The 23rd ranked Griffon softball team kept the momentum going taking two from the Northeastern State University Riverhawks. Western pounded out 17 hits and got complete games from Jackie Bishop and Annalee Rubio improving to 9-2 on the season.

Game 1
MWSU 3
NSU 1

The Missouri Western softball team got another solid pitching performance from Jackie Bishop as she runs her record to 5-0 on the season. She struckout 12 giving up just three this and one earned run.

The two teams played scoreless softball into the sixth inning as the Griffons left the bases loaded in the top of the fifth. In the sixth Western got on the board when Leah Steele blasted a double to right center scoring Taylor Anding from first.

Things looked good for Western until Rachel Powers got a hold of one for the Riverhawks putting it over the left field fence tying the score at one after six innings of play.

In the top of the seventh Kim Robinson led off with a single and then Sarah Elliot blasted her first home run in a Griffon uniform over the scoreboard in left field giving Western the 3-1 lead.

That would be all Bishop would need as she struck out the side in the seventh giving her the complete game.

Western had seven hits in the contest with Maegan Roemmich leading the charge going 3-for-4. The Griffons left nine runners on base in the contest.

The Riverhawks stranded just four batters while committing two errors. Cayce Coleman picked up the loss going all seven allowing seven hits and three earned runs while striking out two.

Game 2
MWSU 9
NSU 0 (6 innings)

Western used a seven run sixth inning blowing open a close game in second game of their doubleheader. Western had 10 hits and capitalized on two Riverhawk errors picking up their fifth straight victory.

The Griffons got two runs in the first on three hits. Elliot scored on a sac fly by Keri Lorbert and then Stalder scored on a Roemmich single. The rest of the game belonged to Rubio as she dominated the Riverhawk hitters. She went all six innings giving up just four hits while striking out four. She improves to 2-2 on the year.

Western closed out the game scoring seven runs in the sixth. Western had four hits with Elliot hitting a two run double sparking Western. The Griffons got two hits from Elliot, Stalder and Roemmich while leaving six runners on base.

The Riverhawks had one hit apiece from four differnt players as they fall to 4-3 on the season. Sara Dornelas got the loss going all six innings. She gave up ten hits while striking out three and giving up seven earned runs.

Western will take part in the Arkansas-Monticello Five State Classic next weekened in Bentonville, Ark. Western will play Missouri-St. Louis and Southwestern Oklahoma State on Friday, February 24. Game times are set for 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The late free throws finally fell, and the Missouri Western men finally found a close win.

The Griffons, who’ve lost 8 games by 6 points or less, held on for a 74-70 victory Saturday at Truman State.

Western, which has struggled from the free throw line this season,  went 7-8 from the charity stripe in the 1:04 to seal the road victory.  The victory avenges an overtime home loss to the Bulldogs in early January.

The Griffons dished out 17 assists, and had 5 players score at least 9 points, led by Alex Tuluka-Mfumpembe’s career high 17.  Tuluka was 6-8 from the field and 3-3 from 3-point land.

Lavonte Douglas added 14 points and 9 rebounds for the Griffons, who improve to 8-16 (3-15 MIAA).

Truman falls to 7-19 and 4-13 in the conference.

The Western win avenges 87-86 overtime home loss to the Bulldogs on January 11th.

The Griffons return home Wednesday, February 22nd for an MIAA date with Central Missouri.  Tip-time is set for 7:30 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Due to some overnight rain and a 100 percent chance for most of the afternoon today, the remainder of the SE ‘South Central Shootout’  has been canceled.

The Griffon softball team sits at 7-2 on the season and returns to action tomorrow when they take on the Northeastern State Riverhawks in Talequah, Okla. The will play at 11:00 am and 1:00 pm.

The 23rd ranked Griffons exploded offensively in its first two games of the SE ‘South Central Shootout’ defeating Newman University 8-1 and Southeastern Oklahoma State University 7-3. Western pounded out 28 combined hits and got two complete games from Emily Moe and Jackie Bishop. The Griffons sit at 6-2 after the two victories.

Game 1

MWSU 8, Newman 1

The Griffons pounded out 17 hits in their opening game with leadoff hitter Kendall Sorenson collecting four hits. Taylor Anding and Kat Steponovich both had three hits with one run scored and one RBI in the game.

