ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team will begin its 2021 season Sunday in Joplin as they compete in the MIAA/GLVC Crossover hosted by Missouri Southern.
The Griffons will play a doubleheader Sunday as they open with Missouri S&T at 11:00 a.m. at Warren Turner Field. MWSU will then square off against Missouri Southern in a non-league game at 2:00 p.m.
Missouri Western will also play two more games Monday. The Griffs take on Missouri S&T again at 11:00 a.m. Monday and then will make the short drive to Pittsburg, Kansas to play Pittsburg State at 3:00 p.m. in a non-league game at Al Ortolani Field.
The Griffons went 8-15 overall and 3-3 in the MIAA last season before it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They won their final three games and four of their last five.
Missouri Western returns 16 position players from a year ago, including their top two hitters in
Andrew Meier and
Reid Briney. Meier hit .390 last season with two home runs and 18 RBI, while Briney had a .347 average.
MWSU also brings back nine pitchers who were on the mound in 2020, including the three players that threw the most innings in
Jack Schmedding,
Justin Wood and
Roy Robles.
This will also be the season opener for Missouri S&T as they went 7-8 last season and were 2-1 in the GLVC. Missouri Southern is 3-0 this season after going 16-5 and 3-3 in the MIAA last year, while Pittsburg State has yet to play this season and they went 14-8 and 4-2 in league play in 2020.
