NFCA Poll | MWSU Game Notes | MSSU Live Stats | PSU Live Stats

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Griffons are currently on an eight game winning streak and moved into the National Fastpich Coaches Association (NFCA) Top-25 at 24th. They will try and keep the momentum going this weekend when they hit the road for a pair of MIAA doubleheaders. The Griffons will be in Joplin, Mo. on Friday, March 29 for a doubleheader with Missouri Southern State University. Game times are set for 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm. On Saturday, March 30 they will try an avenge an earlier loss against the Pittsburg State Gorillas in an MIAA doubleheader starting at 12:00 pm in Pittsburg, Kan. After dropping their first two MIAA games the Missouri Western Griffons have played well winning their last four MIAA games and last eight games in a row. Last weekend they had to cancel their MWSU Invite but were able to pick up four games. The Griffons defeated MIAA opponents Lincoln (8-3) and Emporia State (4-2) in non-conference action and then swept a doubleheader with NSIC opponent Northern State by scores of 11-6 and 15-1 in five innings. 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. The Griffons are currently 20-8 overall and 4-2 in MIAA action.

Missouri Southern Team Info
Series with MSSU since 2002: MWSU leads 23-7 - Home: 7-3 - Road: 8-3 - Neutral: 8-1
• MSSU is 17-13 overall and 4-4 in the MIAA this season. The Lions have split with Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State. They have defeated Lindenwood twice but fell twice to Truman State.
• As a team the Lions are hitting .295 with Shelby Romines leading the way with a .400 average. Six other Lions are hitting above .300 with Brooke Swadly hitting .387. The Lions have 16 home runs with Romines hitting six.
• In the circled the Lions are led by Haley Kinnison with a 6-2 record and a 2.97 ERA. She has 66 strikeouts but has given up 49 hits. As a team they have a 2.53 ERA and are allowing their opponents to hit just .260.

Pittsburg State Team Info
Series since 2002: MWSU leads 15-11, Home: 6-4, Road: 8-4, Neutral: 1-3
• The Gorillas at currently 17-9 overall and 5-3 in MIAA play. They have currenlty won three of their last four games and five of their last seven. They are coming off a split with Truman State.
• As a team the Gorillas are hitting .307 with Tiffany Brown and Samantha Grove leading the way with a .380 and .379 average respectively. Brown has eight home runs and 25 RBI on the season. They have seven players hitting over .300 this season. The Gorillas defeated the Griffons 2-1 earlier this season but the Griffons left 11 runners on base.
• In the circle the Gorillas have a 2.69 ERA with Kyndel Shelburn boosting a 2.48 ERA and  a 6-3 record. The Gorillas have five pitchers that have a victory this season.

GRIFF NOTES...
• #1 Kat Steponovich --2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA selection...has started 18 games this season with 113 putouts and 7 assists behid the plate...has a hit in two of her last three games including her second homer of her career against Northern State.
• #2 Brooke Schaben -- Transferred to Missouri Western from Division I South Dakota... has played in 16 games with five starts...she scored five runs and on the mound has a 1.91 ERA in 11 innings of work.
• #3 Jakie Bishop --  2012 Honors: 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 93.1 innings with 102 strikeouts...has a 10-3 record with two save...She is one win away from tying the career mark of 60 and she broke the MWSU career strikeout record of 561. She now has 569 in her career.  
• #5 Emily Moe -- Moe has appeared in seven games this season with three starts. She has a 6.46 ERA in 8.2 innings of work.
• #7 Michelle Stevenson -- Has started all 28 games at second base...has 33 hits and 20 runs scored...has two home runs and two triples on the season...is hitting .371 and has a hit in four of her last five games. Has walked four times and has 54 putout and 40 assists.
• #8 Kendall Sorensen -- 2012 Honorable Mention All-MIAA...started all 28 games at right field...is hitting .310 with 22 hits, 11 runs scored and eight RBI...has a hit in four of her last five games.
• #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 six at bats this season with two hits...she hit her first homer of her career against Northern State University.
• #11 Tiffany Gillaspy -- Has stared all 28 games at first base...is hitting .371 with 33 hits, 18 runs scored and 19 RBIs...has five home runs and 183 putouts...has a hit in seven of her last eight games.
• #12 Taylor Anding -- 2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA...Has started all 28 games with 22 hits and .278 batting average...has 12 runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs...has 43 putouts, 53 assists and 10 errors...has a hit in her last three games.
• #14 Breanna Fleschner -- 2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA selection...has started 27 games at left field...is hitting .348 with 31 hits, three doubles, one triple and five home runs...went 8-for-8 against Northern State in a doubleheader...has a hit in seven of her last eight games.
• #15 Maegan Roemmich -- 2012 First Team all-MIAA selection...has stared all 28 games in centerfield...hitting .329 with 26 hits, 13 runs scored and 19 RBIs...has a hit in 10 of her last 11 games.
• #17 Sarah Elliott -- 2012 Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection... has started all 18 games at third base...leads the team with a .390 batting average...has 32 hits and 21 runs scored...hit two home runs and has 17 RBIs. Has a hit in 4 of the Griffons 5 games.
• #18 Janie Smith -- Freshman from Des Moines East High School...pitched in eight games with a 10-3 record...has pitched 69.0 innings with 28 strikeouts and 26 earned runs...is hitting .269 with 7 hits, 7 runs scored, two RBI to go along with a double.
• #22 Keri Lorbert -- 2012 Second Team All-MIAA...has stared all 28 games at either the catcher position or designated player...is hitting .262 with 21 hits and 9 home runs...she has 19 runs scored, 49 total bases and 23 RBI....has 35 putouts.

GRIFFON HEAD COACH JEN BAGLEY...
• Missouri Western head coach Jen Bagley enters her 12th season at Western. Bagley holds a 397-249 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 Sorensen 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 to two straight South Central Regional Tournaments.
• 3-time MIAA Coach of the Year (2011, 2009, 2005)

UP NEXT...
The Griffons will continue MIAA road action next weekend when they travel to Hays, Kan. and Kearney, Neb. The Griffons will take on the Fort Hays State Tigers on Friday, April 5 at 2/4 pm and then will take on the Lopers in Kearney, Neb. on Saturday, April 6. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.