Dave Riggert – Page 313 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Griffons take two from Lincoln to extend win streak to five

Posted on April 17, 2017

ST. JOSEPH – The Missuori Western softball team (33-15, 13-9) didn’t pile on the hits Monday in a doubleheader sweep of Lincoln (5-41, 2-20), but the Griffons got them when they needed them as they sweep the Blue Tigers 1-0 and 3-2.

Megan Korgie’s first hit since March 26 was a game-tying, RBI-double in the sixth inning of game two. Katie Klosterman was 1-for-4 in the doubleheader before following Korgie’s double with one of her own for what proved to be the game winning hit of a 3-2 victory.

STREAKING THE RIGHT WAY
The two wins gave the Griffons back-to-back doubleheader sweeps and five wins in a row. It was the first time the team took two straight doubleheaders since its trip to Hawaii, Feb. 23-25. The win streak is the longest since a string of nine straight Feb. 18-27. Missouri Western has worked its way up from ninth in the MIAA standings a week ago, to tied for fifth after Monday’s wins.

RATHMANN STAYS HOT
Morgan Rathmann went 3-for-5 in the doubleheader with two runs scored, one double, and was 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts. The senior is 14-for her last-21 (.667) over the team’s last six games. She has six runs scored, five RBIs, three doubles and two triples over that stretch.

HILZER’S DAY
Freshman Kenzie Hilzer picked up her fourth complete game shutout of the season in the team’s 1-0 game one win. Then Hilzer finished off the Griffons’ 3-2 game two win with the second save of her first season. On the day, Hilzer pitched eight innings, allowing just two hits and no runs with four strikeouts and no walks. Lincoln batters hit just .071 on Hilzer.

COMING UP
Some very important MIAA games await Missouri Western this weekend. The team is scheduled to host Washburn (23-28, 10-12) on Friday and Emporia State (28-22, 13-9) for senior day on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State softball sweeps Lindenwood

Posted on April 17, 2017

The Northwest Missouri State University softball team beat Lindenwood in a doubleheader on Monday at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

Northwest moves to 26-16 and 15-7 in MIAA play. Lindenwood falls to 20-23 overall and 8-14 in conference action.

Northwest won the first game 5-0 behind a shutout performance by Taylor Blackford.

The Bearcats hit three home runs in the second game to run rule the Lions, 12-4.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 5, Lindenwood 0)
– Northwest scored one in the second, one in the second, two in the fifth and one in the sixth.

– The Bearcats had five runs on 10 hits with no errors. Lindenwood had four hits with three errors.

– Jaedra Moses went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a triple.

– Blackford threw a complete game shutout, allowing just four hits. She did not issue a walk.

– Kaitlyn Weis was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and double.

– Karli Allen went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

– Rebecca Maher went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored and an RBI.

– Jessica Rawie was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

– Chantel Adams went 1-for-4.

– Abigail Gilson was 1-for-3.

– Kiana Baderdeen went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Game One Key Innings
– In the second Baderdeen hit a two out single up the middle to keep the inning alive. Moses laced a triple over the right fielder’s head to give the Bearcats their first run.

– Gilson and Allen hit back to back singles in the fourth after a fielders choice. Moses hit a RBI single scoring Allen from second, making making it 2-0 Bearcats.

– Weis lead off the fifth with a double to center. Maher reached on an error to put runners on the corners. Adams reached on error by the shortstop allowing Weis to score from third. Rawie came up with an RBI single to left, making it 4-0 Northwest.

– With two down in the sixth Weis singled to left and came home on a Maher double to center.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 12, Lindenwood 4)
– The Bearcats scored one in the first,four in the third, one in the fifth and four in the sixth. Lindenwood had one in the first, two in the third and one the fifth.

– Northwest had 12 runs on 13 hits with no errors. The Lions had four runs on seven hits with one error.

-Weis went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. She pitched the final 2.0 innings allowing no runs on two hits. She had three strikeouts and no walks.

– Blythe went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

– Allen was 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and one run scored.

– Gilson was 1-for-3 with a grand slam, two runs scored and four RBIs.

– Maher went 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, one run scored and four RBIs.

– Adams went 1-for-2 with a double and two runs scored.

