Arkansas-Monticello Seven State Classic Website | MWSU Notes | Live Stats

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Missouri Western Griffons will hit the road for the second time in as many weekends when they travel to the Arkansas-Monticello Seven State Classic Feb. 15-17 in Bentonville, Ark., as the Griffons are scheduled for six games.  The Griffons are coming off a weekend where they went 2-2 to begin the 2013 season. The Griffons were in Durant, Okla. last weekend defeating Cameron University 5-4 in eight innings and Southern Nazarene 12-1 in five innings. The Griffons fell to Southeastern Oklahoma State 9-4 and Henderson State 4-3.  The Griffons are coming off a season where they made their sixth trip to the NCAA Tournament in the past eight years. They were 42-13 overall record and an 18-2 record in MIAA play giving them a second place finish in the standings.

KNOW THE OPPONENTS...
• The Griffons will open up the weekend against GLVC opponent Illinois-Springfield a team they defeated last season 7-6 in eight innings Bentonville last season. This marks the first games for UIS this season. Last season they were 36-22 and 22-12 in the GLVC.
• Series vs. Illinois-Springfield since 2002
Feb. 27, 2011    N    W, 9-0
Feb. 26, 2012    N    W, 7-6 (8 Innings)

• The Griffons second game of the day will be against MIAA opponent Nebraska-Kearney. The Lopers are 0-2 on the season falling in a double header last weekend to Fort Hays State by scores of 2-0 and 4-1. Sine 2002 the Lopers and the Griffons have played just once with UNK defeating MWSU.  
• The Lopers are hitting just .143 in those two games with Mackenzie Tomlin leading the way with three hits and a .429 batting average. Last season the Lopers were 26-24 overall and 21-15 in the RMAC finishing 5th. They were picked to finish 10th in the MIAA preseason poll.
• Series vs. Nebraska-Kearney since 2002
March 30, 2003    N    L, 4-2

•The Griffons begin the second day with the Reddies of Henderson State at 10:00 am. They will look to avenge a 4-3 loss last weekend against HSU. The Griffons holst a 6-4 advantage in the series since 2002. HSU is 3-7 on the season with Allison Waggoner leading the way with a .467 batting average...Amy Halter has 10 hits and Kayla Williams has two of the Reddies three wins this season.
• Series since 2002 against HSU
Feb. 26, 2005    A    W, 9-8
Feb. 27, 2010    N    L, 3-2
Mar. 1, 2010    A    W, 6-4
Mar. 1, 2010    A    L, 3-2
Feb. 26, 2011    N    W, 8-3
Mar. 6, 2011    A    W, 9-1
Mar. 6, 2011    A    W, 4-1
Feb. 10, 2012    A    W, 2-1 (9)
Feb. 12, 2012    A    L, 6-2 (8)
Feb. 9, 2013    N    L, 4-3

• To close out day two the Griffons will take on the Arkansas-Monticello Cotton Blossoms at 12:00 pm on the Bentonville High School field. The Cotton Blossoms are 6-2 this season batting .306 with Maggie Sands leading the way with 11. Randa Petty is 3-1 with a 2.07 ERA. The Griffons lead the series since 2002 with UAM 3-2.
• Series since 2002 with UAM
Feb. 23, 2007    N    L, 11-3
Feb. 28, 2010    N    W, 9-4
Feb. 26, 2011    N    L, 4-3 (UAM was #13 in the nation)
Feb. 12, 2012    N    W, 1-0 (UAM was #12 in the nation)
Feb. 26, 2012    N    W, 3-1

• The Griffons will open up day two with a contest against Oklahoma Christian University. They are currently 4-0 on the season defeating Southwestern Christing in a doubleheader and Southwestern Oklahoma State in a doubleheader. This will mark the first meeting between the two schoools. They are led by Kendra Pierce who has 10 hits with five doubles and 14 RBI...Lindsay Moore leads the way with a 2-0 record and a 0.90 ERA.

• The Griffons and the Muleriders have met four times since 2002 with MWSU winning all four. This season Southern Arkansas is 4-4 with two victories over Arkansas Pine Bluff a victory over West Florida and Young Harris...They have fell twice to Valdosta State and once to West Florida and Young Harris...the Mule Riders are led offensviely by Sarah Higginbotham  and Kelci Garza  each with 11 hits...Hanna Gill is 3-1 with a 4.15 ERA in 27 innings.
• Series since 2002 with SAU
Feb. 26, 2005    A    W, 5-3
Feb. 21, 2009    N    W, 4-2
Mar. 5, 2011    N    W, 8-1
Mar. 5, 2011    N    W, 10-1

GRIFF NOTES...
• #1 Kat Steponovich --2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA selection...has started two games this season with 19 putouts and one assists behind the plate.
• #2 Brooke Schaben -- Transferred to Missouri Western from Division I South Dakota... has played in three games with two starts...she scored a run and on the mound has a 0.00 ERA in four innings of work.
• #3 Jakie Bishop --  Daktronics Softball All-America Second-Team, NFCA Second Team All-South Central Region, Daktronics NCAA Division II South Central Region Pitcher of the Year, First Team Daktronics NCAA Division II South Central Region, MIAA Pitcher of the Year and First Team All-MIAA...has pitched 15 innings with 31 strikeouts...has pitched in all four games with two starts...is 1-1 with one save.
• #5 Emily Moe -- Appeared in 11 games with four starts...pitched two complete games with one shutout...finished with a 3-0 record with one save...has not seen any action this season.
• #7 Michelle Stevenson -- Has started all four games at second base...has three hits and four runs scored...has walked twice and has one putout and three assists.
• #8 Kendall Sorenson -- 2012 Honorable Mention All-MIAA...started all four games at right field...is hitting .364 with four hits, one runs scored and one RBI.
• #10 Sydney McCune -- A junior college transfer from Des Moines Area CC... Hit .450 with a .728 on-base percentage and .488 on-base percentage...had 69 RBI, 13 home runs, 14 doubles and 38 runs scored...2nd Team All-Region selection...has one at bat this season, got on by an error by the first baseman.
• #11 Tiffany Gillaspy -- Has stared all four games at first base...is hitting .375 with six hts, four runs scored and four RBI...has two home runs and 17 putouts.
• #12 Taylor Anding -- 2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA...Has started all four games with four hits and .400 batting average...has one runs scored, one double, one home run and three RBI...had six putouts, three assists and an error.
• #14 Breanna Fleschner -- 2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA selection...has started all four games in left field...has three hits, one double and one triple.
• #15 Maegan Roemmich -- 2012 First Team all-MIAA selection...has stared all four games in centerfield...hitting .455 with fivehits, three runs scored and two RBI...is 1-1 on stolen bases.
• #17 Sarah Elliott -- 2012 Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection... has started all four games at third base...leads the team with a .583 batting average...has seven hits and five runs scored...hit one home run and has four RBI.
• #18 Janie Smith -- Freshman from Des Moines East High School...pitched in one game with a 1-0 record...went seven innings giving up eight hits and three earned runs while striking out seven.
• #22 Keri Lorbert -- 2012 Second Team All-MIAA...has stared all four games at either the catcher position or designated player...is hitting .308 with four hits and two home runs...she has three runs scored, 10 total bases and six RBI....has 20 putouts.

GRIFFON HEAD COACH JEN BAGLEY...
• Missouri Western head coach Jen Bagley enters her 12th season at Western. Bagley holds a 379-243 overall record in 11 seasons and has coached 50 All-MIAA selections over the past seven seasons, including the programs first NFCA All-America selection (Amy Beverly) in 2006.
• In 2012, Bagley kept up the winning ways guiding her squad to its fifth 40 win season since 2005. Bagley also guided the Griffons to a second place finish in the MIAA regular season and tournament. The Griffons made its sixth NCAA Tournament Apperance in the past eight season. Bagley also coached the Griffons first ever MIAA Pitcher of the Year and Daktronics South Central Region Pitcher of the Year in Jackie Bishop. Bishop was also named Second Team all-America by Daktronics. Jackie Bishop and Maegan Roemmich were named First Team all-MIAA, Blair Stalder and Keri Lorbert were Second Team while Kat Steponovich, Leah Steele, Taylor Anding, Sarah Elliott, Bre Fleschner, Kendall Sorenson and Annalee Rubio were named honorable mention.
• Jen's team has averaged 33 wins a season since she took over as head coach for the Griffons. Bagley has led the Griffons to back-to-back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Division II national tournament. The Griffons qualified for the NCAA Central Regional Tournament in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 under Bagley, appearing for the first time in school history in 2005. The Griffons posted a 1-2 record in the national tournament during their first 3 seasons, getting the programs' third national tournament win over Winona State 7-0. In the 2009 South Central Super Regional the Griffons went 2-2 advancing all the way to the Super Regional Championship game against Southeastern Oklahoma State University. The Griffons have been two straight South Central Regional Tournaments.
• 3-time MIAA Coach of the Year (2011, 2009, 2005)

GRIFFON SOFTBALL HISTORY...
History
First Year of Softball    1976
Overall All-Time Record    906-720 (.557)
NCAA Postseason Appearances    6 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011 & 2012)
Most Recent Postseason     0-2 South Central Super Regional
    L, 4-3 (8 innings) vs. Texas Woman's University
    L, 2-1 vs. St. Edwards
Overall Postseason Record    5-10
• The Griffons won the MIAA Regular season in 2011.

UP NEXT...
Following their trip to Bentonville the Griffons will take flight to compete in Hawaii at the Hawaii-Hilo invite. The Griffons will play three games against Hawaii-Hilo and three against Western Oregon. Games will be played on Feb. 21, 22 and 23. On Thursday, February 21st the Griffons will take on Western Oregon at 2:00 pm CST and Hawaii-Hilo at 4:15 CST. On Friday, February 22nd the Griffons take on Hawaii-Hilo at 2:00 pm CST and Western Oregon at 6:30 pm CST. The teams will close out the round robin on Saturday, Febraury 23rd with MWSU playing Hawaii-Hilo at 2:00 pm CST and Western Oregon at 4:15 pm CST.