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WARM UPS...
Weather allowed the Griffon Baseball team an additional opportunity to play at home last Friday but the Griffs couldn't take advantage falling in a doubleheader to Northwest Missouri State by scores of 7-4 and 7-6. Catcher
Jake Schrader drove in two runs in game one and completed the comeback effort with a RBI double in the top of the ninth in game two. Designated Hitter
Will Carter also kept up his hot hitting at the plate going 3 for 4 in game two with three RBI. The final two games of the series were postponed due to cold temperatures.
Overall, the Griffs now stand 6-5 and 4-2 in the MIAA and are scheduled to return to action this weekend weather permitting as they host Washburn in a four game series at the Spring Sports Complex with doubleheaders scheduled for Sunday, March 9 and Monday, March 10. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
Should field conditions force a scheduling change, stay tuned to gogriffons.com for the most accurate updates.
KNOW THE OPPONENTS...
Record vs. Washburn since 2001: Overall: 31-12 MWSU - Home: 13-5 MWSU - Away: 17-6 MWSU - Neutral: 1-1
MIAA Tournament: 1-1
• Senior pitcher Brett Ash made his debut start in Washburn's opener at Lindenwood after a year off from injury and allowed one unearned run off three hits with six strikeouts. He didn't walk any or allow an extra-base hit in the no-decision. He recorded nine straight outs in the final three innings he pitched. Ash is 0-1 with a 0.93 ERA after losing the series opener at Central Oklahoma last weekend. He allowed just one earned run but gave up three total off three hits and three walks.
• Catcher David Gauntt leads Washburn with 11 hits, six runs scored and two home runs. He's second on the team batting .423 and first with a .808 slugging percentage. The junior had just 13 hits and a home run all of last year in 26 games. Behind the plate he's throw out nine of 23 base stealers.
GRIFF NOTES...(About 2014)
As a team the Griffons are hitting .275 with
Trevor LaHonta,
David Chew and
Ryan Degner leading the way with 15 and 14 hits apiece. The Griffons have also hit 10 home runs and been aggressive on the bases stealing 13-of-17 bases. The Griffons have a .351 slugging percentage and .368 on base percentage. Degner and LaHonta lead the Griffons in stolen bases with four apiece while
Jake Schrader has 76 putouts. On the mound
Mason Queen has been solid in 18.1 inning pitched. He has a 1-1 record with a 3.93 ERA. He has struck out 22 with just eight walks.
Dylan Roades also had a solid first outing going five innings giving up four hits with six strikeouts against Northeastern State a couple weeks ago. As a team the Griffons have a 4.45 ERA.
GRIFFON HEAD COACH BUZZ VERDUZCO...
• Charles "Buzz" Verduzco begins his 15th season at the helm of the Missouri Western baseball team in 2014. The Griffons had another solid season finishing First in the MIAA for the first time in school history. They also made their third consecutive trip to the MIAA Tournament and second ever trip the NCAA Division II Tournament. Verduzco was named MIAA Coach of the Year for the first time in his career and also had Player of the Year (
Michael Schulze) and Pitcher of the Year (
Brandon Simmons) for the first time in history. Verduzco has guided the Griffons to winning season in 11 of his 14 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 410-312 overall and 278-203 in MIAA play at Missouri Western.
• Verduzco won his 400th game on against the Central Oklahoma Bronchos on Central Oklahoma on May 9, 2013 by a score of 9-3 in the MIAA Tournament.
TID BITS ABOUT MISSOURI WESTERN...
NON-CONFERENCE GAMES UNDER VERDUZCO:
Under Verduzco the Griffons are 112-97 in non-conference games. The Griffons best non-conference record under Verduzco came in 2004 when they were 16-4 out of MIAA play. Griffons were 12-7 in non-conference games a season ago. They are 2-3 so far this season in non-conference game.s
MIAA GAMES UNDER VERDUZCO:
MWSU is 278-203 under Verduzco since 2000 in MIAA play. This season was Western's best season in school history as they won the MIAA Regular Season Title for the first time ever with a 28-5 overall record...Last season was the Griffons were 26-12 while in 2006 they went 21-9.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE:
The Griffons are 188-110 under Verduzco since 2001 at home. The Griffons finished this season with a 18-3 home record which is its best home record dating back to 2001. MWSU has had only two losing seasons at home since 2001. They were 11-18 in 2010 and 10-12 in 2011. In 2012 the Griffons were 18-5 while in 2013 the Griffons were 18-3.
ON THE ROAD:
Missouri Western has done well on the road in the last few years being .500 or better in 10 of Verduzco's 14 seasons. Last season they were 15-5 and last season MWSU finished 15-10. Overall since 2001 they are 165-132. MWSU's best season on the road came this season. In 2013 they were 15-10 and in 2004 when they were 12-8. This season the Griffons are 1-2 on the road splitting a doubleheader with Arkansas Tech before falling against Emporia State in Emporia in extra innings.
ON A NEUTRAL FIELD:
Since 2001 the Griffons are 34-33 when playing on a nutral field. They were 7-4 a season ago and 5-1 in 2001. They have had seven seasons when they had a .500 record or better on a neutral field. This season they are 1-1 splitting with Southwest Minnesota State.
IN THE NCAA TOURNAMENT:
The Griffons are 1-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament with their first appearance coming in 2006 in Emporia, Kan. The Griffons fell in their first game 16-5 against host Emporia State on May 18, 2006. The then rebounded for a 16-8 victory over the Central Missouri Mules on May 19, 2006 and then fell on May 20, 2006 against the Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks by a score of 10-3. The Griffons ended that season with a 31-25 overall record. Last season the Griffons fell to #10 Southern Arkansas 6-1 on May 16, 2013 and then fell to #5 and host school MSU-Mankato by a score of 4-1 in 10 innings.
UP NEXT:
The Griffons step out of MIAA play on Tuesday, March 11 with a single nine inning game against the Rockhurst University Hawks. Game time is set for 4:00 pm in St. Joseph. The Griffons return to MIAA play next weekend with a four game series against the Emporia State Hornets. The two teams will play single nine inning games on Friday, March 14 and Sunday, March 16. They will play a doubleheader on Saturday, March 15. Game time on Friday is 6 pm, Saturday is 1 pm and Sunday is noon.
