TOPEKA, Kan. – Griffon Softball did what it needed to do and got some help, clinching an MIAA Championship with two wins at Washburn on Friday night.
 
Missouri Western took a two-game lead into Topeka, but losses by Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State who were tied for second gave the Griffons a little extra cushion, which they took advantage of. It's the first conference championship for the program since 2011 and the first ever outright championship. It also assures the team of the No. 1 seed next week's MIAA Tournament to be played in Oklahoma City.
 
Game 1: #15 MWSU 4, Washburn 1
Missouri Western took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on back-to-back home runs by Sydney Washington and Megan Korgie. Morgan Rathmann put the Griffons up 4-0 in the fourth with an RBI single.
 
The only run Janie Smith surrendered came on a solo home run in the seventh as she continued a solid run of pitching performances. Smith struck out 11 batters in seven innings and walked just two, improving to 19-8 on the season. Washington finished 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Rathmann was 2-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.
 
Game 2: #15 MWSU 11, Washburn 4
Some power hitting in game two helped the Griffons hold off a late rally attempt by Washburn. Washington picked up her second home run of the day, Katie Klosterman and Kailey Green also homered.
 
Missouri Western led 7-0 after its half of the fifth inning, but Washburn scored four in the bottom of the fifth to make things a little more interesting. That was until Green's three-run home run in the sixth blew things open once again. Klosterman was 2-4 with a double and a home run, driving in three and scoring twice. Washington was 2-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Rathmann, Shelbie Atwell, Paige Shifflett and Rebekah Mueller also had two hits apiece as the Griffons totaled 14 as a team.
 
Shyanne Saladino moved to 18-3, giving up 11 hits but just the four runs. She struck out two and walked three.
 
With the conference crown already locked up, the Griffons will look to improve their position in the regional rankings during a Saturday doubleheader at Emporia State. The Hornets swept Northwest Missouri State Friday, knocking the Bearcats down to third place in the MIAA standings. Northwest was ranked No. 2 and Missouri Western No. 4 in the latest Central Regional poll. 
TOPEKA, Kan. – Griffon Softball did what it needed to do and got some help, clinching an MIAA Championship with two wins at Washburn on Friday night.
 
Missouri Western took a two-game lead into Topeka, but losses by Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State who were tied for second gave the Griffons a little extra cushion, which they took advantage of. It's the first conference championship for the program since 2011 and the first ever outright championship. It also assures the team of the No. 1 seed next week's MIAA Tournament to be played in Oklahoma City.
 
Game 1: #15 MWSU 4, Washburn 1
Missouri Western took a 3-0 lead in the second inning on back-to-back home runs by Sydney Washington and Megan Korgie. Morgan Rathmann put the Griffons up 4-0 in the fourth with an RBI single.
 
The only run Janie Smith surrendered came on a solo home run in the seventh as she continued a solid run of pitching performances. Smith struck out 11 batters in seven innings and walked just two, improving to 19-8 on the season. Washington finished 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Rathmann was 2-4 with an RBI and a stolen base.
 
Game 2: #15 MWSU 11, Washburn 4
Some power hitting in game two helped the Griffons hold off a late rally attempt by Washburn. Washington picked up her second home run of the day, Katie Klosterman and Kailey Green also homered.
 
Missouri Western led 7-0 after its half of the fifth inning, but Washburn scored four in the bottom of the fifth to make things a little more interesting. That was until Green's three-run home run in the sixth blew things open once again. Klosterman was 2-4 with a double and a home run, driving in three and scoring twice. Washington was 2-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Rathmann, Shelbie Atwell, Paige Shifflett and Rebekah Mueller also had two hits apiece as the Griffons totaled 14 as a team.
 
Shyanne Saladino moved to 18-3, giving up 11 hits but just the four runs. She struck out two and walked three.
 
With the conference crown already locked up, the Griffons will look to improve their position in the regional rankings during a Saturday doubleheader at Emporia State. The Hornets swept Northwest Missouri State Friday, knocking the Bearcats down to third place in the MIAA standings. Northwest was ranked No. 2 and Missouri Western No. 4 in the latest Central Regional poll.