St. Charles, Mo. – No. 4 seed Missouri Western would scratch across two runs in the bottom of the eight inning to pull out a 6-4 victory over fifth-seeded Missouri Southern in the opening round of the MIAA baseball tournament Thursday.

The Griffons improve to 35-16, while Southern falls to 32-19.

Missouri Southern got the scoring started in the top of the second as Chris Hoffman singled to right field to drive home Trevor Burkdoll. Tyler Sutherland kept the inning going as he tripled to right field driving in two runs. Jesse Rall would then come up and hit a single to the shortstop to keep the two out rally going and make it a 4-0 lead.

Missouri Western would answer in the bottom of the third inning as David Glaude followed an Orencio Fisher double with a single of his own to drive in Michael Babbit. Nick Gawley would follow that up with a single of his own that sent Fisher to the plate. Jeremy Alvarado would cut the lead to just one run at 4-3 with a sacrifice fly scoring Glaude.

The Griffons would then tie the game in the bottom of the fourth as Fisher singled to plate Alex Huering. Huering would then drive in the go-ahead run in the bottom half of the eighth inning singling to plate Kody Matthews. Fisher would then be hit by a pitch to force home an insurance run later in the inning.

For the Griffons Fisher finished two for four with two runs driven in and Heuring was two for three with a run scored and a run driven in. For the Lions Hoffman was two for three with a run scored and one driven in.

On the mound Preston Bailey pitched 4.1 innings of relief allowing just two hits and striking out six to pick up the win. Conner Schwienbart struck out the final three batters of the game to earn the save.

Missouri Western will take on top seeded Central Missouri at 7:30 p.m. Friday from Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.  The game will air on ESPN 1550 AM.

— MIAA Press Release —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team will enter the 2016 MIAA Tournament with 11 All-MIAA selections on its roster.

Earning first team honors for the Griffons were David Gluade (2b) and Landon Mason (ss). On the second team was Nick Gawley (of). Third team selections included Richard Peoples (P) and Jeremy Alvarado (3b). Earning honorable mention distinction were Evan Jones (P), Alex Clavet (P), Preston Bailey (RP), Kody Matthews (of), Brandon Downs (DH) and Orencio Fisher (Ut).

A junior from Quebec City, Canada, Glaude currently sits second on the team and in the MIAA with a .413 batting average. He was twice named MIAA Hitter of the Week and leads his team in hits (78), doubles (20), triples (6), RBI (63), total bases (134), slugging percentage (.709), walks (38) and on base percentage (.519). He also leads the MIAA in doubles and ranks among the top-10 in nearly every offensive category. Glaude was an honorable mention All-MIAA selection as a sophomore. Starting all 50 games this season in the infield, Glaude was charged with just seven errors.

Also a junior, Mason has been a steady offensive force for the Griffons. His .416 batting average is highest in the MIAA. The Blue Springs, Missouri native had a 21-game hitting streak earlier this season and hit safely in all but four of the 41 games he played in this season. Mason was committed just eight errors at shortstop all season.

Another junior, Gawley has batted .333 for the Griffons this season. The Vancouver, Washington native started all 50 games for Missouri Western and was named MIAA Hitter of the Week once this season. Gawley hit 13 doubles, two triples and five home runs while driving in 55 this season. He was second on the team with 16 stolen bases.

Peoples joined Glaude and Fisher as the only repeat All-MIAA selection for the Griffons. The senior was a third team selection as a junior. After making the switch from closer to starter for 2016, Peoples has led the Griffons with nine wins (9-3) and was named MIAA Pitcher of the Week earlier this season. The Webb City, Missouri native has a 5.92 ERA with 54 strikeouts in 79 innings pitched.

Alvarado found power he hadn’t shown at the junior college level in his first year with the Griffons. The Oxnard, California native leads Missouri Western with 13 home runs. He’s also second on the team with 15 doubles this year and has driven in 55 runners.

A junior from Gresham, Oregon, Jones is 6-1 with 14 appearances and 11 starts. He has a 4.47 ERA and has held batters to a .241 average. Clavet has gone 5-2 with a 4.05 ERA in eight starts and 14 overall appearances. Local product Preston Bailey has been a pleasant surprise on the back-end of the pitching staff. The Savannah, Missouri native is 3-1 with a team-low 3.70 ERA in 22 relief appearances and one start. Bailey has 55 strikeouts and 17 walks in 49 innings of work. Matthews picked up the offensive production later in the year and batted .353 with seven doubles, two triples and vied home runs. He also drove in 30, playing in 40 games with 34 starts. Downs batted .303 over 44 games with 41 starts. The senior hit nine home runs and five doubles. The ultra-utility man, Fisher, batted .327 on the year seeing time at a handful of positions. The speedster swiped 25 bases in 29 attempts.

