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Author: Dave Riggert

Missouri Western’s Uhl earns weekly MIAA softball honor

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the third time this season, Missouri Western softball’s Shelby Uhl was named MIAA Hitter of the Week.

The junior outfielder from Pleasant Hill, Iowa went 5-for-6 with three home runs in Missouri Western’s doubleheader sweep of Missouri Southern last week. She also walked twice in the series, reaching base in all but one plate appearance. Uhl drive in five of her team’s 20 runs in the two games and also scored five runs. On the base paths, she stole three bases in four attempts.

Uhl was also named MIAA Hitter of the Week on March 20 after hitting for the cycle against Wayne State (Neb.) and on Feb. 20 after an 11-for-22 week at the plate.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 24 Mizzou wins at 19th-ranked Missouri State 8-6

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Mizzou freshman DH Chad McDaniel hit a go-ahead double in the top of the seventh inning as No. 24 Mizzou Baseball downed in-state foe No. 19 Missouri State, 8-6, Tuesday evening at Hammons Field. Mizzou ran out to a 5-1 lead before Missouri State rallied to go on top, 6-5, after six innings. Mizzou then scored three runs in the seventh, highlighted by McDaniel’s double, as it took the lead for good. Mizzou scored six of its eight runs with two outs, including all three in the seventh.

Mizzou improves to 24-9 on the year and snaps a four-game skid against the Bears in Springfield. Missouri State falls to 22-8. Reliever RHP Jordan Gubelman earned his first career win after tossing the final 3.1 innings as Mizzou regained the lead in the latter innings. He retired the first nine batters he faced before a two-out walk in the ninth. He struck out four and did not allow a hit. Jake Fromson took the loss, falling to 2-1 on the year. The win was the first for Mizzou this season when trailing after 6.0 innings. The Tigers were previously 0-8 in such contests.

McDaniel’s hit was certainly the turning point Tuesday, but the play of junior OF Zach Hanna was a huge part of the win. He went 2-for-3 with three runs, three RBI, a homer, was hit by a pitch to start the seventh-inning rally, and laid down a sacrifice bunt. He also made a game-saving catch in left, crashing into the wall to rob a pair of runs in the fifth inning.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou squandered a 5-1 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as Missouri State grabbed a 6-5 lead moving to the seventh inning. The first two Mizzou batters in the top of the seventh were retired, but a two-out hit-by-pitch by Hanna extended the inning. Alex Samples then singled to bring up McDaniel, who blooped an RBI double into left field for his second hit of the game. Missouri State LF Jordan Fitzpatrick let that ball get through his legs, allowing Samples to score the go-ahead run, putting Mizzou back on top, 7-6.

Freshman Cade Bormet kept the line moving with an RBI, pinch-hit double to extend the lead to 8-6. Gubelman then came out and retired Missouri State in order in the bottom of the frame as Mizzou grabbed momentum. He was lights out from there, holding the home Bears off the board for the final 3.1 innings, not allowing a hit.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“Well it was a hard fought game. I like the way the team responded. We had some issues there in the middle innings, but we got off to a good start and we were able to finish the game. I’ve never questioned our club. They never quit – I’ve never seen that out of them ever. It was frustrating there in the middle parts when we weren’t scoring and the other team was scoring. They came back and we gave up the lead, but that is what good clubs do. They just keep going and they know if they keep doing the right things, good things will happen.”

TOP TIGERS

–          Junior OF Zach Hanna had three RBI in his first two at-bats, roping a two-run single in the first and a solo homer in the third inning. He finished the game 2-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. He has six RBI over his last five games and now has five multi-hit games on the season. His homer was his first since opening day at Florida International. He also made a catch in left, crashing into the wall to likely save two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.

–          Junior lefty Tyler LaPlante made his fifth start of the season and went 3.0 innings, allowing just one run on two hits with four strikeouts.

–          Freshman DH Chad McDaniel tallied his fifth multi-hit game of the season and had the game-winning double in the seventh inning.

–          Senior C Brett Bond posted his 12th multi-hit game of the season Tuesday.

–          Junior RHP Jordan Gubelman earned his first Division I win after throwing 2.1 shutout innings, striking out three.

NOTES

  • Mizzou cuts Missouri State’s lead in the all-time series to 29-27. The two teams will meet again two weeks from Tuesday at Taylor Stadium.
  • Mizzou improves to 18-3 in non-conference action.
  • The Tigers are now 7-4 in true road games this season, with five of the seven wins coming against top-25 teams.
  • Mizzou is 6-3 in games played vs. ranked teams this season.
  • Mizzou is now 26-16 in games played away from home under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.
  • Mizzou snapped a four-game losing streak to Missouri State in games played in Springfield. The eight runs scored by Mizzou are its most at Hammons Field since 2015 (also scored eight).
  • Mizzou scored six of its eight runs Tuesday with two outs, including both the three-run first and the three-run seventh.
  • Sophomore CF Kameron Misner hit in the leadoff spot for the first time this season Tuesday.
  • Senior 3B Alex Samples hit his first double since March 24 vs. Mississippi State in the top of the first inning. Samples turned in a multi-hit game, his seventh of the season.
  • OF Zach Hanna has six RBI in his last five games after his two-run single in the first inning and his first homer since opening day in the third inning.
  • The three runs scored by Mizzou in the first inning are one more than Mizzou had in its last two games in Springfield combined.
  • Mizzou played its 20th errorless game of the season as it continues to rank in the top-10 nationally in fielding. Mizzou had just 16 errorless games all of last season.
  • Mizzou won for the first time this season when trailing after 6.0 innings. The Tigers were previously 0-8 in such games.

UP NEXT

Mizzou will be back in action Friday, opening a three-game series at No. 1 Florida. First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffon men’s golf finishes fourth at Lindenwood Invitational

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ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Griffon men’s golf shot an 899 and finished in fourth place at the Lindenwood Invitational at Missouri Bluffs Golf Course.

Patrick McCarthy led Missouri Western with a 5-over-par 218 and finished tied for seventh place. It is McCarthy’s sixth top-10 finish of the season. Kevin Kim finished tied for 16th with a 224. Cole Roberts recorded a 226 to end the tournament tied for 22nd. Jacob Majeske carded a 234 and Lucas Horseman shot a 238 in the three rounds.

Concordia-St. Paul’s Noah Rasinski won the individual title with a 4-under-par 209. Central Missouri claimed the team championship with an 861.

Missouri Western is in action on April 16 and 17 at the Broncho Stampede in Edmond, Oklahoma at Rose Creek Golf Club.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest softball splits doubleheader with Missouri Southern

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The Northwest Missouri State University softball team split a Tuesday doubleheader against Missouri Southern in Maryville, Mo.
The Bearcats won on a walk-off in the first game 4-3, and fell in a tough second game, 2-1.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 4, Missouri Southern 3)
– The Bearcats scored two runs in the second, one in the fifth and one in the seventh. The Lions had three runs in the sixth inning.
– Northwest had four runs on 12 hits with two errors. MSSU scored three runs on seven hits with no errors.
– Rebecca Maher finished 3-for-4 with one RBI and a double.
– Abigail Gilson went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
– Karli Allen was 2-for-2 with one RBI and a walk off double.
– Kaitlyn Weis went 1-for-3.
– Erin Keeney was 1-for-3 with a homerun, one run scored, one RBI and a walk.
– Kiana Baderdeen went 1-for-4 and scored the winning run.
– Lynnlee Parrott was 1-for-1.
– Sydne Brashear went 1-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI.
– Regan Thompson picked up the win after throwing 1.1 innings and did not allow a hit.

Game One Key Innings
– Gilson started the second inning with a lead-off single through the left side and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Allen. With two outs, Brashear hit a single to center field to score Gilson. Brashear would then come around to score on a double to left center by Maher to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead.

– In the bottom of the fifth inning with one out, Keeney hit a line drive homerun over the right center fence to put the Bearcats up 3-0.

– Baderdeen started the bottom of the seventh inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a wild pitch. With one out, Allen hit a double deep to center field to score Baderdeen from second and give the Bearcats a walk-off win.

Game Two Key Statistics (Missouri Southern 2, Northwest 1)
– Northwest scored one run in the bottom of the seventh inning. MSSU scored one in the sixth and one in the seventh inning.
– The Bearcats had one run on three hits with no errors. The Lions had two runs on seven hits with one error.
– Brashear finished 2-for-3 with one RBI.
– Weis went 1-for-2 and drew a walk.

Game Two Key Innings
– After two outs, Allen walked to start a rally for the Cats. Parrott came in to pinch run for Allen and moved to second base on a walk by Jessica Rawie. Brashear would then hit a hard single up the middle to score Parrott and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.

Up Next
– Northwest will take on Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday in Maryville, Mo., in a double header starting at 2 p.m.

MWSU women’s golf finishes sixth; Ong get another top-five finish

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SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished sixth with a 631 at the Central Region Preview at Rivercut Golf Course.

Shi Qing Ong finished in fourth place with a 5-over-par 149 and was just three strokes off the lead. Ong was also named to the Central Region Preview All-Tournament team.

Chong Yong was 17th with a 155 for the two-day tournament. Jenna Kosmatka carded a 162 and Tiffanie Yabut recorded a 165 I nthe two rounds. Katie Irvin rounded out the MWSU scorecard with a 171.

Arkansas Tech won the tournament title with a 601. Southwestern Oklahoma’s Gloria Choi won the individual championship, in a three-player playoff, with a 2-over-par 146.

Missouri Western is in action next at the MIAA Championships on April 24-26 at Swope Memorial Golf Course in Kansas City, Missouri.

— MWSU Athletics —

Kansas, NC State newly mentioned in NCAA hoops case

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NEW YORK (AP) – Kansas and North Carolina State are the latest schools to be swept up in a bribery scandal involving college basketball.

A rewritten indictment released Tuesday in New York alleges that an Adidas representative, who no longer works for the company, arranged for payments to parents of athletes willing to commit to the schools.

The refreshed indictment came several months after 10 men were charged in an alleged scheme to bribe assistant coaches in exchange for steering top-flight NBA prospects to a particular agent or financial adviser. Four assistant coaches have been prosecuted and the scandal has led to the end of coach Rick Pitino’s career at the University of Louisville. The new indictment expands the scope of the charges, alleging a wire-fraud conspiracy that included alleged payments to families of six student-athletes being recruited by four schools, prosecutors said.

The court papers portrayed the shoe executive and some coaches as bad actors, saying the conspiracy included hiding payments and signing forms falsely asserting that no payments had been made. The indictment paints a picture of transactions that were concealed to allow athletes to make it through eligibility reviews.

Prosecutors said the Adidas representative, James Gatto, and others agreed to pay $90,000 to the mother of a Kansas recruit and to funnel $40,000 to the father of a recruit at North Carolina State who was widely regarded as the top high school recruit in the state of North Carolina and who had played for an Adidas-sponsored Amateur Athletic Union team. No players are directly named, but specific details make clear the indictment is describing former North Carolina State star Dennis Smith Jr. and Kansas player Silvio De Sousa.

Prosecutors say money helped secure the players’ commitments to play college basketball at the schools and encouraged them to sign an Adidas sponsorship deal when they entered the NBA.

Smith, a point guard, was drafted by the Mavericks and declined comment to The Associated Press on Tuesday night as Dallas played the Phoenix Suns.

A date listed in court papers for the announcement – Aug. 30 – is when De Sousa made a surprise announcement he would play for Kansas. He became a crucial player off the bench this season as the Jayhawks reached the Final Four before losing to eventual champion Villanova.

Kansas coach Bill Self said following the program’s year-end banquet Tuesday night that he would not discuss individual student-athletes. But Self did say that “it certainly took away from what was a nice evening tonight from a thought standpoint.

“It doesn’t and shouldn’t take away from us feeling good about what is going on within our program,” he said, adding that he would allow the school to make any future comments.

Prosecutors said they beefed up charges related to the Louisville conspiracy, adding a wire fraud charge. Louisville declined comment.

N.C. State received a grand jury subpoena in January seeking records involving school officials, its former coaching staff, ex-Wolfpack one-and-done guard Dennis Smith Jr. and his representatives.

A recent Yahoo Sports report revealed bank records and other expense reports that listed impermissible payments from agents to at least two dozen players or their relatives, including loans of thousands of dollars to Smith.

In a lengthy statement Tuesday evening, N.C. State said its lawyers and athletics compliance staff contacted former coaches after the first indictments were announced in September.

“Former staff questioned stated they had neither any knowledge nor involvement” in activities related to the allegations in the case, the school said in its statement, pledging cooperation with prosecutors and the NCAA.

Joe Monaco, a Kansas spokesman, said the school learned earlier Tuesday that it was named as a victim in the indictment.

“The indictment does not suggest any wrongdoing by the university, its coaches or its staff. We will cooperate fully with investigators in this matter. Because this is an active investigation, it is not appropriate for us to comment further at this time,” he said.

A lawyer for Gatto did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

— Associated Press —

Griffons let another 9th inning lead slip away at Northeastern State

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TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Griffon baseball (18-16) fell to Northeastern State (19-15) 9-8 in the final game of a three-game series. NSU scored three unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth inning for the win.

After NSU scored four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Missouri Western answered with four runs in the sixth inning. A dropped fly ball scored both Dusty Stroup and Brooks Day. Later in the inning, back-to-back hit batters loaded the bases for a two-run pinch hit single by Ryan Fisher. Fisher’s two RBI’s cut the Riverhawk lead to 6-5.

MWSU tied the game in seventh inning when an NSU error scored Brooks Day. Nolan Meyer gave the Griffons the lead with a sac fly to centerfield that scored Dusty Stroup in the next at-bat. A solo home run in the top of the ninth extended the lead, 8-6, before the Northeastern State comeback.

NOTABLES

  • The two teams combined for 17 runs on 23 hits, six errors and used 10 pitchers in the game
  • MWSU’s two through six batters combined for seven runs on seven hits and three RBIs
  • Dusty Stroup went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI
  • Levi Schreiner’s home run was his first of the season

UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts rival Northwest Missouri on Wednesday, April 11 at 7 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Junis carries no-hitter into seventh, Royals rout Mariners 10-0

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jakob Junis carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning, the Royals scored more runs than they had in their last six games combined, and Kansas City routed the Seattle Mariners 10-0 on Monday night.

Junis (2-0) hit three batters and walked two, but the quick-working right-hander did not allow a hit until Daniel Vogelbach’s grounder up the middle with one out in the seventh.

Junis finished up the inning without any more trouble, running his scoreless streak to 14 innings to start the season. He was given a standing ovation when his night was done by the announced crowd of 12,324, most of whom promptly filed out with temperatures just above freezing.

By that point, everybody in the Royals lineup but Drew Butera had scored off Marco Gonzales (1-1) and the Seattle bullpen — and all the catcher had done was drive in a couple of runs.

Mike Moustakas homered in the eighth off infielder Taylor Motter as Seattle saved its `pen.

Gonzalez allowed four runs, eight hits and a walk for the Mariners while retiring seven batters, and reliever Casey Lawrence promptly allowed five more runs while getting five more outs.

Kansas City’s offensive outburst on a cold, blustery night came out of nowhere. The club had been held to a single run in four of its previous five games, and two runs in the other. The Royals hadn’t scored more than three runs in a game since a season-opening 14-7 loss to the White Sox.

They had three runs in the first inning alone Monday night.

They tacked on another in the third before a five-spot in the fifth, a half-inning that lasted so long it was a wonder Junis didn’t cool off — or freeze entirely — while sitting in the dugout.

Instead, he trotted back out and worked a four-pitch sixth inning that lasted about 2 minutes in real time. And after he finally yielded a single to Vogelbach in the seventh, Junis struck out Guillermo Heredia and got Ichiro Suzuki to fly out to cap his dominant performance.

Seattle finished with two hits and left five runners on base.

MARINERS MOVES

1B Ryon Healy flew back to Seattle on Monday to meet with Dr. Edward Khalfayan and review an MRI of his ankle, which he hurt Saturday during a postgame workout. Healy was put on the DL retroactive to Sunday and RHP Chasen Bradford was recalled from Triple-A Tacoma.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mariners: DH Nelson Cruz (sprained right ankle) and C Mike Zunino (left oblique strain) resumed baseball activities Monday, and both could be back this weekend. OF Ben Gamel (right oblique strain) is getting at-bats at Tacoma and is also close to returning.

Royals: C Salvador Perez (left knee sprain) hit and ran bases for the first time prior to the game, and reported feeling “pretty good.” Manager Ned Yost said his All-Star could be back early in the four-to-six-week timeframe that was given when Perez got hurt just before opening day.

UP NEXT

Royals LHP Eric Skoglund makes his season debut against RHP Felix Hernandez as the three-game set continues Tuesday night. Skoglund has not pitched in a game since an exhibition March 17, thanks to rain outs and postponements that have wrecked the Royals’ early schedule.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western men tied for fourth after two rounds at Lindenwood Invite

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ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Griffon men’s golf shot a 593 and is tied for fourth place after two rounds at the Lindenwood Invitational at Missouri Bluffs Golf Course.

Patrick McCarthy led Missouri Western with a 3-over-par 145 and is tied for 10th place. Kevin Kim and Cole Roberts are tied for 13thplace with a 148 in the two rounds. Jacob Majeske carded a 155 for the first day of the tournament. Lucas Horseman rounded out the MWSU scorecard with a 158.

Lindenwood’s Yente Van Doren led the individual field in the two rounds with a 5-under-par 137. The Lions shot a 571 to lead the team field of the tournament. Missouri Western tees off the final round tomorrow at 9:24 a.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Holland walks in lead run in St. Louis debut, Cardinals lose in 10 innings

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — In his St. Louis debut, Greg Holland walked four batters in the 10th inning and forced home the go-ahead run Monday night that gave the Milwaukee Brewers a 5-4 win over the Cardinals.

The 32-year-old Holland, who tied for the NL lead with 41 saves for Colorado last season, was signed as a free agent on opening day. He pitched two innings at Class A before joining the Cardinals earlier in the day.

Holland (0-1) walked two batters to begin the 10th. After a sacrifice bunt, an intentional walk loaded the bases. The three-time All-Star closer then walked Orlando Arcia and was pulled.

Matt Albers (2-0) gave up the tying run in the ninth. The Cardinals loaded the bases with no outs, and Dexter Fowler’s sacrificed fly tied it at 4.

Brewers newcomer Lorenzo Cain tripped over the foot of Cardinals first baseman Jose Martinez on a play in the ninth, and both exited. Martinez bruised his right Achilles.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas pitched 6 1/3 innings. He gave up four runs on eight hits. He struck out five and had a balk.

A two-run single by Manny Pina gave the Brewers a 4-3 lead in the fourth.

The Cardinals took a 3-2 in the third with all the runs coming after there were two outs. Fowler hit an RBI single and after Jhoulys Chacin walked the bases loaded, Marcell Ozuna hit a two-run single.

Milwaukee scored twice in the second on a single by Domingo Santana and a two-out double by Arcia.

OUTFIELD ASSISTS

Milwaukee outfielders cut down two runners attempting to take an extra base. In the first, Fowler tried to stretch a single to right center into a double and was thrown out by center fielder Cain. In the second, Ozuna was thrown out at third after hitting a double down the third-base line by left fielder Ryan Braun.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: OF Brett Phillips was recalled from Triple-A Colorado Springs on Monday. He replaces OF Christian Yelich (right oblique injury). Phillips, who was 1 for 7 with a triple and seven walks at Colorado Springs, takes the spot of reliever Adrian Houser, who was optioned Sunday to Double-A Biloxi.

Cardinals: RHP Luke Gregerson (left hamstring strain) was to make his third rehab appearance Monday, general manager Mike Girsch said before the game. “We’re getting close. We’re probably trying to get him back-to-back and see how that goes, but maybe a week or 10 days, something like that in that range,” Girsch said. … 3B Jedd Gyorko (right hamstring strain) did some work on the field Monday, Girsch said. “He’s probably a few days from ramping up his baseball activities,” said Girsch, who expects Gyorko to be back in about 10 days. … RHP Brett Cecil (left shoulder strain) also is dealing with tendinitis in his foot, Girsch said. He is not expected back until close to the end of the month if not later.

UP NEXT

Brewers: LHP Suter (1-1, 6.30) will be making his third start of the season. Suter is 0-2 with a 4.50 ERA in six career games and two starts against the Cardinals.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (1-1, 2.84) has a 1.98 ERA against Milwaukee. That’s the second-lowest mark among active pitchers. He pitched 8 1/3 innings on April 4 at Milwaukee and allowed no runs in a 6-0 St. Louis victory.

— Associated Press —

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