NCAA CENTRAL REGION PREVIEW
Thursday, May 6, 3 p.m. - #3 Missouri Western (43-11) vs. #6 Minnesota Duluth (35-15)
Southern Arkansas University – Magnolia, Arkansas
 
LIVE STATS | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE VIDEO
TOURNAMENT CENTRAL PAGE
 
ST. JOSEPH – No. 11 Griffon Softball will continue an already historical season this week with a trip to the program's ninth NCAA Regional tournament.
 
Missouri Western earned the third seed in the region and will open play, Thursday, against sixth seeded Minnesota Duluth in Magnolia, Arkansas. The Griffons will play a second game on Friday. A win on Thursday would pit Missouri Western against the winner of the Southern Arkansas (2) versus Central Oklahoma (7) game at 1 p.m. Friday. A loss on Thursday would put the Griffons in an elimination game against the loser of the other Thursday game. That game would be played at 3 p.m. on Friday.
 
SCOUTING MISSOURI WESTERN
The Griffons are coming off the program's second MIAA Regular Season and Tournament Championships, but the first time they've done both in one season. Missouri Western won the regular season crown by four games and swept its way through the MIAA Tournament. The team's last two wins in the conference tournament came against Central Oklahoma, the only team in the Southern Arkansas regional the Griffons have faced this season. It was the 11^th time in Jen Bagley Trotter's 15 seasons the team won 30+ games and the sixth 40+ win season for Trotter. The team went 23 -3 in conference play this season, a program record for conference wins. Coach Trotter will be looking for her first regional championship. In her eight previous appearances, the Griffons have gone a combined 6-16.
 
Trotter was named MIAA Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career this season. Katie Klosterman was named MIAA Co-Defensive Player of the Year and first team All-MIAA, one of nine Griffons to earn All-MIAA honors. Joining Klosterman on the first team was Morgan Rathmann. The junior outfielder leads the team with a .395 average. Rathmann is MWSU's career triples leader with 21. She has nine this season and is eight stolen bases shy of the all-time record for the Griffons. Honorable Mention All-MIAA first baseman Kailey Green leads the team with 14 home runs. The junior also leads the team with 26 walks and has struck out just 16 times this season. Second Team All-MIAA designated player Taylor Hamilton leads the team with 49 RBIs. The freshman has been clutch for the Griffons, with five walk-off hits including a solo home run to defeat Pittsburg State on the opening day of the MIAA Tournament.
 
In the circle for Missouri Western are two All-MIAA pitchers. Second team selection Janie Smith is 22-8 with a 2.52 ERA. The senior has struck out 140 batters in 208 innings and has recorded nine complete game shutouts, including blanking Central Oklahoma in the MIAA Tournament semifinals. Shyanne Saladino was an honorable mention selection and has won 18 straight decisions. The senior is 21-3 with a 2.04 ERA.
 
SCOUTING MINNESOTA DULUTH
Minnesota Duluth is back in the tournament after a three-year absence. It's the program's seventh regional overall. The Bulldogs finished second in the NSIC regular season standings and feature six All-NSIC selections.
 
Ashley Lewis was a first team selection as a utility player. Natalie Wright was a first team pick as a second baseman and leads the team in most offensive categories. The sophomore has a team-high .382 batting average, starting all 50 games. She also has a team-high 13 doubles, 46 RBIs and is tied for the team lead with seven home runs. Minnesota Duluth has stolen 110 bases in 130 attempts, led by Hannah Schmoll's 39 stolen bases. Ashley Schilling has 23 swipes in 24 attempts.
 
Sam Hartmann is 18-7 in the circle with a 3.01 ERA and a team-high 114 strikeouts. Cayli Sadler is 14-8 with a 2.78 ERA. Valerie Hohol is 3-0 with a 2.10 ERA in 16 relief appearances with one start.
 
First year head coach Jen Walter won 447 games at St. Scholastica and led the program to 15 conference championships.
 
CAN'T MAKE IT – FOLLOW ALONG
Live stats, radio and video will be provided for all of Missouri Western's games. Games can be heard on the Griffon Sports Network via ESPN 1550 in St. Joseph or streamed online via the link above. Southern Arkansas will also provide live stats and a live video feed. Those links can also be found above.
 
THE REST OF THE REGIONAL
Top seeded Arkansas Tech will host fourth seeded Minnesota State, fifth seeded Northwest Missouri, eighth seeded Upper Iowa in Russelville, Arkansas. The winners at each regional will face off in a best of three series May 11 and 12 at the site of the highest remaining seed.