Dave Riggert – Page 631 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Royals stay unbeaten with 4-2 win at Angels

Posted on April 11, 2015

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Kendrys Morales homered, Lorenzo Cain drove in two runs and the Kansas City Royals remained unbeaten with a 4-2 victory over Los Angeles on Friday night in the Angels’ home opener.

Eric Hosmer drove in an early run and Jason Vargas pitched six solid innings against his former team for the defending AL champion Royals. They followed up their season-opening sweep of the White Sox with a win in the same ballpark where they won the first two games of last October’s AL Division Series.

David Freese homered and Kole Calhoun had an early RBI double for the Angels, who have lost their last three home openers.

Vargas (1-0) yielded five hits and two runs over six innings.

Wade Davis pitched the ninth for his first save.

Hector Santiago (0-1) gave up six hits and three runs while pitching into the sixth.

— Associated Press —

Griffons drop series opener to Nebraska-Kearney

Posted on April 10, 2015

ST. JOSEPH – An eight-run second inning by Nebraska-Kearney vaulted the Lopers to an 11-4 win over the Missouri Western baseball team Saturday evening at the Griffon Spring Sports Complex.

Without the big eighth from Nebraska-Kearney, Grant Woods held the Lopers to three runs, one in the seventh and two in the top of the ninth. Woods threw more than 150 pitches, going all nine innings and allowing the 11 runs on 13 hits, nine of the runs were earned.

UNK hit five home runs off Woods, including four in the second inning. The team may have had one more were it not for an outstanding catch in left field by Orencio Fisher, leaping up and reaching his glove over the top of the fence.

Missouri Western had four runs on six hits. No Griffon player had more than one. David Glaude was 1-3 with two RBIs. Trevor LaHonta and Ryan Degner had the other RBIs.

The loss dropped MWSU to 20-17 on the season and 13-12 in the MIAA. Nebraska-Kearney improved to 23-12 and 18-7. The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. and the games will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ and here on StJosephPost.com.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcats fall on the road at Emporia State 5-4

Posted on April 10, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Emporia State, 5-4, on Friday afternoon at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kan.

The Bearcats are now 18-18 overall and 13-12 in MIAA play. The Hornets improve to 24-9 and 15-9 in conference action.

Paul Johnson led Northwest offensively as he went 2-for-4 with four RBI, including a three-run homer in the third.

Nick Gotta was 1-for-4 with a double. He scored Northwest’s first run of the game in the opening inning.

Garrett Fort and Derek Meyer both picked up hits and were both driven home on Johnson’s home run in the third.

Anthony Caenepeel was saddled with his first loss of the season, going 4.2 innings in his ninth start of the season. Caenepeel allowed five runs on six hits. He had six strikeouts and allowed four walks.

Austin Battaglia and Patrick Brady combined to pitch 3.1 scoreless innings in relief to finish out the game. Brady had five strikeouts in 2.1 innings. Battaglia struck out two in his one inning of work.

The four game series continues Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Both games will be seven-inning contests.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Western softball wins two one-run games at Missouri Southern

Posted on April 10, 2015

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Western Softball picked up its 30th win of the season and got back to its winning ways in a sweep of Missouri Southern on Friday.

GAME 1: #24 MWSU 5, Missouri Southern 4

The Griffons snuck one across in the top of the seventh to take game one by a run. Missouri Southern jumped out to a three-run lead after scoring a trio in the first inning. MWSU took a 4-3 lead after two in the fourth and two in the fifth but allowed the Lions to tied it up in the bottom of the fifth.

With one out in the inning, Tiffany Gillaspy picked up her first hit of the game, doubling to left center in the seventh. Katie Klosterman followed with a single that put Gillaspy on third. A wild pitch with Paige Shifflett batting brought Gillaspy home for what proved to be the winning run.

