The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished 13th at the UCO Kickingbird Classic held at Kickingbird Golf Course. The Griffons fired a two round 703 (348-355) which was eight strokes back Nebraska-Kearney who shot a 695 (334-361). The winner of the event was Oklahoma Christian who fired a 611 (316-295) which was two shots better than Arkansas Tech who fired a 613 (306-307).

The Griffons were led by sophomore Callie Wilson and freshman Madison Romjue who both fired 174’s. Wilson fired an 85-89 while Romjue fired an 82-92. Anna Kloeppel and Amber Chivington finished with 179 (92-87) and 180 (89-91) while Shelby Stone finished with a 185 (97-88).

Elia Folch of Oklahoma City University won the event with a 145 (72-73) which was three strokes ahead of Anna Arrese Cortadel of Oklahoma Christian and Taylor Neidy of Central Oklahoma.

The Griffons return to action on Sunday, March 23 and Monday, March 24
when they host the MWSU Golf Invitational. The event will be played at the St. Joseph Country Club.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western baseball team was able to snap a five game losing skid splitting a pair of one run games in the final two games of their series with Washburn. The Griffons fell in game one 4-3 before mounting a comeback in game two winning 12-11. The Griffons are now 7-8 overall and 5-5 in MIAA play.

Game 1
Washburn 4
Missouri Western 3

The Griffons tried mounting a rally in game one but came up short stranding David Chew at third base in the bottom of the 7th inning. The Griffons battled from behind the whole game losing their fifth straight.

In the top of the first inning the Ichabods got things going getting two hits and scoring one run. Wes Jones singled to right field and then scored on a triple to right center by Matt Jackson.

The Griffons got at least one runner on base in every inning which included stranding two on in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. In the first the Griffons stranded a lea doff double by Trevor LaHonta. In the second the Griffons tied the game when Chew tripled and scored on a passed ball.

In the fourth inning the Ichabods struck out swinging and later scored on a bunt single by Kyle Carnahan. The Griffons got out of the inning when Connor Crimmins flied out to right field and Kell was thrown out at the plate by LaHonta.

In the fifth Washburn tacked on another run when Wes Jones grounded to second base scoring T. Herrington after a triple. The score was 4-1 after four and a half innings. In the bottom of the fifth the Griffons got one back when Cody Childs led off with a single and then scored on a passed ball making it 4-2 after five.

In the sixth the Griffons stranded two and in the seventh they they cut the score to 4-3 off a Chew double but he was stranded at third ending the game.

The Griffons had seven hits in the game with Chew and Childs each getting two. Mason Queen got the loss going four innings. He gave up five hits and one earned run. He falls to 1-2 on the season.

The Ichabods had six hits with Jones going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Eric Shmid got the win going five innings. He gave up four hits and two runs while striking out six. AJ Green picked up his first hit of the season going one inning giving up two hits and one earned run.

Game 2
Missouri Western 12
Washburn 11

In a poorly pitched final game of the four game series the Missouri Western baseball team snapped a five game losing streak picking up a 12-11 victory. The two teams combined for 21 hits and 23 runs while using 11 pitchers that walked 20 batters. The Griffons also used the long ball to mount the comeback.

In the first inning Washburn scored four two out runs on three hits. The big hit came from Cimmines who doubled to right center scoring three runs. The Griffons responded in their half of the first when Jake Schrader blasted his fifth homer of the season to right center which scored Jeremy Monty. After on the Ichabods led 4-2.

In the second the Ichabods plated three more runs on two hits taking a 7-2 lead after two and a half innings of play. The Griffons once again responded scoring two runs in the second inning. Cody Childs blasted his first homer of the season scoring Matt Russell cutting the Ichabod lead to 7-4 after two.

The scrore stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth. The Griffons used four hits and an error scoring five runs. LaHonta led off with a single and stole second. He scored on a throwing error by the Ichabod shortstop. Ryan Degner, Mitch Thorman and Childs all had RBI hits in the inning. After four innings the Griffons led 9-7.

In the back and fourth game the Ichabods responded with three runs on one hit in the top of the 5th regaining the lead 10-9 after five and a half. Fortunately in the bottom of the fifth Chew nailed a three run homer giving the Griffons a 12-9 lead with four innings to play.

The Griffons allowed one run the rest of they way hanging on for the one run victory. Griffon reliever Banks Born got the victory going one inning giving up one hit and one earned run. Tyler Sanders picked up his second save of the year going one inning with one strikeout.

Five Griffons had two hits in the game with Childs leading the way with four RBI while Chew and Schrader had three and two respectively.

Washburn starter Maustin Otterstatter went three full innings and pitched into the fourth. He gave up six runs off six hits and four walks as he made his first start. Reliever Alex Laughlin took the loss as he gave up three runs through two thirds of an inning.

Washburn falls to 7-5 overall and 7-5 in MIAA play. They had nine hits with Jones and Kyle Carnahan each getting two.

The Griffons will step out of MIAA play on Tuesday, March 11 with a non-conference game against the Rockhurst Hawks. The Hawks come into the contest 0-4. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm from the Griffon Baseball Field at the Spring Sports Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western softball team struggles in Kansas continued on Monday afternoon falling 4-3 and 7-3 against #21 Emporia State. The Griffons have lost four in a row and sit at 10-8 overall and 0-4 in MIAA play.

Game 1
Emporia State 4
Missouri Western 3

In game one the Griffons struggled to string any hits together falling 4-3. The Griffons had just four hits the Hornets 10 and left six runners on base to the Hornets eight.

The Griffons got on the board first in the top of the fourth inning when Tiffany Gillaspy hit her fourth homer of the season. That lead was short lived as the Hornets responded in their half of the fourth when Jacie Stephen hit a two run homer giving ESU the lead for good. Emporia tacked on two more in the 5th inning. They had five hits while scoring two runs taking the 4-1 lead after five.

In the sixth the Griffons left one runner on base and in the 7th they put used two hits and two walks to score two runs. With runners bases loaded and one out Brooke Schaben hit into a fielder choice scoring one and Gillaspy grounded out to third ending the game.

Gillaspy had two of the Griffons four hits while Bishop falls to 6-3 on the season. She gave up 10 hits and four earned runs while striking out three and hitting three batters.

Emporia State pounded out 10 hits with Taylor Zordel, Tricia Vogel and Andrea Piezuch each getting two. Kaitlyn Caston improved to 11-3 overall going all seven innings. She gave up four hits and three earned runs while walking four and striking out just one.

Game 2
Emporia State 7
Missouri Western 3

In game two the struggles continued for the Griffons getting outscored 7-1 in the final five innings falling 7-3. The Griffons had just four hits and three errors in the contest.

Once again the Griffons got on the board first scoring two runs in the second inning off a two run homer from Kat Steponovich. It was Steponovich’s second homer of the season.

The lead was short lived as the Hornets answered the two runs on three hits. Stephens got an RBI single and Eryn Stockman got an RBI on a fielders choice tying the score at two after two innings.

The Griffons stayed calm going ahead in the third as Bre Fleschner led off with a double and scored on a Gillaspy sacrifice fly giving the Griffons a 3-2 lead. In the bottom of the third ESU blew things open using two hit by pitches putting runners on first and second with one out. With two outs the Hornets doubles by Stockman and Madison Rich giving the Hornets the 6-3 lead after three.

The Griffons left at least one runner on in the last four innings but could not get any momentum to make the comeback. The Hornets tacked on one more run improving to 15-4 overall and 4-0 in MIAA play.

In game two Steponovich led the way with two hits while Janie Smith falls to 4-5 overall. She gave up 10 hits and 7 earned runs with two strikeouts.

The Hornets were led by Jessica Gragg, Stephens and Rich as they all had two hits. Stockman led the way with three RBU while Rich had two. Stockman improves to 4-1 going all seven innings. She gave up four hits and three earned run. she walked four and struck out just one.

The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, March 11 with an MIAA doubleheader against rival Northwest Missouri State. It is an important doubleheader for both teams as they both sit at 0-4 in MIAA play. First pitch is scheduled for 2 pm from the Griffon Softball Field at the Spring Sports Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men’s golf team sits in 11th place in the 17 team field after day one of the Dave Falconer Memorial Invite. The Griffons fired a round one 311 which is two strokes behind Pittsburg State (309) who is in 10th and six strokes behind Southeastern Oklahoma State (305) who is 9th. The Griffons are two strokes ahead of 12th place Washburn who fired a 313. Henderson State and Arkansas Tech lead the event with 287. The event is being played at Chamberlyne Golf Club.

The Griffons were led by James O’Brien who shot a two over 73 which puts him in a tie for 10th in the 95 player field. Tyler Gast sits in a tie for 48th with a 78 while Scott Sheldon and Derek Hawkins are in a tie for 66th with 80’s. Evan McCarthy finished with an 82. Dylan Watt finished with a 79 playing for an individual.

The leaders of the event are Michael Hearne of Southern Nazarene and George Adams of Southern Arkansas as they both fired 68.

The final round of the event will be played Tuesday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women’s golf teams sits in 13th place after day one of the UCO Kickingbird Classic firing a 348. The Griffons trail 12th place Central Missouri by three and 11th place Northwest Missouri State by nine. The leader of the event is Arkansas Tech firing a 306 which is four strokes ahead of Oklahoma City and Central Oklahoma.

Freshman Madison Romjue leads the way for MWSU firing an 82 which puts her in a tie for 24th. Callie Wilson and Amber Chivington shot a 85 and 89 while Anna Kloeppel and Shelby Stone fired 92 and 97.

The leader of the event is Elia Folch of Oklahoma City and Taylor Neidy of Central Oklahoma both firing two over 72. They are one stroke ahead of Margaret Alumno (73) of Drury and two strokes ahead of Rebecka Surtevall (74) of Arkansas Tech.

They will wrap up the final round of the event Tuesday, March 11.

— MWSU Sports Information —