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Author: Dave Riggert

No. 25 Missouri falls to Mississippi State in 15 innings

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Baseball dropped the second game of a three-game series, 3-1, against Mississippi State in 15 innings Saturday evening at Taylor Stadium. It was Mizzou’s first defeat in the last 16 outings at home. Mizzou tallied 10 hits on the day in a 15-inning battle, but could not come up with timely hits when it needed them, stranding 16 runners in the loss. Mizzou fell to 18-6 (2-3 SEC) on the year while Mississippi State improved to 13-11 (1-4).

Mizzou junior LHP Michael Plassmeyer (St. Louis, Mo.) got the start for the Tigers. Plassmeyer pitched eight strong innings and fanned eight batters, his most strikeouts in an SEC game. Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante(Torrance, Calif.) was tagged with the loss, after allowing two runs in the top of the 15th inning.

Mizzou junior OF Conner Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) robbed a home run early in the third running to save what would have been a two-run home run and keep the game scoreless. Mizzou broke through offensively in the bottom of the seventh inning. A lead-off double by senior INF Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) followed by a base hit by junior OF Conner Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) put two men on for junior INF Paul Gomez (Orange, Calif.). Gomez stepped to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Samples and give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.

Mississippi State knotted the game in the top of the ninth and surged in front in the 15th, preventing any Mizzou runs in extra innings.

TURNING POINT
LaPlante took the mound in the 15th inning for the Tigers. Mississippi State junior OF Jake Mangum led off with a double through the left side to start the inning Bulldogs. Another base knock gave Mississippi State another baserunner with no outs. With runners in scoring position, junior INF Hunter Stovall rocketed a two-out single off Mizzou relief pitcher Konnor Ash and the ball skipped to the outfield, allowing the Bulldogs to plate two runs and take the lead 3-1.

TOP TIGERS
– Junior LHP Michael Plassmeyer was brilliant in his second SEC start, going 8.1 innings, allowing just five hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. He gave up his only run on a one-out single in the ninth on his 115th pitch of the game. The innings pitched and strikeouts are his best ever in an SEC game.

– Plassmeyer now has a 51-6 strikeout-walk ratio this season.

– Freshman DH Mark Vierling tallied his sixth multi-hit games.

– Junior LF Connor Brumfield went 1-for-3 as his bunt single in the seventh inning allowed Mizzou to take a 1-0 lead, setting up the sacrifice fly by Paul Gomez. Brumfield also made a game-changing catch, robbing what would have been a go-ahead two-run homer in the third inning, leaping over the wall and bringing it back for the out.

– Senior 3B Alex Samples scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning after leading off the frame with his fourth double of the year in just 38 at-bats. Samples turned in his second career three-hit game this season, both of which have been this week.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Mississippi State will play again Sunday at 1 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffons get swept by Pitt State as they lose finale in 11 innings

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ST. JOSEPH – Griffon baseball (14-12) fell to Pittsburg State (19-9) 4-2 in 11 innings at the Spring Sports Complex.

Missouri Western tied the game in the bottom of the third inning when Dusty Stroup singled up the middle to score Maurice Bruce. Two innings later, Will Jibas gave the Griffons a one run lead with a RBI single to centerfield that scored Brooks Day. MWSU top six hitters in the lineup each recorded a hit

PSU tied the game in the eighth inning with a double down the left field line. The Gorillas scored two runs in the 11th inning to secure the series sweep.

NOTABLES
– Will Jibas was 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI

– Dusty Stroup went 3-for-6 on the day and drove in a run

– Nate Hunter tossed 7 1/3 innings and allowed just two runs

– Kellan Richards threw three innings of relief work and gave up just one run with two strikeouts

– MWSU left 14 runners on base in the final game, PSU left eight runners stranded

– Missouri Western’s one through six batters each recorded a hit

– Pittsburg State pitchers combined to strike out 12 batters in the game

UP NEXT
Missouri Western hosts Missouri Southern for a three-game series in St. Joseph beginning on Thursday, March 29 at 5 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Top-seeded Jayhawks hold off Clemson to advance to Regional title game

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OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — For the third year in a row, Kansas made it through the Sweet 16 — although not before Clemson tried its hardest to add another wild chapter to an already unbelievable tournament.

The top-seeded Jayhawks brought at least a temporary halt to the insanity of this March, withstanding a ferocious rally by fifth-seeded Clemson on Friday for a too-close-for-comfort, 80-76 victory.