– Rawie was 1-for-3 with one run scored.

– Moses went 1-for-3 with one triple and one run scored.

-Holly Posegate pitched 4.0 innings with five hits, four runs and four errors.

Game Two Key Innings
– Blythe started off the inning with a bunt to third, then followed it up with a stolen base. Maher hit a double to left field scoring Blythe, making it 1-0 Northwest.

– Gilson reached on an error by the shortstop to start the second. Allen took the second pitch she saw over the right center field fence for a two run homerun.

– Weis led off the third with a double to left center. After an out Adams drew a four pitch walk and Rawie singled to left to load the bases. Gilson cleared the bases with a grand slam of the center field fence making it 7-3 Northwest.

– In the fifth Adams lead off with a double to right center. After a pair of outs Allen hit an RBI single driving in Adams.

– Moses started the sixth with a triple to right. Blythe reached on a bunt single and stole second. Weis hit an RBI single to center. After a pitching change Maher ended the game with a homerun to left field.

Up Next
– Northwest will host Emporia State on Friday, April 21, at 3 and 5 p.m. followed by a Saturday double header against Washburn on Saturday.

— Northwest Athletics —

Lynn, Cardinals end 3-game losing skid, edge Pirates 2-1

Posted on April 17, 2017

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Lance Lynn pitched seven shutout innings, Kolten Wong homered and the St. Louis Cardinals stopped a three-game losing streak, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 Monday night.

The Cardinals, who had lost six of seven, are 4-9 and still have the worst record in the NL. Pittsburgh had won three in a row before losing in a game that took only 2 hours, 14 minutes.

Lynn (1-1) allowed three hits and struck out five while walking one. He also hit two batters.

Seung-Hwan Oh worked around an RBI double by pinch hitter Gregory Polanco in the ninth to record the Cardinals’ first save of the season. The last time it took St. Louis 13 games into a season to get a save was 1980, when Mark Littell closed out the Phillies at Veterans Stadium.

Ivan Nova (1-2) gave up five hits and no walks in eight innings while striking out three. In 14 overall starts for the Pirates, Nova has four complete games and a grand total of three walks.

Wong led off the third with a home run that landed in the right field bullpen.

St. Louis added a run in the seventh when Randal Grichuk singled, stole second, took third on a throwing error by catcher Francisco Cervelli and scored on a single by Jose Martinez.

Trevor Rosenthal pitched a spotless eighth for the Cardinals. Polanco doubled with two outs in the ninth before Oh retired pinch hitter John Jaso on a grounder.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Polanco did not start for the third game due to right groin discomfort.

Cardinals: 1B Matt Carpenter did not start. He was hit in the bare hand on a groundout Sunday night against the Yankees. He appeared to damage the nail on his right ring finger.

TRADE

Pittsburgh acquired RHP Johnny Barbato from the New York Yankees on Monday for a player to be named or cash. Barbato, 24, was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis where he will work as a reliever. He was designated for assignment by the Yankees on Wednesday.

STREAKS

The Pirates’ Josh Harrison was hit by Lynn’s pitch in the second inning and in the fourth inning. That marked four consecutive plate appearances he was hit by a pitch. … Pittsburgh’s Andrew McCutchen singled to left in the first inning. He has hit safely in eight consecutive games.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (0-1, 2.38 ERA) will make his third start. The 24-year-old Kuhl is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA in two career starts against the Cardinals.

Cardinals: RHP Mike Leake (1-1, 3.00 ERA) will make his third outing coming off pitching seven scoreless innings in a 6-1 win at Washington. He is 9-5 with a 3.36 ERA in 28 starts against Pittsburgh.

— Associated Press —

KU’s Josh Jackson declares for NBA Draft

Posted on April 17, 2017

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas freshman guard Josh Jackson has declared for the 2017 NBA Draft, he announced through his agent, B.J. Armstrong of the Wasserman Media Group Monday.

“After thoroughly consulting with my family, I have decided to enter the 2017 NBA Draft and pursue my dream of playing professional basketball,” Jackson said. “I am very thankful for all of the support I have received from my coaches and teammates at Kansas.”

“This obviously does not come as a surprise,” KU head coach Bill Self said. “When we recruited Josh we were so fortunate but also knew this would probably be a one-year stay. He has not only surpassed our expectations as a player but also as a leader and a teammate. We are all very happy for Josh and his family and are very proud of having coached one of the most talented kids that has ever come through here. We’ve had a lot really good ones here but Josh is as prepared for the next level as anyone that we have ever had.”

A 2017 Wooden All-America selection and the 2017 Big 12 Freshman of the Year, Jackson joined KU teammate Frank Mason III on the All-Big 12 First Team. The seven-time Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honoree finished second on the KU team in scoring at 16.3 points per game. A two-time Big 12 Player of the Week, Jackson broke or tied four Kansas freshman records including double-doubles (12), rebounds (tied Danny Manning’s 258 set in 1985), field goals made (220) and field goals attempted (429).

Jackson’s 16.3 scoring average was sixth in the Big 12 and his 7.4 rebounds per game were fifth. The Detroit native led Kansas with 59 steals and 37 blocked shots his freshman campaign.

— KU Athletics —

Missouri’s Trey Harris earns National Player of the Week honor

Posted on April 17, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball junior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) was named Collegiate Baseball Newspaper National Player of the Week, announced by the publication Monday morning (April 17). He is the first Mizzou player to earn the distinction since Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) took home the award on March 28 of last season. This is the first time Harris has earned the award as well.

Harris had a monster week for Mizzou, helping the Tigers to a 3-2 record in five games. Harris slugged five homers, including homering in four consecutive at-bats during the Kentucky series on Friday and Saturday. Harris homered three times in the Saturday game, making him the first Tiger with three homers in a game since Jacob Priday hit a school-record four in a 31-12 win over Texas on April 11, 2008. Harris now sits third in the SEC with 11 homers, the most by a Mizzou player since 2012. He drove in eight runs last week and scored seven more.

On the year, Harris is hitting .298 and leads the team in homers (11), walks (29), RBI (40) and slugging (.603) and he ranks second on the team in OBP (.436). Harris is now third in the SEC in slugging and 14th in on-base percentage while only two players have hit more home runs than his 11. He is also third in the SEC with 29 walks.

Harris and the Tigers close their six-game homestand tomorrow against Missouri State at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Western/Northwest game moved to 1 PM Tuesday

Posted on April 17, 2017

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State baseball game on Tuesday has been moved up to a 1 p.m. start in Maryville, Missouri. The game was original scheduled for a 2 p.m. first pitch.

The scheduled game is game two of a three week midweek series with the Bearcats. Game three is scheduled for April 26 at 7 p.m. at the Spring Sports Complex. Missouri Western won game one, 10-5, of the series last Tuesday in St. Joseph.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals get walk-off win to complete sweep of Angels

Posted on April 16, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Ian Kennedy threw 111 pitches over eight scoreless innings and got a no-decision. Kelvin Herrera threw eight pitches in one inning and picked up the win.

Alcides Escobar hit an RBI single in the ninth over a five-man infield and the Kansas City Royals edged the Los Angeles Angels 1-0 Sunday for their fourth straight win.

Kennedy pitched two-hit ball and struck out 10 over eight innings as Kansas City sent the Angels to their fifth loss in a row.

“My fastball command was down,” Kennedy said. “It was up when I needed it to. All my misses were down. When I needed to go up, it was there.”

Kennedy didn’t allow a hit until C.J. Cron’s double with two outs in the fifth. Cliff Pennington singled with two outs in the eighth for the Angels’ other hit.

“That’s a tough lineup to navigate through,” Kennedy said. “They have two of the best three-and-four hitters you’ll face in a year with (Mike) Trout and (Albert) Pujols.”

Kennedy struck out 10, his 13th double-figure strikeout game, and walked two. He entered the game with an 0-4 record and 6.55 ERA in five career appearances against the Angels.

“He threw the ball well, he kept the ball down, and obviously he kept us off-balance,” Pujols said. “That’s pretty much it. Both sides threw the ball well.”

Salvador Perez led off the ninth with a single against Blake Parker (0-1), and pinch runner Raul Mondesi stole second and went to third on a wild pitch.

After pinch hitter Mike Moustakas walked, Cam Bedrosian relieved and Paulo Orlando fouled out. Escobar followed with his game-winner.

With the Angels using a five-man infield and two outfielders playing shallow, Escobar lofted a single to right-center over Trout’s head.

“I was trying to elevate the ball,” Escobar said. “I’m trying to get a fly ball in that situation. I’m looking for one pitch and I hit the ball good.”

Herrera (1-0) threw a flawless ninth.

Angels left-hander Tyler Skaggs, who had an 8.71 ERA in his first two starts, threw seven shutout innings, giving up four hits and striking out nine. He allowed three hits and walked one in the first two innings.

“I don’t know if impressive is the right word, but he definitely made some adjustments,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “I think that if he can carry that rhythm over, you’re going to see a guy that can do what he did today on a consistent basis. Getting his pitches in the zone; his process was great. He changed speeds. So, that was a terrific outing.”

In the past four games, Royals starting pitchers Jason Vargas, Danny Duffy, Nathan Karns and Kennedy have a combined 0.63 ERA, allowing two runs on 13 hits over 28 2/3 innings.

PERFECT ON CHALLENGES
The Royals, under the guidance of replay specialist Bill Duplissea, are 5 for 5 in challenges this year. Duplissea won 27 of 39 challenges last year, a 69.2 percent success rate that topped the majors.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Angels: RHP Huston Street (right lat strain) is playing catch, but is likely three weeks to a month away from returning. Street was injured in his first spring training outing.

Royals: OF Jorge Soler (left oblique strain) had a setback in his rehab, feeling tightness after batting practice Saturday. He has been backed off a couple of days from activity.

UP NEXT

Angels: RHP Jesse Chavez will start Monday at Houston as they continue this trip. He is 3-1 with a 2.90 ERA in 23 career games against the Astros.

Royals: Off Monday before hosting San Francisco to open a two-game series Tuesday. Royals RHP Jason Hammel will start the first game.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou loses series finale at home against No. 10 Kentucky

Posted on April 16, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 10 Kentucky tallied four runs in the sixth inning to earn a 6-1 win in the rubber game of a three-game series with Mizzou Baseball on Easter Sunday (April 16) at Taylor Stadium. The game moved into the sixth inning at 2-1, but UK used a pair of infield singles, two hit batters and a walk to plate four runs in what turned out to be the decisive inning. Mizzou falls to 26-11 on the year and 7-8 in SEC play while Kentucky goes to 25-12 and 10-5 in SEC play, sitting atop the SEC East standings.

Junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) took the loss, falling to 3-2 on the year, after going 5.0+ innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits with three walks and four strikeouts. Kentucky’s Justin Lewis earned the win, improving to 5-2 on the year. He went 5.0 innings and allowed just three hits and one run (earned) with no walks and four strikeouts.

Junior C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) hit his seventh homer of the season and fourth of the series, a solo shot in the fourth inning. Junior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) also reached base twice to continue a red-hot weekend.

Montes De Oca allowed a leadoff single to Tristan Pompey to open the game, but struck out All-American 1B Evan White and got a 4-6-3 double play to escape the inning on just eight pitches. Mizzou got a baserunner in the first as Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) was hit by a pitch, but he was stranded.

Montes De Oca needed just 10 pitches to retire the side in the second but ran into trouble in the third, issuing a leadoff walk. A passed ball moved the runner to third, but Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) made a great play on a hard-hit ball at third for the second out to save a run. Montes De Oca then struck out the red hot Tristan Pompey to strand the runner.

White then tallied a leadoff double in the fourth inning and Montes De Oca then walked Zach Reks and hit Luke Becker to lead the bases with no outs. Riley Mahan then hit a sacrifice fly to give the Cats a 1-0 lead. A throwing error by C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) on a double steal led to another run in the fourth as Kentucky took a 2-0 lead.

Bond atoned for his error in the bottom of the fourth inning, launching his fourth homer of the series and seventh of the season, a two-out solo shot on a 3-1 pitch to cut the lead in half at 2-1. Mizzou got the tying run on second in the fifth inning, but Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) popped out to strand the tying run.

