MWSU Notes

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Missouri Western Griffons will hit the road once again when they travel to the Missouri Southern Border Battle March 9-10 in Joplin, Mo., as the Griffons are scheduled for four games. The Griffons are coming off a week where they went 4-2 playing six games in Hilo, Hawaii. The Griffons went 2-1 against both Western Oregon (W, 7-3 - W, 2-1 - L, 10-1) and Hawaii-Hilo (L, 10-2 - W, 3-1 - W, 10-2). The Griffons are 11-5 overall and will take on Pittsburg State and William Jewell on Saturday at 2:00 pm and 4:00 pm respectively. They will wrap up the weekend with games against Upper Iowa and Central Missouri at 12:00 pm and 2:00 pm. 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 swept Pittsburg State last season, winning 5-0 and 3-2. The Gorillas finished 2012 29-28, and are 6-4 so far this season.
• The Griffons have not met up with William Jewell since 2002. The Cardinals transitioned from NAIA to Division II a season ago. They were 24-23 a season ago and 17-15 in the GLVC. This season they are 4-4.
 • The Griffons are 7-1 against Upper Iowa since 2002. The Peacocks are 7-4 on the season and have won 4 of their last 5. Last season they were 18-35 and 10-16 in the MIAA.
• The Griffons swept Central Missouri last year, winning the first game 5-1 and winning game two 8-2. Central is 6-6 to start this season. Last season the Jennies were 27-30 overall and 9-11 in MIAA action.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION...
Pittsburg State Team Info
Series since 2002: MWSU leads 15-10, Home: 6-4, Road: 8-4, Neutral: 1-2
• PSU is 6-4 on the season, including a 4-2 record in its last six-games. They are coming off a double header sweep over Newman University.
• Tiffany Brown, Cheslyn Mitchell and Katelyn Birtchfield lead the Gorillas with a .417, .391 and .361 batting average through the first 10 games.
• The Gorillas are hitting .324 as a team, with seven players hitting over .300. They have also hit 9 home runs in their 10 games.
• In the circle, PSU's Haleigh Sills leads the team with a 2-1 record and a 1.66 ERA.

William Jewell Team Info
• William Jewell is 4-4 on the year and has lost its last two games. The lost a double header against MIAA opponent Northeastern State 4-3 and 13-5 earlier this season.
• As a team they are hitting .308 with Lexy Rozmus leading the way with a .636 average with seven hits and one homer...Five other Cardinals are hitting over .300 on the year.
• In the circle they have a 4.37 ERA with Faith Song leading the way with a 2-1 average...Kahli Barrett has a 2.03 ERA with 13 strikeouts in releif.

Upper Iowa Team Info
Series with UIU since 2002: MWSU leads 7-1 - Home: 4-0 - Road: 1-0, Neutral: 2-1
• Upper Iowa has a 7-4 record heading into this weekend, and has won four of its past five games.
• Rachael Anello avearges a .406 swing in the first 11 games, leading the Peacocks.
• As a team, Upper Iowa is hitting .315 and has 94 hits.
• In the circle, Brooke Redmond has a team-high 4-1 record in over 32 innings pitched

Central Missouri Team Info
Series with UCM since 2002: MWSU leads 16-15 - Home: 5-8 - Road: 5-5 - Neutral: 6-2
• UCM is 6-6 this season. The Jennies were a late sub-in for Cameron this weekend after the Aggies pulled out of the tournament.
• Alex Groeger has a team-high .394 batting average in 12 games this year. She also has 13 hits, tied with teammates Ashlea Bengston and Braylyn Bivens for the team-high.
• The Jennies are hitting .270 as a team with 88 total hits.
• In the circle, Jessica Wilkes leads the team with a 1.72 ERA and a 1-1 record. Jakki Prater is 4-1

GRIFF NOTES...
• #1 Kat Steponovich --2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA selection...has started 12 games this season with 76 putouts and three assists behind the plate.
• #2 Brooke Schaben -- Transferred to Missouri Western from Division I South Dakota... has played in eight games with five starts...she scored two runs and on the mound has a 1.91 ERA in 11 innings of work.
• #3 Jackie 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 52.1 innings with 67 strikeouts...has a 6-1 record with one save...She is five wins away from tying the career mark of 60 and 27 strikeouts away from tying the career mark of 561.
• #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 pitched five innings giving up eight runs and 14 hits.
• #7 Michelle Stevenson -- Has started all 16 games at second base...has 21 hits and 11 runs scored...has walked three times and has 19 putout and 23 assists.
• #8 Kendall Sorensen -- 2012 Honorable Mention All-MIAA...started all 16 games at right field...is hitting .256 with 10 hits, four runs scored and four RBIs.
• #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 four at bats this season, got on by a hit and an error.
• #11 Tiffany Gillaspy -- Has stared all 16 games at first base...is hitting .364 with 20 hits, 12 runs scored and 13 RBIs...has five home runs and 106 putouts.
• #12 Taylor Anding -- 2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA...Has started all 16 games with nine hits and .205 batting average...has six runs scored, two doubles, two home runs and five RBIs...has 23 putouts, 25 assists and seven errors.
• #14 Breanna Fleschner -- 2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA selection...has started 15 games at left field...is hitting .306 with 15 hits, two doubles and one triple.
• #15 Maegan Roemmich -- 2012 First Team all-MIAA selection...has stared all 16 games in centerfield...hitting .289 with 13 hits, seven runs scored and nine RBIs...is 1-1 on stolen bases.
• #17 Sarah Elliott -- 2012 Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection... has started all 16 games at third base...leads the team with a .511 batting average...has 23 hits and 14 runs scored...hit two home runs and has 10 RBIs.
• #18 Janie Smith -- Freshman from Des Moines East High School...pitched in four game with a 5-2 record...has pitched 35.2 innings with 19 strikeouts and 19 earned runs...is hitting .333 with four hits and two runs scored to go along with a double.
• #22 Keri Lorbert -- 2012 Second Team All-MIAA...has stared all 16 games at either the catcher position or designated player...is hitting .261 with 12 hits and six home runs...she has nine runs scored, 130 total bases and 16 RBI....has 23 putouts.

GRIFFON HEAD COACH JEN BAGLEY...
• Missouri Western head coach Jen Bagley enters her 12th season at Western. Bagley holds a 388-246 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)

GRIFFON SOFTBALL HISTORY...
History
First Year of Softball: 1976
Overall All-Time Record: 915-723 (.559)
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...
The Griffons travel to Wayne, Nebraska to take on Wayne State in a double header on Tuesday, March 12. Times are set for 2 and 4 p.m. After that, Missouri Western comes home to play its first home matches against Central Missouri on Friday, March 15 at 5 and 7 p.m. and then on Saturday the Griffons take on Southwest Baptist at noon and 2 p.m.