The final game is in the books for the MIAA softball regular season and the 2013 Softball Tournament bracket and pairings have been released by the league. The tournament is scheduled for May 2-4 from the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Mo.

The tournament kicks off with four first round games at 6 p.m. on May 2 in Overland Park. Top seeded Central Oklahoma will face off with eighth seed Northwest Missouri. Second seed Fort Hays State will open their tournament against seventh seeded Pittsburg State. Third seed Missouri Western will play sixth seeded Truman and fourth seeded Emporia State will face off with fifth seed Northeastern State.

May 2, 2013 (Blue Valley Recreation Complex)
Game 1    #1 Central Oklahoma vs. #8 Northwest Missouri State
Game 2    #4 Emporia State vs. #5 Northeastern State
Game 3    #3 Missouri Western vs. #6 Truman State
Game 4    #2 Fort Hays State vs. #7 Pittsburg State

— MIAA Press Release —

The Missouri Western State University Department of Athletics, in conjunction with the St. Joseph News-Press, celebrated the success of its student-athletes both on and off of the field as part of the 14th Annual Missouri Western State University/St. Joseph News-Press Student-Athlete Honors Banquet on Monday, April 29th in the Fulkerson Center on the MWSU campus. Griffon football player Michael Hill was named Male Athlete of the Year while women’s golfer Natalie Bird was named Female Student Athlete of the Year.

Griffon Athletics honored 11 student-athletes as their respective sports’ “Student-Athlete of the Year” along with numerous team and individual achievements which have taken place over the past calendar year.

Also as part of the evening, Griffon Athletics recognized recently retired Head Men’s Basketball Coach Tom Smith and Head Athletic Trainer Myron Unzicker who will retire at the end of the season as Silver Anniversary Award Winners.  Recipients of the award display the characteristics of Integrity, Dedication, Leadership, a Commitment to Excellence and an obligation to serve as a concerned partner in their community throughout the past 25 years.

Current Griffon student-athletes who have been chosen as their respective sports’ Student-Athlete of the Year include; Cedric Clinkscales (Men’s Basketball), Jacob Cunning (Cheer Squad), Michael Hill (Football), James O’Brien (Men’s Golf), Brandon Simmons (Baseball), Alicia Bell (Women’s Basketball), Natalie Bird (Women’s Golf), Ceara Boldridge (Women’s Tennis), Ashlyn Castillo (Women’s Soccer), Stephanie Hattey (Volleyball) and Keri Lorbert (Softball).

MWSU also recognized softball player Maegan Roemmich as the top graduating senior student-athlete based on highest cumulative GPA with the James J. McMillen Award and women’s golfer Natalie Bird as the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s Volunteer of the Year which recognizes a student-athlete that has contributed outstanding service in the local community.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri Western senior women’s golfer Natalie Bird has been selected to participate in the 2013 NCAA Central Regional which will be played at the St. Joseph Country Club in St. Joseph, Mo. The event will start on Sunday, May 5 and conclude on Tuesday, May 7. Bird is the first ever women’s golfer to be selected to play in an NCAA Regional.

This past season Bird played in 10 events finishing with a stroke average of 80.9. She finished in the top five in three events and top ten in six events. She took first place at the Nebraska-Kearney Fall Classic back in September where she shot a 72 which was her lowest round of the season.

She finished in a tie for 7th at the MIAA Championships this past week shooting a 78. Individually, she looks to be in great position to be the first Griffon Women’s Golfer to qualify for the NCAA Tournament as she is currently ranked second individually in Super Region 3.

The NCAA Division II women’s golf super regional competition will be conducted May 5-7. Each super regional will consist of both team and individual competition conducted concurrently with nine teams and four individuals from non-qualifying teams at each site. All participants will compete throughout the 54 holes of competition. The top three teams along with the top three individuals not with a team from each super regional will advance to the championships.

The 2013 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships will be held May 15-18, at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The championships will consist of both team and individual competition conducted concurrently. All participants will compete throughout the entire 72 holes of competition. In the team competition, the low four scores for each team will count in each day’s total score. The number of participants that qualify for the finals is 72.

— MWSU Sports Information —

With the baseball season coming to a close today the MIAA has announced the bracket and pairings for the 2013 MIAA Baseball Tournament. Unlike previous years this season’s tournament begins on campus with the four higher seeded teams hosting a best two-out-of-three series with the four lower seeded teams.

Top seeded Missouri Western will face eighth seeded Fort Hays State beginning on May 2 in St. Joseph, Mo. The series begins with a 6 p.m. match-up on May 2 and continues with a 6 p.m. match-up on May 3. The if necessary game is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 4 from Griffon Baseball Field.

Second seed Central Missouri will play host to seventh seeded Pittsburg State May 2-4 from Warrensburg, Mo. The series kicks off on May 2 with a 6 p.m. game and continues on May 3 with a 6 p.m. contest. Should a third game be forced it is scheduled for 1 p.m. on May 4 from Crane Stadium at Tompkins Field.