Malik Newman led the Jayhawks (30-7) with 17 points in a one-time runaway that got much closer and, quite frankly, won’t mean much to KU fans if their team can’t finish the job in the Midwest Region final Sunday.

As a top seed the last two seasons, Kansas made it through the regional semifinals, only to flop a game shy of the Final Four both times. In fact, this marks the sixth time Bill Self’s team has been seeded first since KU won it all in 2008; the Jayhawks haven’t made the Final Four one of those times.

“I think about it all the time. I just told the guys in the locker room…this year, we’ve got to get over the hump,” said senior Devonte’ Graham, who had 16 points.

Still, it could’ve ended on Friday — in horrifying fashion — after Clemson stormed back from a 20-point deficit that stunned a crowd filled mostly with fans from Lawrence and surrounding areas, which are only a few hours from Omaha.

“We just kind of played not to lose down the stretch,” Self said.

Clemson trailed 62-42, but climbed to within six with 2:27 left. Graham’s offensive rebound after a Svi Mykhailiuk miss at the 1:57 mark allowed the Jayhawks to run almost a minute off the clock.

Kansas didn’t score after Graham’s rebound, and the Tigers got the next board for a chance to cut it to a one-possession game. But Shelton Mitchell and Gabe DeVoe each missed from beyond the arc. From there, Kansas overcame a dogged Clemson press just long enough to ensure that the Tigers couldn’t pull any closer until the tail end.

DeVoe had a career-high 31 for Clemson (25-10), which couldn’t replicate the magic it showed in beating Auburn by 31 to reach its first Sweet 16 in 21 years.

“We didn’t have our best game. Sometimes that’s not easy to keep fighting like that,” Clemson coach Brad Brownell said.

PIVOTAL MOMENT

Clemson had scored five straight points to cut KU’s lead to 35-27 late in the first half when Elijah Thomas, after a review, was called for a flagrant foul. Silvio De Sousa knocked down the free throws, Lagerald Vick buried a 3 and Kansas cruised into halftime ahead 40-27. Vick, Newman and Graham then opened the second half with 3s to extend the lead to 20.

BIG PICTURE

One of the most encouraging signs for Kansas was that it jumped ahead by 13 at halftime despite a 1-for-7 start by Graham, the Big 12 player of the year. Big man Udoka Azubuike looked strong in his first start of the tournament with 14 points and 11 rebounds in a tournament-high 25 minutes.

FOR REAL?

What a wild 12 months it’s been for Brownell, the Clemson coach. He entered the season on the hot seat after six straight seasons without even making the NCAA Tournament. But the Tigers reached the regional semifinals for the first time since 1997 even after losing Donte Grantham, arguably their best player. The big question next is whether 2017-18 will prove a one shot wonder or the start of something big in the Upstate. Clemson has spent money on facilities to become a basketball school — but will it ever get out of the shadow cast by Dabo Swinney’s football team?

TIGERS CLAW BACK

For the final 12 minutes, Clemson played like the team that throttled Auburn to earn a crack at the Jayhawks. The Tigers didn’t turn it over once down the stretch, and they finished 14 of 19 at the free throw line — which was a strong point all year. But while Kansas hardly looked like a No. 1 seed down the stretch, it did improve to 25-1 this season when leading at the break.

DOKE LOOKED DOPE

Azubuike finished with his sixth double-double of the season. His presence forced Clemson to give more space to KU’s shooters, who went 10 of 22 on 3s.

HE SAID IT

“This is the team everyone would have thought … would not be in this game. We’ve got a legitimate shot to go to San Antonio. I think we’ll play with no `what ifs.’ I think we’ll be loose,” Self said.

VEGAS KNOWS

Kansas came in as a 4 1/2-point favorite — a number that didn’t look to be in play … until it was.

— Associated Press —

Bearcats win second straight at Washburn

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The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team defeats Washburn 6-3 on Friday in Topeka, Kansas.

The Bearcats improve to 14-12 overall and 10-5 in conference while the Ichabods fall to 8-18 overall and 2-13 in conference play.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored two runs in the first, three in the fifth and one in the eighth inning. Washburn scored one run in the fourth and two in the ninth inning.
– The Bearcats had six runs on seven hits and one error. The Ichabods had three runs on 12 hits with one error.
– Hudson Bilodeau finished the day going 3-for-4 with one RBI, scored two runs, a double and one walk.
– Landon Figg went 1-for-4 with two RBIs, one walk, a homerun and one run scored.
– Luke Hassman was 1-for-4 with one run scored.
– Aaron Barratt went 1-for-4 with one walk.
– Logan Rycraft was 1-for-2 and drew a walk.
– Brad Roberts threw 6.2 innings, allowed only one run and struck out four batters.

Key Northwest Innings
– Bilodeau started the game off with a single to center field to get the Bearcats going. He was then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gutierrez and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Bilodeau then came in to score on a two run homerun by Figg to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead.

– In the top of the fifth inning, Bilodeua got the Bearcats going again with a one out walk and Gutierrez was hit by a pitch. After an out, Hassman was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kevin Handzlik drew a two out walk to score Bilodeua and kept the bases loaded. Barratt would then reach on an error to score Guiterrez and Hassman to conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.

– Derek Hussey drew a one out walk in the top of the eighth inning and quickly advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rycraft. Bilodeau hit a double to deep right field to score Hussey from second and make the score 6-1.

Up Next
– The Bearcats will take on Washburn University on Saturday, March 24, at 1 p.m. in Topeka.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western softball splits doubleheader with Central Oklahoma

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ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Softball went 1-1 Friday in a doubleheader of the preseason No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the MIAA.

Central Oklahoma, (19-14, 8-4) picked to defend their 2017 conference title, took game one 3-2 on a run in the seventh. Missouri Western (15-18, 6-2), picked second in the preseason poll, took game two, 5-4. Riley Wilson delivered the game winner in game two with an RBI-single in the fifth. Kaili Hinds hung on for her second straight victory, going all seven innings and allowing four earned runs on eight hits.

Missouri Western was down 2-0 in game one headed to the bottom of the sixth, but a two-run home run from Lonnie Groves tied the game. Game two took a comeback as well. The Griffons scored four in the second, but two UCO runs in the third and two more in the fourth set up Wilson’s game winning hit in the fifth.

NOTABLES
– Missouri Western has won eight of its last nine games after its seven-game win streak was snapped with the game one loss

– Wilson went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader with the one important RBI

– Morgan Frost went 3-for-8 in the doubleheader with a double and an RBI

– Shelby Uhl was also 3-for-8 on the day with two driven in

– The teams each had seven runs, with Missouri Western totaling 16 hits and UCO totaling 14

– There were only five strikeouts combined in the two games. Hinds struck out two in game two. The Griffons struck out twice in game one and just once in game two

UP NEXT
Six straight road games beginning with a doubleheader on March 27 at Northwest Missouri State lie ahead for Missouri Western. After Friday, the Griffons are tied for second in the MIAA standings with the Bearcats. The Griffons are scheduled to end next week with trips to Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 25 Tigers win SEC home opener against Mississippi State

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COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Baseball won its 15th consecutive home game after defeating Mississippi State, 4-1, Friday night at Taylor Stadium. The 15-game winning streak is Mizzou’s longest home winning streak in 11 years. Mizzou tallied 11 hits in the program’s first-ever win over Mississippi State. The Tigers held the Bulldogs to one run and avoided any errors for the ninth time in 10 games.

Mizzou improves to 18-5 (2-2 SEC) on the year while Mississippi State moves to 12-11 (0-4).

After Mizzou head coach Steve Bieser shook up the weekend rotation, sophomore lefty T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) earned the win for the Tigers during his first start of the season. The preseason All-American went a season-high 7.0 innings while striking out seven and allowing just one run on four hits. Mississippi State starter Konnor Pilkington took the loss, falling to 1-3.

TURNING POINT
In the bottom of the third inning, neither team had scratched across a run. Back-to-back hits by senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) put two men on for senior C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.). He stepped to the plate and after an eight-pitch at bat, blasted an RBI single to score Harris and advance Misner to third. A wild pitch helped bring in Misner to give the Tigers a pair of runs and a 2-0 lead.

Mizzou then tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom of the seventh. The first came on a Bond RBI single as Harris and Misner reached base in front of him again, setting up another big inning. Mizzou got its fourth run on a double-steal as Misner advanced home for the fourth run, putting the game away.

