MWSU Game Notes | Live Stats vs. NWMSU | Live Audio vs. NWMSU | Live Stats vs. Lincoln

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The 2013 Missouri Western Griffons baseball team is off to its best start in history opening up with a 19-4 record and 14-1 record in MIAA play. The Griffons had a school record 17 game winning streak broken last weekend against Central Oklahoma but were still able to win two of the three games (5-4, 5-7, 11-9). The Griffons are hitting .389 as a team which is second in the nation and have hit 30 home runs to its opponents six. The Griffons have six players hitting over .400 and eight players hitting .300 or better. The Griffons continue league play this week with five game scheduled. The Griffons will host the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats on Thursday, March 28 in St. Joseph, Mo. Game times are scheduled for 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm at the Griffons Baseball Field. The Griffons then hit the road for a three game series with the Lincoln Blue Tigers in Jefferson City, Mo. Game on Sunday (March 31) has been moved up to Friday (March 29). The Blue Tigers will now take on the Griffons in a single game on Friday at 3:00 p.m. CDT. The two teams will still meet for a double header on Saturday (March 30) at 12:00 p.m. CDT.

KNOW THE OPPONENTS...
Record vs. the Bearcats since 2001: Overall: 27-23 - Home: 15-11 - Away: 12-10 - Neutral: 0-2
• Since 2001 the Griffons and the Bearcats have met 50 times with the Griffons taking a 27-23 lead in the series. The Griffons have won seven out of the last 10 which includes a 10-4 and 7-2 doubleheader sweep earlier this season.
• The two teams will wrap up their four game season series on Thursday, March 28 at 2:00 pm in St. Joseph, Mo. with a doubleheader at the Griffon Baseball Field. The Griffons are 15-11 at home against the Bearcats since 2001. MWSU is 12-10 in Maryville and 0-2 in the MIAA touranment.
• This season the Bearcats are 9-16 and 7-13 in MIAA play. They are coming off a three game series sweep of the Truman State Bulldogs last weekend.
•As a team the Bearcats are hitting .267 with Tyler Durant and JJ Baccari leading the way with a .356 and .316 average respectively. They have hit 16 home runs as a team with Eric McGlauflin leading the charge with four. Cameron Bedard had eight doubles while Ryan Abernathy leads the way with 19 runs scored.
• On the bump the Bearcats have a team ERA of 7.20. Brian Schmiedt has a 2.53 ERA in five appearances. He has thrown 10.2 innings giving up nine hits and three earned runs while striking out eight. Chase Anderson holds a 3-3 record in ten appearances with four starts while Marcus Garrett has a 2-1 record with a 5.25 ERA in five starts.

Record vs. the Blue Tigers since 2001: Overall: 11-4 - Home: 7-1 - Away: 4-2 - Neutral: 0-1
• The Griffons and the Blue Tigers have met 15 times since the 2001 season with the Griffons leading 11-4.
• The Griffons won seven of the last 10 meetings which included three of four in St. Joseph last season. The Griffons and the Blue Tigers splitt in 2011 in Jefferson City. The Griffons won 6-4 and 17-4 while the Blue Tigers won 7-2 and 11-1.
• This season the Blues Tigers are just 2-16 overall and 2-13 in MIAA action.
• They are hitting just .244 as a team with three players hitting over .300. Ben Stewart leads the way with a .350 batting average in 16 games...he has 21 hits in 60 at bats.
• The Blue Tigers have 17 doubles with Kaleb Kemna leading the way with five.
• On the bump the Blue Tigers have a 8.19 ERA.
• Scott Jones has the Blue Tigers only victories as he is 2-4 with a 7.20 ERA.

GRIFF NOTES...
• Griffon pitcher Brandon Simmons won his 29th career game last week with a 5-4 victory over Central Okalahoma. Simmons the MWSU all-time leader taking  over for Nick Finn who had 27. He set that record in 1972-75. Simmons is three wins away from tieing the MIAA record for wins.  
• Simmons has 200 career strikeouts and now sits in sixth all-time at MWSU and is four away from being in 5th.
• The Griffons have five every day players that are hitting over .400 on the season.
• Junior Michael Schulze is leading the team with a .473 batting average. he has 44 hits and 35 runs scored...he has eight double, two triples, three home runs adn 28 RBI. He is also 7-for-9 in stolen bases. he currently has a 16 game hitting streak. .
• Senior second baseman Jimmy Smelcer is hitting .451 with 37 hits and 19 runs scored. He has nine doubles and 18 RBI. Grant Fink is hitting .440 and is currently on a 19 game hitting streak. He also leads the team in home runs with 9, 36 RBI and 74 total bases.
• The Griffon bottom of the order has been as productive as the top. Senior centerfielder Shawn Egge is hitting .387 and is currently on an 18 game hitting streak. He has scored 24 runs with seven doubles, two home runs and 19 RBI.
• On the mound releif pitcher Logan Hollingsworth is having a nice season. He has made nine appearances with a 1.45 eRA. He has three saves and a 4-0 record. He has thrown 18.2 innings giving up just three earned runs while striking out 16.
• Junior's Banks Born and Jerad Hawkins have been solid as well. They both have appeared in six games. Born is 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA while Hawkins is 2-0 with a 2.81 ERA.
• Senior pitched Ethan Ward has been pretty good in his five starts. He holds a 1-1 record with a 3.34 ERA. He has pitched a team high 29.2 innings giving up 36 hits and 11 earned runs. He has 24 strikeouts on the season.

GRIFFON HEAD COACH BUZZ VERDUZCO...
• Charles “Buzz” Verduzco begins his 14th season at the helm of the Missouri Western baseball team in 2013. The Griffons had another solid season finishing second in the MIAA for the first time since 2005. They also made their second consecutive trip to the MIAA Tournament. He led the Griffons to a 34-17 overall record and a 26-12 record in MIAA play. Verduzco coached six all-MIAA player. Brandon Simmons and Spencer Shockley earned first team honors while Nate Ramler, Grant Fink and Nik Jurado were second team selections. Michael Schulze was an honoable mention selection. Verduzco has guided the Griffons to winning season in 10 of his 13 seasons.
• A native of Stockton, California, Verduzco came to Missouri Western from Washington State University where he was an assistant for the Cougar program for over 10 seasons. He served as the Cougars' hitting and outfield coach as well as the primary recruiting coordinator. Verduzco also directed the Cougar baseball camps and was the coordinator of alumni relations for the NCAA Division I program. Verduzco earned a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Washington State in 1985. Verduzco played and coached under legendary coach “Bobo” Brayton at Washington State.
• Buzz is 381-299 overall and 260-197 in MIAA play at Missouri Western.

UP NEXT...
The Griffons will return home on Tuesday, April 2 with a single nine inning game against the Southwest Baptist Bearcats starting at 4:00 pm from the Griffon BB Field at the Spring Sports Complex. The Griffons will be on the road next weekend when they travel to Pittsburg, Kan. to take on the Pittsburg State Gorillas. On Saturday the 5th the two teams will play a doubleheader starting at 3:00 pm. They will wrap up the series on Sunday with a single nine at 1:00 pm.