The Missouri Western softball team wrapped up the final day of the Kelly Laas Invite Sunday with a split. The Griffons fell 3-1 against 8th ranked Augustana (SD) before earning an 11-0 run rule victory over host St. Cloud State. The Griffons improve to 10-4 on the season and return to action next weekend in Joplin, Mo. to participate in the MSSU Invite. The Griffons will take on William Jewell and Illinois-Springfield on Saturday, March 1 at noon and 4 pm. On Sunday, March 2 they will take on Wayne State and Northern State at 9 am and 1 pm.

Game 1
#8 Augustana 3
Missouri Western 1

The Griffons looked to have everything in control against the 8th ranked Vikings holding a 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the sixth. Jackie Bishop was throwing a no hitter until the sixth when the Vikings got three hits including a homer giving the Vikings the 3-1 victory.

The Griffons got on the board first in the 2nd inning when Brooke Schaben singled to right center advanced to second on a wild pitch and socred on a Kat Steponovich two out single up the middle giving the Griffons the 1-0 lead after two innings.

The score stayed that way until bottom of the sixth when the Vikings broke up the no hitter with back-to-back singles by Emily Heinz and Maddie Merriam to lead off the inning. Abby Chandler grounded out to first and Heinz scored on a throwing error by Tiffany Gillaspy tying the game at one. Merriam then scored on a Caitlin Nichol sac fly to left field which was followed up by a Sarah Kennedy homer giving the Vikings the 3-1 lead after six innings.

In the bottom of the 7th Schaben led off the inning with a single to first base but got stranded as strikeouts by Anding and Steponovich and a pop up to first base by Sydney Washington ended the game.

Bishop falls to 6-2 with the loss giving up three hits and just one earned run while striking out five. Schaben got two of the Griffons four hits in the contest.

The Vikings Jenelle Trautmann picked up the victory for the Vikings going all seven innings giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out seven and walking two. She improves to 5-1 on the season while the Vikings improve to 7-2 with the victory.

Game 2
Missouri Western 11
St. Cloud State 0 (5 innings)

The Griffons pounded out 11 hits and used a four run third inning and a six run fourth inning claiming an 11-0 five inning victory over the St. Cloud State Huskies. The Griffons got multiple hits from Bre Fleschner, Tiffany Gillaspy, Steponovich and Washington.

The Griffons stranded back-to-back hits in the top of the first inning by Fleschner and Rathman but in the second they were able to get on the board. The Griffons used walks from Janie Smith and Steponovich to get things going. Smith scored on an error by the shortstop giving the Griffons a 1-0 lead after two.

In the third the Griffons used three two out hits including an Taylor Anding single scoring Gillaspy from second and a Steponovich double scoring Smith and Anding. Washington followed the double with a single to right field scoring Steponovich giving the Griffons the 5-0 lead.

In the 4th the bats stayed hot with six hits. Fleschner led off with a double which was followed by a Gillaspy single. Both players scored on a Schaben single to left field giving the Griffons a 7-0 lead. After another walk by Smith, Steponovich stepped to the plate hitting a single down the left field line scoring Schaben and Smith extending the Griffons lead to 9-0. Washington was the next batter and she blasted her first career homer putting the Griffons up 11-0 after four.

That would be all Smith would need as she gave up just one more hit in the final two innings pitching the complete game. Smith improves to 4-2 on the season.

Steponovich finished the game with four RBI and two runs scored while Washington finished with three RBI and one run scored.

The Huskies fall to 2-2 on the season as Kendra Merritt picked up the loss going just three innings giving up six hits and four earned runs while striking out four. Two of the Huskies three hits came in the first inning when Tricia DeBoer and Abby Bunnell led of the game with back-to-back singles.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western men fell 92-60 on Military Appreciation Day against rival Northwest Missouri State. The Griffons had two players in double figures as Kalvin Balque dumped in 19 points and Ryan Devers finished with 18. The Griffons fall to 10-15 overall and 5-12 in MIAA play.

The Griffons men played fairly well in the first half shooting 52.2-percent (12-23) from the field unfortunately the Bearcats were able to shoot better making 62.1-percent (18-29) from the field taking a 14 point lead at 47-33 at the half.

