Dave Riggert – Page 474 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Kansas routs Austin Peay to win 10th straight NCAA Tournament opener

Posted on March 17, 2016

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Kansas earned the top overall seed for the NCAA tournament without getting much of anything from Svi Mykhailiuk.

If the Ukranian guard steps up, look out.

Mykhailiuk scored a career-high 23 points on 9-of-11 shooting and Perry Ellis had 21, leading the Jayhawks to a 105-79 victory over Austin Peay on Thursday.

Landen Lucas added 16 points for the Jayhawks (31-4), who will face Connecticut on Saturday with a chance to return to the Sweet 16 for the first time since 2013.

“We played pretty well in stretches. Didn’t guard as well as we needed to guard to have a chance to advance past Saturday,” Kansas coach Bill Self said. “So we’ve got to tighten that up. I do like how our bench played.”

Kansas, the No. 1 seed in the South Region, jumped ahead by 20 by halftime and cruised to its 10th straight win in an NCAA tournament opener.

Josh Robinson scored 24 points for the Governors (18-18), who learned quickly that the magic they leaned on to win four straight and the Ohio Valley title was no match for the talented Jayhawks.

“I think it’s pretty clear Kansas is obviously a really talented basketball team. Great size, athletic ability,” Austin Peay coach Dave Loos said.

Kansas entered this year’s tournament as one of the favorites to win it all after dominating the brutal Big 12 for most the season. Self is looking for his second national championship, and the Jayhawks got off to a strong start by dismantling the overmatched Governors.

The most promising development was the play of Mykhailiuk.

Mykhailiuk, an 18-year-old reserve whose production often has failed to live up to his promise, didn’t even score in wins over Baylor and West Virginia in the recent Big 12 tournament. But he hit three of his first four 3-point attempts, and his three-point play early in the second half helped put Austin Peay away after it closed to 61-44.

“It’s like that all the time in practice. He didn’t surprise me because I see it all the time from him,” Kansas forward Jamari Traylor said. “He’s just got to stay confident like this.”

Kansas star Wayne Selden, who averaged a paltry 2.5 points in four previous NCAA tournament games and was shut out in a loss to Wichita State last March, also impressed with seven points in the first 12 minutes. He finished with 14 points.

Any hope the Governors had at pulling off a monumental upset, or even staying close, was done in by a brutal start from the floor. Austin Peay hit just seven of its first 24 shots, with many of those misses from close range.

Chris Horton had 14 points and 10 rebounds in his final game for the Governors.

TIP-INS

Kansas: Even though Kansas was barely bothered by the Governors, Self was his usual animated, well, self. After a rare Mykhailiuk mistake, Self screamed “Svi! What are you doing? Good God!”…The Jayhawks shot 56 percent from the field.

Austin Peay: The Governors fell to 2-8 in the NCAA Tournament. Their last win came in 1987 over Illinois, 68-67. … Austin Peay actually led for 1:18 in the first half before Kansas got rolling.

STAR POWER

Mykhailiuk didn’t score at all in the NCAA tournament last season. But he was the best player on the floor at times on Thursday, hitting four 3s and shooting 5-of-6 from inside 20 feet.

STAT LINES

The Governors were just 4-of-15 from 3-point range. But surprisingly, they got the free-throw line 10 more times than Kansas and went 25 of 37. … Devonte Graham went scoreless for Kansas but dished out six assists.

UP NEXT

Kansas will face ninth-seeded Connecticut in the second round on Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Morales hits first homer, helps spark Royals past LA

Posted on March 17, 2016

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Kendrys Morales hit his first home run this spring, helping the Kansas City Royals to a 5-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.

Morales hit a 2-run shot off Dodgers left-hander J.P. Howell over left field in a four-run fifth inning.

Morales also singled in the first off Dodgers left-hander Alex Wood, who gave up one run on four hits in three innings in his second spring start.

Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was pleased with Wood’s work.

“It was a productive outing,” Roberts said. “The ball was coming out of his hand really well. He mixed in some change-ups. He commanded the fastball.”

STARTING TIME

Royals: Right-hander Kris Medlen worked four innings in his third spring start, giving up one run on three hits and striking out four.

“I felt it was similar to my last start,” Medlen said. “I had to get used to the mound. I was able to make the adjustment. The hits I gave up for runs were strikes, on 0-2 and 1-2. I just tried to pound the zone.”

