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Tweet #gogriffsWARM UPS...
Griffon Softball closed out the regular season by winning three out of four games over the weekend at the Spring Sports Complex.  On Friday the Griffs swept a doubleheader from Northeastern State winning by scores of 6-3 and 4-1.  On Saturday, a great crowd saw the Griffons split with defending National Champion Central Oklahoma falling in game one 2-0 in extra innings before winning in come from behind in game two 5-4.  Overall, the team closes out the regular season 34-16 and 17-9 in MIAA play and get set to open the MIAA Softball Championship this Thursday, May 1 at Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kansas.  The Griffons are the #3 seed and will take on #6 Northwest Missouri State at 6 PM and then win or lose, will also play at 8 PM.

KNOW THE OPPONENTS...
#3 Northwest Missouri State  State Info
Series with NWMSU since 2002: MWSU leads 24-16 - Home: 9-6 - Road: 11-5 - Neutral: 3-6 - MIAA Tournament: 2-3
• The Bearcats come into the MIAA tournament as the 6th seed. They are 20-28 overall and 13-13 in MIAA play. they have struggled down the stretch falling in 12 of their last 19 games. Five of those loses have been by one run and three of those losses have been by two runs. They have only been shutout in three of those games with one being against MWSU by a score of 6-0 back on April 8th.
• On the season they are 4-11 at a neutral site, 7-7 at home and 9-10 on the road.
• As a team they are hitting .297 as a team with four players hitting over .300. Stephanie Mark leads the way with a .378 average while Chantel Adams is hitting .372. Both players have hit 10 home runs while Mark has 12 doubles and Adams has 11. Mark also has 54 RBI to Adams 42. Torri Blythe and Jordan Ereth are hitting .362 and .337 respectively. Bythe has stolen 21 baseas while Ereth has stole 11.
• In the circle the Bearcats have pitched four different players this seaosn. They have a 4.21 ERA with Sarah Baldwin pitching 129.2 innings in 24 games. She has started 21 games with 12 complete games. She holds a 10-10 overall record with 102 strikeouts and 30 walkds. Abbie Vitosh has thrown 111.1 innings with a 7-13 record. She has started 22 games and giving up 135 hits and 69 earned runs for a 4.34 ERA. Paige Blythe has saw action in 20 games with a 4.87 ERA while Taylor Blackford has thrown in 12 games with a 3.95 ERA.

#2 Central Oklahoma Info
Series with UCO since 2002: 8-3 UCO - Home: 1-1 - Road: 2-6 - Neutral: 0-1 - MIAA Tournament: 0-0
• The Griffons and the Bronchos have met 11 times since 2010 with the Bronchos holding a 8-3 advantage in the series. The Griffons and the Bronchos split the final doubleheader of the season last weekend in St. Joseph, Mo. UCO won game one 2-0 in eight innings before the Griffons took a 5-4 decision in a come from behind effort.  
• The Bronchos are currenlty 39-13 overall and finished 22-4  in MIAA on the season but have lost four of the last 10 games. The defending league and national champion Bronchos enter the weekend fifth in the all-important Central Region rankings, which determines the eight teams that will advance to the NCAA Division II national tournament.
• This season the Bronchos are 12-5 on the road and 9-6 on a nuetral field. They are 18-2 at home.
• As a team the Bronchos hit .344 with eight player hitting above .300. Kaylee Brunson is hitting a team-high .396 and leads the league in hits (76) and stolen bases (school-record 38).  Ally Dziadula is batting .379 with 12 doubles, seven triples, six home runs and 52 runs batted in, while Emily Ditmore has a .351 average with 12 doubles, six homers and 44 RBI.
• As a team the Bronchos have an ERA of 1.69 while Kalynn Schrock paces the pitching staff with a 23-6 record and 1.08 ERA, having struck out 238 batters in 188.1 innings. Nicole Brady is 9-3 with a 2.59 ERA in 20 games with 13 starts...she has 37 strikeouts in 81.0 innings while Amanda McClelland has a 2.35 ERA in 14 games with a 7-4 record. She has 36 strikeouts in 65.2 innings.