Third seeded Missouri Southern will open their MIAA tournament by hosting sixth seeded Northeastern State in Joplin, Mo. The series will get underway with a 5 p.m. game on May 3, followed by a 5 p.m. game on May 4 on their home field. The final game of the series if it is needed is scheduled to be played at 1 p.m. from Joe Becker Stadium.

Fourth seeded Central Oklahoma will play host to fifth seed Emporia State in Edmond, Okla. The series is scheduled to start on May 2 with a 2:30 p.m. game and continue on May 3 with a 2:30 p.m. game. If a third game is forced it is scheduled for May 4 at 1 p.m. from Wendell Simmons Field.

The winners will advance to CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas City, Kan. on May 9-11 for a double elimination tournament.

May 2-5, 2013 (First Round)
(Best two out of three)
#8 Fort Hays State at #1 Missouri Western
Game 1: May 2 at 6 p.m.
Game 2: May 3 at 6 p.m.
Game 3: May 4 at 1 p.m. (If Necessary)

#5 Emporia State at #4 Central Oklahoma
Game 1: May 2 at 2:30 p.m.
Game 2: May 3 at 2:30 p.m.
Game 3: May 4 at 1 p.m. (If Necessary)

#7 Pittsburg State at #2 Central Missouri
Game 1: May 2 at 6 p.m.
Game 2: May 3 at 6 p.m.
Game 3: May 4 at 1 p.m. (If Necessary)

#6 Northeastern State at #3 Missouri Southern
Game 1: May 2 at 5 p.m.
Game 2: May 3 at 5 p.m.
Game 3: May 4 at 1 p.m. (If Necessary)

— MIAA Press Release —

The Missouri Western softball team bounced back nicely in their final regular season doubleheader. The Griffons pitching staff gave up just one run all day in a 9-0 (6 innings) and 3-1 victory over the Northeastern State RiverHawks. Keri Lorbert became the all-time home runs leader in game one hitting her 38th of her career. The Griffons end the regular season with a 36-14 overall and 20-8 in MIAA play.

Game 1
MWSU 9, NSU 0 (6 innings)
The Griffons rebounded nicely in the first game of the doubleheader against the Northeastern State RiverHawks winning 9-0 in a six inning contest. The Griffons scored runs in every inning but the fourth in the victory.

In the first inning the Griffons scored two runs on one hit. Sarah Elliott and Bre Fleschner both got hit by a pitch and then Elliott scored on a wild pitch. Fleschner scored on a single by Keri Lorbert giving MWSU the 2-0 lead. In the second Tiffany Gillaspy led off with a double to right field and scored on a single by Elliott giving the Griffons a 3-0 lead after two.

In the third the Griffons scored another run on three hits. Gillaspy single in Michelle Stevenson with two outs. In the fifth Gillaspy hit her second homer in as many games and ninth of the season giving the Griffons a 7-0 lead after five.

In the sixth history would be made when Lorbert hit her 13th homer of the season and 38th of her career which is the all-time record. She broke the record that Amy Beverly set from 2003-06. The homer gave the Griffons the 9-0 lead.

That is all Jackie Bishop would need as she went all six innings giving up just two hits while striking out eight. She improves to 20-6 with the victory.

The Griffons had 13 hits with Elliott, Lorbert and Gillaspy all getting three. Lorbert scored two runs and had three RBI while Gillaspy had four RBI and two runs scored.

The RiverHawks only hits came from Cayce Coleman. She also got the loss in the circle going all six giving up 13 hits and nine earned runs while striking out four. She falls to 9-7 with the loss.

Game 2
MWSU 3, NSU 1

In game two freshman pitcher Janie Smith pitched very well not giving up her first hit until the fourth inning. She battled out of a couple of jams in the 5th and 6th innings getting the complete game victory. Smith improves to 16th victory of the season. She went all seven inning striking out seven and walking just one.

The Griffons broke a scoreless tie in the 3rd when they got four hits and scored two runs. Taylor Anding opened up the inning with a single up the middle and then scored on a Fleschner double to center field. Fleschner then scored on a Roemmich single to right field giving the Griffons the 2-0 lead.

The RiverHawks cut the lead to 2-1 in the fourth when Madison Reed broke up the no-hitter with a single to short stop. She later scored on a throwing error by Lorbert.

In the fifth the RiverHawks loaded the bases with with two outs but Smith fought her way out of it keeping the score 2-1 in favor of MWSU.

The Griffons responded got an insurance run in the top of the 6th when Lorbert singled and pinch runner Sam Elliott scored on an error by the RiverHawks giving MWSU the 3-1 lead after six.

That would be all Smith would need as the improved to 16-6 in MIAA play. The Griffons has seven hits with Roemmich, Lorbert and Anding all going 2-for-3.

The RiverHawks fall to 26-22 overall and 16-10 in MIAA play. Kayce Woolridge falls to 10-11 going all seven innings. she gave up seven hits and two earned runs with just three strikeouts in the game. The RiverHawks had seven hist with Reed going 2-for-4 with a runs scored.

The Griffons will be the 3rd seed in the MIAA Tournament which will will start on Thursday, May 2nd in Overland Park, Kan at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex. The Griffons will play at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm with opponents to be determined.

— MWSU Sports Information —