Dodgers: Woods was scratched from a scheduled start last weekend because of tightness in his forearm.

“It felt good, it was good,” Woods said Thursday. “I had one goal and that was to be efficient.”

Roberts said the Dodgers would probably break camp with Woods as the No. 4 starter behind Clayton Kershaw, Scott Kazmir and Kenta Maeda.

The fifth spot is still up for grabs, with Brandon Beachy, Mike Bolsinger and Zach Lee the contenders.

ROSTER MOVES

Julio Urias, a 19-year-old pitching prospect, was one of seven players cut Thursday by the Dodgers. He was re-assigned to minor league camp.

Urias had been in the hunt for the fifth spot in the rotation. But his inexperience led to mistakes in his two spring appearances. He gave up four runs on five hits over three innings. Still, his potential was evident when he struck out the first three batters he faced.

Other Dodger cuts were RHP Jose De Leon, RHP Yaisel Sierra, RHP Ross Stripling, LHP Ian Thomas, INF Micah Johnson and C Jack Murphy.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Jarrod Dyson (strained abdominal muscle) has begun throwing. There is no timetable on when he can begin hitting. He is expected to miss the first two weeks of regular season. . RHP Brian Duensing suffered a bruised ankle Wednesday in a 10-0 victory over the Cubs.

Dodgers: Howie Kendrick is expected to be back at second base Friday against the Diamondbacks. Kendrick, who was a designated hitter in a Tuesday game, is coming back from groin injury.

UP NEXT

Royals: Kansas City plays split-squad games Friday, one in San Antonio against the Rangers. RHP Dillon Gee is set to start against Rangers LHP Derek Holland. The other game is at the Royals’ spring home in Surprise, with Miguel Altamonte facing the Angels’ Matt Shoemaker in a match of right-handers.

Dodgers: Los Angeles travels to Scottsdale, with Beachy set to make his second start and his third appearance in spring against the Diamondbacks. Arizona plans to counter with RHP Zack Godley.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals’ rally comes up short in spring loss to Detroit

Posted on March 17, 2016

LAKELAND, Fla. (AP) — Miguel Cabrera hit his third homer of the spring and Mike Pelfrey pitched five scoreless innings for the second straight time to lead the Detroit Tigers past the St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Thursday.

JaCoby Jones and Nate Schierholtz also homered for the Tigers.

Pelfrey struck out three and allowed three hits in his fourth start of the spring. He lowered his ERA to 1.17.

“I feel good,” said Pelfrey, who came to Detroit as a free agent after making 30 starts with Minnesota last season. “My goal was to come down here and build arm strength and endurance, but I am really not paying attention to the (shutout) streak. I just want to make the rotation.”

The Tigers are set at the top of the rotation with Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez and newcomer Jordan Zimmerman. The last two spots could go many ways, but Pelfrey and Daniel Norris are considered the leading candidates. Matt Boyd and Shane Greene, both established major league starters, are also in the mix.

Manager Brad Ausmus said he isn’t making any decisions yet with two weeks left in spring training.

Pelfrey was 6-11 with a 4.26 ERA last season with the Twins.

“I’m getting ahead of hitters,” he said. “I’m getting ground balls and it is letting me go deep into the game.”

Pelfrey wanted to go an extra inning and that was nixed, but he went out and threw 15 more pitches in the bullpen.

“This is a team with high expectations,” Pelfrey said of Detroit, which finished in the AL Central basement last season after four straight division titles. “We have big goals and I want to be a part of this rotation and what we want to do.”

STARTING TIME

Carlos Martinez started for the Cardinals and went 2 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs while walking one. His spring ERA is at 5.79. Martinez went 14-7 with a 3.01 ERA last year and Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said he isn’t worried.

“His change-up was good, his slider looked good, and when he can throw the change and the slider on a 3-2 count for strikes, he’s going to be tough to hit,” Matheny said. “His slider is only getting better.”

RUNNING REDBIRDS

The Cardinals lead the majors in stolen bases this spring with 25 in 32 attempts. Tommy Pham stole his fourth base of the season. Charlie Pilson leads the team with five.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright will start his third game of the spring on Friday against the Tigers in Jupiter.

