Bergin as he shut down the Lions earning his first victory of the season. He pitched five innings in releif improving to 1-3. He gave up three hits while striking out one and walking just two. Chris Allen had a good start for Western going four innings giving up three hits and striking out two.

Schulze finished the day going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored for Western.

The Lions fall to 15-5 overall and 8-4 in MIAA play. Ethan Stenger went 6.1 innings giving up seven hits and two earned runs. Bo Bergen falls to 1-1 giving up two earned runs, two hits and three walks. Southern had six hits with Thomas Wilson going 2-for-4.

The Griffons return to action on Friday, March 23 when they open up a four game series with the Lincoln Blue Tigers in St. Joseph, Mo. The game will be a single nine inning contest starting at 4:00 pm at the MWSU Baseball Field.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western baseball (11-6, 4-3) pulled off a St. Patrick’s Day sweep, winning two games over No. 11 Missouri Southern on Saturday afternoon at the Griffon Spring Sports Complex.

Game 1: MWSU 3, MSSU 1

Western took advantage of a throwing error to lead off the bottom of the fifth inning that allowed Spencer Shockley to reach. The Griffons would tie the game when Jack Bond’s pinch-hit triple brought Shockely home. Shockely had advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Shawn Egge. Tony Loeffler’s sac bunt later in the inning scored Bond, for what would be the winning run.

Brandon Simmons (4-1) picked up his fourth win of the season, going all seven innings, allowing three hits, striking out three and walking three. Nate Ramler, Grant Fink and Bond provided Western with its only three hits off Southern’s Ryan Wheat (3-1).

Game 2: MWSU 3, MSSU 0

The Griffons got a complete game shutout from Nik Jurado (2-0), who allowed five Lion hits, stiking out five and walking none. Nate Ramler delivered his fifth home run of the season with a solo shot in the third that put Western up 2-0.

Western scattered its runs throught the second, third and fourth innings. In the second it was Spencer Shockley scoring from third on an error by Southern’s Cullen Baxter. Michael Schulze’s RBI double in the fourth brought Kyle Simpson in.

Shockley went 3-3 with a run scored and Ramler was 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI.

The Griffons and Lions conclude the series Sunday with a nine inning game beginning at noon.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western softball team extended its winning streak to 11 games with a doubleheader sweep over the Truman State Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon. The Griffons improve to 25-4 overall and 8-0 in MIAA play winning by scores of 8-0 in six innings and 4-0. Maegan Roemmich led the way offensively going 4-4 on the day.

Game 1: MWSU 8, TSU 0 (6 innings)

Western scored two runs in each of the final four innings getting the run rule victory over the Bulldogs. Western got one hit from seven different players which included a two RBI single in the fourth by Leah Steele giving Western the 4-0 lead.

That would be all the support Jackie Bishop would need as she pitched her 13th complete game and fourth solo shutout of the season. She gave up just three hits while striking out eight improving to 13-1 on the season.

The Griffons got on the board in the third inning capitalizing on two Truman errors taking a 2-0 lead. In the fifth Breanna Fleschner hit her first homer of her career to center field while Leah Steele scored on a Taylor Anding ground out giving Western the 6-0 lead after five.

In the sixth Western scored twice more ending the game early. Sarah Elliot singled, stole two bases and scored on a Kendall Sorenson single. Sorenson scored the game ending run on a single by Keri Lorbert.

The Bulldogs had three hits in the game while Kelsea Dorsey picked up the loss. She went four innings givng up three hits and three earned runs while striking out two. She falls to 8-4 on the season.

Game 2: MWSU 4, TSU 0

Western exploded for four runs on six hits in the sixth inning helping them to the doubleheader sweep of the Truman State Bulldogs. The Griffons led the inning off with three straight doubles by Anding, Steele and Steponovich taking a 2-0 lead. Western continued to hit the ball with Elliot and Blair Stalder getting RBI singles giving Western the 4-0 lead after five innings of play.

That would be all the runs Annalee Rubio would need as she improves to 10-3 on the season going all seven innings giving up six hits while striking out four and stranding eight Bulldogs on base. She has won eight straight games while pitching her fourth shutout of the season. Western finished with nine hits as eight different Griffons got a hits in the game.

The Bulldogs fall to 12-15 on the season and 1-5 in MIAA action. They had six hits with Katie Pitts collecting two. Kirsten Krause falls to 3-6 going four innings giving up six hits and three earned runs.

The Griffons will return to action on Saturday, March 24 when they take on MIAA opponent Emporia State in Emporia, Kan. The doubleheader is set to start at 1:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Down 3-1 in the fifth inning, Nate Ramler lifted a three-run home run to left field that gave the Griffons (9-6, 2-3) the lead for good on the way to a 5-3 win over No. 11 Missouri Southern (15-2, 8-1).

Tony Loeffler led off the Griffon fifth with a single, followed by Michael Schulze’s single throught the right side. Andrew Pieper struck out in a pinch-hit at bat that brought Ramler to the plate with two on and one out. Ramler blasted a shot over the left field fence that put Western on top 4-3.

Ethan Ward (3-1) walked the lead off batter and was shaky through the first three innings, surrendering one Lion run in the first and two more in the third. Ward settled down after the third, shutting Southern out from the fourth through the eighth to earn his third win of the season. Jake Jones (1-1, 3) entered in the ninth and would have retired Southern in order if not for a Spencer Shockley error at first base with two down. Jones struckout the final batter to earn his third save of the season. Ward allowed seven hits and three earned urns, striking out two and walking three.

