The 13th ranked Missouri Western softball team opened up MIAA action with a double header sweep over the Southwest Baptist Bearcats by scores of 9-0 and 6-2. Western pounded out 27 hits improving to 17-4 overall and 2-0 in MIAA play.

Game 1: MWSU 9, SBU 0

Missouri Western opened up MIAA play with a decisive 9-0 victory in five innings over Southwest Baptist. Western scored six runs in the first three innings which included a five run third inning blowing the game open.

Western collected 14 hits with Sarah Elliot and Taylor Anding both going 3-for-3. The Griffons got on the board in the second inning when Maegan Roemmich singled leading off the inning and scored on an error by the left field after a Taylor Anding single.

In the third Western had five hits which included two doubles one by Elliot and the other by Anding which platted two Griffons. The Griffons got five hits in the inning claiming a 6-0 lead after three. Western scored two more in the fourth and one in the fifth earning its 16th victory of the season.

On the mound the Griffons got a combined two hit shutout from Jackie Bishop and Emily Moe. Bishop improved to 9-1 on the season going three innings while giving up one hit while striking out three. Moe pitched two innings giving up one hit.

Kendall Sorenson, Blair Stalder and Roemmich each had two hits and scored two runs while Anding scored twice and batted in two.

Jessica Colliver went five innings for the Bearcats giving up 14 hits and eight earned runs while striking out just one. She falls to 2-5 on the season. Jennifer Martinez and BreAnn Proctor each had a hit for SBU.

Game 2: MWSU 6, SBU 2

Freshman Tiffany Gillaspy hit her first career homerun with the score tied at two in the top of the fourth inning giving the Griffons the lead for good and sparking Western to the 6-2 victory.

Western continued where they left off in game one smashing 13 hits. Kendall Sorenson opened the game with a double down the left field line and later scored on a Stalder single to center giving Western the early 1-0 lead. The Griffons took a 2-0 lead in the second when Gillaspy singled through the left side scoring Roemmich.

SBU chipped away in the second and third scoring a run in each inning tying the score at two after three.

Western remained calm and in the third scored two runs with Gillaspy’s bomb being the big hit giving Western the 4-2 lead. Annalee Rubio regained her composure sitting the next nine Bearcats down in order.

The Griffons scored one in the fifth and one in the sixth putting the game out of reach and giving Rubio her sixth victory of the season. She improves to 6-3 overall going all seven giving up five hits and two earned runs while striking out four.

Offensively, Stalder went 3-for-4 while Roemmich, Anding, Gillaspy and Michelle Stevenson all collecting two hits. Gillaspy had three RBI while Anding scored two runs.

Jennifer Martinez went 2-for-3 in the contest for SBU. Alex Abernathey pitched four innings giving up four earned runs and seven hits. She falls to 2-1 on the season. SBU falls to 5-9 overall and 0-2 in MIAA play.

Western continutes MIAA action on Saturday, March 10 when they take on the University of Central Missouri in a double header in Warrensburg, Mo. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm from the Jennies softball field at UCM’s South Recreation Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western tennis team fell in it’s MIAA opener on Wednesday evening falling 9-0 against the Lady Blues of Washburn. Western falls to 2-4 overall and 0-1 in MIAA action.

Western won just 11 games in the six singles matches and four in the three doubles matches. Ceara Boldridge was the only Griffon to win at least one game in each set falling 6-1 and 6-2 against Morgan Rainey of Washburn. Erin Ward won three games in the second set of her match falling 6-0, 6-3 against Jamie Blackim.

On the doubles side Boldridge and Kayla Dysart fell 8-2 in No. 1 doubles while Erin Ward and Alecia Jenkins fell 8-2 in doubles competition.

With the victory the Lady Blues improve to 3-2 on the year and 1-0 in MIAA play.

Western returns to action on Thursday, March 22 when they hit the road for the first time this season. Western will take on Rockhurst University in Kansas City, Mo. at 3:30 pm.

Washburn 9, Missouri Western 0

Mar 07, 2012 at St. Joseph, Mo. (Tennis and Swim Club)

Singles competition
1. O’Neill,Sophie (WU) def. Kerr,Nicole (MWSU) 6-2, 6-0
2. Rainey,Morgan (WU) def. Boldridge,Ceara (MWSU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Zitsch,Whitley (WU) def. Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) 6-0, 6-1
4. Blackim,Jamie (WU) def. Ward,Erin (MWSU) 6-0, 6-3
5. Castillo,Alyssa (WU) def. Jenkins,Alecia (MWSU) 6-0, 6-0
6. McKee,Kristin (WU) def. Field,Katie (MWSU) 6-0, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Blackim,Jamie/Zitsch,Whitley (WU) def. Boldridge,Ceara/Dysart,Kayla (MWSU) 8-2
2. O’Neill,Sophie/Castillo,Alyssa (WU) def. Kerr,Nicole/Field,Katie (MWSU) 8-0
3. Rainey,Morgan/Doole,Annie (WU) def. Ward,Erin/Jenkins,Alecia (MWSU) 8-2

Washburn 3-2, 1-0 MIAA
Missouri Western 2-4, 0-1 MIAA

— MWSU Sports Information —

Momentum from a successful fall portion of its season carried over to the spring opener for the Missouri Western women’s golf team with a win at the Rockhurst Early Bird Tournament held at Paradise Pointe Golf Course.

Western battled windy conditions to finish with a two-round score of 683 (+107), eight strokes ahead of second-place Northwest Missouri. Natalie Bird finished second in the individual standings, with teammate Kristen Cooley coming in third. Bird shot an 83 on day one and an 82 to close out the tournament to finish just four strokes behind tournament winner, Kayla Eckelkamp of Maryville. Cooley finished with a two round total of 171 (+26), and finished one stroke ahead of three players tied for fourth place.

Casi Webb’s 175 was good for an 11th place tie with Ashley Powers of Northwest Missouri, and Shelby Stone’s 177 landed her 13th in the individual standings. Darcy Smith (181) finished in 20th, while Britni Nikes (189) finished in a tie for 26th.

The women return to the links when they host the MWSU Spring Invitational at the St. Joseph Country Club March 25 and 26.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished the Rockhurst Early Bird Tournament firing a two day total of 659 (333-326). They finished one stroke behind Central Methodist, 658 (326-332) and two strokes behind William Jewell’s 657 (324-333).

The Griffons were led by Logan Gilliland who finished 8th with a 159 (80-79). The winner of the event was Cole Murrin of Pittsburg State firing 153 (74-79) four strokes better than Avila’s Keenan Richcreek, William Jewell’s Ryan Glynn and Pittsburg State’s Brett Dowell. James O’Brien fired a 164 (83-81) and finished in a tie for 17th while Tyler Gast finished one stroke (87-78) behind him in a tie for 21st place. The other golfers for Missouri Western were Derek Hawkins and Scott Shelton who finished with scores of 171 (83-88) and 176 (87-89) respectively.

The Griffons men’s golf team will return to action in two weeks for the Midwestern State Invitational, March 19th-20th at the Wichita Falls Country Club in Wichita Falls, Tex.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western baseball team gave up five unanswered runs and had six errors losing in the final game of the four game series with No. 2 Central Missouri by a score of 7-2. Western falls to 5-6 overall and 1-3 in MIAA play.

The first inning started strong for the Griffons as Michael Schulze and Jake Graham reached on errors by the Mules. Shawn Egge singled to center loading the bases for the Griffons and then Schulze scored on a fielder’s choice by Nate Ramler giving Western a 1-0 lead after one.

Things stayed that way until the bottom of the second when Central strung together three hits to scored two runs taking a 2-1 lead after two.

Western stayed calm and was able to capitalize on a hit and a Mule error in the fourth tying the score at two.

Unfortunatly the rest of the game belonged to the Mules as they took the lead for good in the fith when Ben Cox singled to score Brad Wilson. The Mules scored another run in the sixth and three in the eighth improving to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in MIAA action.

Western had their lead off batter on in seven of the nine innings but were unable to get the big hit leaving 11 runners on base. Graham went 2-for-4 in the game while Grant Fink scored a run and went 2-for-4. Matt Bergin picked up the loss going four innings gving up four hits and one earned run with three strikeouts. He falls to 0-3 on the year.

The Mules had ten hits with Bret Schwartz, Albert Selanders, Wilson and Cox all getting two hits. Selanders scored two runs while Wilson drove in two.

Chris Fitzpatrick improved to 2-0 the season going five innings. He gave up five hits while striking out five. Travis Unthank went 2.2 innings giving up two hits with three strikouts.

Western returns to action on Saturday, March 10 with a non-conference double header against the University of Mary. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm from the Griffon Baseball Field at the Spring Sports Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf team leads after day one of the Rockhurst Early Bird tournament firing a round of 340. They lead the event by 11 strokes over Northwest Missouri State and Maryville University who fired 351’s.

The Griffons have three golfers in the top ten with Natalie Bird leading the way sitting in second with a day one 83 (39-44). She one stroke behind leader Kayla Eckelkamp (83) of Maryville University.

Kristen Cooley is in a tied for 3rd with an 84 (43-41) while Casi Webb is in a tie for 7th shooting 86 (44-42). Darcy Smith and Shelby Stone round out the Griffons line up with 87 and 91 respectively.

Rockurst in in fourth as a team with a 361 while William Jewell, Ottawa and Central Methodist shot 375, 388 and 407 respectively.

The final round of the event will be played tomorrow, Tuesday, March 6 at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team sits in sixth place after day one of the Early Bird Tournament at Paradise Pointe Golf Complex in Smithville, Mo. Western fired a 333 on day one. Pittsburg State leads the event with a 310.

Logan Gilliland shot the best round for the Griffons firing an 80 (39-41) putting him in a tie for 12th place. Cole Murrin of Pittsburg State and Geoff Ghan of Avila lead the event with 74’s.

James O’Brien and Derek Hawksin are tied for 23rd with 83’s while Tyler Gast and Scott Shelton fired 87’s

The second and final round of the event will be played tomorrow, Tuesday, March 6th.

— MWSU Sports Information —