The St. Louis Rams returned to the Griffon Indoor Sports Complex Wednesday to take another peek at Greg Zuerlein.  He must have impressed.

The Rams took Zuerlein with the first pick of the 6th round (171st overall) in the NFL Draft Saturday.  The Missouri Western kicker is the third Griffon in school history to hear his name called on draft day.  He was the second kicker taken in the 2012 draft, after Texas A&M’s Randy Bullock went to Houston in the fifth round.

Zuerlein came to Western in 2011 after his former school, Nebraska-Omaha, dropped its football program.  All he did was produce one of the most prolific seasons by a kicker in NCAA history.  Zuerlein was 23-24 in field goals in 2011, including making an NCAA record 21 straight.  He also was a perfect 9-9 in field goals of 50 yards or more (including two 58-yarders) which has never been done at any level.  His .952 field goal percentage led the nation.    He also had 30 touchbacks in his first and only season in a Griffon uniform.

Griffon Head Football Coach Jerry Partridge saw first-hand last year the jaw-dropping kicks the one-year Western wonder connected with, including a 58-yard field goal against the wind in Spratt Stadium against Northwest Missouri last November.

“Greg impacted a game as much as any kicker I’ve ever seen,” said Missouri Western head football coach, Jerry Partridge.  “He has a great even-keel demeanor that exudes confidence yet he doesn’t take himself too seriously.

Zuerlein joins a unique, elite group of NCAA Division 2 players who have been drafted over the years.  But he has no doubts about his translating his ability to the NFL.

“It doesn’t matter what class you’re in or what division of football you play, the field goal posts are still the same,” Zuerlein told the associated press.  “If you can do it any level in college, it should translate to the NFL.”

— MWSU Sports Information —

After nine Missouri Western seniors were honored, pitchers took center stage in a doubleheader between Missouri Western and Southwest Baptist. Brandon Simmons kept the Bearcats off the plate through the first six innings in game one, and SBU’s Justin Pasichnyk stymied the Griffons in game two. The day one split left the Griffons 30-13 overall and 23-11 in the MIAA.

GAME 1: MWSU 4, SBU 2

Bubba Dotson got things going for the Griffons in game one with a two-run blast to right field. Dotson sent an RBI-triple to right center in the fourth before Tony Loeffler singled Dotson home for the Griffons’ fourth run.

Simmons limited the Bearcats to six hits and two runs through seven innings. Simmons struck out two and walked two, allowing the only two runs to score in the seventh. Simmons gave up a lead off walk to Ros Wolfe before retiring the next two Bearcats. Brandon Cox’s single sent Wolfe to thrid and a Landon Young double brought Wolfe and Cox home. With the tying run at the plate, Simmons got Tyler Christophel to ground out to end the game and secure his 10th win of the season.

Dotson was 2-2 with two runs scored and three RBI. Spencer Shockley finished 2-3 with a run scored.

GAME 2: SBU 2, MWSU 1

Nik Jurado went all nine innings for Western, striking out 12, but the Griffons struggled at the plate against Pasichnyk. Nate Ramler’s solo home run to left center provided the only run.

Western nearly rallied in the ninth after Jack Bond led off the inning with a pinch-hit single to left. SBU went to the bullpen after Bond’s single, bringing in closer, Jacob Sullinger. Spencer Shockley came up and just missed a bunt single, but picked up the sacrifice, advancing Bond to second. Ramler then grounded out but did put the tying run on third base. Sullinger coaxed Jimmy Smelcer to ground out for his third save of the season.

Jurado picked up his first loss of the season (7-1), going nine innings and allowing two runs on eight hits, while fanning a dozen. No Griffon batter managed more than one hit.

Seniors Jack Bond, Matt Bergin, Nik Jurado, Kyle Peterson, Tony Loeffler, Andy Stewart, Jake Graham, Andrew Pieper and Jarad Bell were honored prior to game one. The Griffons and Bearcats will do it again on Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at noon.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western softball team played well but could not out last the 16th ranked Lady Hornets in the MIAA Championship game on Saturday afternoon falling 6-5. The Griffons are 42-11 and will play in the NCAA Tournament next week.

Things looked good for the Griffons early on as they scored three runs in the top of the first inning. Sarah Elliott started things for Western with a one out double down the left field line.  Tiffany Gillaspy then reached on a fielding error by Hornet third baseman Jessica Gragg before Keri Lorbert singled through the left side giving MWSU a 1-0 lead.  With two outs and runners on second and third Leah Steele struck out on a wild pitch and beat the throw to first allowing Gillaspy to score for a 2-0 lead.  Taylor Anding singled to left scoring Lorbert but Steele was thrown out trying to go first to third ending the inning.

The Hornets got on the board in the second when Taylor Reichard singled with one out and Gragg doubled to left center scoring her cutting the Western lead to 3-1.  Andrea Piezuch and Jessica Brewer led off the third with back to back singles for the Hornets and with two outs Amanda Self delivered a two run double to right center tying the score at three.

Western responed in the top of the fourth with one out as Maegan Roemmich reached on a throwing error by Gragg, her second error of the day and  Blair Stalder connected on a home run to right putting the Griffons back on top 5-3. The homer was Stalder’s second of the season.  Emporia cut the lead to one in the bottom of the fourh when Kendra Gifford hit a one out triple and scored on Taylor Zordel’s single.

The Hornets took the lead for good in the fifth inning when two hits and a walk by Bishop loaded the bases with one out. Gragg then hit a two run single to left giving ESU the 6-5 lead.

Stalder led off the sixth with a single before Gragg made a diving catch off a sacrifice bunt attempt Breanna Fleschner keeping the runner at first with one out.  Elliott then reached when Zordel bobled a grounder putting runners at first and second.  Gillaspy flew out for the second out and Lorbert hit a grounder that Reichard knocked down saving a run.  Sorensen ended the inning with a fly out leaving the bases loaded.

Bishop retired the Hornets in order in the sixth for the first time during the game, but in the top of the seventh Western struckout twice and got robbed of a hit ending the game and any chance at the MIAA title.

Western had eight hits with Lorbert and Stalder both getting two. Elliott, Gillaspy, Steele and Anding all had one hit. Bishop falls to 24-4 on the season giving up 10 hits and six earned runs while striking out four.

Gragg was two for three with three RBI, including the game winner.  Self went one for two with two RBI and a run scored.  Karley Schmelzer won her 18th game of the year giving up just two earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. ESU improves to 39-9 with the win.

Western will be playing next week in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show is scheduled for 10:00 pm ET on Monday, April 30.

— MWSU Sports Information —

An offense that was nearly non-existent Thursday turned down-right dominant Friday for Missouri Western softball.   The Griffons pounded 44 hits and scored 31 runs in three games to carry them through the second day of the MIAA Softball Championship Tournament in Overland Park, Kansas.

Western, facing elimination in all three games, defeated Washburn 9-6 in Friday’s opener, and followed with an 8-5 victory over Central Missouri, before pounding Fort Hays State 14-5 to become one of two teams left standing in the tournament.

Western’s offensive explosion hit its peak in the Hays game.  Home runs from Breanna Fleschner, Keri Lorbert and Taylor Anding gave the Griffons a 6-0 lead in the first inning.  Seniors Leah Steele and Blair Stalder followed with homers in the top of the fifth inning, leading Western to a run-rule victory, and avenging a loss to the Lady Tigers the night before.

MIAA Pitcher of the Year Jackie Bishop (24-3) picked up two more victories on the day, and set Western’s single-season strikeout record again.  She has 230 k’s this season, surpassing her mark of 224 set in 2011.

Western (42-10) will face Emporia State Saturday at noon in the double-elimination tournament.  The Lady Hornets are undefeated in the tourney, meaning Western will have to win twice in order to take the conference tournament championship.  Game two (if necessary) will immediately follow game one.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Three members of Emporia State’s 2012 MIAA Softball Regular Season Championship team earned spots on the All-MIAA First Team to highlight the all-conference team announced Thursday by the league office. The selections were made by the league’s 11 head coaches, and coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

Pittsburg State shortstop Amanda “Mannie” DeCastro was named the MIAA Player of the Year after a season in which she held a .913 slugging percentage, tops in the conference, was second in the league with a .447 batting average, and led the MIAA in RBIs with 54. The senior from Carl Junction, Mo., was also an All-MIAA First Team selection.

Missouri Western sophomore Jackie Bishop is the MIAA Pitcher of the Year. The Kirksville, Mo., native led the MIAA with a 0.97 ERA, led the conference in wins with a 22-2 record, and was second in the league with 210 strikeouts. Bishop was the lone unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection.

Fort Hays State first baseman Adriana Wortley was voted the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year after ranking seventh in the conference with a .986 fielding percentage and finishing fourth in the league with 273 putouts. The senior from Tacoma, Wash., also earned a spot on the All-MIAA Second Team.

Emporia State designated player Stephanie Goodwin was honored as the MIAA Freshman of the Year after a season in which she led the MIAA with a .454 batting average, was second in the league with an .807 slugging percentage, and tied for third in the league with 43 runs scored. The Overland Park, Kan., product also earned All-MIAA First Team honors.

Emporia State head coach Julie LeMaire was selected as MIAA Coach of the Year after guiding the Hornets to a perfect 20-0 record in conference play and the eighth MIAA Softball Championship in school history. ESU is the first team in MIAA history to go undefeated in a complete round robin conference season. The Hornets set a league record with the 20 MIAA wins.

Fort Hays State, Missouri Western, Pittsburg State, and Washburn tied for the second-most first-team selections with two, followed by Truman with one.

2012 ALL-MIAA SOFTBALL TEAM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Amanda DeCastro, Sr., SS, Pittsburg State

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Jackie Bishop, So., Missouri Western

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Adriana Wortley, Sr., 1B, Fort Hays State

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Stephanie Goodwin, DP, Emporia State

COACH OF THE YEAR
Julie LeMaire, Emporia State

FIRST TEAM
P: Jackie Bishop, So., Missouri Western** [r1]
P: Maddie Holub, Jr., Fort Hays State
C: Amanda Self, Jr., Emporia State
1B: Tricia Vogel, So., Emporia State
2B: Taylor Nelson, Sr., Fort Hays State
SS: Amanda DeCastro, Sr., Pittsburg State
3B: Alex Zordel, Jr., Washburn
OF: Maegan Roemmich, Jr., Missouri Western
OF: Bridget Schade, Sr., Truman
OF: Kacy Covert, Sr., Washburn
DP: Stephanie Goodwin, Fr., Emporia State
UT: Cheslyn Mitchell, Fr., Pittsburg State

**Unanimous Selection
[r1] – Repeat first team selection from last season

SECOND TEAM
P: Karley Schmelzer, Jr., Emporia State
P: Kelsea Dorsey, Fr., Truman
C: Callie Wright, So., Fort Hays State
1B: Adriana Wortley, Sr., Fort Hays State
2B: Blair Stalder, Sr., Missouri Western
SS: Taylor Zordel, Fr., Emporia State
3B: Jessica Gragg, Fr., Emporia State
OF: Brenna George, So., Pittsburg State
OF: Jessica Brewer, Jr., Emporia State
OF: Breanna Volkmann, Sr., Missouri Southern
DP: Tiffany Brown, So., Pittsburg State
UT: Keri Lorbert, Jr., Missouri Western

HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Braylyn Bivens, So., SS; Katie Groves, Sr., 3B; Ashlea Bengtson, Jr., OF; Alex Groeger, So., OF; Jaydee Young, Sr., OF; Jakki Prater, Fr., UT.

Emporia State: Jennifer Heerey, Sr., P; Taylor Reichard, So., 2B; Andrea Piezuch, So., OF.

Fort Hays State: Chelsey Rottinghaus, Jr., 3B; Amanda Vaupel, Fr., OF.

Lincoln: Megan Braun, Sr., OF.

Missouri Southern: Lydia Niemegeers, Sr., C; Shelby Romines, So., 1B; Brianna Fulkerson, Sr., 2B.

Missouri Western: Annalee Rubio, Jr., P; Kat Steponovich, So., C; Leah Steele, Sr., 1B; Taylor Anding, So., SS; Sarah Elliott, Jr., 3B; Bre Fleschner, Fr., OF; Kendall Sorensen, Jr., OF.

Northwest Missouri: Jenna Creger, Jr., P; Hailee Hendricks, Jr., 2B; Kristen Uthe, Jr., 3B; Kayli Schurman, Jr., DP.

Pittsburg State: Hilary Erbert, Sr., P; Jessica Barnes, So., P; Kreslee Ketcham, Jr., C.

Southwest Baptist: Jessica Colliver, Fr., P; Kassy Williamson, Jr., UT.

Truman: Elizabeth Leath, Fr., C; Laura Miller, Jr., OF; Katie Pitts, Sr., OF; Kelsey Bollman, So., UT.

Washburn: Katie Schroeder, So., 2B.

— MIAA Release —