Dave Riggert – Page 782 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Bearcats drop two games at Washburn

Posted on March 29, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team dropped a double header to Washburn on Saturday in MIAA action at Falley Field in Topeka, Kan. Northwest fell 7-5 in game one and 12-8 in game two. The Bearcats are now 15-13 overall and 10-10 in MIAA play. Washburn improved to 13-12 and 13-10 in conference action.

GAME ONE

Northwest fell behind early, giving up four runs in the first and two more in the third. In the fourth inning, Eric McGlauflin got the Bearcats on the board with his third homerun of the season, a solo shot to center field. Washburn would add an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth.

In the top of the seventh, Jon Pomatto scored after reaching on an error as Paul Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Ryan Abernathy drove in Alex Singleton to cut the lead to 7-3. The next batter, McGlauflin, doubled and drove in Johnson and Brandon Huske to bring the game within two, 7-5. But Washburn got the final out on a grounder to short.

Hondo Pearcy started and went 2.1 innings, allowing six runs. McGlauflin finished the day going 2-for-3 with three RBI and one run scored. Singleton, Abernathy and Pomatto all recorded hits.

GAME TWO

Northwest held an early 1-0 lead before Washburn went on to score nine runs in the first four innings. The Bearcats tried to keep up the pace, adding two runs in the third, one in the fourth and four in the fifth but a three run sixth inning from Washburn put the game out of reach as Northwest fell, 12-8. Northwest threw six pitchers on the day but committed three errors.

Northwest took advantage of a wild pitch as Huske scored during McGlauflin’s first at bat. In the third, Ryan Abernathy hit his first homerun of the season, driving in Garrett Fort. In the fourth, Blake Hardegree singled in James Holler, who led off with a double. Northwest scored four in the fifth inning started by a sacrifice fly from McGlauflin to score Fort. Austin Wulff singled to score Abernathy and Wulff scored on an error. Holler would score the final run, advancing on a wild pitch.

McGlauflin went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Pomatto was 3-for-3 with two runs scored.

The series concludes tomorrow at 1 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Missouri Western softball goes 1-1 against Pitt State Saturday

Posted on March 29, 2014

The Missouri Western softball team split an MIAA doubleheader with the Pittsburg State Gorillas winning game one 3-2 in come from behind fashion before falling 6-2 in game two. The Griffons sit at 20-14 overall and 5-7 in MIAA play and will host the Missouri Southern Lions in a doubleheader on Sunday, March 30 at 1:00 pm in St. Joseph, Mo.

Game 1
MWSU 3
PSU 2

The Griffons scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning coming away with a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburg State Gorillas. This marked the first come from behind victory of the season for the Griffons.

The Griffons started slow as the Gorillas scored the first two runs of the game. In the 2nd inning MacKenzie Rynard blasted her ninth homer of the season giving PSU the 1-0 lead. They tacked on one more in the third inning as Cheslyn Mitchell doubled and then scored on a Tiffany Brown single up the middle giving the Gorillas the 2-0 lead.

The Griffons responded in the third with back-to-back hits from Taylor Anding and Michelle Stevenson leading off the inning. The two advanced on a passed ball and later Anding scored on a wile pitch cutting the lead to 2-1 after three.

The score remained that way until the sixth when Tiffany Gillaspy led off with her seventh homer of the season over the left field fence tying the score at two. Later in the inning Sydney Washington singled to left ans scored on a wild pitch giving the Griffons the 3-2 lead.

Jackie Bishop got the Griffons in the 7th improving to 13-6 on the season. She gave up five hits while striking out nine. The Griffons had eight hits with Washington, Anding and Stevenson all getting two.

The Gorillas had five hits while Kyle Harpst falls to 3-4 giving up eight hits while striking out three.

Game 2
PSU 6
MWSU 2

The nations leading home run hitter Tiffany Brown hurt the Griffons in game two blasting two three-run home runs giving the Gorillas a 6-2 victory. Brown smacked a homer in the first inning and another in the third.

The Griffons responded in the first inning scoring two runs on singles by Gillaspy that scored Bre Fleschner and then Gillaspy scored on an illegal pitch by Pittsburg State pitcher Samantha Grove.

The rest of the game the Griffons could not get a timely hit as they stranded nine runners in the contest.

The Griffons had seven hits with Gillaspy going 3-for-4 and Fleschner going 2-for-4. Janie Smith went all seven giving up five hits and five earned runs while striking out four.

