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Author: Dave Riggert

Missouri Western softball opens season with split against Minnesota State

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ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Missouri Western softball team went 1-1 on the opening day of the 2019 season, splitting a doubleheader with Minnesota State at the Kelly Laas Memorial Invitational inside the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

The Griffons took advantage of some Minnesota State miscues and used a little small ball to claim a 5-2 victory in game one. Game two saw more errors hurting both teams. Down 9-2 after 5 innings, the Griffons scored four runs late to drop game two 9-6.

NOTABLES

  • The split left 18th-year head coach Jen Bagley Trotter with 599 career victories and brought her within 16 wins of becoming the winningest softball coach in MIAA history
  • Down 9-3 entering the bottom of the seventh in game two, the Griffons scored two and had the tying run at the tying run on deck with one out
  • The Griffs got their third run of the seventh in game two home with two outs. The game ended with the tying run on deck on a line out to center with a runner on second.
  • Through both games, the teams combined for 13 errors, six committed by Missouri Western
  • The Griffons scored 11 runs on the day off of 12 hits. Minnesota State scored its 11 runs on 19 hits.
  • Neither team needed to rely on the long ball with Missouri Western slugging .309 on the day with two doubles and one home run and Minnesota State slugging .361 with three doubles and no home runs
  • Missouri Western employed all four pitchers from its deep staff

LEADERS

  • Freshman Sydni Hawkins went 4-for-7 at the plate with three runs scored, two RBIs and a stolen base
  • Another freshman, Taylor Hoelscher, added two hits
  • Emma Hoffart had a pair of hits and drove in two runs
  • Gabi Carter walked three times and ended the day with two RBIs
  • Cassidy Kelsheimer hit the first home run of the season for MWSU with a leadoff solo shot in the fifth of game two
  • Olivia Goodale got the win in game one in relief of Kenzie Hilzer. Goodale shut out Minnesota State over 3 1/3, allowing two hits
  • Hilzer gave up one earned run, two total runs, through 3 2/3 in game one

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western stays in St. Cloud for two more games on Saturday
  • The Griffons take on Concordia-St. Paul at 9 a.m. and the host team, St. Cloud State at 1:30 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest baseball loses on a walk-off at Arkansas-Fort Smith

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FORT SMITH, Arkansas – The Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat baseball team opened its 2019 season with a 3-2 loss at Arkansas-Fort Smith.

The Lions plated the winning run on hit batter with the bases loaded and two outs in the ninth.

Northwest struck first with an unearned run in the top of the third. Redshirt freshman Jordan Peck led off the inning and reached on an error by UAFS shortstop Logan Easley. Senior Logan Rycraft sacrificed Peck to second. Following a popup by junior Calvin Rudolph, outfielder Derek Hussey singled to shortstop that allowed Peck to reach third. Peck would score on a wild pitch to give Northwest a 1-0 lead.

UAFS rallied with a two-run spot in the bottom of the fourth as the Lions tallied three hits and left two more runners on base.

Junior relief pitcher Ethan Griswold was called on with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the sixth. Griswold induced a pop up to senior second baseman Mondesi Gutierrez to end the threat and keep the UAFS lead at 2-1.

The Bearcats evened the score at 2-2 in the top of the seventh. Peck singled to right to lead off the seventh. He moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt from Rudolph. Head coach Darin Loe inserted redshirtfreshman Jonathan Hernandez as a pinch runner for Peck. Hussey then singled to third and UAFS’s Brandan Warner’s throw was wild allowing Hernandez to cross home plate.

Griswold worked his third inning in the ninth. He got two of the first three batters out. Following a single by UAFS’s Tremarcus Koontz, Griswold was lifted for Bearcat closer Trevor Dudar. Dudar allowed a single to pinch hitter Cooper VanKooten that loaded the bases with two outs. Unfortunately for Dudar and the Bearcats, Dudar hit Logan Allen with a pitch that allowed the Lions to walk off a 3-2 victory in the season opener for both squads.

Northwest starter Quintin Van Ackeren struck out six batters as he went 4 1/3 innings. Van Ackeren allowed two earned runs off six hits and four walks.

Griswold took the loss despite tossing three innings and giving up only two hits and two walks while striking out a pair.

Hussey led the offense with a pair of singles

The Bearcats and Lions will take to the field tomorrow for game two of the series. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.

NOTES: The Northwest defense was clean with no errors, while UAFS committed five defensive miscues … UAFS outhit Northwest, 10-7 … Northwest drew three walks, while the Lions benefited from eight free passes.

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU women’s track and field earns several top finishes at UCM

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WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Missouri Western Women’s Track and Field team completed the Indoor Mule Relays at Central Missouri on Friday. Several Griffons finished in the top five in the team’s fifth meet of the indoor season.

Hanna Williams was the top finisher for the Griffons, taking first place in the women’s 400M. Her time of 57.75 gave Williams her 10th win of her young career at Missouri Western, with seven of those wins in the 400M.

Savannah Simmons placed second, breaking the school record in the Women’s 60M with a provisional qualifying time of 7.64 in the finals.

TOP FINISHERS

  • Hanna Williams, 1st, Women’s 400M, 57.75
  • Savannah Simmons, 2nd, Women’s 60M, 7.64 (Provisional)
  • Julia Odir, 2nd, Women’s Triple Jump, 11.37M (37′ 3.75″)
  • Women’s 4x400M Relay, Morgan Doyle, Alison Nutt, Madison Roumph, Paige Kvale, 2nd, 4:15.55
  • Bayley Gilbert, 3rd, Women’s Triple Jump, 11.27M, (36′ 11.75″)
  • Chaniya Alioth, 3rd, Women’s 200M, 27.01
  • Bayley Gilbert, 3rd, Women’s Pentathlon Long Jump, 5.30M (17′ 4.75″)
  • Bayley Gilbert, 4th, Women’s Pentathlon, 3145
  • Symonne Holland, 4th, Women’s 400M, 1:01.09
  • Tara Bergman, 4th, Women’s Shot Put, 11.94M (39′ 2.25″)
  • Julia Odir, 5th, Women’s Long Jump, 5.09M (16′ 8.5″)
  • Taylor Robinson, 5th, Women’s 600 yard, 1:33.07
  • Simone Baldeh, 5th, Women’s Weight Throw, 14.92M (48′ 11.5″)
  • Kallin Sheppard, 5th, Women’s Shot Put, 11.63M (38′ 2.0″)

SCHOOL RECORDS

  • Savannah Simmons, 2nd, Women’s 60M, 7.64
  • Simone Baldeh, Women’s Weight Throw, 14.92M (48′ 11.5″)
  • Bayley Gilbert, Women’s Pentathlon, 3145

UP NEXT

  • The Griffon Men will compete on Saturday, Feb. 1.
  • Both teams will be back competing at the Bearcat Invite in Maryville on Feb. 8.

— MWSU Athletics —

NCAA rules Jayhawks’ De Sousa ineligible for season

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LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The NCAA declared Kansas forward Silvio De Sousa ineligible for the rest of this season and next season late Friday, dealing a significant blow to a team that began the season with national title hopes.

De Sousa’s name surfaced last summer in an FBI probe into corruption in college basketball centered on officials linked to apparel company Adidas. The NCAA found that De Sousa’s guardian, Fenny Falmagne, had received a $2,500 payment from a “university booster and agent” and agreed to an additional $20,000 payment from the same individual and an Adidas employee for securing his commitment to Kansas.

The school, which has been cleared of any wrongdoing in the case, indicated in a statement late Friday that it would appeal the ruling. Falmagne has denied receiving any payments.

De Sousa hasn’t played for the No. 11 Jayhawks this season. Kansas had withheld the 6-foot-9 sophomore from competition, pending the results of the investigation.

“We are shocked and incensed by today’s decision,” Kansas athletic director Jeff Long said. “This was clearly an unfair and punitive ruling for a young man who had no knowledge of any NCAA violation, nor did Silvio personally benefit from the violation. While we will continue to work with the NCAA on the broader matter, we have an obligation and a desire to advocate for our student-athletes.”

Kansas’ argument hinges on the fact that any payments made to Falmagne were done without the player’s knowledge, and that De Sousa should have been given leniency in any punishments.

In its ruling, though, the NCAA made it clear that ignorance is no defense.

“When a prospective student-athlete allows a third party to involve himself in the recruitment process, the prospective student-athlete is then responsible for the actions of that person,” the NCAA said, “regardless of whether the prospective student-athlete had knowledge or if benefits were received.

“Membership guidelines state the starting point for these violations is permanent ineligibility, but the NCAA staff recognized mitigation based on the specific circumstances of this case.”

The slow pace of the NCAA investigation has worn on Kansas coach Bill Self, who has been left in limbo in trying to piece together his lineup for the remainder of the season.

“In my 30-plus years of coaching college basketball, I have never witnessed such a mean-spirited and vindictive punishment against a young man who did nothing wrong,” Self said. “To take away his opportunity to play college basketball is shameful and a failure of the NCAA.”

De Sousa’s attorney, Scott Tompsett, had pushed for immediate reinstatement last month, saying that his client had cooperated with the investigation and shouldn’t be punished for the actions of adults.

“He did everything he was supposed to do and was asked to do to become an eligible student-athlete at the University of Kansas,” Tompsett said. “Silvio followed the rules. He did nothing wrong.”

The Jayhawks (16-5, 5-3 Big 12) could have sorely used De Sousa’s help. They lost star center Udoka Azubuike to season-ending wrist surgery a couple weeks ago, and they have lost three of four heading into an important showdown with No. 16 Texas Tech on Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse.

The FBI’s two-year probe into college basketball already has produced numerous guilty verdicts.

In the first batch last October, former Adidas executive James Gatto, Adidas consultant Merl Code and former NBA runner Christian Dawkins were convicted of felony wire fraud and conspiracy. Former Arizona assistant Book Richardson, former USC assistant Tony Bland and former Oklahoma State assistant Lamont Evans also have pleaded guilty to various federal charges.

Former Auburn assistant Chuck person and former NBA referee Rashan Michel go to trial in June.

De Sousa’s name came up during the FBI probe when AAU coach T.J. Gassnola, a former Adidas consultant, testified that he facilitated payments to Falmagne in an attempt to steer the prospect to Kansas.

Gassnola insisted that Self and the Jayhawks’ staff did not know about the payments, though, and the Hall of Fame coach forcefully maintained De Sousa’s innocence Friday night.

“Silvio is a tremendous young man who absolutely deserves to be on the court with his teammates in a Jayhawk uniform,” Self said. “This process took way too long to address these issues.”

— Associated Press —

Western tennis goes 1-1 on first day of season

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ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western Tennis (2-2) wrapped up the first day of the Stoney Creek Hotel Tennis Classic with a 4-0 sweep of Truman State (1-3) on Friday night.

The Griffons made quick work of the Bulldogs in doubles play. Karolina Ström and Joanna Abreu Roman picked up their second doubles victory of the day in a 6-3 win. Doubles pairs Bojana Vuksan/Ciarra Gilmore and Erica Dunn/Mireia Birosta each allowed just one point in convincing 6-1 victories.

Abreu Roman continued momentum for the Griffons in the singles with a 6-0, 6-2 win. Ström picked up her first singles victory of the spring season as well. Mireia Birosta wrapped up the sweep in a 6-2, 6-1 win.

Ciarra Gilmore was also playing well for the Griffons in singles, but her match was counted as unfinished due to the Griffons’ sweep.

The Griffons kicked off the 2019 spring season on Friday morning in a 4-0 loss to Newman in the first match of the Stoney Creek Hotel Tennis Classic.

The Griffons’ doubles duo of Ström and Abreu Roman began their season with a dominating 6-1 win. Newman claimed the other two doubles matches, with the teams of Vuksan/Gilmore and Dunn/Birosta both falling 6-3.

Newman swept the first three singles on the match to earn the 4-0 sweep. Ström finished with an unfinished match, but was in control throughout. Ström won the first set 6-1 and was ahead 5-2 before the Jets’ win stopped play. Abreu Roman lost the first set of her singles match, but was ahead 3-0 in the second set at the stoppage.

MWSU VS. TSU
SINGLES
Karolina Ström (MWSU) def. Maura Dunn (TSU) 6-0, 6-1
Joanna Abreu Roman (MWSU) def. Alex Rogers (TSU) 6-0, 6-2
Mireia Birosta (MWSU) def. Morgan Eby (TSU) 6-2, 6-1

Daniela Alvarado Maldonado (MWSU) vs. Kayla Peterson (TSU) 4-6, 6-2, unfinished
Ciarra Gilmore (MWSU) vs. Finessa Rassel (TSU) 6-4, 4-3, unfinished
Erica Dunn (MWSU) vs. Emily Kickham (TSU) 1-0, unfinished

DOUBLES
Abreu Roman/Ström (MWSU) def. Dunn/Rogers (TSU) 6-3
Birosta/Dunn (MWSU) def. Eby/Kickham (TSU) 6-1
Gilmore/Vuksan (MWSU) def. Peterson/Rassel (TSU) 6-1

MWSU VS. NU
SINGLES
Emily Young (NU) def. Mireia Birosta (MWSU) 6-1, 6-3
Isabela Bifano (NU) def. Daniela Alvarado Maldonado (MWSU) 6-1, 6-1
Mariana Gaviria (NU) def. Ciarra Gilmore (MWSU) 6-3, 6-1

Karolina Ström (MWSU) vs. Vlada Litvinova (NU) 6-1, 5-2, unfinished
Joanna Abreu Roman (MWSU) vs. Liza Gerasimova (NU) 5-7, 3-0, unfinished
Erica Dunn (MWSU) vs. Mirella Calvalcanti (NU) 0-2, unfinished

DOUBLES
Abreu Roman/Ström (MWSU) def. Gerasimova/Litvinova (NU) 6-1
Young/Bilfano (NU) def. Birosta/Dunn (MWSU) 6-3
Calvacanti/Wise (NU) def. Gilmore/Vuksan (MWSU) 6-3

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffons come up short against Missouri Southern 84-73

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western men’s basketball team lost at home to Missouri Southern Thursday night 84-73.  The Griffons fall to 9-12 and 3-7 in the MIAA, while Southern improves to 17-4 and 8-3 in league play.

NOTABLES

  • Both teams struggled offensively in the first half, as both shot under 35 percent from the field.
  • Lavon Hightower paced the Griffons in the first half with 11 points and three made three pointers.
  • Tyrell Carroll’s layup brought the Griffons within one point at 57-56 with 9:23 remaining in the second half.
  • After the Lions stretched their lead, Sam Siganos drilled a three from the corner to cut the deficit to one with under seven minutes to play.
  • The Lions held the Griffons to just four made field goals over the last five minutes.
  • Missouri Southern’s biggest advantage came in getting to the free-throw line. The Lions shot 30 free throws compared to the Griffons’ seven.
  • Neither team led by double digits until the Lions went up 10 points with 31 seconds left in the game.
  • Both teams took care of the ball on offense, combining for just 15 turnovers.
  • The Griffons’ shot 38 three pointers on Thursday, their second-highest total this season.

LEADERS

  • Hightower led the Griffons in scoring with 20 points.
  • Bryan Hudson added 16 points with a team-high nine rebounds.
  • Tyrell Carroll led all players with five assists to go along with his 12 points.
  • Missouri Southern’s Cam Martin finished with a game high 32 points with 14 made free throws.

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western will host Pittsburg State (14-6, 7-4 MIAA) on Saturday, Feb. 2.
  • The Gorillas lost by 28 points to No. 2 Northwest Missouri on Thursday.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 2 Bearcats dominate Pitt State 111-83 to stay unbeaten

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MARYVILLE, Missouri – The No. 2-ranked Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat men’s basketball team rolled to its 20th win of the season with a 111-83 triumph over the Pittsburg State University Gorillas on Thursday in Bearcat Arena.

Northwest’s was clicking on virtually all cylinders on the offensive end of floor. The Bearcats shot 55.6 percent from the field. Northwest drained 18-of-37 shots from three-point range and were a perfect 13-of-13 at the free throw line.

Senior Joey Witthus torched the Gorillas for a career-high 36 points, which included eight trifectas. Witthus was 13-of-19 from the field.

Redshirt freshman Trevor Hudgins collected a career-high 12 assists and scored 21 points. Hudgins went 8-of-13 from the field and knocked in both of his three-point shots. Hudgins notched his fourth double-double of the season and its the third time he’s had 20-plus points and 10-plus assists in a game.

Sophomore Ryan Hawkins snared a game-high 11 rebounds and contributed with 13 points. Hawkins has nine double-doubles on the year.

The contest was tied at 2-2 and then Northwest took off. The Bearcats quickly put together a 10-0 run to take a 12-2 lead with 16:54 left in the first half. The Gorillas was claw no closer than 10 points the rest of the game. Northwest opened up a 22-point bulge at 45-23 with 3:57 left in the half. Northwest would lead by as many as 25 points in the opening half.

Northwest’s lead would balloon to as many as 35 point the second half at 98-63 with 7:23 remaining in the contest.

The Bearcats will be back in action Saturday at home against the Missouri Southern. The Bearcats and Lions will tip at approximately 3:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

NOTES: Northwest has won 15 consecutive MIAA games dating back to the 2017-18 season … Northwest is 10-0 at home this season … the Bearcats are 72-7 in their last 79 MIAA games, including 38-1 in Bearcat Arena … Ryan Hawkins added three steals to up his MIAA-leading total to 50 on the year … Northwest’s 20-0 start ties it for the third-best start to a season in school history.

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU women take down Missouri Southern 69-57

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western Women’s Basketball team jumped out to a 6-0 lead and never looked back in a 69-57 win over Missouri Southern (11-10, 3-8) Thursday night in the MWSU Fieldhouse.

The win was the Griffons’ (10-9, 5-5) sixth in their last seven games at home and third-straight home victory.

NOTABLES

  • Missouri Western shot 44 percent from the field on the night, its best shooting percentage in four games
  • The Griffons forced 24 Missouri Southern turnovers and led by as many as 15 points
  • A 10-0 Missouri Southern run cut the Griffons’ lead to 50-48 early in the fourth quarter, but it was the closest the Lions got all night
  • The Griffons took a 37-29 lead to the break after shooting 50 percent in the first half
  • After shooting just two free throws in the first half, MWSU made 16 of its 22 attempts in the second half
  • The win and some other results around the MIAA Thursday night left the Griffons tied for seventh with Nebraska-Kearney

LEADERS

  • Katrina Roenfeldt fell two points short of a career high, scoring a game-high 28 points on 9-of-17 shooting. Roenfeldt also tied for a team-high eight rebounds with Jessica Davies
  • Simone Walker took advantage of a spot in the starting lineup, scoring a career-high 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting with four rebounds and three blocks
  • Brittany Atkins had a team-high three assists to go with her 13 points

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western stays home to host Pittsburg State (16-4, 8-3) on Saturday, Feb. 2
  • The Gorillas won 69-48 at Northwest Missouri on Thursday.

— MWSU Athletics —

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