Dave Riggert – Page 171 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Bearcats lose series finale against Pitt State Friday

Posted on April 13, 2018

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Pittsburg State, 8-3, on Friday at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.
– The Bearcats fall to 20-18 overall and 15-9 while the Gorillas improve to 26-13 overall and 18-9 in the MIAA.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored all of their runs in the first inning. Pitt State scored four in the third, two in the fourth, one in the sixth and one in the ninth inning.
– The Bearcats had three runs on seven hits with one error. The Gorillas had eight runs on 16 hits with no errors.
– Hudson Bilodeau finished 2-for-4 with one run scored and a triple.
– Landon Figg was perfect from the plate going 2-for-2 with one run scored and two walks.
– Aaron Barratt went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double.
– Kevin Handzlik was 1-for-3 with one RBI and a walk.

Key Northwest Innings
– Bilodeau started the game with a single up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt to the catcher by Gutierrez. Figg drew a one out walk and Hassman was hit by a pitch to load the bases for the Cats. Handzlik singled to right field to score Bilodeau and to keep the bases loaded. Barratt singled to the first baseman to score both Figg and Hassman to put the Bearcats up 3-0.

Up Next
– The Bearcats are scheduled to play on Tuesday, April 17, against Nebraska-Kearney in a double header starting at noon in Kearney, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —

No. 24 Missouri drops pitchers duel at No. 1 Florida 3-1

Posted on April 13, 2018

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – No. 24 Mizzou Baseball dropped game one of its three-game set at No. 1 Florida, 3-1, Friday evening at McKethan Stadium. The game was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the eighth inning, but Gator RF Wil Dalton ripped a game-winning, two-run, two-out double on a 1-2 pitch to give the Gators their first lead, one they did not relinquish.

Mizzou sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) took a tough-luck loss as the winning run was charged to him after allowing leadoff single in the eighth. He worked a season-high 7.1 innings with a season-high eight strikeouts.

Florida freshman LHP Jordan Butler earned the win, improving to 4-1 on the year, while Michael Byrne earned his ninth save with a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou and Florida traded runs in the first inning, with Mizzou scoring on an RBI groundout from senior C Brett Bond following a pair of walks from Florida starter Brady Singer to open the game. Florida answered in its half of the first with a one-out homer from Nelson Moldanodo.

The game stayed that way until the bottom of the eighth inning as Sikkema allowed a leadoff single to 1B Brady Smith to open the frame. After the Gators bunted Smith over, Mizzou head coach Steve Bieser went to the bullpen for RHP Andy Toelken, who retired the first man he faced. The Tigers then elected to intentionally pass Johnathan India to face Wil Dalton, who ripped the game-winning, two-run double off the wall in left. The double came on a 1-2 pitch.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“It was quite a pitcher’s duel. We expected that going out. Their guy has done that to many teams this year. We competed hard and we just didn’t get the clutch hit. There in the eighth inning, we just left a pitch up – it just wasn’t a very well-executed pitch – and those things happen in a game. You have to give them credit. They went out and put a good swing on the pitch and that’s why they won the game.”

TOP TIGERS

– Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema went a season-long 7.1 innings and a season-high with eight strikeouts. He surrendered two runs on six hits and walked just one.

– Senior C Brett Bond tallied a hit and an RBI in the loss, extending his hitting streak to 10 games. He is hitting .393 with three RBI over his last seven games.

– Freshman Cade Bormet tallied his first career multi-walk game in his first appearance in the leadoff spot.

NOTES

Mizzou now trails the series with Florida, 4-18.
Mizzou falls to 5-4 on Fridays this season.
Mizzou falls to 14-8 in three-game series this season.
Mizzou falls to 6-4 against ranked teams this season and 5-4 vs. ranked teams on the road.
Mizzou falls to 7-5 in road games and 9-7 in games away from home
Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 17^th time in 34 games this season Friday. Mizzou is now 13-4 in such games this season.
Senior C Brett Bond tallied his third RBI in four games Friday. Bond extended his hitting streak to 10 games and is now hitting 11-for-25 (.440) over his last seven games.
Freshman DH Cade Bormet tallied his first career game with multiple walks Friday.
Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema reset season-high with eight strikeouts and went a season-long 7.1 on the mound Friday. It was his longest outing since a complete-game shutout at Tennessee on May 18, 2017.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Florida will conclude their series tomorrow with a doubleheader, beginning at 3 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Royals’ bullpen blows another late lead in 5-4 loss to Angels

Posted on April 13, 2018April 13, 2018

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Albert Pujols homered and drove in three runs, Ian Kinsler had three hits and a sacrifice fly that scored Shohei Ohtani with the go-ahead run in the eighth inning and the Los Angeles Angels rallied to beat the Kansas City Royals 5-4 on Friday night.

The Angels have won six straight and nine of 10. Their 12-3 start matches their best record after 15 games, set in 1979.

Zack Cozart and Ohtani, who doubled in his first at-bat, led off the eighth with singles off Justin Grimm (0-2). After Andrelton Simmons advanced the runners with a bunt, Luis Valbuena’s pinch-single scored Cozart and moved Ohtani to third. Kinsler’s flyout to center drove in Ohtani.

Blake Wood (1-0) worked a spotless seventh to pick up the victory. Keynan Middleton pitched the ninth for his third save in as many opportunities.

Pujols hit a two-run homer in the third with Kinsler aboard. Pujols’ two-out single in the seventh scored Kinsler.

Paulo Orlando had two hits, scored a run and drove in a run to lead the Royals. Lucas Duda had three singles and scored a run.

Royals starter Jason Hammel held the Angels to two runs and eight hits over 5 1/3 innings.

Angels left-hander Andrew Heaney, who had elbow surgery last year, allowed four runs — one unearned — and seven hits over five innings in his first start. He walked one and struck out seven.

ANGELS’ PREFERRED LINEUP

For the first time this season, the Angels’ lineup included Kinsler, Cozart and Ohtani with the other six position players. Ohtani moved up to the seventh spot for the first time after batting eighth in his previous six DH starts. While Kinsler was on the disabled list, the Angels went 9-3 with Cozart leading off. Manager Mike Scioscia, however, opted to put Kinsler back at the top of the order, with Cozart batting sixth. “There was a lot of discussion of Coz staying there, but in the big picture of where we want to be in the long term, it has Ian leading off and Coz in a role hopefully with some guys on base,” Scioscia said.

ROSTER MOVES

Angels: RHP Felix Pena was optioned to Triple-A Salt Lake to make roster space for Heaney.

Royals: RHP Brandon Maurer was optioned to Triple-A Omaha with an 0-2 record, a 12.46 ERA and allowing three home runs in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed three inherited runners to score Thursday on a triple by Ohtani. “I think it was obvious to everybody that the time was right,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He’s a better pitcher than that. He’s a guy that should be an eighth-inning guy. He’s a guy that should be able to close out games on days your closer needs a day. He’s got that really good stuff. It’s just he’s off kilter and out of whack. He just needs to go get some confidence, have some success and come back up and take that position.” RHP Kevin McCarthy was called up from the Storm Chasers.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Yost said C Salvador Perez (left knee sprain) would likely begin a minor league rehab assignment this weekend. … OF Alex Gordon hit in the cages and did some soft toss in his first activity since Monday when he was diagnosed with a left hip labral tear.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Garrett Richards will make his first start at Kauffman Stadium since August 13, 2015.

Royals: RHP Jakob Junis has not given up a run over 14 innings in his first two starts.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western softball splits doubleheader with Nebraska-Kearney

Posted on April 13, 2018

ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Softball (22-23, 13-7) took a shutout win and a shutout loss on Senior Day, defeating Nebraska Kearney (14-27, 10-14) 3-0 in game two and losing 4-0 in game one of a doubleheader.

Kaili Hinds picked up her fourth-straight shutout and extended her scoreless innings streak to 26 with the game two victory. She struck out four and didn’t walk a batter. The doubleheader was scheduled to be the Griffons’ final home game, so the team’s four seniors were recognized after game two. The senior class of Riley Wilson, Barbara Billingsley, Shelbie Atwell and Rebekah Mueller has combined for 141 wins. The class was part of the 2016 MIAA regular season and postseason championship teams and advanced to the NCAA Central Region Championships each of the last three seasons.

NOTABLES

The game one loss was just the second home MIAA loss for the Griffons this season
Missouri Western is now 14-8 at home and 8-2 in conference home games
After three hits for MWSU in game one, the Griffs totaled eight in game two
Morgan Frost went 3-for-3 in game two with a walk, two RBIs and a run scored
Shelby Uhl went 3-for-4 in game two with a run scored
Riley Wilson went 3-for-5 on the day with two walks and a run scored

UP NEXT
Missouri Western’s final two home games were re-scheduled for Tuesday, April 17 against Pittsburg State. The final home doubleheader of 2018 will begin at 4 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest softball rallies to win two against Fort Hays State

Posted on April 13, 2018

The Northwest Missouri State University softball team swept a pair of conference games against Fort Hays State in Maryville, Mo.on senior day.
– The Bearcats improve to 23-15 overall and 16-6 in conference, while Fort Hays falls to 11-35 overall and 7-17 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 8, Fort Hays 0)
– Northwest scored one in the first, second, third and fifth inning, and four in the sixth inning.
– The Bearcats had eight runs on 14 hits and no errors. Fort Hays State scored zero runs on six hits and one error.
– Sydne Brashear was perfect from the plate going 4-for-4 with one run, three RBIs and a homerun.
– Rebecca Maher finished 2-for-3 with a walk, a double and a run scored.
– Jaedra Moses went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
– Kaitlyn Weis was 2-for-3 with three runs scored, a walk, a double, one RBI and a homerun.
– Karli Allen went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, a homerun and a run scored.
– Erin Keeney was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, a walk and a run scored.
– Kiana Baderdeen went 1-for-3.
– Taylor Blackford recorded six shutout innings, gave up six hits and struck out three batters.

Game One Key Innings
– With two outs in the bottom of the third, Weis hit a double to left center and Keeney drew a walk. Brashear brought Weis in with a hard single through the left side to put the Bearcats up 1-0.

– Allen led off the second inning with a solo homerun over the center field fence to increase the Bearcat lead.

– After an out, Brashear jumped on the first pitch and sent a solo homerun over the right field fence to make the score 3-0.

– Weis made the score 4-0 after hitting her 12^th homerun of the year over the center field fence.

– After an out, Maher doubled to left center, Moses singled to the shortstop and Weis drew a walk to load the bases. Keeney singled through the left side to score Maher and Moses and Brashear followed it up with a single up the middle to score Weis from second base. Brashear and Keeney both advanced on a wild pitch and Brashear came in to score on a base hit up the middle by Allen to give the Bearcats an 8-0 win.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 6, Fort Hays 5)
– The Bearcats scored one run in the third, two in the fifth and sixth and one in the seventh. Fort Hays one in the first, two in the fifth and sixth innings.
– Northwest had six runs on ten hits and one error. The Tigers had five runs on ten hits and two errors.
– Weis finished the day 3-for-4 with one run scored, two RBIs, and a homerun.
– Moses went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
– Brashear was 2-for-4 and hit in the winning run.
– Allen went 1-for-3.
– Jessica Rawie was 1-for-2 with one run scored and she drew a walk.

Game Two Key Innings
– Maher was hit by a pitch to leadoff the bottom of the third inning and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Moses. Weis hit a single up the middle and quickly stole second to put both runners in scoring position. Keeney would then hit a sacrifice fly to left field for Maher to score easily and to tie the game at one.

– After an out, Moses singled to the catcher and Weis tied up the game with a two run homerun over the right center field fence.

– Rawie hit a two out single and came around to score on a two-run homerun over the centerfield fence by Baderdeen to tie the score at 5.

– Moses led off the bottom of the seventh with a single to left field, Weis reached safely on an error and Keeney drew a walk to load the bases. Brashear singled to center field to score Moses and give the Bearcats a walk-off win on senior day.

Up Next
– Northwest will play on Friday, April 20, against Emporia State in Emporia, Ks., at 4 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Molina homers, Cardinals extend Reds’ woes with 5-3 win

Posted on April 13, 2018April 13, 2018

CINCINNATI (AP) — Yadier Molina heard the boos again. Then he came through again, sending the Cincinnati Reds to their lowest point since 1955.

Molina homered and drove in three runs Friday night, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 5-3 victory that deepened the Reds’ opening slump and added to his legacy against them.

The catcher has gotten booed loudly at Great American Ball Park — even during the 2015 All-Star Game — by fans who haven’t forgotten his scuffle with Brandon Phillips in 2010. They boo louder every time he delivers another game-turning hit.

He’s still got the touch.

“Yadi continues to just get better,” manager Mike Matheny said.

St. Louis came into the series with a stagnant offense but broke out during two games against the worst pitching staff in the majors, piling up 18 runs and 25 hits. Molina has homered in each game, giving him a team-high five this season.

Molina’s 21 career homers against the Reds are his most against any team.

“Yadi’s being Yadi,” said Luke Weaver (2-0), who pitched into the seventh inning. “He does it so well back there and calls a great game.”

The Reds lost their sixth in a row and have the worst record in the majors at 2-11. They also lost 11 of their first 13 games in 1955. Another loss on Saturday would produce their worst start since 1931.

“We’ve been through some stretches — some challenging, difficult times with winning games over the last few seasons,” manager Bryan Price said.

The Reds managed only two infield singles until the seventh, when Devin Mesoraco hit a two-run homer off Weaver. The right-hander has beaten the Reds three times in a row, giving up a total of four earned runs. Overall, Weaver is 9-1 in 12 starts since Aug. 2.

Bud Norris allowed a hit and a walk in the ninth while getting his second save in two chances, fanning Tucker Barnhart for the final out.

Molina had a solo shot and a two-run single off Tyler Mahle (1-2), who gave up nine hits and five runs in 5 1/3 innings. The Cardinals took control with five runs in the sixth, when Dexter Fowler had a solo homer and Marcell Ozuna extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an RBI single.

“They hit some good pitches — that hurt — and I made some bad pitches,” Mahle said. “It was a little bit of both. It all just kind of blew up.”

Joey Votto was back in the Reds lineup after getting a day off, ending his streak of 202 consecutive starts. He singled home a run in the eighth off Tyler Lyons and was picked off first base by Dominic Leone.

WHAT ABOUT HOLLAND?

Greg Holland, who signed a one-year deal with St. Louis on March 31, was available for the ninth inning, but Matheny went with Norris instead. Holland made two appearances in the minors before joining the Cardinals. He struggled in his first appearance on Monday, walking four, and then pitched a scoreless inning on Wednesday.

“We’re just trying to get him some consistent opportunities,” Matheny said. “This is kind of spring training (for Holland). I know he wants to get in for those situations. He’ll get his opportunities.”

BULLPEN MOVE

The Reds helped their depleted bullpen by selecting the contract of right-hander Dylan Floro from Triple-A Louisville. Right-hander Tanner Rainey was optioned. Reliever Ariel Hernandez was designated for assignment to create a spot on the 40-man roster.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Right-handed reliever Luke Gregerson made his third minor league rehab appearance, throwing a scoreless inning. He has been sidelined since spring training with a strained left hamstring.

Reds: Jesse Winker was a late scratch from the lineup because of a sore right shoulder. Phillip Ervin replaced him in right field.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Miles Mikolas (1-0) faced the Reds in 2012 and 2013 as a Padres reliever. He has yielded eight runs in 12 innings in his two starts for the Cardinals.

Reds: Left-hander Brandon Finnegan is expected to come off the DL and make his first start of the season. He strained his left biceps during spring training.

— Associated Press —

Griffon baseball splits doubleheader with Lindenwood

Posted on April 12, 2018April 13, 2018

ST. JOSEPH –Griffon baseball (19-18) split a doubleheader with Lindenwood (18-19). The Lions won game one 11-3 and the Griffons took game two 7-4. Missouri Western’s win snapped a four-game losing skid.

Dusty Stroup slammed two home runs in the first game and drove in all three runs for MWSU. Extra base hits led the Griffons to the game two victory. Levi Schreiner, Dusty Stroup and Casey Danley all recorded triples and Will Jibas added a double. Missouri Western outhit Lindenwood 13-9 in the second game. Nate Hunter tossed a complete game and gave up three earned runs for his seventh win of the season.

NOTABLES

Missouri Western hit four triples, two doubles and two home runs in the two games
Dusty Stroup was 4-for-8 in the doubleheader with 12 total bases, four RBIs, two home runs, a triple and scored three runs
Levi Schreiner batted .375 for the two games with two triples and seven total bases
Casey Danley went 4-for-9 on the day with a triple
Brooks Day averaged .333, scored two runs and recorded a double

UP NEXT
The series finale takes place tomorrow, April 12 at 12 p.m. from the Spring Sports Complex.

— MWSU Athletics —

Nichols leaving Lafayette to take over West Platte boys’ basketball program

Posted on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018

Lafayette High School is now in search of a new boys’ basketball coach as Ryan Nichols has stepped down as the head coach of the Fighting Irish after just two seasons.

Nichols is leaving Lafayette to become the head boys’ basketball coach at West Platte High School.

Nichols came to LHS in 2016 after Chris Neff resigned to take the head boys’ basketball job at Staley High School. Nichols spent the previous four years at Oak Park High School and also coached at DeKalb for three years. He went 36-19 overall in his two season at Lafayette and 12-2 in MEC play. The Fighting Irish captured two district championships but lost to Kearney in the Class 4 Sectional both seasons.

Nichols will try and turn around a West Platte program that struggled in 2017-2018 as the Blue Jays went just 3-20.

Royals lose third straight as they fall to Angels 7-1

Posted on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit a bases-loaded triple in a five-run seventh inning to help the streaking Los Angeles Angels beat the Kansas City Royals 7-1 on Thursday night for their fifth straight victory.

Ian Kinsler homered on his first swing in his return to the Angels’ lineup, and Nick Tropeano (1-0) pitched shutout ball into the seventh for his first major league win since 2016.

Los Angeles has won eight of nine.

Ohtani drove a 1-2 pitch from Brandon Maurer to right-center, scoring Kole Calhoun, Andrelton Simmons and Luis Valbuena. The Royals walked Ohtani intentionally in the sixth with first base open and Simmons on second.

Ohtani is tied with Mike Trout for the Angels’ lead with 11 RBI in 26 at-bats. Trout went 3 for 4 with his fifth home run and has 55 at-bats.

Kinsler led off the game with a home run for the 47th time in his career, driving a 1-0 pitch from Ian Kennedy (1-1) out to left. Kinsler missed the previous 11 games with an adductor strain.

Tropeano, making his first big league appearance since July 18, 2016, limited the Royals to six hits over 6 2/3 scoreless innings. He had elbow surgery in August 2016 and missed last season.

Tropeano threw 88 pitches, struck out six and walked two.

Kennedy was removed after six innings and 100 pitches. He allowed seven hits but just the one run on Kinsler’s homer.

The Royals, who have lost eight of 11, have scored a total of 32 runs — and 10 of those came in Monday’s victory over Seattle.

Lucas Duda singled home Mike Moustakas, who doubled, with two outs in the eighth for Kansas City.

LINEUP CHANGES

Royals DH Whit Merrifield hit fifth for the second time in his career. He batted second in the first 10 games of the season. “Whit has been a good table-setter, now let’s see if we can take him from a table-setter to a table-cleaner-upper,” manager Ned Yost said. Jorge Soler replaced Merrifield in the 2-hole and struck out four times. Merrifield went 0 for 4 and stranded three runners. . Angels INF Zack Cozart, who had started the first 13 games, 12 at second base, was given the night off.

ROSTER MOVES

The Angels optioned RHP Jamie Barria, who won his big league debut on Wednesday at Texas, and INF Ryan Schimpf to Triple-A Salt Lake.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Alex Gordon, on the disabled list with a left labrum tear, had 2009 surgery on a right labrum tear. He said this feels similar to 2009. “I feel like I’m a different stage of my career right now and surgery is the last thing I want to do right now,” said the 34-year-old five-time Gold Glove winner. He received a cortisone shot Monday and has been shut down since. “They’re pretty optimistic about it,” Gordon said. “The first thing they (the medical staff) said was, this doesn’t have to be surgery. You hear the labrum tear and you get down in the dumps. This is my last day of not doing anything. After today, I’ll have a lot better answers for you as far as how it feels and maybe the timetable upon the return.”

UP NEXT

Angels: LHP Andrew Heaney gets the ball Friday night in Kansas City, his first start of the year after beginning the season on the disabled list with elbow inflammation.

Royals: RHP Jason Hammel will try to build off Sunday’s strong outing. He threw six scoreless innings in a no-decision at Cleveland.

— Associated Press —

MWSU softball extends win streak to five with sweep of Fort Hays State

Posted on April 12, 2018April 12, 2018

ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Softball (21-22, 12-6) earned its second-straight MIAA sweep with 7-2 and 1-0 wins over Fort Hays State (11-33, 7-15), Thursday.

Missouri Western flashed its offensive ability in game one and got a complete game shutout from Kaili Hinds in game two to extend the team’s win streak to five games, currently the longest in the MIAA.

NOTABLES

Missouri Western has now won five straight games and sits alone in fifth place in the MIAA standings with eight games remaining in the regular season
The Griffons improved to 13-7 overall at home this season and 7-1 at the Spring Sports Complex in MIAA games
MWSU had 11 hits and two home runs in game one
Gabi Carter led the Griffon offense with three hits, all in game one
Lonnie Groves had three RBIs on the day, driving in two with one of two Griffon home runs in game one. She also drove in the lone run in game two
Hinds allowed six hits and didn’t walk a batter in her second shutout of the season
Kenzie Hilzer held Fort Hays State to one earned run on five hits
Markee Brown went 2-for-4 in the doubleheader
Tamara Hicks was 2-for-5 on the day

UP NEXT
The Griffons won’t wait long for their next doubleheader. Friday’sSenior Day twin-bill was moved up to 9 a.m. against Nebraska Kearney. The team will honor its four seniors on Friday with the regular season home finale coming Tuesday, April 17 in a re-scheduled doubleheader with Pittsburg State.

— MWSU Athletics —