ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Griffon Softball (24-13, 5-9 MIAA) is home this weekend for a critical homestand against No. 10 Missouri Southern (33-5, 8-2 MIAA) on Friday at 2 and 4 p.m. and then No. 4 Pittsburg State (37-2, 9-1 MIAA) on Saturday at 12 and 2 p.m. at the MWSU Spring Sports Complex.

All of the games will be broadcast on the Griffon Sports Network (Varsity Network App, GoGriffons.com/listen) and available to stream on the MIAA Network.

Where We Left Off
Griffon Softball was swept at No. 18 Central Oklahoma this past Saturday, falling 3-2 and 7-6 at Gerry Pinkston Stadium in Edmond.

Game 1: UCO 3 MWSU 2
MoWest had a 2-0 lead in the middle of the fourth after a sac fly from Rachel Cain, but UCO (31-8, 9-3 MIAA) scored all three of their runs in the bottom of the fourth, and held off the Griffons the rest of the way.

The Griffs were held to just three hits in the game. Ashlyn Finarty scored two runs and walked twice. Cain and Sophie Johnson had an RBI.

Finarty (5-2) made the start in the circle and took the loss, going 3.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits. She walked one and struck out one.

Harley Pruetting tossed the last 2.2 innings in relief, holding the Bronchos scoreless in that time. She struck out four and walked three.

Game 2: UCO 7 MWSU 6
MoWest overcame a 3-1 deficit and had a 6-4 lead in the top of the seventh. UCO walked it off, however, with an RBI double that scored a pair of runs to end the game and complete the sweep.

The Griffon bats came alive in the second game with 12 hits. Sydney Young was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. She recorded a double. Finarty was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, notching a double as well.

Sophie Johnson was 2-for-3 and had a solo home run. Myah Dwyer drove in a pair of runs on a pair of hits. Kalee Higdon had a pair of hits and scored a run. Torie Sandoval made the start and pitched 5.1 innings in a no-decision, striking out two and walking one. She was tagged with three earned runs. Harley Pruetting (9-4) tossed the seventh inning, and was charged with the loss.
 
Dingers for Days
MoWest has hit 35 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 11 – third most in the MIAA and tied for seventh most in the D2 nation.

Season Outlook
Griffon Softball was picked to finish 7^th 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 6^th place and ahead of 8^th 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.

Spring Signature Event
This weekend marks MWSU's Spring Signature Event, honoring 50 years of women's athletics on campus. At the Pitt State games on Saturday, 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 Saturday at approximately 5:30 p.m. More complete information on the weekend's events can be found here.

Fight On 50
The 2025-26 season marks the 50^th 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.