The Griffons started slow leaving one runner on base in the first inning and not gettting anyone on in the second. The Griffons caught fire the next four inning scoring at least one run each inning including four in the fourth.

Maegan Roemmich had the big hit in the fourth with a three run home run putting Western up  7-0. Anding also had a home run in the game which marked her second of the season.

Moe was solid on the mound giving up eight hits and one earned run while striking out three. She kept her composure as she stranded nine Jets on base which included the bases loaded in the Newman third. She improves to 2-0 on the season.

The Jets only run came off the bat of Sarah Fipps in the sixth inning when she knocked one over the fence. Sarah Balderas had two of the Jets eight hits as they fell to 0-1 on the season. Fipps got the loss giving up 12 hits in five innings which included seven earned runs.

Game 2

MWSU 7, Southeastern Oklahoma State 3

The hot bats continued for the Griffons in game two as they pounded out 11 hits with thee different players collecting two hits. Jackie Bishop continued her dominating pitching going all seven giving up just four hits while striking out 13. She improves to 4-0 with the victory.

Western got on the board in the first as Blair Stalder reached on catchers interference. She then scored on a throwing error by Storm third baseman Sam Vrska.

Western opened up the game in the fourth as four straight hits which included a two RBI single by Keri Lorbert put Western up 3-0. Another Storm error allowed the Griffons to score two more in the inning giving them the 5-0 lead.

Bishop continued keeping the Storm off balance and the Griffons were able to push accross to more in the fifth off an RBI double by Kim Robinson and an RBI single by Sorensen.

Bishop did give up two home runs in the bottom of the seventh but it was to little to late for the Storm as they fell to 6-7 on the season.

Stalder, Lorbert and Roemmich had two hits for Western as they left eigth on base.

The Savage Storm had four hits with Katie Campbell getting two hits. Whitney Hamilton had one hit with two RBI. Jacee Bennett falls to 1-2 on the season going three innings giving up seven hits and two earned runs.

Western will take on Texas Permain-Basin and Angelo State tomorrow. Game times are set for 10:00 am and 4:00 pm. The Texas Permian-Basin contest could be played tonight, but is yet to be determined.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men shot just 35-percent (21-60) from the field falling 79-67 against the Lincoln Blue Tigers in Jefferson City, Mo. Western falls to 7-16 overall and 2-15 in MIAA play.

The Griffons led just once in the first half at 2-0 after TJ Johnson opened the game with a jumper. The Blue Tigers caught fire sinking six first half three pointers on their way to a nine point halftime lead (35-26).

Lincoln opened up a 15 point lead twice in the first frame both off Cedric Ridle long range shots. Western regained their composure going on a 10-0 run cutting the lead to 31-26 after two TJ Johnson’s free throws with 1:24 to play. LU finished the half scoring the final four points.

Western shot just 29.6-percent (8-27) from the field and 22.2-percent (2-9) from long range. Johnson led the charge with 11 points while Lavonte Douglas pitched in nine.

Lincoln shot 45.2-percent (14-31) from the field with Ridle connecting on 7-of-13 shots for 16 points. He also had eight rebounds in the frame.

Lincoln continued shooting the ball well early in the second half opening up a 23 point lead after two Gregory Motley free throws with 12:51 to play. The Blue Tigers scored seven straight points off free throws in the second half which were aided by three MWSU technical fouls.

Despite being down 23 with 6:18 to play in the game the Griffons never gave up going on a 12-2 run cutting the Blue Tiger lead to 13 with 3:26 to play after two Johnson free throws.

Western ran out of gas down the stretch and Lincoln hit its free throws as the Blue Tigers improve to 4-19 overall and 4-13 in MIAA action.

Western was led by Johnson and Douglas with 19 points apiece while the Blue Tigers Ridle collected a double double scoring 24 points and snaring 13 rebounds.

Western will close out the road portion of their MIAA schedule on Saturday, February 18 when they travel to Kirksville, mo. to take on the Truman State Bulldogs. Game time is set for 1:00 pm from Pershing Arena.

— MWSU Sports Information —

For the 33rd straight game senior guard Jessica Koch scored in double figures for the Griffons finishing with 16 points in the 68-56 road loss against the Lincoln Blue Tigers. Western got outscored 36-30 in the paint and outrebounded 18 to six on the offensive end falling to 6-17 overall and 4-13 in MIAA play. Western also sits at 0-9 on the road in MIAA play.

The Blue Tigers closed the first half on an 18-6 run claiming a 39-27 halftime lead. The MIAA’s leading scoring Koch played just 10 minutes in the half as she picked up two early fouls. She finished with five points in the frame. Fortunately, Ashleigh Curry came of the bench and connected on three long range shots keeping Western close. Curry and Alicia Bell combined for five three’s with Curry leading Western with nine points.

Western turned the ball over 13 times which turned into 11 Lincoln points. Lincoln had eight offensive rebounds leading to 11 points as Arriana Walker and Vivian Essuon led the way for Lincoln with 12 points apiece.

Lincoln shot 46.7-percent (14-30) from the field while the Griffons shot just 37.5-percent (9-24) in the half. The Blue Tigers made 7-of-8 free throws while the Griffons made 4-of-5.

The Blue Tigers came out in the second half on fire building its 12 points halftime lead to 18 at 51-33 after a Bre Dillard jumper with 14:39 to play. With the game looking out of hand the Griffons went on a 15-4 run in the next seven minutes cutting the Blue Tiger lead to seven at 55-48 after a lay-up by Charlonda Bozeman with 6:18 to play.

Unfortunately the Griffons struggled the rest of the game offensively getting outscored by five down the stretch falling 68-56. The Blue Tigers improve to 14-9 overall and 8-9 in MIAA action.

Western had three other players in double figures with Curry and Abby Stone finishing with 11 points apiece while Bell pitched in 10. Bell also led the squad with eight rebounds. Western struggled from the free throw line making just 7 of 14 attempts.

The Blue Tigers were led by Essuon and Walker as they both finished with double-doubles. Essuon had 20 points and 10 rebounds while Walker had 12 points and 10 assists.

Western will close out the road portion of their MIAA schedule on Saturday, February 18 when they travel to Kirksville, mo. to take on the Truman State Bulldogs. Game time is set for 1:00 pm from Pershing Arena.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western softball team ended the HSU Tournament like they started with a split on the final day of the tournament. Western won game on against 12th ranked Arkansas-Monticello by a score of 1-0 before falling 6-2 in eight innings against host school Henderson State. Western finishes the first weekend of the season with a 4-2 record.

Game One: #23 MWSU 1, #12 AMU 0
The Griffons were able to open up the last day of the HSU Tournament on the right foot gettinga 1-0 victory over the 12th ranked Arkansas Monticello. This game was a pitchers’ duel between MWSU’s Jackie Bishop and UAM ace Kayla Jackson. Bishop gave up just three hits in the contest while Jackons gave up two with one of the being a solo homer off the bat of Griffon sophomore Taylor Anding.

Game Two: HSU 6, #23 MWSU 2 (8 innings)
In game two, Missouri Western broke a scoreless tie in the fourth–inning as Meagan Roemmich blasted a RBI single off the left field fence to score Kendall Sorensen who led off the inning with a single.

Henderson State finally got on the board in the sixth-inning as Amber Klug led off the inning with a single to get things started. With one-out, Katey Gorsage hit a two run homer over the right-field fence giving the Lady Reddies a 2-1 lead.

Missouri Western forced extra-innings for the second time with a Roemmich RBI double in the sixth-inning,

The Lady Reddies put up four runs in the eight giving them the big lead in extra innings.

Kasey Carlock easily finished the inning picking up her second win of the afternoon. Annalee Rubio got the loss for the Griffons giving up nine hits and three earned runs while striking out three. Emily Moe pitched one inning giving up four hits and two earned runs.

Western had eight hits with Sorensen, Anding and Roemmich each collecting two.

Full stats of the first game of the day and last game of yesterday will be made available as soon as possible. The Griffons will continue their early season play on Friday, February 17 – Sunday, February 19 when they participate in the Southeastern Oklahoma State Tournament held in Durant, Okla. The Griffons will take on Newman University and Southeastern Oklahoma State University on Friday. Game times are set for 10:00 am and 12:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —