Nov. 11, 2015

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- The Missouri State softball team is set to bring in three players for the 2017 season, head coach Holly Hesse announced Wednesday (Nov. 11).

"As a class, they have great athleticism and can play a variety of positions," commented Hesse. "They can all contribute in a number of ways for our team."

Erin Griesbauer, P/UT, 5-9, Blue Springs, Mo., Blue Springs South High
Griesbauer played all four years at Blue Springs South High for head coach Kristi Williams. She was a three-time all-district and all-state academic selection for the Jaguars. Her senior campaign, Griesbauer went 14-8 in the circle with 89 strikeouts en route to an all-region honor. At the plate, she hit .385 with 13 RBI while leading BSSHS to Kewpie Classic title. She went 13-8 as a junior racking up 139 strikeouts in 177.2 innings pitched. She hit .417 with a home run and 11 RBI while earning all-conference, all-region and all-area accolades. During her sophomore season, Griesbauer helped her team to a 15-12 record. As a freshman, she led the Jaguars to a district and sectional title. She also competed in track her first two years at BSSHS. Her father, Michael, played football at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo.

"Erin has great movement and control on a variety of pitches," continued Hesse. "She will add great depth to our pitching ranks."

Darby Joerling, UT, 5-9, Defiance, Mo., Francis Howell High
Joerling was a four-year starter at Francis Howell High, the last two seasons under head coach Jenn Beckmann. She earned first-team all-conference and all-district honors as a senior team captain for the district champion Vikings. She hit .567 and was a perfect 19-for-19 in stolen bases while picking up her fourth all-academic conference award. As a junior, Joerling led FHHS to a conference championship and 15-6 overall record. She hit .417 with 21 stolen bases as a sophomore for the conference runner-up squad that went 20-6. She earned first-team all-conference and second-team all-district laurels. Her freshman season, she led FHHS to district and sectional titles while batting .565 for a 21-9 Vikings team. Joerling competed all four years for the track and field team at Francis Howell. Her father, Todd, played four seasons of baseball at Missouri State and was a team captain on the 47-14 team in 1986 that won the Mid-Continent Conference regular season and tournament championships.

"Darby is a triple threat at the plate," stated Hesse. "She is a speedy, athletic player who can play on the infield or in the outfield."

Carsten Warner, UT, 5-5, Nevada, Mo., Nevada High
Warner started and lettered all four seasons for head coach Tammy Holcomb at Nevada High. She was a four-time first-team all-district honoree for the Nevada Tigers. She set career records with 18 home runs and 126 runs batted in at NHS, the eighth-most career RBI in the state of Missouri. As a senior, she was a first-team all-conference and all-region pick while being named team MVP for the West Central Conference champions. Warner earned first-team all-conference and third-team all-region honors and was named team MVP for the Tigers squad that finished runner-up in conference her junior season. She led her squad to a district title and earned the Kelly Bradham Newcomer Award as a freshman. She competed all four years at NHS on the track and field team.

"Carsten is an athletic righty with power," said Hesse. "She also adds speed on the base paths."

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