Tigers: Matt Boyd will make his fourth start of the spring against the Cardinals. He is battling for the final spot in the crowded Tigers’ rotation.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western tennis loses at Northwest Missouri State 7-2

Posted on March 16, 2016

MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team suffered their first loss of the season as they fell at rival Northwest Missouri State Wednesday 7-2.

The Griffons received a strong start in the No. 1 doubles spot as Yasmine El Ghazi and Sofia Aguilera claimed an 8-4 victory over Rachel Dibbins and Lorena Rivas Jarolim. In the No. 2 doubles position the Griffons dropped a tough 9-8 match and fell in the No. 3 doubles match 8-3.

Missouri Western dropped five singles matches and earned their only victory in the No. 5 spot as Joanna Abreu Roman dominated her opponent 7-5 and 6-0. The Griffons were able to keep it close in three other matches but couldn’t find a victory as the Bearcats shut the door.

Singles competition
1. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NWMSU) def. Aguilera, Sofia (MWSU) 6-2, 6-4
2. Emersic,Kaja (NWMSU) def. El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) 6-7, 6-2, 10-6
3. Jacquet,Margaux (NWMSU) def. Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) 6-3, 7-6
4. Gallardo,Andrea (NWMSU) def. Smith, Meara (MWSU) 7-5, 6-4
5. Abreu Roman, Joanna (MWSU) def. Sestokaite,Vilune (NWMSU) 7-5, 6-0
6. Berghaus,Marie (NWMSU) def. Chiao, Denise (MWSU) 6-1, 6-2

Doubles competition
1. Aguilera, Sofia/El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas/Dibbins,Rachel (NWMSU) 8-4
2. Kolen,Aniek/Jacquet,Margaux (NWMSU) def. Abreu Roman, Joanna/Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) 9-8
3. Emersic,Kaja/Gallardo,Andrea (NWMSU) def. Beger, Lindsay/Chiao, Denise (MWSU) 8-3

The Griffons will return home on Sunday, March 20th starting at 1 p.m. MWSU will play its home matches at the Noyes Tennis Courts this year.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou baseball defeats Southeast Missouri State 13-6

Posted on March 16, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball (14-5) won its final game of the series against Southeast Missouri (10-8), 13-6, on Wednesday afternoon thanks to a eight-hit, eight-run fifth inning, the most runs scored in an inning by Mizzou since Feb. 21, 2014, against Radford.

Four Mizzou batters recorded a multi-RBI game including Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.), Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.), Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.), and Shane Benes (Town and Country, Mo.), who led the offense with three on the night. Ian Nelson (Lake St. Louis, Mo.) led Mizzou’s offense with two hits for his second multi-hit game of the season. Senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) also tallied two hits. Mizzou’s 6-through-9 batters had five hits and eight RBI in the win.

Ryan Lee (Grandview, Mo.) got the start for Mizzou in his fourth appearance of the season. Through four innings of work, Lee tallied a season-high five strikeouts with four runs on five hits. Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) earned his first win of the season in relief of Lee.

Garrett Gandolfo opened up the scoring for Southeast Missouri with a line shot up the middle to drive in the first run of the game. A single to right field by Ryan Rippee scored Branden Boggetto, followed by an error on Bond to score Gandolfo giving, Southeast Missouri the 3-0 lead.

Bartlett entered the game in the fifth inning in relief for Lee with bases loaded and no outs. He successfully got out of the inning forcing the Redhawks to ground into a double play and ground out to short, limiting the damage to just one run.

Mizzou answered in the fifth, loading the bases with two walks to both Sharp and Bond and a single to the right side for Nelson, his second of the night. Brumfield came through with a banger through the right side, knocking in Sharp and Bond for his 14th and 15th RBI of the season.

Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) kept the ball rolling as he brought Nelson home with a sacrifice fly to deep right field, pulling Mizzou to within one. The rally continued as both Benes and Bond recorded two-run singles to left field to extend the lead. Sharp crossed the plate on a wild-pitch, putting the inning total at eight runs.

Southeast Missouri threatened in the seventh with a pair of RBI singles by Trevor Ezell and Boggetto of off Bartlett, who sat for nearly 45 minutes during Mizzou’s eight-run fifth which featured five SEMO pitching changes. Senior LHP Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) entered the game for Mizzou and retired Rippee with a strike out looking.

Mizzou’s offensive effort continued into the bottom of the eighth as Southeast Missouri pitcher Justin Murphy walked in a run. Sharp tallied his first hit of the night with a two-run single through the right side, padding the lead for Mizzou. All 10 Mizzou batters reached base safely during the game.

Mizzou heads to No. 1 Florida to open SEC play this weekend in a three-game set. Game one will be Friday at 6 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Young throws 4 scoreless innings as Royals top Cubs 10-0

Posted on March 16, 2016

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Chris Young pitched four scoreless innings and Christian Colon snapped a 0-for-23 skid with his first two hits of the spring as the Kansas City Royals topped the Chicago Cubs 10-0 on Wednesday.

Young, who pitched out of a bases-loaded one-out jam in the fourth, allowed two hits, walked two and struck out five.

“The fastball command was really good, the slider command was pretty good,” Young said. “It’s my bread and butter, overall it was decent.”

Colon, who had not had a hit since his go-ahead RBI single in the 12th inning of Game 5 of the World Series against the New York Mets, doubled in the fifth and singled in the seventh.

“Really the mentality was, don’t think about yourself,” Colon said. “Sometime when you go oh-for so long, you start thinking I’ve got to do this, I’ve got to do that, but it’s just about the team. It’s always about the team. Everybody in the dugout was super pumped. It feels good to get hits, that’s for sure, no matter if they count or not.”

Reymond Fuentes, who is trying to earn a job as a spare outfielder, hit a three-run homer in the seventh and drove in Colon with a fifth inning single. Dusty Coleman hit a two-run homer in the eighth.

Cubs right-hander John Lackey allowed two runs on six hits over five innings, walking none and striking out four.

Royals left-hander David Huff inherited a bases-loaded, no-out mess in the seventh when Brian Duensing left with a bruised left ankle after being struck by a Javier Baez liner. Huff got out of it on three pitches on a Kristopher Negron popup and Arismendy Alcantara grounding into a double play.

STARTING TIME:

Cubs: Lackey threw 49 strikes in 66 pitches over five innings. “I think four was the plan, but the pitch count was pretty good, so we went ahead and fired another one out there,” Lackey said. “I felt really good about it. I’m still trying to establish a fastball, still trying to work on that. They are obviously a real good fastball-hitting team, so it was a nice test today for sure.”

Royals: In the first three innings, Young threw 21 pitches — nine in the first, five in the second and seven in the third. “You look at pitch counts, but the up and down, the rest time in between where you go in the dugout, you sit for five or 10 minutes and lose your sweat and you have to go back out and warm up,” he said. “That’s as taxing sometimes as the pitch count.” Young threw 26 pitches in the fourth and then went to the bullpen to reach 60 for the day. “I’m roughly 60 percent to where I need to be,” he said. “A few more outings and I should be able to get there. I’m more or less happy where I am.”

ON THE ROAD

A Royals split squad will play the Rangers on Friday and Saturday at the San Antonio Alamodome. The traveling squad includes 1B Eric Hosmer, C Salvador Perez, OF Lorenzo Cain, Colon and manager Ned Yost.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: OF Matt Murton, who had an appendectomy in early March, appeared in a simulated game Tuesday.

Royals: Duensing is listed as day to day with an ankle contusion. . RHP Edinson Volquez has arm fatigue and has been scratched for Friday’s game in San Antonio against the Rangers. . RHP Edinson Volquez has the flu and will skip his Saturday start. . OF Jarrod Dyson, who pulled his oblique in the first spring game, has begun running and throwing. “Getting there,” Dyson said.

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Jason Hammel, who has thrown six scoreless innings in his first two outings, will start against the Diamondbacks on Thursday.

Royals: RHP Kris Medlen will face the Dodgers on Thursday.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals/Braves game ends in 8-8 tie Wednesday

Posted on March 16, 2016

KISSIMMEE, Fla. (AP) — Jaime Garcia cruised through three innings before allowing four runs on four hits and the St. Louis Cardinals blew a three-run lead before playing to an 8-all tie with the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday.

“Those were three really good innings and the fourth was spring training,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “Besides that, he looked great. Maybe he got a little fatigued in the fourth, but he didn’t say he did.”

Kolten Wong and Jedd Gyorko both drove in runs as the Cardinals took a quick 3-0 lead off Braves starter Jhoulys Chacin, who gave up three runs on eight hits in three innings.

“(I was) leaving too many pitches in the middle and trying to get my fastball away — I was missing the middle,” Chacin said. “Big league guys are going to put a good swing on it and get bases. I need to get better location with my four-seam fastball and that was what was missing today.”

Added Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, “Chacin has been pitching just as well as anyone up until today, but we’ll chalk this up to spring training and move on.”

Garcia allowed just a hit through his first three innings, but after a lead-off single by Ozzie Albies and walk to Jeff Francoeur, Hector Olivera and Gordon Beckham both drove in runs. Ryan Lavarnway hit a two-run double to give the Braves a 4-3 lead in the fourth.

The Braves had a four-run eighth behind a two-RBI double by Jace Peterson to regain the lead.

Carlos Peguero hit a pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth to tie the game.

CHIPPER IN CAMP

The Braves’ Hall of Fame, switch-hitting 3B Chipper Jones made his first appearance in camp Wednesday, donning a blue No. 10 jersey as part of the organization for the first time since he retired in 2012.

“Just to put the uniform back on feels good,” he said.

In December, the Braves announced Jones would join the team’s front office as a special assistant to baseball operations, which involves him assisting the team, as well as providing batting instruction, periodically throughout the year.

“It’s nice to be privy to information I wasn’t privy to when I was playing,” he said. “From listening to (former Braves manager) Bobby Cox and others talk, it’s really been a learning experience. It’s been a blast since I’ve been back.”

In a 19-year career with the Braves, Jones batted .303 with 468 home runs, 2,726 hits and 1,623 RBI en route to winning the 1999 NL MVP award and a World Series title in 1995. He has become part of a recent trend for the Braves’ front office, which has brought back players from the team’s formative years, when it won 14-straight division titles from 1991-2005.

In February, the Braves announced Jones’ teammate and former outfielder Andruw Jones would also become a special assistant to baseball operations.

“We had some great years together and we will forever be linked, not only from our playing time, but from our last name as well,” Chipper Jones said.

He plans to make an appearance at every homestand during the regular season and has been asked to work with some of the younger players, such as shortstop Dansby Swanson, the 2015 No. 1 overall pick, whom the Braves got in a December trade with Arizona.

“I just spoke with (Swanson) for 10-15 minutes,” Jones said. “I have not put eyes on him in the field, but he’s impressed in camp and everyone here really likes him.”

Jones said he’s still easing into his new role with the only major league team he’s ever known and is unsure if it will lead to a more managerial or coaching role.

“This is just me dipping my toe in the water to see if I like it,” he said. “Ideally, I’d like to climb the ladder without having the put the uniform on day in and day out, for right now. Things could change. I lived out of a suitcase for 23 years, and I like my life the way it is right now.”

MOLINA MOVING ALONG

Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina (thumb) batted ninth in the lineup and caught behind the plate but did not take full swing at a pitch. In two at-bats, Molina laid down a sac bunt and struck out looking.

“It’s part of the process and he’s just following as the medical team says,” Matheny said. “Every day he’s getting closer, and it’s some of the best I’ve seen him swing during BP.”

In the fourth, 2B Ozzie Albies stole second on Molina, with the catcher’s throw coming up short on a hop to SS Jedd Gyorko.

STARTING TIME

Braves: Chacin threw 53 pitches, 38 for strikes, in three innings pitched. He struck out two batters and issued a walk.

Cardinals: Garcia struck out six batters and allowed two walks over four innings. He batted eighth in the lineup in a move Matheny used to protect Molina, who has yet to take a full swing at a live pitch. Garcia grounded into a fielder’s choice and struck out looking in two at bats.

UP NEXT

Braves: RHP Williams Perez will face Houston in a split-squad match at home, while Mike Foltynewicz will take the mound against Washington in Viera in the other split-squad game Thursday.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez is scheduled to start in Lakeland against Detroit. The Tigers have Mike Pelfrey scheduled to take the mound.

— Associated Press —

Bearcats come up short against Augustana in regional championship 80-78

Posted on March 16, 2016

By David Boyce, Northwest Athletics

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Northwest Missouri State’s valiant comeback effort from being seven points down with 2 minutes left fell just short Tuesday evening in the Central Regional championship game at the Sanford Pentagon.

With 4.6 seconds left, sophomore Jordan Spencer made two free throws, lifting Augustana to an 80-78 win in front of 3,221 screaming fans. The game ended with the Vikings tipping away a pass near midcourt.

But the Bearcats definitely put a scare into Augustana. Trailing 73-67 with 2 minutes left, Northwest battled back and tied the game at 78-78 on a basket by sophomore Justin Pitts with 25 seconds left.

“Our kids are tough,” said Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. “They are down seven in that atmosphere and they don’t panic.”

Augustana called timeout after Pitts’ basket. Spencer dribbled the ball until 10 seconds remained and then he drove to the basket. Junior Zach Schneider blocked the layup attempt but was whistled for a foul. Spencer made the clutch free throws.

“It was a great college basketball game,” said Augustana coach Tom Billeter. “I was saying all day to anybody who cared to listen that it was going to come down to the last possession and it did. I thought both teams played a hard-fought college basketball game. I think the fans got their money’s worth.

“I tip my hat to Ben McCollum and his staff and the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats. I thought they played a great game. They have a great player in Justin Pitts, and they have a great team.”

The loss snapped Northwest’s 17-game winning streak. The Bearcats finished the season 27-6. Augustana, 31-2, will carry a 12-game winning streak into the Elite Eight, which will be March 23-26 in Frisco, Texas.

“We would like to congratulate Augustana,” McCollum said. “They played a good game. They are a tough, physical team. They earned the right to get there.

“I couldn’t be prouder of my kids. To comeback from where they were at, down seven or eight with 3 ½ minutes to go, I said in the huddle, ‘Do you want to start trapping or scramble a little bit.’ Not one of them wanted to. Let’s just get the stop coach and they did and fought back and kept fighting and fighting.

“Conner Crooker was on a mission and Justin Pitts is probably the best player in Division II.”

Pitts, the Central Region Most Outstanding Player, finished with 34 points and Crooker, who joined Pitts on the All-Tournament team, added 19.

“We knew they were going to key on Justin a lot so I had to be ready,” Crooker said. “I was confident in my drives. My teammates tell me to be confident, too.”

The start of the second half looked like it was going to mirror the first half, which was filled with ties and lead changes. Northwest started the second half down by one and gave up the first point. A three-pointer by Pitts put Northwest ahead 40-39.

Augustana went back ahead and Northwest came right back on a basket by Crooker that gave the Bearcats a 43-42 lead.

The Vikings then scored the next eight points for a 50-43 lead. Northwest scored the next five points, but the Vikings responded with a three-pointer from senior Casey Schilling.

“I thought it hurt a little bit,” McCollum said. “I am not sure what happened. We had a few turnovers and then they got run outs. They made us pay a couple of times.”

The rest of the second half, each time it appeared Northwest was about to catch and overtake Augustana, the Vikings came up with a clutch shot.

“It was huge,” Schilling said of keeping the lead. “We really go on the first 5 minutes. That is our big deal. We want to push this lead and go get it. Every time they threw a punch, we hit them right back. We had a bunch of guys who kept coming and were ready when it was their turn.”

But the Bearcats never quit. When they trailed 73-67 with 2 minutes remaining, Northwest fought back. A three-point play by Pitts with a minute left pulled Northwest to within two at 78-76.

“I looked at coach Mac and he said get the ball and go and try to get a foul or score,” Pitts said. “I was trying to attack.”

The only thing that separated the two teams in the first half was Augustana made two more three-pointers and that allowed the Vikings to take a slim 38-37 lead into halftime.

A three-pointer by freshman John Warren late in the first half gave Augustana the one-point lead.

Throughout the first half, the action went back and forth without either team grabbing hold of the momentum. The biggest lead was five points. It came at the start of the game with Chris-Ebou Ndow scoring a layup for Northwest and he followed that with a three-pointer, give the Bearcats a 5-0 lead.

Augustana responded with a three-pointer from senior Alex Richter. Northwest maintained the lead until Augustana went up 14-12 on a basket by Warren. It was the first of nine lead changes in the first half. There were also eight ties. The biggest lead Augustana had in the first half was two points.