The Gorillas sit at 16-16 overall and 3-7 in MIAA play. The Gorillas had five hits with Brown and Mitchell each getting two. Brown had six RBI. Grove got the victory for the Gorillas giving up seven hits and one earned run while striking out three.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Central Missouri wins NCAA Division II Men’s Basketball National Championship

Posted on March 29, 2014March 29, 2014

EVANSVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Central Missouri won the NCAA Division II championship game with defense,

Facing a West Liberty squad that averaged 101 points, the Mules held the Hilltoppers 24 below their average Saturday in an 84-77 victory. Daylen Robinson scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half for Central Missouri.

“Defense was the difference at the end,” said Robinson, the tournament MVP. “Coach (Kim Anderson) said, ‘We need stops these 4 minutes,’ and that’s just what we did. We knew we had to contest their shots, or they would score a bunch of points. We kept our poise late in the game, offensively and defensively.”

Dillon Deck added 16 points and 10 rebounds for Central Missouri (30-5), including two key baskets in the final 4 minutes. The Mules also won the division II title in 1984.

Robinson hit a 3-pointer with 8:18 left to tie it at 65, then made it 68-65 with another 3-pointer 90 seconds later. The Mules never trailed again.

Central Missouri could not pull away, however.

UCM led 76-73 with less than 3 minutes to go, and that’s when defense began to take over. The 6-foot-9 Deck deflected two shots, then stepped up and made a key basket to put his team ahead 78-73 with 1:40 to go. After C.J. Hester cut Central Missouri’s lead to 78-75 with a pair of free throws, Deck grabbed an offensive rebound following a missed free throw, was fouled, and hit both free throws to put the Mules up 80-75.

West Liberty came up empty the next two times downcourt, and the Mules held on..

“Every coach dreams of winning a national championship, but that only happened to me because of the players around me,” Anderson said. “Their ability to stay focused and not get rattled showed through again. This was a very difficult opponent for us. We knew if West Liberty put up 101 points in this game, we wouldn’t win.”

West Liberty built a 35-26 lead before the Mules came back to tie it at 37 late in the first half. Neither team led by more than five points in the second half until the final 20 seconds in the game that had 14 ties and nine lead changes.

Shawn Dyer led West Liberty (31-4) with 19 points, and Cedric Harris had 18 — 14 in the first half.

“It’s tough getting this far, and going home without a championship,” West Liberty coach Jim Crutchfield said. “These guys are hurting right now. In a few days, well, maybe a few years, they’ll look back and be very proud of their accomplishments.”

— Associated Press —

Mark hits another walk off HR as Northwest softball sweeps Southern

Posted on March 29, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State softball team made it a clean sweep going 4-0 on the weekend as they swept Missouri Southern Saturday taking game one, 10-0 and then winning game two, 3-0, in walk off fashion.

Northwest got up early and never relinquished the lead scoring two in the bottom of the first inning on two hits.

The Bearcats added three more runs in the second inning with RBIs from Torri Blythe and Chantel Adams. Adams knocked in two with a double that hit off the top of the center field fence.

Steph Mark plated Cassidy Lee with a single up the middle in the third inning before Adams brought in another run on a bases loaded walk.

The Bearcats then put the game out of reach in the fourth inning scoring three runs on three hits to go up 10-0.

Abbie Vitosh earned the win as she tossed a complete game shutout. Vitosh allowed only three runners to reach base in the contest while striking out four for her fifth victory of the season.

Game two turned out to be a classic pitcher’s duel.

Sarah Baldwin was at the top of her game against Missouri Southern Saturday.

Baldwin gave up only one hit and did not allow a walk as she struck out eight Lion hitters. The sophomore pitcher continued to pitch into extra innings, striking out two batters and stranding one runner in the top of the eighth to give her team a chance to win it in the bottom half.

Lee walked to put the potential game winning run on first to start the bottom of the inning. Blythe then laid down a bunt and beat out the throw to put runners on first and second. Mark then came up and ended the game with a three run home run over the right center field wall.

This is the second home run of the walkoff variety for Mark in as many days. The first baseman leads the Bearcats with seven home runs on the season to go along with a team leading 31 RBI’s.

After the weekend sweep of Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern, Northwest is now 14-16, 7-7 on the season. The Bearcats will take a short break from conference play and travel to Truman State for a double header Tuesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Kansas City loses final tune up at Milwaukee

Posted on March 29, 2014

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Marco Estrada pitched five scoreless innings and Jonathan Lucroy hit a two-run double, leading the Milwaukee Brewers past the Kansas City Royals 7-2 on Saturday

The Royals managed just two hits off Estrada, who retired his last 10 batters. Estrada finished the spring by pitching 17 consecutive shutout innings.

“He’s been outstanding,” Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. “Great command of his fastball. Changeup has been really good. His curveball has been good. His location has been outstanding.”

Lucroy, who struggled at the plate this spring, connected off Kansas City starter Yordano Ventura with two outs in the third inning.

“Ventura has a great arm,” Roenicke said. “That stuff, there’s not much better than that. To get some runs off of him, I thought that was really good.”

Aramis Ramirez went 1 for 2 with an RBI. Logan Schafer had three hits and two RBIs. Minor leaguer Michael Ratterree hit a solo home run in the seventh.

Kansas City scored two ninth-inning runs off reliever Francisco Rodriguez.

The Brewers finished the spring at 13-18, while the Royals went 12-16-2.

STARTING TIME:

Brewers: Estrada struck out four and didn’t walk a batter. He threw 61 pitches, 38 for strikes.

“It’s a good feeling, a good way to go into the season,” Estrada said. “Now I just have to transfer that into the season and do it where it matters.”

Royals: Ventura allowed four hits and three runs over three innings. He struck out five, walked two and threw a pair of wild pitches.

“He struggled with his command,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He’s always going to have his good stuff but his battle days will be with his command and it was like that today.”

HOME OPENER:

Brewers: RHP Yovani Gallardo will be making his fifth career opening day start on Monday, trailing only Ben Sheets (six) in franchise history. He is 0-2 with a 5.82 ERA in his previous openers.

Royals: James Shields will start the team’s season opener on Monday in Detroit, his second consecutive opening day assignment.

MOVING DAY:

Royals: Infielder Jason Donald was assigned to Triple-A Omaha. Catcher Ramon Hernandez was released by the team upon request of his agent after the Royals said the 37-year-old would not make the team.

TRAINERS’ ROOM:

Brewers: Shortstop Jean Segura, who has been battling shoulder soreness, worked out before Saturday’s game, just as he did prior to Friday night’s game, leaving manager Ron Roenicke believing that Segura will be ready for the season opener.

“It went well. He made probably 10 to 15 throws and he felt good about it,” Roenicke said.

Segura, who hasn’t played since March 18, is expected to take part in a simulated game at Miller Park on Sunday before being evaluated by the team’s medical staff.

Royals: Louis Coleman (bruised finger) and Luke Hochevar (right elbow) were placed on the 15-day disabled list. Infielder Omar Infante took part in a minor league game Saturday and will join the Royals for their workout Sunday in Detroit.

“He played well and felt good,” Yost said. Infante received a cortisone shot for a bone spur in his right elbow on March 18 and did not travel with the team to Milwaukee.

FINAL TUNEUP:

Brewers: Wily Peralta will pitch a simulated game on Sunday. He’s expected to throw about 75 pitches.

Royals: Bruce Chen will make a minor league start on Sunday in Surprise, Ariz. The veteran hurler, who re-signed with Kansas City over the winter, is expected to be limited to 60 pitches.

GROUND RULE:

Brewers third baseman Mark Reynolds’ towering fly ball in the fifth inning hit a wire on the roof at Miller Park. The ball fell into left field for a double.

— Associated Press —

Griffons open series at Nebraska-Kearney with 6-3 victory

Posted on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014

The Missouri Western baseball team used a five run third inning capturing a 6-3 victory in game one of a four game series against the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Ryan Degner led the way with two hits and three RBI while Grant Woods went 5.1 innings giving up five hits and three earned runs. The Griffons improve to 14-12 overall and 10-9 in MIAA play.

Western opened up the third inning getting three straight hits from Cody Childs, Trevor LaHonta and Dylan Koch. Child scored on a throwing error by the third baseman and then Degner blasted his 5th homer of the season giving the Griffons a 4-0 lead. Jake Schrader later scored on a ground out back to the pitcher by Jeremy Monty giving the Griffons the 5-0 lead.

In the fourth the Griffons used three Loper errors and a hit scoring one more giving them the 6-0 lead after three and a half innings of play.

The Lopers finally got to Woods in the 4th when Danny Droll got hit by a pitch and a walk by Anthony Pacheco. With two outs Josh Kiger blasted a three run homer cutting the Griffons lead to 6-3 after four. The rest of the game the Lopers got runners on base but the Griffons used solid pitching by Woods and Tyler Sanders getting the victory.

Sanders picked up his fourth save of the season going 3.2 innings giving up three hits and striking out two. The Griffons left nine runners on base in the game.

The Lopers fall to 17-11 on the season and 11-10 in MIAA play. They had eight hits with Pacheco and Max Ayoub both getting two hits. Adam Peters falls to 3-3 going 2.2 innings giving up six hits and with four strikeouts. Alex Sosa went 6.1 innings giving up one hit and one unearned run.

The two teams will play two seven inning contests on Saturday, March 29 with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 pm in Kearney, Neb.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcats get shut out at Washburn

Posted on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team fell on Friday afternoon to Washburn University, 7-0, at Falley Field in MIAA action. Northwest is now 15-11 overall and 10-8 in MIAA play while Washburn improved to 13-10 overall and 11-10 in conference action.

Washburn scored two runs in the second and two runs in the fourth before closing out the bottom of the eighth with three runs. Washburn outhit the Bearcats, 11-5. Northwest collected a pair of hits from Steven Garber on the afternoon, going 2-for-4. Ryan Abernathy, Eric McGlauflin and Austin Wulff all went 1-for-4. Austin Warren took the loss after going 4.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. Andrew Trout and Daulton Perry each had scoreless outings.

The series continues tomorrow with a pair of seven-inning contests beginning at 1 p.m. in Topeka, Kan.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Missouri Western tennis falls at Emporia State

Posted on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014

The Missouri Western women’s tennis team fell in road MIAA action 8-1 on Friday afternoon. The Griffons had some close matches but fall to 0-10 overall and 0-6 in MIAA play. The Griffons return to action on Tuesday, April 1 with a non-conference match against Truman State University in St. Joseph, Mo. Match time is set for 1:00 pm at the Noyes Tennis Courts.

The Griffons played well in doubles picking up one point when Denise Chiao and Lindsay Beger defeated Taylor Smith and Jenny Gerdhart 9-8 (7-1 tiebreaker) giving the Hornets the 2-1 lead after doubles. Meara Smith and Ceara Boldridge fell 8-3 against Tawni Griffin and Nicole Jara while Alyssa Dougan and Kayla Dysart fell 8-2 at No. 3 doubles against Somer Schmidt and Amy Fugit.

In singles action the Hornets won all six positions. The closest match came at No. 4 singles when Boldridge and Gerdhart went to a tiebreaker. Gerdhart defeated Boldridge 6-2, 1-6 and 10-7. Chiao also played well at No. 3 singles but fell to Smith 6-4 and 6-1. Beger fell 8-5 at No. 5 singles against Schmidt while Dougan fell 6-2 and 6-4 against Fugit at No. 6 singles.

Dysart and Smith struggled at the No. 1 and No. 2 positions. Dysart fell 6-2 and 6-0 against Griffin while Smith fell 6-1 and 6-1 at No. 2 singles against Jara. The Hornets improve to 11-3 overall and 4-1 in MIAA play.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest softball uses walk-off HR to sweep Pittsburg State

Posted on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State softball team managed to sweep Pittsburg State Friday in their home opener as they took game one 9-5 and then game two, 8-7, on the back of two late inning home runs.

Northwest plated the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Torri Blythe reached on a fielder’s choice and then stole second base for her team leading 14th stolen base of the season. Blythe scored from second when Steph Mark singled up the middle to put her team up 1-0.

The Bearcat offense then unloaded for eight runs on five hits in the bottom of the second inning to take a 9-0 lead.

PSU attempted a comeback over the next three innings as they scored three runs in the top of the fourth followed by one run in each of the next two innings.

The Gorillas fell short in their comeback attempt as Abbie Vitosh picked up the win in the 9-5 victory. Vitosh tossed a complete game while allowing three earned runs and striking out three.

The Bearcats took an early lead in game two as Jordan Ereth led off with a double and was knocked in by Blythe who singled through the right side. Chantel Adams brought in Blythe from first when she smacked a double to the left field fence to put her team up 2-0.

PSU tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the third inning.

Maddie Jones gave Northwest back the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field.

