WEEKEND PREVIEW
GRIFFON SOFTBALL AT APPLE MARKET CLASSIC
Friday, March 18
12 p.m. vs. University of Mary
2 p.m. vs. Northern State
Saturday, March 19
12 p.m. vs. #16 Winona State
2 p.m. vs. Sioux Falls
Sunday, March 20
11 a.m. vs. Wayne State College
1 p.m. vs. Augustana
 
TOURNAMENT WEB PAGE | LIVE STATS
MWSU SEASON STATS | MIAA STANDINGS
 
ST. JOSEPH – Winners of eight of its last nine games, the Missouri Western softball team will host 15 other teams this weekend in the 2016 Apple Market Classic.
 
Eight teams from the MIAA and eight from the NSIC will converge on St. Joseph for the three-day event that will feature 48 games spread between four fields. Four games per day will be played on campus at the Griffon Softball Field with four games per day also played on each of three fields at Heritage Park Softball Complex. The field features two ranked teams in No. 16 Winona State and No. 19 Northwest Missouri. Missouri Western and Central Oklahoma are also both receiving votes in the NFCA poll. The field also features MIAA-leading Pittsburg State and 2015 NCAA Division II Softball quarterfinalist Central Missouri.
 
Last year, the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau estimated the economic impact of the event at more than $250,000. More than 2,500 people were in attendance to catch the 40 games in the 2015 Apple Market Classic. A $5 admission fee will be charged each day at each complex for Apple Market Classic games.
 
PREVIEWING MISSOURI WESTERN
The Griffons come into the weekend with a 17-7 overall record, 7-1 in the MIAA.  The Griffons have won eight of their last nine games including sweeps of Central Missouri, then No. 12 Central Oklahoma, and Northeastern State. Jen Bagley Trotter and the Griffons are 4-0 at home this season and won all six games of the Apple Market Classic last season. The Griffons are currently 0-2 against opponents they will face again in the Apple Market Classic. They fell to Augustana 3-1 on Feb. 21 and Sioux Falls 7-4 on Feb. 28.
 
Offensively, the Griffons have outscored their opponents 121-71 this season and have hit .299 as a team through 24 games. Six different Griffons are hitting over .300 this season, leading the pack is Morgan Rathmann. She is hitting .384 with 33 hits, 24 runs and eight RBIs. Taylor Hamilton and Katie Klosterman have contributed 5 and 4 home runs, respectively. Hamilton also has 20 RBIs and a team-high 16 walks. The Griffons lineup has stayed consistent this year with all nine players starting at least 22 of the 24 games.
 
In the circle, Janie Smith and Shyanne Saladino have been effective for the Griffons. Saladino has an ERA of just 1.83 through 76.1 innings pitched. She also has a record of 8-3 while striking out 54 batters. Smith has pitched 92.1 innings already this year and has a 9-4 record. Smith has struck out 66 batters while completing 12 games as a pitcher. Smith and Saladino have a combined opponents' batting average of .245.