Western added an insurance run in the sixth when Grant Fink grounded out, scoring Loeffler from third. Griffon hitters chased Cody Griebling (4-1) from the game in the sixth. Griebling entered the game without a blemish on his record, a 0.87 era and 28 strikeouts. The Griffons pounded out 10 hits and reached on four walks.

Ramler finished the day 3-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Schulze was 2-5 with a run scored and Shawn Egge finished 2-4.

The Griffons and Lions will do it again Saturday in a double header beginning at 1 p.m. The two teams conclude the series on Sunday with a nine inning game scheduled to start at noon.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The 10th ranked Missouri Western softball team extended its win streak to seven games with a two game sweep over the Wayne State (Neb.) Wildcats by scores of 3-1 and 3-0. The Griffons improve to 21-4 overall and are 4-0 in MIAA play.

Game 1: MWSU 3, WSC 1
The 10th ranked Griffons scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning which proved to be enough as Jackie Bishop and Western took game one 3-1 against the Wildcats. Bishop stranded 10 Wildcats on base while scattering seven hits and striking out six. She improves to 11-1 with the victory.

The Griffons bottom of the first started with a Breanna Fleschner double to right center. Blair Stalder and Keri Lorber followed that up with singles as Fleschner gave Western the 1-0 lead on the Lorbert single. Taylor Anding got the Griffons fourth hit of the first inning which scored Stalder giving Western the 2-0 lead after one.

The Wildcats cut the lead to one in the third on one hit and one Griffon error. Western responded in the fifth as Fleschner singled through the left side which scored Kat Steponovich giving Western the 3-1 lead after five.

In the sixth the Wildcats loaded the bases but a fly ball to Fleshner in left gave the Griffons the second out of the inning. Fleschner then gunned out the runner trying to tag from third ending the Wildcat threat.

In the seventh the Bishop set down the Wildcats in order picking up the victory. Western had seven hits in the contest with Fleschner and Lorbert each collecting two.

The Wildcats had seven hits as Vicki Nielsen and Slone Masters each had two. Sara Scheffert went six innings giving up seven hits and two earned runs. She falls to 2-3 on the season.

Game 2: MWSU 3, WSC 0
Missouri Western senior first baseman Leah Steele went 2-for- 3 in game two with her second homer of the season giving Western the 3-0 shutout victory. Western had seven hits in the game as Stalder had two hits and one runs scored.

On the mound Annalee Rubio picked up her sixth straight victory going all seven innings giving up five hits while striking out two. She improves to 8-3 on the season.

Western scored its thrid run of the game in the sixth when Maegan Roemmich doubled to left center scoring Stalder.

Rubio stranded six Wildcats on base including two in the top of the seventh inning. Wayne State falls to 7-7 on the season.

The Wildcats were led by Jordan King with two hits while Kelcie Borman falls to 0-1 on the mound going six innings giving up three earned runs and seven hits while striking out three.

The Griffons will return to action on Friday, March 16 when they host the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats in a double header from the Spring Sports Complex. Game time is set for 1:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Inclement weather predicted for Sunday, forced the Griffons and Marauders to play a rare triple header Saturday at the Spring Sports Complex. The Griffons shutout the Marauders in the first two games behind the pitching of Brandon Simmons and Ethan Ward. Grant Fink provided the fireworks in game three with his walk-off home run in the ninth to give Western the rare triple header sweep.

Game 1: MWSU 5, UM 0

Western got a strong pitching performance from junior Brandon Simmons as he went all seven innings in the 5-0 shutout victory. Simmons gave up six hits and struckout two Marauders improving to 3-1 on the year.

The Griffons scored two runs in the first and two in the third taking a 4-0 lead. Shawn Egge walked and scored on a Michael Schulze single and then Schulze scored on a while pitch giving Western the 2-0 lead in the first.

In the third the Griffons scored two more when Schulze singled and scored on Nate Ramler single. Later in teh inning David Chew would score on throwing error by Mary’s third baseman.

Western had six hits with Schulze going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI. Western left five players on base and had two stolen bases.

The University of Mary had six hits with Sam Salveson going 3-for-3. Matt Frank went just 1.1 innings giving up one hit and two earned runs. He falls to 0-1 with the loss. Brad Horan went 2.2 innings giving up four hits and one earned run.

Game: MWSU 4, UM 0

Western was solid on the mound, with Ethan Ward (2-1) picking up the win and Jake Jones earning his second save of the season.

The Griffons got on the board in the third after Shawn Egge reached first on a throwing error that allowed Jake Graham to score. Spencer Shockley’s home run in the fourth put Western up 3-0, and Egge scored the final run in the eighth when Grant Fink grounded out to the shortstop.

Egge was 2-4 with a run scored, Andrew Pieper was 2-3 on two doubles and a run scored and Shockley was 2-3 with 2 RBI.

Game 4: MWSU 3, UM 1 (9 innings)

Grant Fink’s walk-off home run in the ninth ended the Marauders’ hopes of earning their second win of the season.

Andrew Pieper led off the ninth with a walk and advanced to second on Jake Graham’s sacrifice bunt. Then it was Fink’s turn to end it with a shot over the left field wall that completed Western’s rare three-game, one day sweep.

Mary scored first, getting one off of Nik Jurado on a Steve Pletan RBI double. The Griffons answered in their half of the fourth after Andrew Pieper hit his third double of the day, Nate Ramler’s single to left brought Pieper across the plate.

Jurado pitched eight innings, allowing just five hits behind eight strikeouts. Jake Jones (1-1) picked up the win, pitching one inning of relief.

The No. 24 Missouri Southern Lions come to the Spring Sports Complex Friday, March 16 for a four game series over the weekend.

— MWSU Sports Information —