ST. JOSEPH, Mo. — With two historic landmarks looming, Griffon Softball hosts two MIAA opponents in Washburn and Emporia State this weekend at the Spring Sports Complex.

WHERE TO WATCH
Fans looking to watch to Missouri Western Softball (22-8, 4-4 MIAA) can tune into the MIAA Network for all four games this weekend. Click on the "MIAA Network" tab above to sign in and purchase a subscription if you have not already. 

HISTORY FOR HAWKINS ON THE HORIZON
With just two more doubles, senior second baseman Sydni Hawkins will break Amy Beverly's (2003-06) all-time record two-bag record, which currently stands at 58. With 260 career hits, Hawkins needs six more to move past Morgan Rathmann (2014-17) for the most in school history. Currently in third, four more hits would put Hawkins past Beverly, who is second all-time with 263 base knocks. On top of everything, Hawkins leads the MIAA with 15 doubles and is second with a .477 batting average, making the Tucci/NFCA Division II Pitcher and Player of the Year watchlist.

HOT ROD HARLEY
Freshman pitcher Harley Pruetting has taken Division II by storm this season, posting a 12-3 record inside the circle, giving her the third-most wins in the MIAA. Her 1.41 ERA is also the fourth lowest in the conference, and her 85 strikeouts put her in fifth. However, that's not all she can do, as Pruetting is second on the team with both seven doubles and four home runs, posting a .310 clip at the plate.

SCOUTING THE OPPOSITION
No. 15 Washburn (27-5, 6-2 MIAA) | March 31, 2/4 p.m.
Winners of four in a row, the Ichabods come to St. Joseph with back-to-back doubleheader sweeps of Lincoln and Central Missouri, shutting the Blue Tigers out twice and defeating UCM 2-1 twice. Before that, Washburn was swept in a double dip by No. 6 Central Oklahoma. The 'Bods have only played and won one true road game this season and are coming off a 6-2 homestand in Topeka, Kansas. This will be Washburn's first true road doubleheader. 

Washburn had two players also named to the Tucci/NFCA DII Pitcher and Player of the Year watchlist, with both junior infielder Marrit Mead and junior pitcher Jaycee Ginter getting the nod. Mead leads the team with a .471 batting average, starting in all 32 games this season. Ginter leads the MIAA in wins and is already 19-2, owning the second-lowest ERA in the league at 1.04.

ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON SOFTBALL HISTORY: MARCH 31
Game One Box | Game Two Box
Back in 2012, MWSU and Washburn locked horns in St. Joseph where the Griffons beat the Ichabods 8-0 and 9-7. Game one saw Kat Steponovich go 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI, ripping a two-run double to left to help pad the Griffons' run-rule victory. Legendary Griffon pitcher Jackie Bishop improved her record to 15-2 with six innings of work, striking out six Ichabods and only allowing two hits. Game two was a bit more dramatic, with the Griffons building an 8-2 lead before Washburn stormed back with five runs in the fourth. However, another 2-for-3, three-RBI game for Steponovich kept the 'Bods at bay.

Emporia State (18-12, 2-4 MIAA) | April 1, 12/2 p.m.
The Hornets are coming off their own sweep of Lincoln last Saturday, outscoring the Blue Tigers 17-1. However, Emporia State is just 1-4 on the road, only beating Hawaii Pacific 3-2 on March 16 in Honolulu. Before the Lincoln doubleheader, ESU was swept in two games by Central Missouri on the Hornets' home turf. 

Senior outfielder Brittanie Shepherd is dangerous at the plate, owning a team-high .345 batting average Junior pitcher Sydney Righi is 9-11 with a 2.88 ERA, punching out 62 batters this season. However, she has given up 14 home runs.

ON THIS DAY IN GRIFFON SOFTBALL HISTORY: APRIL 1
Game One Box | Game Two Box
Missouri Western split a doubleheader with Southwest Baptist on this day in 2017, as pitcher Kenzie Hilzer only gave up four hits and one walk through seven innings of work in a 1-0 win in game two. The lone Griffon run was batted in by Sydney Washington in the first, scoring Shelbie Atwell. Southwest Baptist won game one 2-1, as an early two-run homer by SBU's Lauren Strobel proved to be the difference maker.