MWSU Game Notes | FHSU Live Stats | UNK Live Stats

WARM UPS...
#24 Griffon Softball has now won twelve straight games after sweeping two weekend doubleheaders on the road. On Friday, the Griffs swept a doubleheader from Missouri Southern by scores of 5-2 & 4-0. Catcher Keri Lorbert was huge at the plate in game one with three hits and three RBI's. On Saturday, the Griffs defeated Pittsburg State by scores of 3-1 & 4-3. First baseman Tiffany Gillaspy had the big blast in game two hitting a three home run and Keri Lorbert hit what proved to be the game winning home run. The Griffs are 24-8 overall and 8-2 in the MIAA which is one game out of first place. The team takes to road this weekend for more MIAA action. Friday will be a showdown with first place Fort Hays State as they are 27-5 on the season with first pitch set for 2 PM, then Saturday the Griffs take on Nebraska-Kearney at 1 PM. The next home action is set for Tuesday, April 9th at 5 PM against Lincoln.

KNOW THE OPPONENTS...
#18 Fort Hays State Team Info
Series with FHSU since 2002: MWSU leads 12-6 - Home: 5-1 - Road: 4-2 - Neutral: 3-3 - MIAA Tournament: 2-3
• The Tigers currently sit 18th in the NFCA National Poll and come into the weekend with a 7 game winnings streak. They are 29-5 overall and are tied with Central Oklahoma for the MIAA lead with a 9-1 record in league action.
• As a team the Lady Tigers are hitting .305 with 29 home runs and 46 doubles. The Tigers are led by senior Maddie Holub with a .430 batting average and 14 home runs. She also had seven doubles and 35 RBI. Amanda Vaupel is also having a nice season hitting .407 with 44 and 25 RBI. Two other FHSU players are hitting above .300 as Bianca Adame is hitting .325 and has stolen 18 bases while Danie Brinkman is hitting .319.
• In the circle the Lady Tigesr are led by Holum with a 15-1 record and a 0.85 ERA. She has 178 strikeouts and given up just 47 hits. As a team they have a 1.51 ERA as Paxton Duran is 12-4 with a 2.06 ERA with 80 strikeouts but has given up 97 hits.
• The Tigers only league loss came against the Northeastern State RiverHawks where they fell 2-0.

ABOUT THE COMPETITION...
Nebraska-Kearney Team Info
Series since 2002: Tied 1-1, Home: 0-0, Road: 0-0, Neutral: 1-1
• The Lopers are currently 6-18 overall and 1-7 in MIAA play. They have currently lost five straight with their last victory coming on March 20, 2013 in a 8-7 victory over the Wayne State Wildcats.
• The Lopers have played just two games at home this season going 1-1 in those games. UNK is 1-7 in MIAA play with all eight games being played on the road. Their only victory came against the Washburn Lady Blues by a score of 11-10 in Topeka, Kan. on March 15.
• On the season they are hitting .242 with two players hitting over .300. Erin Dwyer leads the way with a .371 batting average with 13 hits in 13 games played. Mackenzie Tomlin is hitting .357 in 12 games played.
• They have hit 12 home runs with Katie Ruwe and Sarah Rome each getting three.
• In the circle they hold a 4.66 ERA with Brittnie Kreiser leading the way with a 1-3 record and a 3.67 ERA. Five different Lopers have picked up wins in the circle this season.
• The two teams played earlier this season with the Griffons winning 9-5 in Bentonville, Ark. on Feb. 15. The Griffons had 13 hits with Tiffany Gillaspy going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Mallory Noakes went 3-for-4 for the Lopers. Janie Smith pitched for the Griffons going six innings giving up nine hits and four earned runs with one strikeout.

GRIFF NOTES...
• #1 Kat Steponovich --2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA selection...has started 20 games this season with 136 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 110.1 innings with 128 strikeouts...has a 12-3 record with three saves...With her two victories last weekend she broke the MWSU school record for wins. She has 61 in her career which broke the mark of 60 held by Dana Wertz (2004-2007). She also broke the MWSU career strikeout record of 561. She now has 595 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 32 games at second base...has 35 hits and 21 runs scored...has two home runs and leads the team with 4 triples on the season...is hitting .343 and has a hit in four of her last six games. Has walked seven times and has 60 putout and 44 assists.
• #8 Kendall Sorensen -- 2012 Honorable Mention All-MIAA...started all 32 games at right field...is hitting .298 with 25 hits, 12 runs scored and eight RBI...has a hit in two of her last four 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 32 games at first base...leads the team with a .369 average...has 38 hits, 20 runs scored and 24 RBIs...has six home runs and 204 putouts...has a hit in 10 of her last 11 games.
• #12 Taylor Anding -- 2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA...Has started all 32 games with 24 hits and .264 batting average...has 13 runs scored, two doubles, three home runs and 11 RBIs...has 47 putouts, 58 assists and 11 errors...has a hit in five of last sevengames.
• #14 Breanna Fleschner -- 2012 Honorable Mention all-MIAA selection...has started 31 games at left field...is hitting .340 with 35 hits, four doubles, one triple and five home runs...went 8-for-8 against Northern State in a doubleheader...has a hit in 10 of her last 12 games.
• #15 Maegan Roemmich -- 2012 First Team all-MIAA selection...has stared all 32 games in centerfield...hitting .348 with 31 hits, 17 runs scored and 22 RBIs...has a hit in 13 of her last 15 games.
• #17 Sarah Elliott -- 2012 Honorable Mention All-MIAA selection... has started all 32 games at third base...has a .362...has 34 hits and 23 runs scored...hit two home runs and has 18 RBIs. Has a hit in 4 of the Griffons 6 games.
• #18 Janie Smith -- Freshman from Des Moines East High School...pitched in 15 games with a 12-3 record...has pitched 80.0 innings with 36 strikeouts and 28 earned runs...is hitting .233 with 7 hits, 7 runs scored, two RBI to go along with a double.
#19 Sam Elliott -- played in her first collegiate game on Friday, March 29. She has played in three games...mainly used for pinch running.
• #22 Keri Lorbert -- 2012 Second Team All-MIAA...has stared all 32 games at either the catcher position or designated player...is hitting .287 with 27 hits and 10 home runs...she has 20 runs scored, 60 total bases and 27 RBI....has 49 putouts.

GRIFFON HEAD COACH JEN BAGLEY...
• Missouri Western head coach Jen Bagley enters her 12th season at Western. Bagley holds a 401-249 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 return to action next week with numerous home games. The Griffons will host the Lincoln Blue Tigers on Tuesday, April 9 in a double header starting at 5:00 pm. The Griffons then host the Truman State Bulldogs on Saturday, April 13 in a double header at 2:00 pm and will wrap up the week hosting the Lindenwood Lions at 12:00 pm from the MWSU Softball Field at the Springs Sports Complex.