Once again, Pitts played at a MVP caliber in the first half, scoring 16 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field. Augustana countered with Schilling, who scored 13 points, going 5-for-6 from the field. For the half, Northwest shot 59 percent compared to 48 percent for Augustana.

— Northwest Athletics —

Western extends winning streak to eight with sweep of Truman State

Posted on March 16, 2016

KIRKSVILLE, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team has now won eight straight games, picking up two wins on Tuesday afternoon at Truman State. MWSU earned a 6-1 victory in game one and hit their way into the record book in game two, winning 19-9.

GAME 1: MWSU 6, Truman State 1

Missouri Western won its seventh straight game in impressive fashion, jumping out to a 6-0 lead before winning 6-1 at Truman State.

David Glaude started another hot game at the plate with an RBI single in the first. Landon Mason added his own RBI single in the second and Cosimo Cannella drove in two with an RBI in the second to put the Griffons up 4-0 after two. Glaude picked up another RBI with a solo home run in the fourth. Glaude finished 3-5 in the game with two RBIs.

Alex Clavet got the win, pitching six innings and allowing just four hits and one earned run. Clavet struck out four and walked two. Preston Bailey finished off Truman State, pitching the seventh and recording two strikeouts.

Game 2: MWSU 19, Truman State 9

Missouri Western erupted for 28 hits and 19 runs in the second game of the double header. The 28 hits are the most by any team in Griffon Baseball history and tied a record by bringing 53 players to the plate.

In the opening inning, the Griffons scored six runs on seven hits on the first 15 pitches. Nick Gawley produced the first runs of the game, doubling down the left field line and picking up two RBIs. Brandon Downs followed that up with an RBI single through the left side. Cannella continued the hot bats, hitting a three-run home run to left field giving the Griffons a 6-0 lead.

Jeremy Alvarado blasted his way into the record books as well. He had three home runs in the game and 13 total bases, putting him in first in both categories in Griffon history. Alvardo had a two-run home run in the fourth inning, and solo home runs coming in the fifth and ninth inning.

Brandon Downs also contributed a three-run home run in the top of the fifth inning. Downs finished the game with three-runs scored and five RBIs. Cannella finished the game with three-runs scored and five RBIs as well. Three other Griffons picked up at least one RBI in the game.

Richard Peoples tallied the win, as he pitched one inning while facing four batters. He is now 3-1 on the season. Evan Jones got the start on the mound, lasting three innings and allowing just one run. The Griffons used four other pitchers to complete the game.

Missouri Western will return home for a three game series against Missouri Southern starting March 18 at 4 p.m. They will finish the series on Saturday and Sunday with expected start times of 1 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest baseball loses at Quincy 14-3

Posted on March 15, 2016March 15, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Quincy University, 14-3, on Tuesday afternoon at QU Stadium in Quincy, Ill.

The Bearcats fall to 10-9 on the year while Quincy improved to 10-3.

The Bearcats got three runs on 11 hits but committed three errors. The Hawks had 14 runs on 15 hits with two errors.

Ozzie Adams was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

Jay Hrdlicka was also 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Garrett Fort went 2-for-5 with a double. He stole his seventh base of the year in the fifth inning.

Kevin Handzlik was 1-for-3 with an RBI.

Kolby Greenslade went 1-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Jake Lewis, Austin Wulff and James Holler all picked up hits for Northwest.

Nick Gotta and Nikko Pablo each drew walks in the game.

The Bearcats used five pitchers on the day. Jacob Wagner worked a perfect seventh inning on the hill, recording a strikeout.

Greenslade hit a leadoff single to right and stole second base to start the second inning. Fort doubled to move Greenslade up to third with no outs. Adams singled through the right side to score Greenslade but Fort was tagged out at third. Gotta reached on a fielder’s choice but Adams was safe on a throwing error by the short stop. After a foul out, Handzlik came up with a big RBI single down the left field line to score Adams to give Northwest a 2-1 lead.

Hrdlicka singled to lead off the eighth after a lightning delay. Wulff followed it with a single to right allowing Hrdlicka to move from first to third. After a strikeout, Barratt hit into a fielder’s choice that allowed Hrdlicka to score.

Northwest resumes MIAA play on Friday, March 18, against Lincoln University at Bearcat Field at 3 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —