St. Charles, Mo. – Top seeded Central Missouri racked up 13 hits as they defeated fourth seeded Missouri Western 10-0 in seven inning on the second day of the MIAA Baseball Tournament.

Central Missouri got things going in the bottom of the first as Bennett Oliver hit an RBI single driving in Matt Elliott, then Collin Nevil doubled to drive in Oliver. UCM grabbed two more in the bottom of the third inning as Cole Distler singled to drive in Jake Alexander and Dylan Farrell.

The Mules would strike again in the bottom of the fourth as Matt Elliott started the scoring with a two run doubles. Farrell then doubled to drive in one and Alexander came up after him and singled in a run.

UCM got their ninth run when Cole Distler reached on a fielding error that allowed Nevil to score. Blake Wilfong walked to force home the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.

For the Mules Matt Elliott was two for four with two runs scored and two runs driven in while Collin Nevile went three for four and Farrell was two for three with two runs scored. For the Griffons Andy Rieth, David Glaude, Kody Matthews and Ozzie Rodriguez all finished with hits.

On the mound Ethan Westphal went all seven innings allowing just four hits and striking out eight in the complete game victory.

Central Missouri will play in the 12:30 p.m. game tomorrow and Missouri Western will face Northwest Missouri at 4 p.m. tomorrow from Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Mo.

— MIAA Press Release —

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