The Griffons finished the regular season 34-16 overall, finishing fourth in the MIAA standings with a 26-13 conference record. The season continues later this week as the team opens the MIAA Tournament with Missouri Southern on May 18 at 7:30 p.m. in St. Charles, Missouri.

2016 ALL-MIAA BASEBALL TEAM
Player of the Year: David Gauntt, Sr, C, Washburn
Pitcher of the Year: Nick Silva, Jr., P, Washburn
Freshman of the Year: Zach Parish, P, Northeastern State
Coach of the Year: Kyle Crookes, Central Missouri

First Team All-MIAA
Pitcher: Ethan Westphal, Jr., Central Missouri^
Pitcher: Tyler Stubblefield, Jr., Emporia State^
Pitcher: Payton Walker, Sr., Missouri Southern^
Pitcher: Nick Silva, Jr., Washburn^
Relief Pitcher: Grant Gavin, Jr., Central Missouri
Catcher: David Gauntt, Sr., Washburn
First Base: Evan Koehler, Sr., Emporia State
Second Base: David Glaude, Jr., Missouri Western
Shortstop: Landon Mason, Jr., Missouri Western
Third Base: Kyle Carnahan, Sr., Washburn
Outfield: Landon Eason, Jr., Central Oklahoma
Outfield: Dalton Wheat, Sr., Emporia State
Outfield: Wes Degner, So., Lindenwood
Designated Hitter: Jesse Rall, Sr., Missouri Southern
Utility: Jon Kamies, Jr., Central Oklahoma
^=Four pitchers due to tie in the voting

Second Team All-MIAA
Pitcher: Carlos D’Armas, Sr., Central Missouri
Pitcher: Connor Law, Jr., Lindenwood
Pitcher: Zach Parish, Fr., Northeastern State
Relief Pitcher: Garrett Brummett, Sr., Emporia State
Catcher: Eric Kirkpatrick, Sr., Northeastern State
First Base: Bennett Oliver, Sr., Central Missouri
Second Base: Christian Binger, Sr., Southwest Baptist
Shortstop: Nathan Prindle, Sr., Lindenwood
Third Base: Caleb Sneed, So., Southwest Baptist
Outfield: Connor Ross, Sr., Fort Hays State
Outfield: Chris Hoffman, Sr., Missouri Southern
Outfield: Nick Gawley, Jr., Missouri Western
Designated Hitter: Jake Alexander, Sr., Central Missouri*
Designated Hitter: Isaac Hellbusch, Sr., Central Oklahoma*
Utility: Richie Gorski, Jr., Missouri Southern
*=Two designated hitters due to tie in the voting

Third Team All-MIAA
Pitcher: Daulton Leiker, Sr., Central Oklahoma
Pitcher: Richard Peoples, Jr., Missouri Western
Pitcher: Anthony Caenepeel, Jr., Northwest Missouri
Relief Pitcher: Nikko Pablo, Jr., Northwest Missouri
Catcher: Matt Smith, Jr., Missouri Southern
First Base: Andrew Vogelbaugh, So., Pittsburg State
Second Base: Jake Dyer, So., Central Oklahoma
Shortstop: Riley Krane, Jr., Washburn
Third Base: Jeremy Alvarado, Jr., Missouri Western
Outfield: Wade Hanna, Jr., Emporia State
Outfield: Tyler Sutherland, Jr., Missouri Southern
Outfield: Parker Gibson, Sr., Washburn
Designated Hitter: Derek Francis, Sr., Emporia State
Utility: Austin Unrein, Sr., Fort Hays State

Honorable Mention
Pitcher: Tyler House, Central Missouri; Jordan Plank, Emporia State; Brendan Feldmann, Lindenwood; Brendan Kleekamp, Lindenwood; Cody Hutchinson, Missouri Southern; Evan Jones, Missouri Western; Alex Clavet, Missouri Western; George Brandecker, Pittsburg State.
Relief Pitcher: Lucas Williams, Central Missouri; Gibson Russ, Central Oklahoma; Giles Fox, Fort Hays State; Preston Bailey, Missouri Western; John Watson, Nebraska-Kearney; Zack Hammock, Northeastern State; Carson Smith, Northwest Missouri; Greg Mason, Washburn; Jaren Kutzke, Washburn.
Catcher: Ryan Sosnowski, Lindenwood; Hunter Hisky, Southwest Baptist.
First Base: Mike Ehrhard, Lindenwood; Kyle Honeycutt, Nebraska-Kearney; Bryce Davenport, Northeastern State; Kevin Handzlik, Northwest Misosuri.
Second Base: Jacob Bryant, Missouri Southern; Matt Salamon, Nebraska-Kearney; Charles Sims, Northeastern State; Ozzie Adams, Northwest Missouri
Shortstop: Levi Ashmore, Emporia State; Nick Hammeke, Fort hays State; Shane Sharkey, Nebraska-Kearney; Sean Murley, Southwest Baptist.
Third Base: Daniel LaMunyon, Emporia State; Alex Weiss, Fort Hays State; Jacob Boylan, Pittsburg State.
Outfield: Dylan Farrell, Central Missouri; Derek Cornell, Central Missouri; Matt Elliott, Central Missouri; Caleb Cherryholmes, Fort Hays State; Mike Million, Lincoln; Mason Price, Lincoln; Drew Quinones, Lindenwood; Kody Matthews, Missouri Western; Pate Katechis, Nebraska-Kearney; Cody Begovich, Northeastern State; Christian Arnold, Pittsburg State; Jeff Bouchard, Southwest Baptist.
Designated Hitter: Joe Mapes, Fort Hays State; Brandon Downs, Missouri Western; Dallas Schramm, Nebraska-Kearney.
Utility: Orencio Fisher, Missouri Western; Lance Barkley, Washburn.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team moved up three spots in this week’s NCAA Division II regional rankings.

Missouri Western (34-16) was ranked sixth in this week’s rankings with the top-eight teams in the Central Region poll advancing to the regional tournament.

Missouri Western will look to hold or improve its position later this week at the MIAA Tournament in St. Charles, Missouri on the campus of Lindenwood University. The Griffons finished the regular season fourth in the MIAA and will open the MIAA Tournament with fifth seeded Missouri Southern.

The NCAA Division II Baseball Selection Show will air Sunday, May 15 at 9 p.m. on ncaa.com.

Click here to view the regional rankings.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH – More honors continued to roll in for Missouri Western softball on Monday as Katie Klosterman and Morgan Rathmann were named D2CCA All-Central Region.

Klosterman was named first team at third base after also receiving first team NFCA All-Region, first team All-MIAA and MIAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year honors. The junior started all 58 games at the hot corner and finished second on the team with a .356 batting average. She slugged a team-high .626 with 14 doubles and 10 home runs while driving in 36. She committed just four errors all season at third base and recorded a .969 fielding percentage with 39 putouts and 86 assists. Klosterman is now eligible for the D2CCA All-American team.

Rathmann was named to the second team outfield after receiving first team All-MIAA and second team NFCA All-Region honors. Also a junior, Rathmann started all 58 games in center for the Griffons. She led the team with a .393 batting average and tied her MWSU single season record with nine triples. Rathmann became MWSU’s career leader in triples with 21 earlier this season and needs just seven more stolen bases to own that record as well. Her team-high 55 runs in 2016 were the third most in a season and her 81 hits were second most.

The Griffons season ended this past weekend at the NCAA Central Region 2 Tournament with a loss to Southern Arkansas in the tournament championship. The team went 45-13, the third most wins in program history. The team also won the MIAA regular season and tournament championships with 23 conference wins, the most in program history and tied for the most in MIAA history.

Each member of the first-team All-Central Region squad will join first-team members from each of the other seven regions on the ballot for the Daktronics All-America Team. The teams are voted on by the members of D2SIDA, NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors Association.

— MWSU Athletics —

The Missouri Western baseball team earned the No. 4 seed in the MIAA Tournament this week in St. Charles, MO.

The Griffons finished the regular season in a tie for third place with Washburn at 26-13 in MIAA play, but the Ichabods have the tiebreaker as they took two of three games from MWSU in February.

Missouri Western is 34-16 overall and they’ll face No. 5 seed Missouri Southern in the first round Thursday at 7:30 p.m. from the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles.

The Lions are 32-18 this season and they went 22-17 in the MIAA.  Southern also won two of three games against Western this season.

The MIAA Tournament is double elimination as the championship will be played on Sunday.

Here are the first round matchups on Thursday:

No. 3 Washburn vs. No. 6 Northeastern State – 9:00 AM
No. 2 Emporia State vs. No. 7 Central Oklahoma – 12:30 PM
No. 1 Central Missouri vs. No. 8 Northwest Missouri State – 4:00 PM
No. 4 Missouri Western vs. No. 5 Missouri Southern – 7:30 PM

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team suffered its worst loss of the season in what proved to be the team’s final game of 2016, 13-5 to Southern Arkansas in five innings. The Central Region 2 Tournament championship game loss ended the Griffons’ season at 45-13, the third most wins in program history.

Southern Arkansas took a 10-0 lead after three innings, but Missouri Western cut the lead in half over the next two innings. A a three-run home run with one out in the bottom of the fifth was the dagger that ended the Griffons’ season.

HOW THEY SCORED
1st Inning
Brooke Goad hit a two-run home run to right center: 2-0 SAU
Ashton Atwell drove in one with a single to right: 3-0 SAU
Tyler Casada drove in one with a double to right center: 4-0 SAU
Summer Ehrig hit a two-RBI single to right center: 6-0 SAU (all charged to Janie Smith)

2nd Inning
Atwell RBI single down the left field line: 7-0 SAU

3rd Inning
Goad single to center drove in two: 9-0 SAU
Maddie Dow singled to center, one RBI: 10-0 SAU

4th Inning
Shlebie Atwell doubled and advanced to third on a throwing error, Morgan Rathmann scored: 10-1 SAU
Paige Shifflett drove in Atwell with a bloop single to right: 10-2 SAU
Kailey Green hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Shifflett: 10-3 SAU

5th Inning
Shifflett singled to left to drive in Rebekah Mueller and Megan Korgie: 10-5 SAU
Dow hit three-run home run to left: 13-5 SAU

IN THE BOX SCORE
– Shifflett went 2-3 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored.

– Taylor Hamilton had her first multi-hit game of the regional, going 2-3

– Shelbie Atwell and Green had the other two RBIs for Missouri Western

– The Griffons totaled five hits, all coming in the fourth and fifth innings. Southern Arkansas had allowed three combined hits in its two previous regional games

– Janie Smith took the loss (24-10), allowing six runs, five earned, on five hits in one inning

– Saladino pitched the rest of the game, giving up eight hits and seven runs, six of them earned

NOTABLES
– Griffons finish with third most wins in program history

– Team’s 23 conference wins were most in program history and tied for most ever by an MIAA team

– Two regional wins and sub-regional championship appearance for second time in program history

– First run-rule loss for Griffons all season

– Southern Arkansas one of three teams to beat Missouri Western twice this season (Augustana and Northwest Missouri)

– Last game for seniors Janie Smith, Shyanne Saladino and Emilie Laliberte

— MWSU Athletics —

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team (45-12) kept its season alive with the team’s fifth win over Central Oklahoma this season, 9-0 in an elimination game Friday at the NCAA Central Region 2 Tournament.

The win sets up a rematch between the Griffons and Southern Arkansas in the Region 2 Tournament Championship on Saturday at 1 p.m. Missouri Western will have to defeat Southern Arkansas twice to advance to the Central Super Regional May 11 and 12.

HOW THEY SCORED
2nd inning
Sydney Washington doubled to drive in Kailey Green – 1-0 MWSU
Megan Korgie hit the team’s second straight double to score Washington – 2-0 MWSU
3rd inning
Katie Klosterman hit an RBI single through the left side to score Paige Shifflett – 3-0 MWSU
Washington hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Green – 4-0 MWSU
4th inning
Rebekah Mueller scored on a double-steal attempt; Shelbe Atwell thrown out a second – 5-0 MWSU
7th inning
Taylor Hamilton hit her 11th home run of the season on the first pitch of the inning – 6-0 MWSU
Mueller drew a bases loaded walk that scored Klosterman – 7-0 MWSU
Morgan Rathmann’s single up the middle drove in Korgie and Washington – 9-0 MWSU

IN THE BOX SCORE
The Griffons had 13 hits and took advantage of two Central Oklahoma errors, committing two themselves.
Rathmann was 2-3 with two RBIs. Washintgon was 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Klosterman was 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Janie Smith moved to 24-9 on the season, pitching seven innings and allowing six hits, walking four and striking out three. She stranded 12 base runners for UCO.

NOTABLES
– First time the Griffons have won two games in a regional since 2009

– First sub-regional championship appearance for the Griffons since 2009

– Smith shutout UCO for the second time in a week; two of four shutouts the team suffered this season

– Smith pitched her 10th shutout of the season; tied for second most in a season at MWSU

– Missouri Western held a team without an extra base hit for the second time in this regional (Minnesota Duluth)

– The two home runs Southern Arkansas hit in the sixth inning, Friday, were the only extra base hits Griffon pitchers have surrendered this regional

– UCO was 2-12 with runners in scoring position; MWSU was 6-15

– Only the second time MWSU has eliminated an MIAA team from a regional (UCM in 2009)

UP NEXT
Missouri Western faces elimination once again, Saturday at 1 p.m vs. Southern Arkansas. The Griffons were defeated 6-0 by Southern Arkansas, earlier Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western Baseball picked up a 9-1 victory over Lincoln on Friday evening.

The Griffons jumped on the board early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. MWSU used two errors by the Lincoln defense. Jeremy Alvarado and Orencio Fisher both picked up RBIs in the inning.

Missouri Western added another run in the bottom of the second inning. The Griffons put together three consecutive hits in the third inning, producing two more runs. MWSU took a 5-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning.

The Blue Tigers first run came in the top of the sixth inning. Mason Price doubled to right center field, bringing home Dillon Walker.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Missouri Western added four insurance runs. The Griffons were able to get the first three batters on base. Fisher picked up an RBI and David Glaude drove in two RBIs with a double to left center field. Nick Gawley drove in the final run with a sac fly RBI to center field.

Fisher, Kody Matthews, and Brandon Downs all picked up two hits for the Griffons. Fisher scored twice and added two RBIs.

Missouri Western received a quality start from senior Weston Caindec. He went seven innings, facing 26 batters and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out seven batters. Chris Estrada pitched an inning, striking out all three batters.

The Griffons and Blue Tigers will play the final regular season game at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

— MWSU Athletics —

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team relied on smart base running, and took advantage of some Minnesota Duluth defensive miscues, on the way to its first win in the opening game of an NCAA regional since 2005, 5-2.

After Minnesota Duluth scored one in the first, the Griffons answered with two in the bottom half and never trailed again. Missouri Western will await the winner of second seeded Southern Arkansas and seventh seeded Central Oklahoma. That game will be played at 1 p.m. on Friday.

HOW THEY SCORED
Morgan Rathmann led off the game with a single, then got to third on a sacrifice bunt by Shelbie Atwell and a throwing error by the second baseman. She scored on a wild pitch: 1-1, bot1
Katie Klsoterman singled through the left side to drive in Taylor Hamilton from third: 2-1, bot1
Megan Korgie scored on a sacrifice foul out by Paige Shiflett: 3-1 bot2
Korgie stole second on a double steal that also got Rathmann to second: 4-1 bot4
Rathmann scored from second on a throwing error by the centerfielder after Atwell flew out to center: 5-1 bot4

IN THE BOX SCORE
Rathmann reached three times, finishing 2-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Katie Klosterman went 2-3 at the plate with an RBI. Megan Korgie was 2-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Janie Smith pitched all seven innings and moved to 23-8 on the season, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Despite, three Minnesota Duluth errors, all but one Missouri Western run were earned. The Griffons stranded nine runners on base, Minnesota Duluth left seven.

NOTABLES
It was the first opening round win in an NCAA regional for the program since its first regional appearance in 2005, seven straight opening round losses.
It was also the team’s first regional win since the second game of the 2014 regional, 5-0 vs. Southern Arkansas.
Morgan Rathmann picked up her 76th career stolen base and now needs just seven more to break the all-time record at Missouri Western held by Mandie Nocita (Berneking).
The win extended a season-long winning streak for Missouri Western to 10 games.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western will face the winner of Southern Arkansas vs. Central Oklahoma at 1 p.m. on Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western Baseball snapped its four-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over Lincoln on Thursday evening.

The Griffons produced 12 hits and scored in five of their eight innings at the plate. Missouri Western scored its first run when David Glaude homered down the right field line.

MWSU scored one run in the bottom of the second and fourth inning, moving their lead to 3-1. Lincoln answered with a run in the bottom on the sixth inning when Laban Petzoldt tripled to right field, scoring Mike Million from second base.

Missouri Western extended their lead with two runs in the seventh inning. Kody Matthews and Jeremy Alvarado both picked up RBIs in the inning, giving the Griffons a 5-2 lead

The final run of the game came on a Glaude double to left field, scoring Orencio Fisher from first base.

Glaude finished the game going 4-for-4, tallying three RBIs and scoring two runs in the game. Matthews and Landon Mason were the only other Griffons with multiple hits in the game. Fisher contributed with two runs and an RBI.

Richard Peoples pitched all nine innings, moving his record to 9-3 on the year. He allowed just seven hits and struck out seven batters.

Missouri Western and Lincoln will face off tomorrow at 7 p.m. The Griffon athletic department will honor the seniors prior to first pitch Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —