Dave Riggert – Page 448 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Bearcats’ season ends with loss to Upper Iowa in NCAA Regional

Posted on May 6, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State softball team lost an NCAA Central Region elimination game to Upper Iowa Friday afternoon, 3-0.

– The tournament is being hosted by Arkansas Tech University at the Chatwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville, Ark.

– The loss gives the Bearcats a 37-16 record this season, the second-most wins in program history. Upper Iowa improves to 40-17 and advances to play Minnesota State in the loser’s bracket final Friday evening.

Key Statistics
– Sarah Baldwin came out of the bullpen to throw five shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while striking out five Peacocks.

– Junior Torri Blythe turned in a 1-for-3 effort, reaching on a bunt single in the fourth. Blythe also stole her 22nd bag of the season, third-most in a single season in school history.

– Kiana Baderdeen finished 1-for-2 with an infield single.

– Jessica Rawie singled on a sharp line drive in the bottom of the fifth, finishing 1-for-2.

– Kendle Schieber (21-8) took the loss after allowing three runs on five hits in two-plus innings pitched. The senior tallied one strikeout.

Key Innings
– The Peacocks scored all their runs on four hits in the top of the second inning.

– Baldwin retired final 10 batters she faced, including all five of her strikeouts.

– Baderdeen opened the sixth with a sharp single up the middle that bounced off the pitcher’s glove toward third base. The freshman moved up to second on a passed ball before heading to third on a fly ball to right, but was called out after it was ruled that she left before the catch was made, thwarting the final Bearcat threat of the game.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western baseball take down Lincoln Friday 9-1

Posted on May 6, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western Baseball picked up a 9-1 victory over Lincoln on Friday evening.

The Griffons jumped on the board early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. MWSU used two errors by the Lincoln defense. Jeremy Alvarado and Orencio Fisher both picked up RBIs in the inning.

Missouri Western added another run in the bottom of the second inning. The Griffons put together three consecutive hits in the third inning, producing two more runs. MWSU took a 5-0 lead into the top of the fourth inning.

The Blue Tigers first run came in the top of the sixth inning. Mason Price doubled to right center field, bringing home Dillon Walker.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Missouri Western added four insurance runs. The Griffons were able to get the first three batters on base. Fisher picked up an RBI and David Glaude drove in two RBIs with a double to left center field. Nick Gawley drove in the final run with a sac fly RBI to center field.

Fisher, Kody Matthews, and Brandon Downs all picked up two hits for the Griffons. Fisher scored twice and added two RBIs.

Missouri Western received a quality start from senior Weston Caindec. He went seven innings, facing 26 batters and allowed just one run on four hits while striking out seven batters. Chris Estrada pitched an inning, striking out all three batters.

The Griffons and Blue Tigers will play the final regular season game at 7 p.m. on Saturday night.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest baseball loses second straight at Fort Hays State

Posted on May 6, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell on Friday evening at Fort Hays State, 4-3, at Larks Park in Hays, Kan.

– The loss drops Northwest to 24-25 overall and 19-19 in MIAA play. Fort Hays improves to 22-26 and 16-21 in
conference action.
– Nick Gotta went 4-for-5 with a run scored. He also stole a base.

– Joseph Hietpas started and went 6.0 innings. He allowed four runs with three walks and struck out eight.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored single runs in the second, sixth and seventh innings. The Bearcats had three runs on 12 hits with no errors.

– The Tigers scored four runs on 11 hits with two errors. Fort Hays got one in the first, two in in the second and one in the fifth.

– James Holler went 2-for-4 with a run scored after he doubled to lead off the second.

– Garrett Fort was 2-for-5 with an RBI in the seventh.

– Kevin Handzlik was 2-for-3 with a sacrifice bunt.

– Jay Hrdlicka went 2-for-4 on the day.

– Jake Lewis got an RBI in the second inning.

– Kolby Greenslade scored in the seventh after reaching on a fielder’s choice.

– Ross Davis pitched 0.2 innings of scoreless relief.

– Nikko Pablo came in to record the final four outs for Northwest. He allowed just one hit. He struck out one and did not issue a walk.

Key Northwest Innings
– Holler doubled to lead off the second and he went to third on a groundout to short. With one down, Lewis grounded out to short, allowing Holler to score to tie the game, 1-1.

– In the sixth, Gotta hit a leadoff single to right. After a flyout, Gotta stole second and Adams drew a walk to put two runners aboard. Holler grounded into a fielder’s choice which moved Gotta to third but a throwing error on the play allowed him to score to make it 4-2 Tigers.

– Hietpas worked a perfect sixth inning, needing just 10 pitches. He struck out the first batter and then got a foul out and a fly out.

– Hrdlicka singled with one out in the seventh but traded places with Greenslade on a fielder’s choice. With two down, Gotta hit an infield single and a throwing error allowed Greenslade to move to third. Fort came up with an RBI single to center to score Greenslade, cutting the Fort Hays lead one, 4-3.

Up Next
– The regular season concludes tomorrow with a 1 p.m. game against the Tigers.

— Northwest Athletics —

Royals’ struggles continue with 7-1 loss at Cleveland

Posted on May 6, 2016May 6, 2016

CLEVELAND (AP) — Jose Ramirez has served as the Indians’ super utilityman this season.

On Friday night he played a lead role in Cleveland’s fourth straight win, a 7-1 victory over the reeling Kansas City Royals.

Ramirez got three hits and drove in a career-high five runs as the Indians sent the World Series champion Royals to their eighth loss in 10 games.

Indians manager Terry Francona went into the season with the idea of finding as much playing time off the bench as possible for Ramirez. The switch-hitter made his seventh start at third base and has started nine times in left field.

“It’s worked out kind of like we mapped it out,” Francona said. “You want to find places for him to play so he can help you win.”

Ramirez, who batted ninth Friday, has hit in seven different spots in the lineup. He delivered a bases-loaded double in the third and a two-run double in the fifth. He singled in the second, walked in the eighth and raised his batting average to .324.

Ramirez, with winning pitcher Danny Salazar serving as a translator, said, “I feel like every time I go to home plate I have a purpose. I’m grateful to Tito for believing in me and giving me the opportunity.”

Salazar (3-2) held the Royals to four hits and struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings.

Yordano Ventura (2-2) allowed five runs and threw 97 pitches in four innings. The right-hander walked five, increasing his AL-leading total to 25.

Salazar faced the minimum until walking Alex Gordon with one out in the fifth. Lorenzo Cain, the game’s second batter, beat out a ground ball up the middle, but was caught off first by Salazar’s throw with Kendrys Morales batting to end the inning.

Salazar gave credit to catcher Yan Gomes for calling for the throw to first that caught Cain breaking off the bag.

“That was great,” he said. “I wasn’t even paying attention to that. I tried to do a quick move to first base and we got him.”

Salazar gave up two singles in the sixth and another in the seventh.

“Everything was working,” he said. “I was getting ahead in the count with the first pitch and I was coming in with the next one for a strike.”

Ventura labored through the first inning when he threw 32 pitches, but only gave up one run on Mike Napoli’s groundout.

Napoli’s single gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead in third.

Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor turned another highlight reel play in the second. He ranged behind second and fielded Salvador Perez’s grounder, got to his feet and made a strong throw to first.

Gordon’s ninth-inning single produced the Royals’ only run. The Royals have been shut out four times and scored 21 runs in their last 10 games.

“Energy dropped down a little bit tonight, but I fully expect them to come back tomorrow full of energy and ready to go,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said.

Kansas City third baseman Mike Moustakas was scratched from the lineup because of a sore left thumb. Moustakas was in the original lineup, but was removed about two hours before the first pitch.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Moustakas injured his thumb on the team’s last road trip. He wasn’t in the lineup for two games against Washington on Kansas City’s last homestand.

Indians: RHP Carlos Carrasco (strained left hamstring) is jogging and playing catch. He was injured covering first base April 24.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy faces the Indians for the first time since June 27, 2011, when he was pitching for Arizona. He broke a two-game losing streak in his last start, allowing one run in five innings against Seattle.

Indians: RHP Cody Anderson will be recalled from Triple-A Columbus to start against the Royals. He was sent down on April 27 after going 0-1 with a 7.65 ERA in four starts.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals drop series opener against Pittsburgh

Posted on May 6, 2016May 6, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jung Ho Kang homered twice and Francisco Liriano continued his dominance at Busch Stadium as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 4-2 on Friday night.

Kang, who was activated from the disabled list before the game, ripped the first pitch he saw from Tyler Lyons into the right field bullpen for a two-run homer to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead in the sixth. Kang followed with a 427-foot homer into the upper deck in left in the eighth.

Liriano (3-1) improved to 4-0 with a 2.07 ERA in six career starts at Busch Stadium. Liriano fanned 10 through seven innings for his 24th career double-digit strikeout performance of his career.

Mark Melancon got his eighth save for Pittsburgh, which won its fifth straight road game and improved to 4-0 against the Cardinals this season.

Josh Harrison’s infield single scored Starling Marte to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the second. Harrison has hit safely in 12 of his last 13 games and has nine RBI during that stretch.

Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez (4-2) left with one out in the fourth due to fatigue. He walked two of the three batters he faced in the inning to load the bases when he came out in favor of Lyons.

Martinez gave up a run in 3 1/3 innings and 29 of his 52 pitches were strikes.

Randal Grichuk scored from second on a Liriano wild pitch and Aledmys Diaz scored on a sacrifice fly in the seventh for the Cardinals runs.

BASE BURGLAR

Marte’s stolen base in the second inning was the first swipe off of Martinez in 36 innings this season. Only two runners stole bases in seven attempts against Martinez last season.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: IF Jason Rogers was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis to make room for Kang.

Cardinals: C Brayan Pena (knee) took swings from both sides of the plate from a tee and ran at 75 percent for 20 minutes on a treadmill. No timetable for a return has been set.

“They say that I’m a little bit ahead of schedule,” Pena said. “I wasn’t expecting to hit this soon and for me to go out there and hit the way I did, I felt like a 20-year-old again.”

UP NEXT

Pirates: LHP Jeff Locke (1-2, 4.473 ERA) will start the second of a three-game series on Saturday. He is 2-4 with a 3.98 ERA in eight career starts against St. Louis.

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (2-3, 6.68) is seeking his third straight win. He slugged his seventh career home run Monday against the Phillies and became the first MLB pitcher to get three straight extra base hits since Arizona’s Micah Owings on Aug. 18, 2007.

— Associated Press —

Griffons beat Minnesota Duluth 5-2 in first round of NCAA Tournament

Posted on May 5, 2016

MAGNOLIA, Ark. – The Missouri Western softball team relied on smart base running, and took advantage of some Minnesota Duluth defensive miscues, on the way to its first win in the opening game of an NCAA regional since 2005, 5-2.

After Minnesota Duluth scored one in the first, the Griffons answered with two in the bottom half and never trailed again. Missouri Western will await the winner of second seeded Southern Arkansas and seventh seeded Central Oklahoma. That game will be played at 1 p.m. on Friday.

HOW THEY SCORED
Morgan Rathmann led off the game with a single, then got to third on a sacrifice bunt by Shelbie Atwell and a throwing error by the second baseman. She scored on a wild pitch: 1-1, bot1
Katie Klsoterman singled through the left side to drive in Taylor Hamilton from third: 2-1, bot1
Megan Korgie scored on a sacrifice foul out by Paige Shiflett: 3-1 bot2
Korgie stole second on a double steal that also got Rathmann to second: 4-1 bot4
Rathmann scored from second on a throwing error by the centerfielder after Atwell flew out to center: 5-1 bot4

IN THE BOX SCORE
Rathmann reached three times, finishing 2-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Katie Klosterman went 2-3 at the plate with an RBI. Megan Korgie was 2-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base. Janie Smith pitched all seven innings and moved to 23-8 on the season, allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Despite, three Minnesota Duluth errors, all but one Missouri Western run were earned. The Griffons stranded nine runners on base, Minnesota Duluth left seven.

NOTABLES
It was the first opening round win in an NCAA regional for the program since its first regional appearance in 2005, seven straight opening round losses.
It was also the team’s first regional win since the second game of the 2014 regional, 5-0 vs. Southern Arkansas.
Morgan Rathmann picked up her 76th career stolen base and now needs just seven more to break the all-time record at Missouri Western held by Mandie Nocita (Berneking).
The win extended a season-long winning streak for Missouri Western to 10 games.

UP NEXT
Missouri Western will face the winner of Southern Arkansas vs. Central Oklahoma at 1 p.m. on Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats drop regional opener to Minnesota State

Posted on May 5, 2016May 5, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State softball team came away on the losing end of a pitcher’s duel with Minnesota State Thursday afternoon in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Softball Championship Central Region Tournament.

The tournament is being hosted by Arkansas Tech University at the Chartwells Women’s Sports Complex in Russellville, Ark.

The loss moves the Bearcats to 37-15 this season, while the Mavericks improve to 45-15 overall.

There were only four combined hits in the contest.

Northwest was unable to scrape together a run after loading the bases in the seventh inning.

Key Statistics
– Kendle Schieber (21-7) took the hard luck loss after tossing six innings of one run ball, giving up only a pair of hits. The senior struck out four MSU batters, retiring the side in order four times.
– Catcher Jessica Rawie reached base twice, finishing 1-for-2 with a walk.
– Rebecca Maher singled up the middle to lead off the top of the seventh.

Key Innings
– Minnesota State pushed across the lone run of the game in the bottom of the second when Jess Meidl lifted a solo shot to left field.

– Second baseman Torri Blythe flashed the leather several times late in the contest, including an over-the-shoulder basket catch to close the fifth inning and a nice stab going to her right in the top of the sixth.

– Maher started a Northwest rally in the top of the seventh when she slapped an 0-2 single back up the middle. Alexis Kelsey laid down a near-perfect bunt in the next at bat, but it rolled just foul. After Kelsey was retired, Chantel Adams sent a lazy pop up into shallow left that was dropped by the Maverick shortstop. Maher and Adams each advanced a base on a passed ball, putting runners in scoring position with one out for Rawie. The catcher worked a walk to load the bases, but MSU pitcher Coley Reis worked out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.

Up Next
– The Bearcats will face off with the loser of top-seeded Arkansas Tech and eighth-seeded Upper Iowa in an elimination game Friday, May 6, tentatively scheduled for 3:30 p.m. A win in that contest would mean a date in the loser’s bracket championship Friday evening at 6 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western baseball defeats Lincoln in series opener

Posted on May 5, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western Baseball snapped its four-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory over Lincoln on Thursday evening.

The Griffons produced 12 hits and scored in five of their eight innings at the plate. Missouri Western scored its first run when David Glaude homered down the right field line.

MWSU scored one run in the bottom of the second and fourth inning, moving their lead to 3-1. Lincoln answered with a run in the bottom on the sixth inning when Laban Petzoldt tripled to right field, scoring Mike Million from second base.

Missouri Western extended their lead with two runs in the seventh inning. Kody Matthews and Jeremy Alvarado both picked up RBIs in the inning, giving the Griffons a 5-2 lead

The final run of the game came on a Glaude double to left field, scoring Orencio Fisher from first base.

Glaude finished the game going 4-for-4, tallying three RBIs and scoring two runs in the game. Matthews and Landon Mason were the only other Griffons with multiple hits in the game. Fisher contributed with two runs and an RBI.

Richard Peoples pitched all nine innings, moving his record to 9-3 on the year. He allowed just seven hits and struck out seven batters.

Missouri Western and Lincoln will face off tomorrow at 7 p.m. The Griffon athletic department will honor the seniors prior to first pitch Friday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest baseball loses Thursday at Fort Hays State

Posted on May 5, 2016May 5, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell at Fort Hays State, 7-3, on Thursday evening at Larks Park in Hays, Kan.

The Bearcats fall to 24-24 on the year and 19-18 in MIAA play. The Tigers improved to 21-26 overall and 15-21 in conference action.

Kevin Handzlik went 3-for-4 on the day with an RBI and a triple.

Northwest pitchers struck out seven batters and did not issue a walk the entire game.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest got two runs in the second and one in the sixth. The Bearcats got three runs on seven hits with four errors.

– The Tigers scored seven runs on 15 hits with one error. Fort Hays got one in the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings. FHSU scored two in the sixth.

– Garrett Fort was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a double. He also drew a walk.

– Jake Lewis was 1-for-3 with a run scored. He also reached in the ninth with a walk.

– James Holler was 1-for-4 with a run scored. He hit a two-out single in the sixth and scored on Handzlik’s triple.

– Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-4 on the day.

– Nick Gotta drew a walk to lead off the eighth, his 43rd free pass of the year.

– Aaron Barratt scored the Bearcats’ second run of the day after reaching on a fielder’s choice in the second.

– Anthony Caenepeel recorded six strikeouts, going 6.0 innings. He allowed six runs but only three were earned. He did not walk a batter.

– Nikko Pablo worked the seventh inning for Northwest. He had one strikeout and allowed one run. He did not issue a walk.

– Jimmy McElwain worked a scoreless eighth inning. He allowed just one hit.

Key Northwest Innings
– Handzlik led off the second with a single to right. He went to second on a passed ball and went to third on a Lewis single. With runners on the corners, Barratt grounded into a fielder’s choice, resulting in Handzlik being tagged out between third and home. Lewis moved to third on the play and Barratt went to second. With one down, Fort doubled down the right field line to score two.

– Handzlik hit an RBI triple with two down in the top of the sixth. His three-bagger drove in Holler who singled up the middle with two down in the frame.

Up Next
– The Bearcats and the Tigers will play at 5 p.m. on Friday night in game two.

— Northwest Athletics —

Garcia goes seven, Moss hits long HR as Cardinals beat Phillies

Posted on May 5, 2016May 5, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jaime Garcia watched in wonder as teammate Brandon Moss launched a moonshot at Busch Stadium.

Garcia pitched seven sharp innings Thursday as the St. Louis Cardinals blanked the Philadelphia Phillies.

Later, Garcia wanted to rave about the 462-foot drive by Moss. It was the longest home run by a left-handed hitter in the history of new Busch Stadium, which opened in 2006.

“It was a bomb,” Garcia said. “He hit it a long way.”

Garcia also was impressive. The left-hander gave up just two hits, walked none and struck out five.

Garcia (2-2) threw 82 pitches, 61 for strikes.

“As far as stuff, it’s been great,” Garcia said. “I’ve just got to continue to build on that.”

The Phillies were certainly impressed.

“Basically, he had us eating out of his hands,” manager Pete Mackanin said. “He did everything you could ask a pitcher to do.”

Stephen Piscotty drove in two runs and also made an outstanding catch in right field to help preserve the shutout.

Moss unloaded off Jerad Eickhoff (1-4) for a solo homer in the first inning.

“I feel like I hit it really well,” Moss said. “I’m still searching for consistency, but I’ll take that one. Any homer is a good homer.”

Cardinals closer Trevor Rosenthal took over to pitch the ninth and gave up two quick singles.

Andres Blanco followed with a foul flyball to right and Piscotty ran a long way, then made a hard, headfirst dive onto the dirt for the catch.

“It was a great effort by our guys all over the field,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “We put together something late offensively, something good to build on.”

The Phillies threatened in the fifth after Cameron Rupp and Tyler Goeddel singled, but Peter Bourjos lined into a double play.

St. Louis scored three times in the seventh. Ruben Tejada hit a sacrifice fly and Piscotty delivered a bases-loaded double with two outs.

The Phillies scored just eight runs in the four-game series and lost three times. They were shut out twice.

“We’re not frustrated at all,” shortstop Freddy Galvis said. “That’s baseball right there. Sometimes you’re going to score runs, sometimes you’re not. We’ll be fine. We just have to keep working.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: 1B Matt Adams exited the game in the fourth because of a bruised left knee. He collided with Rupp on a play at first base in the first inning. He is listed as day-to-day.

“He took a knee to the quad,” Matheny said.

UP NEXT

Phillies: RHP Vince Velasquez (4-1, 1.44) will open a three-game series at Miami on Friday. He has not allowed an earned run in three of five starts this season. He will be opposed by LHP Wei-Yin Chen (2-1, 4.26) The Phillies are in the middle of a 10-game road trip.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (4-1, 2.60) faces Pittsburgh LHP Francisco Liriano (2-1, 3.86) in the opener of a three-game series on Friday. Martinez had pitched at least six innings in all five starts this season.

— Associated Press —