TOP TIGERS
– Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema made his first start of the season Friday and was dominant over 7.0 innings, his longest outing since a complete game, four-hitter at Tennessee on May 18, 2017. He allowed just four hits and a run (solo homer in the sixth) with one walk while matching a season-high seven strikeouts.

– Senior C Brett Bond had a pair of RBI singles, going 3-for-3 with two RBI as he delivered in big spots twice during the win.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner went 3-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. He leads the SEC with 33 runs.

– Senior RF Trey Harris went 1-for-3 with two runs and was hit by a pitch. He is second in the SEC in runs with 32.

– Junior 2B Paul Gomez turned in his third two-hit game of the season.

– Senior RHP Andy Toelken tallied his first career save Friday, tossing the final 2.0 innings.

NOTES
– Mizzou won its first ever game over Mississippi State Friday. MSU had won the first eight meetings as the series is now 8-1.

– Mizzou moves its home winning streak to 15 straight games, its longest since winning May 5, 2006 through March 23, 2007, when it won 16 straight at home, marking the longest such streak in 11 years to the day.

– Mizzou moves to 5-1 on Friday nights this season.

– Mizzou is now 10-3 in three-game series this season.

– Mizzou is 15-1 when scoring first this season.

– Mizzou has committed just one error in its last 10 games and now is fielding at .984, a top-10 mark nationally. Mizzou now has 14 errorless games this season in 23 contests – Mizzou had just 16 such games all of last season.

– Mizzou is 13-1 when not committing an error this season.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner singled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to five straight games and he has reached base in 15 straight.
Misner now has five straight multi-hit games and 12 on the season.

– Misner stole his SEC-best 12th base Friday and scored his SEC-leading 33rd run.

– Senior OF Trey Harris scored his 32nd run, second in the SEC, and has reached base safely in 15 straight games.

– Mizzou tagged Mississippi State starter Konnor Pilkington for a season-high nine hits and a season-high two walks. Mizzou struck out just five times against Pilkington, his second-lowest total of the season.

– T.J. Sikkema had thrown 7.0 innings in his previous five outings before going a season-long 7.0 innings Friday night. His seven strikeouts were his most since his first appearance of the season at No. 24 Miami during week two.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Mississippi State will play again Saturday at 2 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest softball goes 1-1 against Northeastern State

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The Northwest Missouri State University softball team splits in a double header against Northeastern State in Maryville Friday as they lost game one 8-7 but bounced back to win the second game 10-1.

The Bearcats improve to 15-9 overall and 6-2 in conference, while Northeastern State falls to 17-14 overall and 5-3 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 7, Northeastern State 8)
– Northwest scored one run in the second, four in the third, one in the fourth and one in the seventh inning. The RiverHawks scored three in the third, two in the fourth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh inning.
– The Bearcats had seven runs on 11 hits and no errors. Northeastern State scored eight runs on nine hits and one error.
– Jaedra Moses finished the first game 3-for-4.
– Abigail Gilson went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored and a sacrifice hit.
– Karli Allen was 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a double.
– Kaitlyn Weis went 1-for-3 with one RBI, a double and two runs scored.
– Erin Keeney was 1-for-3 with two walks and two runs scored.
– Jessica Rawie was 1-for-3 with a sacrifice hit, one RBI and a run scored.
– Kiana Baderdeen went 1-for-3 with one run scored,

Game One Key Innings
– Keeney drew a walk to start the bottom of the second inning and advanced to second on sacrifice bunt by Rawie. Gilson hit a single to right center to score Keeney from second and give the Bearcats the lead, 1-0.

– After two outs, Weis reached base on a fielder’s choice and Keeney walked to put runners on first and second. Rawie reached base on an error to score Weis and put Keeney on third. Gilson singled to deep left field to score Keeney and put runners on the corners. Gilson advanced to second on a wild pitch and came around to score with Rawie on a double down the right field line by Allen to make the score 5-3.

– Baderdeen started the fourth inning with a single to third baseman and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Maher. Moses also singled to third base to put runners on the corners. Weis would give the Bearcats a 6-5 lead with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Baderdeen.

– Weis lead off the bottom of the seventh inning with a double to right field and moved to third on a single to right field by Keeney. Rawie reached base on a fielder’s choice to score Weis from third and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.
Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 10, Northeastern State 1)
– The Bearcats scored four runs in the second, two in the third and four in the fifth inning. Northeastern State scored one run in the second inning.
– Northwest had ten runs on nine hits and one error. The RiverHawks had one run on three hits and three errors.
– Rebecca Maher finished the day going 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
– Gilson was perfect from the plate going 2-for-2 with two runs scored, two RBIs, a walk and a homerun.
– Kenzi Sutton went 2-for-3 with one run scored.
– Moses was 1-for-3 with a walk.
– Rawie was perfect from the plate going 1-for-1 with three runs scored, one RBI, two walks and a homerun.
– Baderdeen went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
– Rachel Smith threw five innings, allowed one run on three hits and struck out nine batters.

Game Two Key Innings
– Rawie started the bottom of the seventh inning with her fifth homerun on the year to deep left field. Allen reached safely on a fielder’s choice then moved to second on a single to left field by Sutton and Baderdeen walked to load the bases. Allen scored on a wild pitch and both runners advanced. Maher singled to the short stop score Sutton from third. Moses reached base on an error to score Baderdeen and give the Bearcats a 4-1 lead.

– Rawie lead off the third inning with a walk. Gilson sent her second homerun of the year over the left field fence to score Rawie to make the score 6-1.

– After an out, Rawie and Gilson both drew walks and Allen reached on an error to load the bases. Lynnlee Parrott came in to pinch run for Allen. Baderdeen singled to right field to score Rawie and Gilson and put Parrott on third. Maher singled to right center to score Parrott and Baderdeen and gave the Bearcats a 10-1 lead.
Up Next
– Northwest will take on Missouri Western, Tuesday, March 27 in Maryville, Mo., at 2 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons softball gets two walk-off 10 inning wins over Northeastern State

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team extended its win streak to seven games as they swept a doubleheader against Northeastern State Thursday night. The Griffons won both games in walk-off fashion in 10 innings, 3-2 and 7-6.

MWSU improves to 14-17 this season and 5-1 in the MIAA. The Griffons’ sweep leaves them in a three-way tie atop the conference leaderboard with Washburn and Northwest Missouri.

Shelbie Atwell ended game one with a two-out RBI-single to left in the 10th inning of game one. Her game one winning hit almost wasn’t as it went in and out of the glove of a diving Sierra Crick in left field. Markee Brown dashed home for the winner in game one. In game two, Atwell bounced a ball to the first baseman who threw home where Tamara Hicks slid under the slide of the catcher for a 7-6 win.

Kenzie Hilzer set the stage for the heroics in game one, pitching all 10 innings, and allowing just two Northeastern State runs on 10 hits. She struck out four and walked one to move to 8-7 on the season. Kaili Hinds (4-6) went all 10 innings in game two, striking out eight. Northeastern State touched Hinds for six runs in the second inning, but the freshman retired 11 straight between the end of the NSU second and the top of the sixth.

Missouri Western trailed 2-0 after the 4 in game one, but tied it up in the bottom of the fifth on RBI singles from Atwell and Morgan Frost. The comeback in game two was much slower as Missouri Western scored one in the second, two in the third and one in the fourth before a two-out, two-run home run by Gabi Carter tied the game at six in the bottom of the sixth.

DOUBLEHEADER NOTABLES
– The Griffons’ win streak hit seven games and moved the team into a three-way tie for first place in the MIAA standings with Washburn and Northwest Missouri

– Hilzer and Hinds combined to allow eight runs on 20 hits over 20 innings with 12 strikeouts and just four walks

– The doubleheader went more than six hours

– Lonnie Groves went 5-for-10 at the plate with a double and an RBI

– Morgan Frost was also 5-for-10 with a run scored, a double and an RBI

– Hicks went 4-for-10 with two runs scored and two doubles

– Atwell went 2-for-8 with a run scored and a team-high three RBIs

UP NEXT
Central Oklahoma (18-13, 7-3) comes to St. Joseph for a Friday morning doubleheader. The games are scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

K-State knocks off Kentucky 61-58 to advance to Elite Eight

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ATLANTA (AP) — Kentucky’s latest group of fabulous freshman is all done.

Gritty Kansas State made sure of that Thursday night.

Demeaned by many pundits as the worst team still alive in the NCAA Tournament, ninth-seeded K-State got 22 points from Xavier Sneed and gave the South Regional one more upset with a 61-58 semifinal victory over Kentucky.

Next up in the bracket-busting South: the regional final against No. 11 seed Loyola, which continued its stunning run in the tournament with a 69-68 victory over Nevada.

Yep, its 9 vs. 11 in the Elite Eight for the first time in tournament history with a trip to the Final Four on the line.

Just the way it should be in a regional that became the first in NCAA history to have the top four seeds knocked out on very first weekend, including No. 1-ranked Virginia.

Sneed wasn’t around at the end — he was among three Kansas State players who fouled out — but Barry Brown Jr. came through with the shot of the game to seat it for the Big 12 school.

Brown darted into the lane with the shot clock running down, seemingly blowing by every Kentucky player to get to the basket, and banked one in with 18 seconds remaining to put K-State up 60-58.

Kentucky’s Quade Green put up an airball from beyond the arc and Kansas State rebounded, drawing a foul that sent Amaad Wainright to the line for two free throws that could’ve sealed it. He made only one, giving Kentucky one more chance to force overtime.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got a decent look at the basket, but his shot rimmed out as the horn sounded.

Brown wasn’t done. In the raucous celebration, he leaped over the press table like Superman and sprinted into the arms of the purple-clad Kansas State fan section.

John Calipari was denied a shot at his fifth Final Four in nine seasons as Kentucky’s coach. Fears that his young players would “drink the poison” — the belief that they had an easy path to San Antonio thanks to all the upsets — turned out to be well founded.

— Associated Press —

Bearcat softball takes two from Central Oklahoma

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The Northwest Missouri State University softball team swept a pair of conference games against Central Oklahoma in Maryville, Mo.

The Bearcats improve to 14-8 overall and 5-1 in conference, while Central Oklahoma falls to 18-13 overall and 7-3 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 3, Central Oklahoma 2)
– Northwest scored two runs in the second and one in the seventh inning. The Bronchos scored two runs in the fourth inning.
– The Bearcats had three runs on nine hits and one error. Central Oklahoma scored two runs on five hits and zero errors.
– Kaitlyn Weis finished the first game going 2-for-3 with one run scored, one RBI and a walk-off homerun.
– Rebecca Maher went 2-for-4 with one RBI, one run scored and a walk.
– Kiana Baderdeen was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
– Jaedra Moses went 1-for-4 with a stolen base.
– Abigail Gilson was 1-for-3 with one run scored.
– Karli Allen went 1-for-3 and scored one run.
– Taylor Blackford threw seven innings, allowed only two runs scored, five hits and one walk.

Game One Key Innings
– Gilson started the bottom of the second inning with a single to left field and advanced to second on Allen’s single through the left side. Kailey Siemonsma put runners on second and third with one out with a sacrifice bunt. Baderdeen hit a single to left field to score Gilson and put runners on the corners. Maher kept the hitting going with a single of her own to left field to score Allen and make the score, 2-0.

– In the bottom of the seventh inning, Weis hit her eighth homerun of the year to give the Bearcats a walk off win.
Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 7, Central Oklahoma 4)
– The Bearcats scored three runs in the third, and four in the fifth inning. Central Oklahoma scored two in the fifth, one in the sixth and one in the seventh inning.
– Northwest had seven runs on 11 hits and two errors. The Bronchos had four runs on eight hits and no errors.
– Maher finished the day going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk.
– Weis went 2-for-4 with one run scored.
– Erin Keeney finished 2-for-3 with one RBI, a run scored, one walk, a double and a homerun.
– Jessica Rawie went 1-for-3 with one walk, a run scored and a RBI.
– Gilson was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.
– Allen was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
– Lynnlee Parrott was 1-for-3 with one RBI.
– Baderdeen finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs and sacrifice fly.

Game Two Key Innings
– Keeney started off the bottom of the second inning with a solo shot to left center to put the Bearcats on the board. After an out, Gilson walked and advanced to second on a single to the third baseman by Allen. With two outs, Baderdeen singled to left field to score Gilson and put Allen on third. Maher kept the hitting going with a single to right field to score Allen and give the Bearcats a 3-0 lead.

– Weis lead off the inning with a single down the left field line and Keeney reached safely on a fielder’s choice. Rawie singled to left center to score Weis from third and put runners on first and second. Bailey Maxwell came in to run for Keeney and scored on Parrott’s single through the right side. Rawie came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Baderdeen. Maher hit a single to right field to score Gilson from second base and to make the score 7-2.

Up Next
– Northwest will play on Friday, March 23, against Northeastern State in Maryville, Mo., at 10 a.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

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