ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team hits the diamond for the first time in the 2025 campaign this Saturday and Sunday against the Harding Bison in Searcy, Arkansas. First pitch for both doubleheaders is slated for 1:00 p.m. from Jerry Moore Field.
 
Fans can watch the action live on the Harding Sports Network or follow along with live stats for all four games.
 
SERIES INFORMATION
The Griffons and Bison have played each other 12 times. The series is tied at 6-6 as they prepare for a four-game season-opening series. All 12 games have been played in The Natural State.
 
The last matchup between these two central region teams was during the 2018 season. The Griffons won the three-game series 2-1. In the final two games, Western outscored Harding 18-8.
 
ABOUT THE BISON
Harding finished the 2024 season with a 37-19 (23-10 GAC) record and was picked to finish second in the Great American Conference (GAC) Preseason Coaches' Poll.
 
They represented the GAC in the postseason at the NCAA Central Region Tournament in Joplin, where they went 1-2. They won 3-2 over No. 14 Arkansas Tech but were eliminated by Missouri Southern after losing both contests to the MSSU Lions.
 
The player to watch for the Bison is junior infielder Cooper Newsom. The All-GAC Second Team performer from last season slashed .286/.379/.438 in 2024 with 37 runs on 58 hits and drove in 39 base runners. He has collected 19 extra-base hits with five homers, two triples and 12 doubles.
 
Harding's pitcher to watch is the defending Central Region Pitcher of the Year and ABCA/NCBWA All-American Maddox Long. The senior right-handed pitcher went 6-1 last season with a 3.33 ERA and 107 strikeouts in 105.1 innings pitched.
 
NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
Missouri Western will play a 14-game non-conference schedule this season.
 
After their four-game series this weekend with Harding, the Griffons will head back to Arkansas for a three-game series against Arkansas Monticello of the GAC. The series will start with a doubleheader on February 8, followed by the final game the following afternoon.
 
Missouri Western will debut in Missouri at the MSSU Lion Classic on February 14-16. They will compete against Truman State on February 14 and Drury on February 15, both teams hailing from the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The invitational will wrap up on February 16 with an intriguing regional clash against Minnesota State from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
The Griffons will have their home opener against Missouri-St. Louis on February 18. This will be the final tune-up before opening MIAA against No. Central Missouri at the Spring Sports Complex.
 
MWSU will wrap up non-con play with a matchup against Benedictine on March 14 at home before heading to St. Louis to face Maryville on March 11 and a rematch with UMSL on March 25.
 
MIAA AT A GLANCE
Thirteen teams will represent the Mid-American Athletics Association (MIAA) this season with the addition of newcomer Arkansas-Fort Smith.
 
Missouri Western baseball was picked to finish ninth in the league in the 2025 MIAA Preseason Coaches' Poll with 53 points following an 11th-place finish last season.
 
No. 4 Central Missouri, the defending MIAA Regular Season Champions, was picked to repeat, earning 141 points and 11 first-place votes. The defending MIAA Tournament Champs, No. 11 Missouri Southern, followed in second with 128 points and two first-place votes.
 
Western will commence its MIAA schedule (2/21-23) with a three-game series against UCM at the Spring Sports Complex. The Griffons will also host Northeastern State (3/7-9), Missouri Southern (4/4-6), Arkansas-Fort Smith (4/11-13) and Pittsburg State (4/25-27). Furthermore, MWSU will host Northwest Missouri State in the "Battle of Highway 71" on March 26 and April 23 and will welcome Emporia State on April 1.
 
The Conference road schedule will include contests against Fort Hays State (2/28-3/2), Newman (3/14-16), Washburn (3/21-23), Rogers State (4/17-19), and Central Oklahoma (5/1-5/ 3). In addition, the Griffs will have midweek matchups on the road against Emporia on March 18 and April 15 and Northwest on April 9.
 
The 2025 MIAA Tournament will be held in Joplin, Missouri, from March 7-10. The top 10 teams in the regular season standings will qualify for the tournament, and the tournament winner will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
 
MEET THE GRIFFS: PITCHERS
The Griffons will have 19 pitchers on the roster heading into the 2025 season.
 
Six players from last season will return to the lineup, including seniors Gunnar Nartker, who is projected to be in the starting rotation, and Jon Stanley. The duo combined for 21 strikeouts in the 2024 campaign.
 
Junior lefty Lynden Bruegman looks to continue climbing the ranks in the pitching staff heading into his third season. He leads the returners with 39 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched after appearing in 11 games with nine starts last season.
 