Klosterman finished 2-3 with two runs scored. Kailey Green went 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Rebekah Mueller went 3-3 at the plate, driving in one run. Janie Smith picked up the win, going all seven innings. She allowed 10 hits and four runs with four strikeouts.

GAME 2: #24 MWSU 1, Missouri Southern 0

After scoring the winning run in game one, Tiffany Gillaspy drove in the only run the Griffons needed in game two.

Gillaspy broke a scoreless tie with one down in the top of the seventh with a sacrifice fly that brought Brooke Schaben home. Schaben doubled two batters earlier and advanced to third on Morgan Rathmann’s single. MWSU totaled just seven hits in the game off Ashley Lutz and Kailey Green had three of them. Green went 3-3 at the plate in game two. Schaben was 2-3.

Shyanne Saladino improved her record to 16-6, allowing just three hits in seven scoreless innings. The wins moved MWSU to 30-14 on the year and 14-6 in the MIAA. The Griffons travel across the border for a doubleheader Saturday against MIAA-leading Pittsburg State.

— MWSU Sports Information —

No. 23 Mizzou evens series at Tennessee with 8-3 win

Posted on April 10, 2015April 10, 2015

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Jack Klages (St. Louis, Mo.) and Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) each picked up three-run hits in a six-run fifth inning as No. 23 Mizzou rallied to defeat Tennessee, 8-3, on Friday night (April 10) at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. The win evens the series with the Volunteers and moves Mizzou to 23-12 on the year and 9-5 in SEC play. Reining SEC Pitcher of the Week Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) earned his sixth win of the season as he is now 6-1 in nine starts this season. The win snaps a three-game winning streak for the Vols, who fall to 15-15 and 5-9 in SEC play.

After Tennessee took a 2-0 lead with a single run in both the first and second innings, Klages ripped a bases-loaded double off the wall in right center to give Mizzou a 3-2 lead. Ring then launched his second career homer after a Brett Peel (St. Charles, Mo.) single to give Mizzou a 6-2 lead. In all, the Tigers scored six runs on six hits in the frame. The Tigers added a run in the sixth and ninth innings and Breckin Williams (Oronogo, Mo.) earned his eighth save of the season.

Mizzou got multi-hit performances from Klages, Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) and Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) and the Tigers as a team pounded five extra-base hits (four doubles and a homer). Two came from Klages as both his hits went for a double.

The Vols took an early lead after a Nick Senzel leadoff triple that Logan Pearson (Bentonville, Ark.) nearly caught but lost the handle of as he crashed into the wall in right field. Senzel then scored on a groundout to short by A.J. Simcox. A no-out double by Jared Pruett in the second plated Derek Lance and Tennessee appeared to be in business against Houck.

But he settled in and the offense gave him support in the top of the fifth inning, highlighted by a pair of three-run hits by both Klages and Ring. With the bases loaded, Klages lifted a 1-1 pitch off the wall in right center, just missing a grand slam, for a bases-clearing three-run double, giving Mizzou a 3-2 lead. Brett Peel (St. Charles, Mo.) then singled to keep the rally alive and Ring lifted his second collegiate homer over the wall in right center to stake the Tigers to a 6-2 lead.

Mizzou added another run in the sixth inning as Zach Lavy (Auxvasses, Mo.) drew a walk and scored on a pair of wild pitches by reliever Hunter Martin. Tennesse got a run back in the bottom of the sixth but Andrew Schwaab (St. Charles, Mo.) did a nice job of pitching out of a jam, as Mizzou took a 7-3 lead into the seventh.

Schwaab pitched out of a jam again in the seventh and got into more trouble in the eighth, putting two men on with one out. That gave way to Williams who shut down the Vols over the final 1.2 innings. Howard added insurance with an RBI single in the top of the ninth inning

The rubber game of the series will be Saturday at 11 a.m.

— MU Sports Information —

Northwest softball splits with MIAA-leading Pittsburg State

Posted on April 10, 2015April 10, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State softball team picked up a crucial split against league-leading Pittsburg State on Friday afternoon in Pittsburg, Kan.

The Gorillas rallied from a 7-3 deficit in game one to win in extra innings, 8-7, and then the Bearcats retaliated with an 11-1 trouncing in the night cap, scoring in five of the six innings played.

Northwest now has a 17-19 record overall and a 10-8 mark in the MIAA, while the Gorillas move to 28-12 and 15-3 this season.

In game one, Baylee Scarbrough crushed her first home run of the season, driving in two runs in the process. Stephanie Mark finished 2-for-4, including her tenth home run this year, while Rebecca Maher clubbed a double, knocking in a run and ultimately scoring one of her own.

In game two, Kendle Schieber threw a complete game one-hitter, allowing just two base runners. The junior struck out seven Gorillas and recorded 11 straight to close out the game.

Chantel Adams reached base in all four at bats, finishing with home run and two doubles while driving in five runs and scoring three more.

Abigail Gilson sent a solo shot over the fence in right, the first home run of her collegiate career, while Rebecca Maher scored two runs after reaching on a double and a single.

Northwest Missouri State will play their final road contests of the season on Saturday when they travel to Joplin, Mo. for a twin bill against Missouri Southern. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Cardinals lose to Cincinnati in series opener 5-4

Posted on April 10, 2015April 10, 2015

CINCINNATI (AP) — With Joey Votto playing like an MVP again, the Cincinnati Reds have stayed unbeaten.

Votto hit a pair of two-run homers — the strongest indication yet that he’s fully back in form — and Todd Frazier had a tiebreaking sacrifice fly on Friday night, keeping the Cincinnati Reds undefeated with a 5-4 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds are 4-0 for the first time since 2011, when they won their first five games. They’ve won each game in their final at-bat.

Votto homered off John Lackey in each of his first two at-bats. Frazier’s sacrifice fly in the eighth off Jordan Walden (0-1) drove in Billy Hamilton and marked the second time this week that he’s knocked in the deciding run.

J.J. Hoover (2-0) escaped a threat in the eighth. Aroldis Chapman gave up a hit and fanned two in the ninth for his second save.

Votto hit only six homers last season — the last one on May 10 — and didn’t play after July 5 because of strained muscles above his left knee. He showed up for spring training feeling strong and has played to his 2010 National League MVP form so far.

“He was terrific,” manager Bryan Price said. “He’s doing a lot of things really well. It’s nice to have him back with his athleticism.”

He had his first multihomer game since May 13, 2012, and the 10th of his career. In four games, Votto is 7 for 17 with three homers and eight RBIs.

Votto had two singles in the season opener, a game-ending RBI single in the 11th inning of the second game, and a two-run homer on Thursday as the Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates.

“It’s early. It’ll level off,” Votto said. “I didn’t have a great spring, but I felt very good. Physically, I was in a good frame which usually means I’m going to have a good year.”

Jason Marquis made his first start in the majors since July 19, 2013 with San Diego. He had Tommy John surgery and made nine appearances in the minors with the Phillies last season as part of his comeback.

The 36-year-old was in line for the win, handing a 4-3 lead to the bullpen in the seventh. Marquis retired 12 in a row after Randal Grichuk’s two-run homer.

“I gave up the home run to the No 8 batter there, and I felt like I wasn’t doing my job,” Marquis said. “Luckily, Joey came through.”

The Cardinals put together three singles in the seventh, with Jason Heyward’s hit up the middle tying it at 4.

PAYING TRIBUTE

The Reds had a pregame tribute on the videoboard for of Cardinals outfielder Oscar Taveras and his girlfriend, who died in a car crash during the offseason. Also, a tribute to Lauren Hill, the college basketball player who died from a brain tumor on Friday.

BILLY RUNS

Hamilton’s steal in the eighth left him 7 for 7 this season. He’s the first Reds player to steal a base in each of the first four games since 1988, when Barry Larkin had a steal in each of the first six.. Hamilton is 7 for 7 career off Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Reserve catcher Tony Cruz went on paternity leave. He’s expected back on Monday. Catcher Ed Easley was called up from Triple-A Memphis for his major league debut.

Reds: RHP Homer Bailey is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Sunday at Triple-A Louisville. He’s on the DL recovering from surgery on his forearm last September.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Michael Wacha has made six career appearances against the Reds, going 1-2 with a 2.30 ERA.

Reds: Johnny Cueto makes his second start. He threw seven shutout innings but didn’t get the decision in a 5-2 win over the Pirates on Monday. Cueto is 2/3 career against the Cardinals.

— Associated Press —

Kansas guard Wayne Selden to return for his junior season

Posted on April 10, 2015

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas men’s basketball sophomore Wayne Selden, Jr., will return to KU for his junior season, the guard announced Friday.

“I’m using that last game and the season as my everyday motivation to get better,” Selden said. “I’m happy to come back to Kansas next season. This is a special place.”

A two-year starter from Roxbury, Massachusetts, the 6-5 Selden averaged 9.4 points per game last season and led KU with 46 three-pointers made. He was named to the 2015 Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team where he scored 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting in KU’s 62-52 win against Baylor in the semifinals and a career-high 25 points versus Iowa State in the championship game, a 70-66 loss. In all, Selden had four 20-point efforts during his sophomore campaign and led KU in scoring seven times.

An All-Big 12 Honorable Mention selection both his freshman and sophomore seasons, in 2014-15 Selden was second on the team with 95 assists and his 2.6 assists per game ranked 12th in the Big 12 Conference.

“Wayne is such a great kid and competitor and feels that there are so many things to accomplish, not only as an individual, but as a team,” KU head coach Bill Self said. “He is committed to this program and I know he’ll work his tail off to put himself into in a spot to be a high (NBA) draft pick, hopefully next year, and put our team into position to have another great year.”

For his career, Selden enters 2015-16 with 679 points (9.6 ppg), 88 three-point field goals and 254 three-pointers attempted. His 34.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc ranks 23rd on KU’s career three-point field goal percentage list. Selden is 12 threes from cracking KU’s career top-25 list for three-point field goals made.

“A lot of good things are coming up for KU and I want to be a part of that,” Selden said. “We’re going to represent the USA at the World (University) Games this summer. We’re moving into new dorms (McCarthy Hall) before school starts and we’re playing in Maui (Hawaii) next year.”

Kansas posted a 27-9 overall record in 2014-15 and won its 11th-straight, 15th Big 12 and NCAA-leading 58th overall conference regular-season championship with a 13-5 league record. The Jayhawks had the toughest schedule in the nation and their 10 victories against Associated Press nationally-ranked teams at tip were the most for KU in a season. Kansas faced 16 ranked teams at tip, which were four more than the previous high for a season set three times (1994-95, 2002-03 and 2011-12). Included were 2015 Final Four teams Kentucky and Michigan State.

— KU Sports Information —

Griffons’ Shifflett named a finalist for NFCA National Freshman of the Year award

Posted on April 9, 2015

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Missouri Western softball player Paige Shifflett has been selected as one of 25 finalists for the NFCA National Freshman of the Year award.

Shifflett’s impressive freshman season has her second on the team in batting average (.388). The designated player from Pleasant Hill, Missouri leads the team with a .460 on base percentage.

Starting all but one game this season, Shifflett is currently has a 16-game hitting streak and has totaled 47 hits this season. Her 38 RBIs are second on the team and her eight home runs are third.

With an impressive ability to change her approach, Shifflett is second on the team with 12 walks this year. As a freshman, Shifflett leads the team with a .458 batting average when runners are on base. She has a team-high, .500, batting average with runners in scoring position and is batting .727 average with a runner on third and less than two outs.

No Griffon has had more success advancing runners on the season. Shifflett has moved at least one runner over 48 times in 75 chances for a .640 success rate.

Shifflett is one of three MIAA freshman to make the top-25, joining Pittsburg State’s Emmie Robertson and Emporia State’s Caitlin VanVleck.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Royals beat White Sox 4-1 for season-opening three-game sweep

Posted on April 9, 2015April 9, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Edinson Volquez must have gotten tired from all the times he tipped his cap.

He certainly didn’t labor much on the mound.

Volquez dazzled over eight innings in his Royals debut, and Kansas City’s defense made a series of spectacular plays behind him in a 4-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday that finish off a season-opening three-game sweep.

“Unbelievable,” said Volquez, who allowed one run on four hits in his first start since signing a $20 million, two-year deal with the Royals in the offseason. “We have the best defense in baseball right now. It gives you a lot of confidence.”

Lorenzo Cain made two dramatic catches while running into the center field wall. Third baseman Mike Moustakas made a diving snare of a hot ground ball. And second baseman Omar Infante snared a line drive before turning an inning-ending double play.

“We got some great defensive plays,” Royals manager Ned Yost said.

Some great offense, too. Salvador Perez hit a two-run homer, and Cain and Kendrys Morales also drove in runs, helping the AL champions improve to 3-0 for the first time since a season-opening sweep of Detroit in 2008.

Greg Holland worked a perfect ninth for his second save in less than 24 hours.

“That’s what they are known for, playing small ball, bunting guys over, playing great defense,” White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton said. “They play the game hard. They’re stealing bags. Lorenzo Cain making plays. Perez is throwing guys out. They’re a solid team.”

Meanwhile, the Royals pounded Chicago’s John Danks (0-1), who had been 7-0 against them. He allowed all four runs on seven hits and a walk in 5 2/3 innings.

“There are things we certainly need to do better,” he said. “That’s just the way it’s going to be. We have too much talent in here to keep playing like this, but we’ll be better.”

The White Sox were swept in an opening series for the first time since 2004, and head into their home opener against Minnesota after losing to the Royals for the 14th time in 17 games.

“There’s no freaking out here,” Eaton said, “just a little frustration right now.”

The Royals took the lead on Cain’s RBI groundout in the first, but it was his two dazzling plays in center that will make highlight reels. First, Cain collided with the wall at full speed to rob Adam LaRoche of a leadoff hit in the second. Then, he backed into the wall to catch a long fly ball by Micah Johnson that ended the third.

Morales added an RBI double off Danks in the sixth inning, and Perez chased the left-hander a couple of batters later when he sent a full-count pitch into the bullpen in left field.

It was the sixth homer of the series for the Royals, who needed 15 games to hit their first six last season. They went on to finish last in the majors in home runs.

“If somebody would say, `Boy, you’re firing on all cylinders,’ I’d have to agree,” Yost said. “To get off to this type of start is exciting and fun, and you just have to ride it as long as you can.”

PAULO’S DEBUT

Royals LF Paul Orlando started in place of Alex Gordon, who got a planned day off. After spending 10 years in the minors, the Brazilian made the most of it. He walked in the third inning and then hit a leadoff triple in the fifth.

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

The game was delayed nearly 5 minutes in the first inning when Kauffman Stadium’s phone system went down. With no communication to their replay officials, the managers would have had to challenge plays only on their own observations. Service was restored in the third inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox: LHP Chris Sale (broken right foot) is expected to start Sunday against the Twins.

Royals: RHP Luke Hochevar (Tommy John surgery) began a rehab assignment Thursday with Triple-A Omaha at New Orleans. The hard-throwing reliever missed all of last season.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Hector Noesi, claimed by Chicago off waivers last season, will start his club’s home opener Friday afternoon against Minnesota.

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas faces his former team Friday night when Kansas City opens a six-game road trip with the first of three games against the Angels.

— Associated Press —