GRIFFON BASEBALL SERIES PREVIEW
Missouri Western at Harding
Jerry Moore Field | Searcy, Arkansas
Game 1: Saturday, Feb. 3 at 12 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
Game 2: Saturday, Feb. 3 at apx. 3 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video
Game 3: Sunday, Feb. 4 at 1 p.m. | Live Stats | Live Video

ST. JOSEPH - The wait is over for Griffon baseball fans. Missouri Western begins its 49th season of baseball this weekend with a three-game series at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. 

The three-game regional series begins Feb. 3 with a doubleheader at Jerry Moore Field on the Harding campus. It will be one of two-straight series against Great American Conference opponents for Missouri Western. The Griffons travel to Arkansas Tech for a four-game series Feb. 9-11. 

Missouri Western was picked fifth in the MIAA Preseason Baseball Coaches Poll, receiving one first place vote. The Griffons went 32-22 last season with a 25-11 MIAA record that resulted in a second place finish in the conference standings. Buzz Verduzco's team advanced to a second-straight NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. Verduzco enters his 18th season at MWSU needing eight wins to eclipse the only other head coach in Griffon baseball history, Doug Minnis, as the program's all-time wins leader. Verduzco is 533-390 through is first 17 seasons at the helm. He has 15 returning players to work with, eight position players and seven pitchers, including six 2017 All-MIAA selections. 

Harding was picked eighth in the GAC Preseason Coaches Poll. The Bisons wnet 23-29 overall in 2017 with a 14-19 mark in conference play that left the team seventh in the GAC standings. Dr. Patrick McGaha's 13th season at Harding features the 2017 team's top-three starters. McGaha is 336-289 at Harding.