#7 Lindenwood Team Info
Series with LWU since 2002: MWSU leads 3-1 - Home: 2-0 - Road: 1-1 - Neutral: 0-0 - MIAA Tournament: 0-0
• The Lady Lions won their final two games of the regular season to get into the MIAA tournament. The Lady Lions are 20-27 overall and 12-14 in the MIAA.  They are 10-11 at home, 8-12 on the road and 2-4 on a neutral field.
• As a team the Lady Lions are hitting .281 with Courtney Opich leading the charge with a .418 batting average with 46 hits and 13 doubles in 41 games played. She also has one triple, six home runs and 28 RBI. Lindenwood has three other players hitting over .300 as Hannah Braun, Courtney Kitson and Kendall Ryndak are hitting .364, .325 and .302 respectively. Kitson has 40 hits while Braun has 39 and Ryndak has 26. Braun has stolen 21 bases while Bailey Marshall has swiped 11.
• The Lady Lion pitchers have a 4.06 ERA as a group. Kendall Ryndak leads the way with a 10-11 record. She has pitched 126.2 innings giving up 46 earned runs and struckout 124. She has a 2.54 ERA. Morgan Colvis is 8-10 on the season pitching  124.1 innings. She has a 4.28 ERA with opposing teams hitting .294 against her.

#1 Emporia State Info
Series with ESU since 2002: MWSU trails 10-30 - Home: 6-7 - Road: 2-13 - Neutral: 2-10 - MIAA Tournament: 1-7
• The Hornets have been solid once again this season winning the MIAA Regular season championship. The Hornets are 43-10 overall and 23-3 in MIAA play. The Hornets have won 10 of their last 11 games and are 14-2 at home, 15-2 on the road and 14-6 on a nuetral field.
• As a team the Hornets are hitting .315 with seven players hitting above .300. Stephanie Goodwin is hitting .407 with 74 hits, 49 runs scored, 17 doubles and seven home runs. Jessica Gragg is hitting .371 with 56 hits, 11 doubles and nine home runs while Kaitlyn Caston is hitting .355 with nine home runs. Taylor Zordel has stolen 29 bases for the Hornets.  
• In the circle they have a 2.83 ERA. Kaitlyn Caston has a 2.38 ERA with an 30-6 record in 217.2 innings pitched. She has giving up 217 hits and 74 earned runs with 100 strikeouts. Eryn Stockman has a 3.48 ERA with a 13-4 record. She has pitched 153 innings giving up 187 hits and 76 earned runs.

#8 Northeastern State Info
Series with NSU since 2002: 13-1 MWSU - Home: 2-0 - Road: 5-1 MWSU - Neutral: 6-0 MWSU - MIAA Tournament: 1-0 MWSU
• The Griffons and the RiverHawks have met 14 times since 2001 with the Griffons winning 13 of those contests. The Griffons swept a doubleheader against the RiverHawks last weekend in St. Joseph. Overall they are 19-9 at home, 5-15 on the road and 2-4 on a neutral field.
• After opening the season 19-7 the RiverHawks have struggled winning just seven of the last 27 games dropping them to 26-28 overall and 12-14 in the MIAA.
• On the season they are hitting .267 as a team with two players hitting over .300. Alyssa Aguilar leads the way with a .363 batting average. She leads the team in hits (57), RBI (44) and total baseas (84). Madison Reed is hitting .305 with a team high 42 runs scored. She also has stolen 21-of-23 bases this season.
• In the circle they hold a 4.22 ERA with Kayce Wooldridge leading the charge with a 3.04 ERA and a 14-11 overall record...Shelbie Wagnon is 3-6 with a 3.43 ERA while Laura Fleck is 4-3 with a 5.33 ERA.  

#4 Fort Hays State Team Info
Series with FHSU since 2002: MWSU leads 14-9 - Home: 6-1 - Road: 4-4 - Neutral: 3-4 - MIAA Tournament: 2-4
• The Tigers finished the season 28-18 overall after going 2-1 on the final weekend of MIAA play. The Tigers and the Griffons tied with a 17-9 record in MIAA play but the Griffons won both games this season. They are 14-6 at home, 7-8 on the raod and 7-4 on a neutral field.
• As a team they are hitting .294. with four players hitting over .300. Courtney Dobson who is hitting .350 and has an on base percentage of .405. Bianca Adame is hitting .348 with 56 hits. She has 27 stolen bases and five triples. Kilee Krier and Danie Brinkmann ar hiting .321 and .305 respectively.  
• The Fort Hays State pitchers have a 3.08 ERA as a group. Paxton Duran has pitched the majority of the innings and earned a 3.01 ERA and an 16-8 record in 139.1 innings pitched with 127 strikeouts. Kelsey Kimminau has pitched 108.1 innings with an 10-7 record. She had 71 strikeouts and has given up 46 earned runs this season.  

#5 Central Missouri Team Info
Series with UCM since 2002: UCM leads 18-17 - Home: 5-10 - Road: 6-6 - Neutral: 6-2 - MIAA Touranment: 3-2
• The Jennies come into the weekend as the 5th seed with a 27-21 overall record and a 14-12 MIAA record. The Jennies are 10-6 at home, 10-9 on the road and 7-6 on a neutral field.
• As a team the Jennies are hitting .320 with five players hitting over .300. Lindsey Dawson is hitting .368 with 57 hits while Jakki Prater is hitting .366 with 12 doubles, 20 home runs, 58 RBI and 59 hits. Alex Groeger is hitting .354 with 57 hits and 14 doubles while Braylyn Biviens and Lauren Mabe hitting .349 and .346 respectively.
• In the circle the Jennies are led by Jakki Prater with a 15-11 record and a 4.11 ERA. She has 64 strikeouts but has given up 173 hits. As a team they have a 4.41 ERA and are allowing their opponents to hit .285. They have given up 73 doubles and 30 home runs in 48 games. Katie Shockley is 11-4 with a 3.64 ERA in 116.1 innings.  

ABOUT THE GRIFFONS...
The Griffons are 34-16 overall and 17-9 in MIAA play after going 3-1 last weekend in St. Joseph, Mo. The Griffons have played very well as of late winning 19 of their last 23 games which includes 14 of their last 18.

The Griffons are hitting .295 as a team with 61 doubles and 43 home runs on the season. The Griffons five four players hitting over .300 on the season with Tiffany Gillaspy leading the charge with a .393 average. She has 64 hits, 35 runs scored, 11 home runs, 49 RBI and 109 total bases. Bre Fleschner is hitting .362 with 41 runs scored, 12 doubles and 55 hits. Sydney Washington has come on strong getting her average up to .306. She has 37 hits with 29 runs scored, six home runs and 26 RBI. She also leads the team with 15 stolen bases. Morgan Rathmann is hitting .317 with 38 hits, 4 doubles, 2 triple and 2 home runs. She is tied with Washington with 15 stolen bases.

Griffon pitchers have a 2.01 ERA as a group. Jackie Bishop has thrown three no hitters this season. Bishop has 21-8 record with a 1.09 ERA. She has ten shutouts on the season with 239 strikeouts in 205.0 innings. Janie Smith is 13-8 with a 345 ERA. She has two shutouts and 15 complete games. She has thrown 134.0 innings for the Griffons. Taylor Schaben seen her first action of her career against Lindenwood and Lincoln. She has thrown three innings giving up one hits with one strikeout.

GRIFFONS IN THE MIAA TOURNAMENT SINCE 2002
In the tournament since 2002 the Griffons are 23-24 with their best finish being in 2012 and 2007 when they fell in the finals against Emporia State.  Last season Missouri Western defeated Truman State 5-3 before falling 3-0 against Fort hays State. The Griffons then defeated Northeastern State7-4 before falling 7-6 against Emporia State.

UP NEXT...
The Griffons sit 6th in the latest NCAA Central Region poll. If they stay in the top eight they will make the NCAA Regional with opponent, time and place still to be determined.