Sophomore Jacob Ross will be an impact player from the bullpen. In his freshman season, he appeared in 14 games on the bump with 18 strikeouts in 16.0 innings pitch. Fellow sophomore Mitch Mauk and redshirt freshman Jayson Shorb will also look to make their presence known in relief situations.
 
Seven transfer players will compete for playing time on the mound for Western this season. Logan Winkelman, a South Carolina Upstate and Indian Hills Community College transfer, is projected to be a starting arm this season. The junior finished last season with a 4.58 ERA and .96 WHIP after going 17.2 innings last season with 26 strikeouts and seven walks.
 
Other transfers on the roster that will be vying for innings include junior Carson Rosen, junior Josh Nolte, junior Noah Young, senior Micah Diamond, junior Lou Levy and redshirt freshman Carson Ripley. 
 
Six incoming freshmen will fill the roster this season. Colby Deaver, a native of Blue Springs, Missouri, is projected to be a regular in the starting rotation in his first college season. He had a storied high school career, collecting all-conference and all-district accolades, and he was named the Team Pitcher of the Year at Blue Springs South High School.
 
John Hood, Will Kennedy, Gage Busby, Cooper Schreiber and Nate Herken round out the freshman pitching class.
 
MEET THE GRIFFS: CATCHERS
Junior transfer Logan Myers is expected to lead a catching crew to start the season. The Indian Hills Community College transfer recorded a slash line of .293/.419/.447 with 70 hits, 59 runs, 51 RBIs, 34 walks and 12 stolen bases in 80 appearances. Twenty-two of his hits went for extra bases, as he knocked 13 doubles, five triples and four home runs in two seasons.
 
Junior Karson Green and sophomore Cameron Dean bring experience behind the plate, combining 24 starts and quality plate appearances from last season. Freshman Carson Shear joins the veteran group after a successful high school career at Kearney High School in Kearney, Missouri. 
 
MEET THE GRIFFS: INFIELDERS
Senior Quinton Robertson is a projected starter at first base after appearing in 39 games with 32 starts in 2024. The former Blue Springs standout will look to build off an impressive junior season, where he collected 34 hits, 27 runs, 18 walks and 15 RBIs and nine stolen bases in 117 at-bats. He tallied 11 extra-base hits with seven doubles, three home runs and a triple last season.
 
Senior Blake Anderson is projected to get the start at second base to open the season. The Overland Park, Kansas, native started in 43 games last season, slashing .333/.400/.394 with 55 hits, 28 RBIs, 27 runs and five stolen bases. Seven of his 55 hits went for extra bases, as he collected five doubles, a home run and a triple.
 
At shortstop, senior Quinn Gundelfinger is projected to be the starter. In 2024, the Nixa native appeared in 22 games with 17 starts. He finished the season with 18 hits, including a pair of homers, two doubles and a triple. He also scored 14 times, drove in 12 runners and stole six bases.
 
Jackson Bryant is the projected third baseman to open the season. The junior appeared in 41 games and had 40 starts last season. He recorded a slash line of .349/.412/.514 with 51 hits, including 16 extra-base hits after tallying 11 doubles, three home runs and two triples. Additionally, the Aurora, Colorado, native tallied 38 RBIs, 28 runs and 10 stolen bases.
 
Competing for infield slots include senior transfer Kaden Doan, junior Blake Venneman, sophomore Diego Rodriguez, redshirt freshman Korey Messick, freshman Jett Grossart and freshman Parker Brayley.
 
MEET THE GRIFFS: OUTFIELDERS
Senior Rogelio Berumen is projected to open the season in left field for Missouri Western. The Edwardsville, Illinois, native appeared in 21 games with 17 starts last season. He recorded 14 hits, 11 runs, six RBIs and three walks. Three of his hits went for extra-base, as he collected three doubles.
 
The projected starter in center field is Metropolitan Community College transfer and St. Joseph native Frank Gall. The Bishop LeBlond grad was an All-Region and MCC Athlete of the Year recipient in 2024. He appeared in 70 games at the JUCO level, accumulating a slash line of .383/.432/.549 with 67 hits, 39 RBIs and seven walks in 175 plate appearances.
 
Junior Anthony Taggart is projected to assume duties in right field to open the season. Last season, the Topeka, Kansas, native appeared in 22 games with 15 starts. He finished with a slash line of .327/.485/.558 with 17 hits, 12 RBIs and nine walks in 52 at-bats.
 
Additional outfielders who will battle for time in the outfield this season are senior Tyson Gerdes, junior transfer Easton Mains, redshirt freshman Jace Weems, freshman Christopher Thiessen and freshman Easton O'Keefe.