Dave Riggert – Page 482 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Missouri women come up short against Auburn in SEC Tournament opener

Posted on March 3, 2016March 3, 2016

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Jazmine Jones led a balanced attack with 10 points and ninth-seeded Auburn held off eighth-seeded Missouri 47-45 in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday.

Auburn was holding the 47-45 lead when Brandy Montgomery had her shot blocked by Missouri’s Sophie Cunningham with 24 seconds left. Missouri worked the ball inside but it was deflected out of bounds with 2.3 seconds left. On the inbounds play under the basket, Cierra Porter cut down the lane for the inbounds pass but her contested layup was short off the rim and time ran out.

Auburn (19-11) plays league-champion and second-ranked South Carolina on Friday.

Morgan Stock hit five 3-pointers and scored 17 points for Missouri (21-9) and Lindsey Cunningham added 11. Missouri had 20 turnovers and shot just 35 percent, 25 in the second half.

Auburn shot 42 percent, 37 in the second half when it outscored Missouri 18-17.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western baseball holds on to defeat SBU in series opener

Posted on March 3, 2016March 3, 2016

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team held off a ninth inning rally by Southwest Baptist to win a wild one, 16-15, Thursday in Bolivar.

The Griffons led 16-12 after the top of the ninth but allowed three Southwest Baptist runs before recording the final out. Southwest Baptist ended the game at third base when a runner tried stretching a double into a triple. Southwest Baptist seemed to have an answer for every Missouri Western flurry of runs. The Griffons opened with three runs in the first that SBU answered. The Griffons added four in the top of the fourth to go up 8-3, but SBU added a pair in the bottom of the fourth. Missouri Western was up 13-5 heading to the bottom of the sixth when SBU score four. Southwest Baptist added three more in the seventh and the three in the bottom of the ninth. Each team had 17 hits.

The run-fest made for some impressive individual hitting performances. Cosimo Cannella went 4-6 at the plate with five RBIs and two runs scored. Landon Mason also had four hits, going 4-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Orencio Fisher was 3-5 at the plate with three RBIs and three runs scored. Cannella, Jeremy Alvarado and Kody Matthews all homered in the game.

The win improved Missouri Western to 6-5 on the year and 2-2 in MIAA play. The two teams continue the series with a game on Saturday and the finale on Sunday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Kansas City gets blanked by Texas in second spring training game

Posted on March 3, 2016March 3, 2016

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — The Royals’ Edinson Volquez allowed one run in the first inning in an otherwise tidy spring training debut, though the Texas Rangers went on to rout Kansas City 10-0 on Thursday.

Volquez was pitching for the first time since Game 5 of the World Series, when he returned from the Dominican Republic for the funeral of his father to allow two hits over six innings.

The Royals went on to beat the New York Mets in 12 innings for their first championship since 1985.

“I’ve got some fans now. Somebody loves me,” said Volquez, who gave a quick bow to the Royals-heavy crowd that cheered as he exited. “Getting a standing ovation in spring training, you don’t see that too often.”

The only run Volquez allowed came when left fielder Brett Eibner lost Mitch Moreland’s high fly ball in the sun, allowing Lewis Brinson to scoot home from second base for a 1-0 lead.

Joey Gallo drove in a run and Ryan Rua’s double brought in two more in the fourth for Texas, while Brett Nicholas hit a two-run homer in the eighth and James Jones went deep in a four-run ninth.

Derek Holland, who was limited to 15 starts the last two years because of knee and shoulder injuries, allowed three hits and a walk in 1 2/3 innings for the Rangers.

“I don’t talk about it. It’s over. I focus on 2016,” Holland said of his health. “I don’t care about what happened in the past. It’s over. I’ve got to look forward to now.”

PROFAR PRODUCES

Once the No. 1 prospect in baseball, Texas SS Jurickson Profar played infield for the first time since March 22, 2013. He missed the last two years with shoulder injuries and was limited to DH duties during the Arizona Fall League. “I feel good,” said Profar, who went 1 for 2 with a walk. “I wish I had more groundballs.”

STARTING TIME

Royals: A notoriously slow starter in spring, Volquez was pleased with performance. He allowed two hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings while working on a slight mechanical tweak with his fastball.

Rangers: Holland got Jose Martinez to ground out with the bases loaded in the first, then exited with a runner on base in the second. Holland threw 37 pitches.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RF Jarrod Dyson has a strained right oblique and will likely begin the season on the DL. He felt pain Tuesday and hurt it during his first at-bat Wednesday. Asked about the six-week recovery time, he said: “Anybody can throw a timeline out there. I have to see how my body is going to respond.”

Rangers: RHP Jeremy Guthrie, who spent the past four seasons in Kansas City, was scratched before the first pitch with a stiff lower back. “I tried to pitch,” he said, “but they wouldn’t let me.”

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Yordano Ventura makes his spring debut against the Padres in Peoria. Ventura had an up-and-down season a year ago after starting out as the opening-day starter.

Rangers: Ian Desmond makes his debut in LF against the Dodgers in Surprise. Desmond spent seven seasons playing SS for the Nationals. He made two appearances in RF for them.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals defeat Marlins 4-3 in spring opener

Posted on March 3, 2016March 3, 2016

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Tyler Lyons was back on the mound Thursday for the St. Louis Cardinals, the stakes slightly smaller than the last time he pitched.

Even so, he wanted to throw well — and did.

Lyons allowed one run in three innings to help the Cardinals win their spring training opener against the Miami Marlins 4-3.

Last year Lyons made eight starts, and he threw seven scoreless innings when the Cardinals beat Pittsburgh to clinch the NL Central in the final week of the season.

“Any time you have success like that on a big stage, it tells you you can do it,” Lyons said. “That was a good one to go into the offseason and have that to remember. Hopefully that’s something I can build off.”

Manager Mike Matheny remembered Lyons’ last start as one of the best all season for St. Louis.

“He’s a talented kid,” Matheny said. “It’s just a matter of him putting it together. … He had a great tempo today. We’ve been working on him being quicker to the plate, and he has made a great adjustment. And his stuff was real good.”

Lyons gave up a homer and double to Marcell Ozuna but allowed only one other baserunner. He threw 41 pitches.

The left-hander is expected to be in the bullpen this season but might also be a spot starter, Matheny said. Lyons has a 4.27 ERA in 40 appearances over the past three seasons.

Brandon Moss and Carlos Peguero hit back to back doubles for St. Louis in the second off Tom Koehler. Miami’s Adeiny Hechavarria went 2 for 2.

STARTING TIME

Marlins: Koehler, expected to be Miami’s No. 3 starter, threw 41 pitches in 1 2/3 innings. He allowed three runs, two earned.

Even by first-game standards, it was a shaky outing, manager Don Mattingly said.

“You don’t want it to look like that,” he said.

“I was very anxious playing a game again,” Koehler said. “It has been six months. The line obviously was not what I wanted to see, but at this point I’m not too concerned about that.”

COMEBACK BID

The Cardinals’ Jeremy Hefner, trying to come back from two Tommy John operations, allowed one earned run in two innings.

BACKUP CANDIDATE

The Marlins’ Justin Maxwell hit a homer and robbed Patrick Wisdom of a homer with a catch in center field. Maxwell is a contender for a roster spot as backup outfielder.

“He can play all three outfield spots,” Mattingly said. “He’s a versatile guy who gives us some depth. This is great opportunity for him to swing the bat and show us what he can do.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

CARDINALS: RHP Matt Bowman was scheduled to pitch Thursday but was scratched after he awoke with blurry vision, and instead was sent to an eye doctor. He was hit in the eye during a drill Wednesday.

MARLINS: OF Christian Yelich, who has been nursing a stiff back, is scheduled to make his spring training debut Friday.

SPRING GOAL

Before the game, Matheny said last year’s team left room for improvement running the bases. He wants the Cardinals to be more aggressive to put more pressure on the defense.

“We can still be a better baserunning team,” he said. “I don’t think it’s something we should be satisfied with.”

Tommy Pham took the message to heart. He tripled to start the first inning and continued home when Gold Glove second baseman Dee Gordon made a throwing error on the play.

“Good to see him push the limits,” Matheny said.

UP NEXT

CARDINALS: LHP Jaime Garcia is scheduled to start at Houston on Friday.

MARLINS: The Marlins have their only split-squad games of the season Friday. LHP Adam Conley is scheduled to start against Washington in Jupiter, and LHP Justin Nicolino is scheduled to start at the New York Mets.

— Associated Press —

Royals lose Cactus League opener to Rangers

Posted on March 2, 2016

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Promising prospect Kyle Zimmer tossed two scoreless innings for the World Series champion Royals before the Texas Rangers rolled to a 6-2 victory over Kansas City in their Cactus League opener Wednesday.

“I’m excited to get the first one going and hopefully there’s a lot more to come,” said Zimmer, who is trying to make the big league roster after injuries stunted his rapid rise through the minors.

The Royals managed one hit, a double by Mike Moustakas, off Colby Lewis and the Rangers bullpen through the first six innings. Lewis is coming off knee surgery in October.

“We’re just going out there and getting our work in,” said Lewis, who walked two in the first to load the bases before escaping the jam. “Just trying to get into pitching shape.”

Nomar Mazara hit a three-run homer in the ninth and finished with four RBI for Texas. Patrick Kivlehan and Doug Bernier also drove in runs as Texas took the game from its campus co-tenant.

Jorge Bonifacio homered in the sixth for Kansas City and Parker Morin went deep in the eighth.

Chien-Ming Wang, John Lannan and Peter Moylan also made scoreless appearances for the Royals, who took the field for the first time since beating the New York Mets in Game 5 of the World Series.

“It’s nice to do something different,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “We’ve been practicing. We’ve been taking batting practice. Now we get out on a big diamond in front of a crowd and start playing again.”

STARTING TIME

Rangers: Lewis fared better than he did in his spring debut a year ago, when he allowed six runs on five hits — three of them homers — and a walk in one inning against Kansas City.

Royals: Zimmer got help from a double play turned by promising shortstop Raul Mondesi Jr. to get through the second inning. The big right-hander struck out Elvis Andrus to cap his day.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: RHP Yu Darvish threw 20 pitches from a full-size mound in his second bullpen session Wednesday. Pitching coach Doug Brocail said Darvish, who had Tommy John surgery last March, will continue throwing every two or three days. He is not expected in the rotation until mid-May or early June.

Royals: RF Jarrod Dyson left after two innings with a strained right oblique. Dyson is likely going to platoon at the position with Paulo Orlando, though Travis Snider replaced him Wednesday.

SAL WHO?

Drew Butera started at catcher for Kansas City and had a Salvador Perez-like day. He threw out Delino DeShields in the third inning, then cut down pinch runner Hanser Alberto trying to advance in the fifth.

BELTRE’S BACK

Rangers third baseman Adrian Beltre asked for a few extra days before playing a game, so Drew Robinson got the start. Beltre, who turns 37 in April, missed time last season with a torn thumb ligament before a lower back strain hit in the playoffs. “I don’t even know if it’s sore,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “He came to me and just said, `Hey, look, can we give it another couple of days?”

UP NEXT

Rangers: LHP Derek Holland starts as Texas become the home team against Kansas City, while RHP Jeremy Guthrie — a member of the World Series champions last season — gets a turn against his former team.

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez starts against the Rangers. LHP Brian Flynn, the star of an intrasquad game this week, gets his opportunity to start nailing down a bullpen job.

— Associated Press —

Brown, Edwards lead Kansas State in 79-54 blowout over TCU

Posted on March 2, 2016March 2, 2016

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — Kansas State coach Bruce Weber gripped the stat sheet, glanced over at senior guard Justin Edwards and the two shared a smile.

“That was fun,” Weber quipped.

Edwards affirmed the statement with an exaggerated nod. After a string of close losses during the month of February, Kansas State finally got to enjoy a blowout win.

Barry Brown scored 15 points on 5 of 8 3-pointers, Edwards added 12 more in his final home game, and Kansas State routed TCU 79-54 on Wednesday night.

“With all the close games we’ve had, all the heartbreaking games, it was good for them to enjoy this,” Weber said. “We played the game the right way.”

Brown and Edwards combined to hit eight of Kansas State’s 10 3-pointers. Wesley Iwundu finished with 11 points and seven assists for the Wildcats (16-14, 5-12 Big 12).

“We had two of our best practices this past week,” Edwards said. “I feel like everyone’s confidence has increased, and I feel like the players today just played for us seniors. It all just fell into place.”

Brown hit his fourth 3-pointer with 13:37 left to stretch a 19-point halftime advantage to 58-33. Dean Wade gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game — 31 points — with a pair of free throws late as the seniors looked on from the bench.

Chauncey Collins led TCU (11-19, 2-15) with 11 points. The visitors finished 18 of 54 from the field (33 percent).

“That was a good `ol fashion beat down,” Horned Frogs coach Trent Johnson said. “I had concerns going in because we were fatigued. But I don’t want to take anything away from K-State — they shot the ball really well.”

Kansas State shot 76 percent from the field in the first half, including a scorching 6 of 9 from deep, to take a commanding 47-28 lead into the break. It was the seventh-highest shooting percentage in a half in school history and the best since December 2014.

The rout didn’t start immediately, though.

The Wildcats turned the ball over on their first three possessions, then scored TCU’s first bucket on a goaltend call, all before the under-16 media timeout.

The Horned Frogs couldn’t take advantage, missing five of their first seven shots, as Kansas State regrouped and went on a 14-0 run. Senior guard and former walk-on Brian Rohleder — who had tallied just eight points in his career — capped off the half by converting a jumper at the buzzer.

TCU’s shooting woes continued into the second half. The Horned Frogs dipped from 39 percent from the field in the first half to 30 percent with just under eight minutes to play. They finished 9 of 31 in the second half.

Brown stretched Kansas State’s lead to 67-39 with 12:37 to play with his fifth and final 3-pointer. Edwards exited the game to hugs from his teammates following a tough finish at the basket.

“I keep telling them we’re going to finish on a good note,” Weber said. “If they keep believing, keep doing the right things, we’ll finish on a positive note. I still believe that, and hopefully this will springboard into some more good things.”

SENIOR MOMENT

Rohleder has been a fan favorite during his time at Kansas State despite playing less than four minutes a game in his career. On Wednesday, he was rewarded with a buzzer beater:

“It wouldn’t have even happened if it wasn’t for Austin Budke diving on the floor and playing hard, then kicking it to Wesley who passed it to me. If it wasn’t for my teammates, it would’ve have happened, but it was pretty cool that it did happen. It’s something I will never forget.”

TIP-INS

TCU: The Horned Frogs have lost five conference games by 20 points or more this season.

Kansas State: The Wildcats entered carrying a three-game home losing streak, the program’s longest drought since dropping three straight from Feb. 5-19, 2005. . Senior Stephen Hurt grabbed a career-high 11 rebounds. . Kansas State finished with 26 made field goals, 23 of which were assisted on.

UP NEXT

TCU: Hosts No. 6 Oklahoma on Saturday

Kansas State: At Texas Tech on Saturday

— Associated Press —

Missouri baseball blanks Arkansas-Pine Bluff 2-0

Posted on March 2, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball (8-2) won its home opener over Arkansas Pine-Bluff (0-8), 2-0, on Wednesday night (March 2) thanks to a strong start by sophomore RHP Ryan Lee (Grandview, Mo). The win was the sixth straight victory and the third shutout of the year for Mizzou, which returned to Taylor Stadium after going 7-2 during an 11-day road trip in Florida.

Lee picked up the win, pitching a career high 6.1 innings of shutout baseball, striking out three and walking one while giving up just four hits to earn the first victory of his career. He also struck out a career-high three in the win.

Freshman Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) led the Mizzou offense with two hits and an RBI, good for his second career two-hit game. Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.) added a double and a run and Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) and Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) added the other Mizzou hits.

Harris put Mizzou on the board in the bottom of the first with his eighth RBI of the season on a groundout to second base, allowing SEC Freshman of the Week Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.) to score.

Mizzou got on the board again in the bottom of the fourth inning, after Sharp drove home Benes on a single to left field. Benes reached base by doubling down the left field line. He is now tied for the team lead with three doubles.

RHP Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) made his team-leading sixth appearance of the season, pitching 1.1 innings with one strikeout and giving up one hit. Bartlett entered the game with two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. He only needed just one pitch to get Mizzou out of the jam, forcing a pop fly to shallow right field. In the seventh inning, Bartlett got one of his outs by pickoff, his first of the season.

Sharp pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out one without allowing any base runners, earning his second save of the season in as many opportunities.

Mizzou begins a four game series with Illinois-Chicago on Friday at Taylor Stadium. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Cards newcomer Seung-Hwan Oh impresses in first appearance

Posted on March 2, 2016March 2, 2016

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals wanted to get a quick look at the newest addition to their bullpen, Seung-Hwan Oh.

That’s exactly what they got.

The 33-year-old Korean-born reliever needed only 12 pitches to retire Florida Atlantic University in order in the third inning of Wednesday’s 13-6 exhibition victory.

“Kind of what we thought we would see,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “He took a little off, put a little on, and it’s hard to tell from the side because he adds and subtracts movement. He’s just got a real good idea how to use his stuff.”

St. Louis signed the South Korean-born righty from the Japanese professional ranks during the offseason.

Oh induced a groundout and flyout before striking out Austin Langham to end the frame.

“I fouled off a splitter — I’m pretty sure it was a splitter — and then I just swung through a fastball and missed it,” Langham said.

Oh was the lone pitcher expected to make the Cardinals’ opening day roster who saw action against FAU. St. Louis trailed much of the way before rallying for 12 runs in an eighth inning highlighted by Jacob Wilson’s grand slam.

Cardinals prospect Austin Gomber, pitching against his former school, started the game and tossed two perfect innings, striking out three.

“He was terrific,” Matheny said. “The hook was sharp. He even threw some good changeups. Locating his fastball. He was a definite bright spot today.”

STARTING TIME

Matheny announced his pitching plans for the first three Grapefruit League games: Tyler Lyons on Thursday against Miami, Jaime Garcia will travel with the team and make his spring debut on Friday at Houston, Marco Gonzales gets the ball on Saturday against Miami.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pitcher Carlos Martinez ended last season with a sore shoulder and the Cards have been taking it slowly with him this spring. Matheny said Martinez is close to facing live hitters. “He’s just about at the point where he’s kind of at that spot,” Matheny said. “We have an idea. We’ve kind of got a date marked in pencil as to where we think he’ll be ready to throw in a game and work backward from there to get him some higher intensity stuff. He’s throwing his sides right where he needs to be right now.”

— Associated Press —

Northwest tennis teams open spring schedule with sweep of William Jewell

Posted on March 2, 2016March 2, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University men’s and women’s tennis teams each picked up road wins over William Jewell, 9-0, on Wednesday afternoon in Liberty, Mo.

The Bearcat men entered the match ranked No. 14 nationally. Both the men’s and women’s teams are 1-0 overall in the first action of their spring seasons.

William Jewell’s men are now 3-7 overall and the women’s team is 4-5.

The wins were No. 1,014 and 1,015 of head coach Mark Rosewell’s career.

On both the men’s and women’s sides, Northwest dropped just one set and just two matches went to a tiebreak.

Match Results
Men’s Matches (Northwest 9, William Jewell 0)
#1: Romain Boissinot (NW) def. Marc Gartner (WJ), 6-2, 6-3
#2: Alvaro Riveros (NW) def. Amery Clews (WJ), 6-0, 6-2
#3: Sergi Fontcuberta (NW) def. Isaac Hamilton (WJ), 6-4, 6-0
#4: Mauro Tete (NW) def. Caul Pearson (WJ), 6-0, 6-2
#5: Fin Glowick (NW) def. Brian Wohlers (WJ), 6-1, 6-2
#6: Aymeric Autones (NW) def. Jake Plant (WJ), 6-1, 6-0

#1: Alvaro Riveros/Sergi Fontcuberta (NW) def. Marc Gartner/Isaac Hamilton (WJ), 8-5
#2: Aymeric Autones/Romain Boissinot (NW) def. Amery Clews/Jake Plant (WJ), 8-1
#3: Mauro Tete/Ramon Abaitua Vazquez (NW) def. Caul Pearson/Pedro Yoshiharu Uno (WJ), 8-0

Women’s Matches (Northwest 9, William Jewell 0)
#1: Lorena Rivas (NW) def. Savannah Drew (WJ), 6-4, 6-3
#2: Kaja Emersic (NW) def. Lauren Huddleston (WJ), Forefit
#3: Aniek Kolen (NW) def. Lisanne Visseren (WJ), 6-2, 6-1
#4: Margaux Jacquet (NW) def. Sabrine Navarro (WJ), 6-3, 6-1
#5: Vilune Sestokaite (NW) def. Claire Mackay (WJ), 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-7)
#6: Andrea Gallardo (NW) def. Hannah Waine (WJ), 6-2, 6-0

#1: Lorena Rivas Jarolim/Kaja Emersic (NW) def. Savannah Drew/Lauren Huddleston (WJ), 8-5
#2: Aniek Kolen/Margaux Jacquet (NW) def. Lisanne Visseren/Sabrine Navarro (WJ), 8-3
#3: Vilune Sestokaite/Andrea Gallardo (NW) def. Hannah Waine/Claire Mackay (WJ), 9-8 (7-3)

Both the men’s and women’s teams will head to Grand Island, Neb., for a 6 p.m. neutral site match with Colorado Mesa on Friday, March 4.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons upset Washburn in opening round of MIAA Tournament

Posted on March 2, 2016March 2, 2016

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team shocked the MIAA with a 70-54 win at Washburn Tuesday in the first round the MIAA Tournament that gave the program its first postseason win since 2010.

The Griffons became the first 11-seed to ever win an MIAA Tournament game with an impressive wire-to-wire victory over the sixth-seeded Ichabods. Cole Clearman set the tone early for what would be an impressive performance by the sophomore and his team. Just 15 second into the game, Clearman drained the first of what would become six made three-point field goals by the guard. Missouri Western jumped out to a 5-0 lead after Clearman’s three and never looked back. Washburn got within one with 16:08 to go in the first half, but never got closer than that again as Missouri Western took an 11-point lead to halftime.

Washburn cut the lead to nine quickly out of the break, but never got within single digits again. The Griffons made scoring a challenge for Washbburn, forcing 17 Ichabod turnovers and holding them to 35.3 percent shooting, just 16 percent in the first half. Missouri Western shot 41.2 percent from the field and made its key-10 three pointers. The team is now 8-0 this season when making 10 threes or more.

Clearman finished with a game-high 20 points on 6-11 shooting from behind the arc. Miles Wentzien added 14 points with five rebounds. Mataika Koyamainavure had a team-high eight rebounds and added nine points.

It was just the 11th win in Topeka for Missouri Western all-time and set up a third matchup this season with Missouri Southern. The Griffons will face the third-seeded Lions on Friday at noon in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium.

— MWSU Athletics —