ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Softball (24-9, 5-5 MIAA) is on the road this week for a pair of doubleheaders, starting at Newman (5-27, 0-8 MIAA) Thursday at 4 and 6 p.m., and then at No. 18 Central Oklahoma (27-8, 5-3 MIAA) on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m.
Thursday's games will be played at the NU Softball Field in Wichita, Kansas, with Saturday's at Gerry Pinkston Stadium in Edmond, Oklahoma. All of the games can be watched live on the MIAA Network with a subscription.
Where We Left Off
Griffon Softball went 3-1 in a homestand last weekend, sweeping Central Missouri and then splitting with Nebraska-Kearney this past Saturday, taking game one 10-2 in five innings, but falling in game two 5-1.
Game 1: MWSU 10 UNK 2 (5)
MoWest scored seven runs in the first inning and tacked on three more in the third. UNK scored two runs in the fourth, but got no closer, as MoWest took the first game via run rule in the middle of the fifth.
Kenedee Giddens was 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Kalee Higdon went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs. She drove in three runs as well, including a two-run triple in the second. Torie Sandoval (7-3) went the full game, striking out three and walking only one in five innings. She allowed just two earned runs.
UNK committed three errors, giving MoWest two unearned runs.
Game 2: UNK 5 MWSU 1
MoWest scored their first and only run in the first inning, as Kalee Higdon scored from third on a double play.
The Griffons were limited to just five hits. UNK (13-22, 2-4 MIAA) scored a trio of runs in the fourth and added two more in the sixth, due to a fielding error.
Aubrey Dare (6-4) took the loss in the circle, going 3.1 innings and striking out one. She walked only one and was charged with two earned runs on three hits. Harley Pruetting tossed the last 3.2 innings in relief, striking out three and walking three. She was charged with just one earned run on two hits. Brooklynn Clark led the offense, going 2-for-3.
Dingers for Days
MoWest has hit 32 home runs on the season thus far - second most in the MIAA and tied for 18th most in NCAA Division II. The Griffons had 23 homers in the entire 2025 season.
Ashlyn Finarty has had the most bombs with 10 - second most in the MIAA and tied for seventh most in the D2 nation.
Season Outlook
Griffon Softball was picked to finish 7th out of 13 teams in the MIAA this season, per the preseason coaches' poll. MoWest received 84 points in the voting, sitting behind Washburn in 6th place and ahead of 8th place Emporia State.
The Griffons, under second year head coach Nicole Thompson, are coming off of a 32-21 mark in 2025, including a 12-12 record in MIAA play. MoWest, who's won 30 games or more in each of the last four seasons, qualified for the MIAA softball tournament last season, falling to Pittsburg State 10-7 in the quarterfinal round.
MoWest brings back a strong core of talent this season with 11 returners total, including four of the top five hitters and two starting pitchers from last season. The Griffons bring back five players who started 46 games or more in 2025, and eight players who started 16 games or more.
The Griffons also added 11 players – seven transfers and four freshmen. Three of the new players are pitchers, while eight position players were added as well. Of the seven transfers, four of them come from the NCAA Division I level.
Looking Ahead
MoWest has a huge week of games at home the following week, hosting No. 9 Missouri Southern (31-5) on Friday, April 10 at 2 and 4 p.m. and then No. 4 Pittsburg State (34-1) on Saturday, April 11 at 12 and 2 p.m.
That weekend marks MWSU's Spring Signature Event, honring 50 years of women's athletics on campus. At the Pitt State games on April 11, members of the 1982 Griffon Softball national championship team will be honored on the field. Griffon Softball won an NAIA national title in 1982 – the only national championship to date in MoWest Athletics history.
There'll be a reception with food and refreshments at the Rogers Pharmacy Hall of Fame Room at Spratt Stadium, following the conclusion of the softball doubleheader on April 11. More complete information on the weekend's events can be found here.
Fight On 50
The 2025-26 season marks the 50th season of Griffon Softball and women's athletics at Missouri Western State University. Softball has been a key part of that history as one of the four original women's programs that started in 1975-76.
Since that time, Griffon Softball has won 1318 games with 14 national tournament bids (11 NCAA + 3 NAIA), one NAIA national title (1982) and four MIAA championships (two tournament, two regular season).
MoWest's 20-5 start this season is the best start to a season in program history.