The Gorillas plated three runs in the fifth inning to take a 5-3 lead.

Two hits and a fielder’s choice led to the bases being loaded for Taszia Roseberry in the bottom half of the sixth. Roseberry then proceeded to hit a go-ahead grand slam to put her team up, 7-5.

PSU answered back with a two run home run in the top of the seventh to tie the game up at 7-7.

With one out away in the bottom of the seventh, Mark took the first pitch over the left center field wall for a, walk off, solo home run.

Sarah Baldwin threw a complete game and earned the win in the 8-7 victory. Baldwin struck out six while allowing only four earned runs.

The Bearcats move their season record to 12-16, 5-7 on the season. Northwest will have a quick turnaround as they take on conference foe Missouri Southern Saturday at Bearcat Field. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Royals win spring training game at Milwaukee, 5-4

Posted on March 28, 2014March 28, 2014

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun hit a three-run homer in his first action at Miller Park since his doping suspension, but Milwaukee lost 5-4 to the Kansas City Royals in an exhibition game Friday night.

Braun’s homer traveled 409 feet over the wall near straightaway center, giving Milwaukee a two-run lead in the third. The hometown crowd showered Braun with overwhelming applause.

The 2011 NL MVP went 2 for 3 with a double and three RBIs. He’s now hitting .412 this spring.

“I feel pretty good, seeing the ball well,” he said. “The key for me is always trying to swing at strikes.”

It was Braun’s first appearance in a game at Miller since striking out as a pinch hitter on July 21. He was suspended the next day for the remainder of the 2013 season, covering 65 games.

The Royals rallied in a three-run fourth inning that was extended following an error by third baseman Aramis Ramirez. Billy Butler added a solo drive for Kansas City in the fifth.

Salvador Perez doubled and scored twice for Kansas City. The catcher is just fine after getting hit in the head with a pitch in his last game Wednesday against the Padres.

Perez’s double came off a blooper down the right-field line for Braun’s first chance Friday at his new position. He fielded it cleanly after the ball fell out of reach.

Braun moved from left to right field after Milwaukee traded Norichika Aoki to Kansas City in the offseason for left-handed reliever Will Smith.

“Ryan asked me about playing right field but, no, I didn’t have much advice for him,” Aoki said through an interpreter. “I told him he’s talented and he would be fine.”

THUMB UP

Braun looks as if he’s in midseason form at the plate, though manager Ron Roenicke said before the game there could be lingering issues from the right hand injury that also bothered the slugger last season.

“Time to time it will probably flare up, but he should be fine,” Roenicke said.

Braun has apologized several times in the offseason for the doping suspension, and has vowed to become one of the top hitters in the game again.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Braun had the only two hits off left-handed starter Jason Vargas, Kansas City’s big free-agent pitching acquisition in the offseason. Vargas went three innings with two walks and a strikeout in his final spring tuneup.

Vargas had a good spring after entering the night with a 2.14 ERA.

“He lost his command a little bit late, giving up the two walks and then a pitch up to Braun,” manager Ned Yost said. “Besides that, I was pleased with his effort, too.”

Brewers: Like Vargas, Matt Garza was a big free-agent grab for his team. He allowed four runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings with two walks and a strikeout. Two runs were unearned following Ramirez’s error.

Garza finished the spring with an 8.80 ERA, though he said he feels ready for first regular-season start Wednesday against Atlanta. The veteran said his timing and mechanics were a little off, but he felt the problem was a quick fix.

TRAINERS ROOM

Royals: Second baseman Omar Infante stayed behind at the team’s spring complex in Arizona as he tries to get over an elbow injury. It was unclear whether he would be ready for the team’s season opener Monday at Detroit.

Brewers: Jean Segura said his sore right shoulder is feeling better, though it’s unclear whether the All-Star shortstop will be ready when Milwaukee’s regular season begins Monday against the Braves.

TIN CUP

A bad day on the golf course this spring left Brewers reliever Brandon Kintzler with a new job Friday night.

Kintzler had to serve as a team batboy after losing a bet over a round of golf to teammate Kyle Lohse, who cruised to an 11-stroke victory.

Garza didn’t waste a chance to poke fun and put Kintzler to work.

“It was just the ball was scuffed, I had to get rid of it, so didn’t want to throw a dirty ball,” Garza deadpanned. “That’s about it.”

— Associated Press —