UK then got a walk and a pair of infield hits to score a run, extending the lead to 3-1. Mizzou reliever Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) then hit back-to-back batters, the latter with the bases loaded to score another run. Marcus Carson then hit a two-run single to extend the lead to 6-1.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffons get two blowout wins against Fort Hays State

Posted on April 13, 2017April 13, 2017

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western baseball team (20-17, 17-10) got two complete games from its starting pitchers and racked up 28 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Fort Hays State (9-28, 2-23) on Thursday.

Richie Peoples picked up his fifth complete game of the season in a 14-5 game one winner. Nate Hunter went eight complete in a game two, 12-2, run-rule victory.

NOTABLES
– Missouri Western has now won four games in a row and five of its last six

– The Griffons’ 14 runs in game one were their most since a Feb. 4, 14-4 win over Newman

– MWSU out-hit Fort Hays State 26-7 in the doubleheader

– Peoples and Hunter combined for a 3.71 ERA and held Fort Hays State’s offense to a .277 average

– The Griffons had 10 extra base hits on the day with eight doubles and two home runs

TOP PERFORMERS
– Hunter went all eight innings in game two, holding Fort Hays State to seven hits and two runs. He struck out three and walked one.

– Peoples went more than seven innings for the ninth straight start and had a season-high eight strikeouts

– David Glaude went 5-for-8 with two walks on the day, driving in four, and was a triple shy of the cycle in game two

– Dusty Stroup had four hits in game one and went 5-for-11 on the day with four runs scored and three RBIs

– Ryan Smith drove in three with a home run to left in game one and went 3-for-8 on the day

UP NEXT
The two teams will attempt to conclude the series Friday at 1 p.m. That game time is subject to change.

— Northwest Athletics —

Vargas dazzles as Royals win 3-1 to snap 8-game skid vs. A’s

Posted on April 13, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jason Vargas carried a shutout into the eighth, the Royals finally generated some early offense and Kansas City held on to beat Oakland 3-1 on Thursday night and snap an eight-game skid against the A’s.

Vargas (2-0) scattered four hits and a walk over 7 2/3 innings, striking out eight, in his second straight crisp performance. The left-hander only allowed one runner to reach second base in his longest outing since Aug. 13, 2014, when Vargas shut out the Athletics at Kauffman Stadium.

Kelvin Herrera served up a homer to Rajai Davis and a double to Jed Lowrie in the ninth, but bounced back to retire the next three batters and earn his first save.

Lorenzo Cain and Salvador Perez drove in runs off A’s starter Jesse Hahn (0-1) in the first, and Brandon Moss added a lazy sacrifice fly in the third. The three runs matched what Kansas City’s scuffling offense had managed in losing the first two games of the series.

Hahn settled down to last six innings, allowing six hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

Vargas missed most of last season following Tommy John surgery, but he pitched well in the handful of starts he made late in the year, leaving the Royals optimistic about his spot in the rotation.

He also doubled down on his conditioning while his elbow was recovering, and arrived to training camp leaner and more athletic. And that paid off in the seventh inning, when Vargas deftly leaped off the mound to snare a hard bounder and start a double play to escape his only real jam.

Things weren’t nearly as tidy for the A’s, who committed two more errors in the series finale. They came into the game tied for the American League lead with nine, and have committed at least one error in seven consecutive games — matching their longest streak from last season.

The Royals became the last team in the big leagues to commit an error of their own when Alcides Escobar booted a grounder with two outs in the eighth. Vargas was lifted afterward to a standing ovation, and Joakim Soria promptly got Marcus Semien to ground out and end the inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Oakland RHP Sonny Gray (lat strain) threw two 15-pitch stints to batters prior to the game and had no issues. A’s manager Bob Melvin said Gray will throw three innings Monday at extended spring training and could rejoin the Oakland rotation by the end of April.

YOST’S TAKE

Royals manager Ned Yost said he’s not worried that fans are antsy about his club’s poor start. “It just shows when they panic, they care about you and they want to win,” he said. “That’s fine.”

UP NEXT

Oakland RHP Kendall Graveman will try to start the season with three straight wins when he faces Houston on Friday night. It’s the start of a 10-game homestand for the A’s.

Kansas City sends LHP Danny Duffy to start a three-game series against the Angels on Friday night.

— Associated Press —