The Bearcats opened the frame on outscoring the Griffons 19-6 in the first seven minutes after Zach Schneider drained a long range shot. The Griffons hung in there cutting the lead to eight numerous times the next 10 minutes. Trailing 35-27 with 3:45 to play in the half the Bearcats went on a 12-6 run claiming the 14 point halftime lead.

The Griffons had seven players score in the half with Devers leading the way with eight points while Balque dumped in seven with three boards. The Bearcats were led by DeShaun Cooper with 17 first half points while Dillon Starzel had 15 making all six of his shot attempts.

In the second half the Bearcats opened up an 18 point lead in the first four minutes of the frame when Bryston Williams hit a laypu with 16:15 to play. The Griffons responded nicely going on a 9-2 run cutting the Bearcat lead to 55-44 with 13:58 to play after a Devers jumper.

From there it was all Bearcats as they hit five threes in the next three minutes extenging their lead to 74-48 with 10:08 to play after Schneider nailed a three. The rest of the game belonged to the Bearcats improving to 20-6 overall and 15-2 in MIAA play.

The Griffons made 44.0-percent (22-50) of their field goals but just 13-of-23 free throws and 3-of-12 field goals.

The Bearcats shot 56.5-percent (35-62) with four players scoring in double figures. Cooper finished with 22 points while Starzl, Schneider and Grant Cozad finished with 19, 12 and 11 respectively.

The Griffons will play their last home game of the season on Wednesday, February 26 with a game against Central Missouri. Game time is set for 7:30 pm in the fieldhouse. The Griffons will honor two seniors as they play their last home game for the Griffons. They are Kalvin Balque and Cedric Clinkscales.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Missouri Western women used a career night from Tiffanie Abrams cruising to a 68-47 victory over rival Northwest Missouri State. Abrams dumped in a career high 25 points on 8-of-10 shooting which included five long range shots. The Griffons shot 47.2-percent (25-53) from the field improving to 10-14 overall and 5-12 in MIAA play.

The Griffon women came out on fire opening up a 26 point lead before the Bearcats new what hit them. The Griffons took a 32-6 lead after a Abrams layup with 6:43 to play in the half. The rest of the half belonged to the Bearcats as they went on a 14-2 run cutting the Griffons lead to 34-20 at the half.

Northwest Missouri State used free throws to get back in the game hitting all eight of their attempts. the Bearcats shot just 30-percent (6-20) from the field with Annie Mathews leading the charge with 8 points on 4-of-6 shooting.

The Griffons made 43.3-percent (13-30) of their field goals with five coming from behind the arc. Abrams scored 14 on 5-of-6 shooting which included 3-of-3 from beyond the arc. Quenisha Lockett also had a solid half scoring eight points on 4-of-5 shooting.

IN the second half the Griffons continued to play well not letting the Bearcats get any closer than 12 points at 34-22. The Griffons extended their lead to 22 at 49-27 after an Abrams long range shots with 13:03 to play in the game. The Beacats chipped away again closing to within 14 with 9:17 to play but MWSU once again went on a run extending the lead to 21 with 1:17 to play. With the victory the Griffons snapped a four game losing streak.

Only one other Griffons scored in double figures as Sharniece Lewis scored 10. Lockett and Jallisa Lewis finished with nine and eight respectively while Lockett led the way with seven rebounds.

The Bearcats fall to 9-15 overall and 6-11 in MIAA play. They had two players score in double figures with Ashleigh Nelson and Mathews scoring 16 and 14 respectively. The Griffons forced 20 turnovers which led to 27 points for Missouri Western.

The Griffons return to action on Wednesday, February 25 with an MIAA contest against #12 Central Missouri. It will be senior night in the fieldhouse as the Griffons say goodbye to six senior who include: Tiffanie Abrams, Lanicia Lawrence, JaQuitta Dever, Cassey Sobaski, Sharniece Lewis and Jallisa Lewis. Game time is set for 5:30 pm from teh fieldhouse.

— MWSU Sports Information —