Dave Riggert – Page 961 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Bearcats drop last two games of Northeastern State series

Posted on February 17, 2013

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team could not build on Saturday’s win as the Bearcats dropped game one to the RiverHawks 7-2 then fell 11-8 in the night cap on Sunday.

Northwest scored the first run of the game in the top of the first after Brandon Huske tripled then was knocked in by Eric Swain. NSU added two in the bottom of the first and never relinquished the lead.

The Bearcats grabbed their second run in the fifth inning when Brandon Huske drove in Alex Singleton on a double down the right field line.

Marcus Garrett picked up his second loss of the season as he went three innings gave up five hits and four earned runs and three strike outs. Chase Anderson took over on the mound in the fourth inning and faced 17 batters giving up two earned runs and posting four strikeouts.

Game two was an offensive explosion for both teams. NSU and Northwest combined for 25 hits and 19 runs, but it was in a losing effort for the Bearcats.

The game was scoreless heading into the top of the third until Matt Kanger singled to right center field scoring Eric McGlauflin. Charlie Krueger stepped up to the plate with the bases full of Bearcats and dropped a grand slam over the left field wall to put Northwest up 5-0. The home run was Krueger’s second of the season.

The RiverHawks added three in the bottom half of the third off a three run home run by Davidson. NSU would take the lead in the fourth inning by adding four runs to go up 7-5.

Ryker Fox got the start for Northwest who used four pitchers in the loss. The staff combined for 11 earned runs, 13 hits, five strikeouts and only three walks.

Tyler Durant went 3 for 5 for the Bearcats and knocked in three RBIs. Kreuger, McGlaufllin and Cameron Bedard all added two hits apiece.

Northwest could not overcome leaving 12 men on base as they drop to 1-4, 1-2. The Bearcats will have a quick turn-around as they will be back on the field Wednesday to take on Nebraska-Kearney in the home opener for Northwest. First pitch of the double header will be at noon.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Western softball goes 1-1 on final day of Seven State Classic

Posted on February 17, 2013

The Missouri Western softball team struggled offensively at the UAM Seven State Classic going 1-1 on the final day. The Griffons hit just .235 on the day defeating Oklahoma Christian 6-4 and falling against Southern Arkansas 3-2. After two weekends of play the Griffons are 7-3 overall.

Game 1
MWSU 6, Oklahoma Christian 4
In game one against Oklahoma Christian the Griffons used a big fifth inning scoring five runs with four coming off the bat of senior center fielder Maegan Roemmich giving MWSU a 6-2 lead.

Griffon relief pitcher Janie Smith gave up a run in the sixth and one in the seventh but was able to get the victory. She pitched 2.2 innings giving up four hits, two earned runs and striking out three. Starting pitcher Jackie Bishop went 4.1 innings giving up five hits with three strikeouts.

Oklahoma Christian took the early 1-0 lead in the third inning when Kendra Pierce double in Sarah Peoples. The Griffons tied the score in their half of the third when Sarah Elliott singled and scored on a single by Bre Fleschner.

OCU regained the lead in the 5th when Peoples doubled to right field and scored on an error by the Griffons right fielder. The next half inning would be the Griffons big inning. With two outs Fleschner walked, Stevenson singled, Gillaspy singled scoring Fleschner tying the score at two. Lorbert would reach on an error by the third baseman and Roemmich stepped to the plate blasting a grand slam.

Fleschner and Roemmich both had two hits in the contest while Sorensen walked twice.

Oklahoma Christian falls to 4-4 on the season as Danielle Collins falls to 0-1 on the season. Collins went 4.2 innings giving up six hits and two earned runs. Peoples had three of OCU’s nine hits while Pierce had two.

Game 2
Southern Arkansas 3, MWSU 2
In game two the Griffons were held to just one hit through five innings of play. The Lady Riders plated one in the first and one in the second inning claiming a 2-0 lead.

The lead remained 2-0 until the sixth inning when Elliott and Stevenson hit doubles and Stevenson tied the game advancing on a first and third situation.

It looked as if the Griffons were going to get out of the 7th unharmed as Brooke Schaben got the first two batters. On the third batter of the inning she made a fielding error which allowed SAU to get a double down the right field line taking the 3-2 lead.

MWSU threatened in the bottom of the 7th when Schaben singled and advanced to second on an Taylor Anding ground out. Elliott would single to center field but Schaben would get thrown out at the plate ending the game.

MWSU had five hits with Elliott collecting two. Schaben falls to 0-2 on the season going all seven striking out six and giving up two earned runs.

Southern Arkansas improves to 5-8 on the season. Hanna Gill went all seven giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out five. SAU had six hits with two by Lauren Witzke. The also had nine runner left on base.

The Griffons return to action on Thursday, February 21 when they take on Western Oregon and University of Hawaii at Hilo in Hilo, Hawaii. Game times are set for 2:00 pm and 4:15 pm CST.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest softball off to best start in school history

Posted on February 17, 2013February 17, 2013

The Northwest Missouri State softball team battled through Sunday to knock off Ouachita Baptist, 5-2 before withstanding a late rally from Oklahoma Panhandle State for a 9-6 win to close out the 7-State Softball Classic.

The Bearcats stand at 7-0 on the season giving them their best start in program history. Before Sunday the Bearcats 5-0 start equaled the best start under Head Coach Ryan Anderson when his 2007 squad won their first five games in his first season at the helm.

Game one saw the Bearcats get another solid pitching performance, as Abbie Vitosh earned the win going 5.1 innings and scattering five hits. Vitosh improved to 2-0 on the season as she was charged with one earned run while striking out seven.

Northwest got on the board in the third inning when Candace Miller singled to left field scoring Rachael Schmitz. Miller finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs.

Ouachita Baptist would tie the game in the top of the fourth inning with an RBI single, however the Bearcats would explode in the bottom half to break the game open.

Kristine Labertew belted her first home run of the season, scoring Stephanie Price who was hit by a pitch. After two walks, a single and an error Northwest would extend its lead to 5-1 on an infield single by Miller.

OBU scratched a run back in the top of the sixth inning on a solo homer, but Morgan Brunmeier entered in relief to pitching the final 1.2 innings for the save.

The finale saw the Bearcats hold off a feverish rally from Oklahoma Panhandle in the late innings for a 9-6 victory.

The Northwest offense gave the Bearcat pitching staff the run support it needed early with a five run second inning. The Bearcats scored five runs on six hits with a home run from Kylie Cantrell and RBI singles from Miller and Labertew.

Kristen Uthe added a RBI double to cap the inning as Northwest left the bases loaded.

After OPSU added a run in the top of the fourth, Northwest answered with three more runs on three hits. Labertew picked up her second RBI on a single and Cantrell was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded also giving her two RBIs in the win.

Northwest also had a season high three errors but managed to overcome the miscues after a four run inning from the Aggies pulled the Bearcat lead to 8-5.

Both teams would trade runs in the sixth as Brunmeier again entered in relief to shut the door on the Aggies. Paige Blythe earned the win for the Bearcats going 4.1 innings before Brunmeier finished the final 2.2 innings and picked up her second save.

Miller finished 3-for-4 with an RBI in the night cap as four more Bearcats added multiple hits. Uthe also joined Labertew and Cantrell with two RBIs.

Northwest returns to the diamond next weekend as they travel north for the NSIC/MIAA Crossover Tournament. Tournament action in Minnesota starts on Friday with a single game for the Bearcats against Sioux Falls. The final two days feature double-headers against Upper Iowa and Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday and a Sunday meeting with Minnesota State Mankato and Winona State.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Griffons open MIAA play with doubleheader sweep of Emporia

Posted on February 16, 2013

The Missouri Western baseball team opened up MIAA play with two victories against Emporia State by scores of 8-5 and 7-6. The Griffons improve to 3-3 overall and 2-0 in MIAA action.

Game 1: MWSU 8, ESU 5
In game one the Griffons got a solid outing from junior pitcher Jake Jones as he picked up his first victory of the season. He improves to 1-0 with the victory. Logan Hollingsworth came into get the save in game one.

Offensively Kyle Simpson had an outstanding game hitting a home run, triple and two singles. Grant Fink also hit a homer in the first game for the Griffons.

Game 2: MWSU 7, ESU 6
The Griffons mounted a four run eighth inning to pick up a 7-6 victory in game two against the Hornets. In game two Ethan Ward pitched six strong innings. He left the game with the score tied at three. Hollingworth once again came in for relief. He pitched well picking up the victory.

Offensively Jimmy Smelcer and David Chew hit homers. Shawn Egge had the game tying single in the eighth and Michael Schulze got the game winning hit.

Emporia State falls to 1-5 on the season and 0-2 in MIAA play.

The two teams will wrap up the three game series tomorrow February 17 with a single nine inning game. First pitch is scheduled for noon from Trusler Sports Complex.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcats upset No. 25 Washburn to snap three-game skid

Posted on February 16, 2013February 16, 2013

Desperately needing a win the Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team was able to rally for a 63-61 win over 25th-ranked Washburn in front of 2,047 fans at Bearcat Arena.

The win helps keep the Bearcats in the race for a first round bye as they move to 16-8 overall and 9-6 in the league standings. Northwest was not only able to avenge a loss last Saturday to Washburn, but snap a three-game skid as the Ichabods fell to 16-6 on the season and 9-5 in the MIAA with the loss.

A huge bench effort saw three Bearcats come off the bench to score at least 11 points helping Northwest hold off the Ichabods. DeAngelo Hailey knocked down six free-throws in the final 1:24 of the game to help the Bearcats in the win as Hailey led Northwest with 19 points and finished 7-of-8 from the free-throw line.

After a pair of one-point victories two weeks ago, the Bearcats were able to close another tight game on Saturday. The Bearcats got solid free-throw shooting as a Washburn three-pointer fell in with just 11 seconds left cutting the Northwest lead to 61-60.

Washburn was forced to foul as Hailey hit both free-throws to push the Bearcat lead to 63-60. Northwest elected to foul with a three-point lead on the inbounds, as Will McNeil made the first and intentionally missed the second.

The Ichabods corralled the rebound, but the last second jumper from Joseph Smith fell off the mark and the Bearcats saw their three-game losing streak come to an end.

Northwest was able to attack the basket getting to the free-throw line 17 more times than Washburn. Despite less than ideal percentages at the free-throw line, Northwest finished 18-of-27 while the Ichabods finished just 7-of-10.

Conner Crooker finished with 16 points as Grant Cozad added 11 to aid in the Northwest scoring off the bench.

Washburn’s McNeil led all players with 23 points and six rebounds.

The Bearcats close out their home stand hosting Missouri Western Wednesday. Northwest will try again to avenge a January loss to the Griffons and clinch a berth in the MIAA Tournament. Tipoff from Bearcat Arena is set for 7:30 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Solid pitching lifts Western softball to two more wins Saturday

Posted on February 16, 2013February 16, 2013

The Missouri Western softball team picked up two more victories on day two of the Arkansas-Monticello Seven State classic defeating Henderson State 6-1 and Arkansas-Monticello 2-1. The Griffons pitching led the way giving up just two runs while striking out 11. MWSU improves to 6-2 on the season.

Game 1
Missouri Western 6, Henderson State 1

The Griffons and the Reddies got off to a slow start as each team had only one hit through four innings of play.

In the fifth inning the Griffons offensive exploded for five runs on five hits claiming a 5-0 lead. After an out the Griffons got a single by Kendall Sorenson and a double by Janie Smith putting runners on second and third with one out.

Taylor Anding got on by a fielders choice with Sorensen scoring on a throwing error by the short stop. Back-to-back singles by Sarah Elliott and Bre Fleschner put MWSU 4-0. Later in the inning Elliott stole home giving the Griffons the 5-0 lead.

In the sixth both teams got out of bases loaded jams giving up zero runs. In the top of the seventh Keri Lorbert hit her fourth homer of the season giving MWSU the 6-0 lead.

Janie Smith gave up a homer in the bottom half of the seventh but forced a double play ending the game. Smith improves to 3-0 on the season pitching her first complete game of her career. She gave up just three hits while striking out five. The Griffons had eight hits with Michelle Stevenson and Sorensen both getting two.

The Reddies fell to 4-9 on the season with the loss. Kayla Williams picked up the loss going just 4.1 innings giving up six hits and four earned runs. She falls to 2-2 on the season. Sarah Gipson hit the homer for the Reddies going 1-for-1 in the game.

Game 2
Missouri Western 2, Arkansas-Monticello 1

Against UAH the Griffons held on for the 2-1 victory. Jackie Bishop got out of a bases loaded no out jam in the sixth inning after giving up one run. Bishop then shut down the Blossoms picking up her third victory of the season. Bishop gave up five hits while striking out six.

The Griffons scored both their runs in the third inning getting four hits with two of them bouncing off the fence. Elliott double to right center leading off the inning and then Fleschner got a bunt single advancing Elliott to third.

Stevenson tried a squeeze bunt but Elliott got tagged out at home. The next play was a double steal which Fleschner just got under the tag giving the Griffons the 1-0 lead. With two outs Keri Lorbert blooped a single down the left field line scoring Stevenson which proved to be the game winner.

Randa Perry pitched all seven innings for UAM giving up four hits and two earned runs. She falls to 4-3 on the season with four strikeouts. The Blossoms had five hits with five different players getting hits. UAM falls to 8-5 with the loss.

The Griffons will be in action again on Sunday, February 17 with games against Oklahoma Christian and Southern Arkansas. Game times are 9:00 am and 11:00 am respectively.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Missouri lets late lead slip away as they fall at Arkansas

Posted on February 16, 2013February 16, 2013

BJ Young converted on a pair of three-point plays in the final minute to help Arkansas rally for a 73-71 win over Missouri on Saturday.

The win is the first over the Tigers for Razorbacks coach Mike Anderson, who is in his second season at Arkansas after leaving Missouri.

The Razorbacks (16-9, 7-5 SEC) trailed 70-66 with less than a minute remaining, but Young converted on back-to-back three-point plays to put them up 72-71. He then added a free throw to secure the win.

Marshawn Powell led Arkansas with 24 points, while Young had 18 and Coty Clarke added 13 for the Razorbacks – which are now 15-1 at home this season.

Keion Bell led Missouri (18-7, 7-5) with a season-high 25 points, while Earnest Ross added 16.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State women come up short against Lady Blues

Posted on February 16, 2013February 16, 2013

Twenty-six turnovers by the Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team were too much to overcome as No. 6 Washburn defeated the Bearcats 61-54 Saturday at Bearcat Arena.

Northwest came out ready to play in the first half as the defense did not allow Washburn to score during the first 5:30 of the game. The Bearcats got out to a 7-0 lead before the Lady Blues made it a game.

Coach Kellogg’s team shot 47.4 percent from the floor in the first half including 60 percent from behind the three point line.

Washburn took the lead toward the end of the first half on the back of Laura Kinderknecht who had 12 points and pulled down one rebound. Kinderknecht would finish with 14.

Northwest came within four points of the Lady Blues with 9:19 left in the second half before Washburn pulled away.

Annie Mathews finished one rebound shy of a double-double as she had nine boards and posted 12 points. Monique Stevens also had 12 points while leading the team with 6 assists.

The Bearcats shot 83.3 percent from the free throw line Saturday. It marked the seventh time this season Northwest shot over 80 percent from the line and the second time it was in a losing effort.

The Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball team will continue in their annual tribute to breast cancer awareness when they host Missouri Western Wednesday for their Pink Zone Game. Tip-off between the Bearcats and the Griffons is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

KU uses balanced attack to crush Texas

Posted on February 16, 2013February 16, 2013

Jeff Withey had 15 points and 11 rebounds while becoming the Big 12’s career blocked shots leader, Elijah Johnson emerged from a season-long slump and No. 14 Kansas walloped Texas 73-47 on a festive Saturday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Johnson finished with 12 points for the Jayhawks (21-4, 9-3 Big 12). Travis Releford added 15 and Ben McLemore had 13, including a 360 jam in the closing minutes that capped off quite a show against the Longhorns (11-14, 3-9) for more than a dozen former players in attendance.

Among them was Mario Chalmers, whose buzzer-beating 3-pointer forced overtime in the 2008 national title game won by Kansas. The Miami Heat guard was honored at halftime by having his No. 15 raised to the rafters, where it joined names such as Wilt Chamberlain and Paul Pierce.

Perhaps one day, Withey’s name will reside there.

The senior center had his 265th block early in the second half to move past former Texas star Chris Mihm for the most in league history. The reigning Big 12 defensive player of the year even had four steals while making life miserable for the young, undersized Longhorns.

Myck Kabongo, in his second game back from a 23-game suspension, was held to 13 points by the nation’s top field-goal percentage defense. The Longhorns’ sophomore guard missed his first seven shots and committed three turnovers, his only real success coming at the foul line.

Texas wound up shooting 21.8 percent from the field and 2 of 21 from beyond the arc.

The prime-time match-up between two of the nation’s stingiest defenses figured to put points a premium, but that only turned out to be the case for the Longhorns.

They had already fallen behind 11-8 when they went the next 8-plus minutes without a field goal, missing 10 straight shots, three free throws and turning the ball over twice. By the time Ioannis Papapetrou got to the rim for Texas, the Jayhawks had built a 24-11 lead.

It never got a whole lot better for Texas.

The Longhorns went another 6 1/2 minutes without a field goal before Demarcus Holland’s steal and layup got them within 28-15 at halftime. That meant the final 15:55 of the first half, Texas had precisely as many shot-clock violations (two) as they had made field goals.

It was the Longhorns’ lowest-scoring half of the season.

Kansas didn’t waste any time delivering the knockout punch in the second half.

Johnson was the catalyst, scoring the Jayhawks’ first seven points and finally starting to shake out of a season-long slump that has been frustrating and, at times, embarrassing for one of the key players on last season’s national runner-up.

The senior guard started Kansas on a 13-4 run by getting to the basket and drawing a foul. He missed the free throw, but moments later did the exact same thing and converted the three-point play. Johnson finished off his own spurt with another basket, and by the time Releford scored in transition, the Jayhawks had built a 41-22 lead with 14:32 remaining in the game.

Texas coach Rick Barnes, whose team is in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the first time in 15 years, was powerless to stop the onslaught even with a full complement of timeouts.

Kansas eventually pushed the lead to 55-28 when Withey scored six straight points, including a follow-up dunk off his own miss with just less than 8 minutes left in the game.

McLemore put the exclamation mark on a celebratory night for the Jayhawks when he got ahead of the fast break with about 4 minutes left and elevated for a 360 dunk that brought down the house and gave Kansas a 68-34 lead on the dazed, checked-out Longhorns.

Kansas, which rallied from 11 down to beat Texas in January, emptied the bench in the final minutes as it coasted to its eighth win in nine meetings with the Longhorns.

— Associated Press —

Bearcat baseball knocks off Northeastern State for first win

Posted on February 16, 2013February 16, 2013

Head Coach Darin Loe and the Northwest Missouri State baseball team earned their first win of the 2013 season as the Bearcats defeated Northeastern State 7-5 Saturday.

Northwest got off the bus and pulled the bats out immediately as they jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning. Ryan Abernathy led off the game with a walk followed by two quick outs then a single by JJ Baccari knocked him in to go up 1-0.

Eric McGlauflin and Baccari were both on base when Charlie Krueger hit a three run home run to right field with two outs to put the Bearcats up 4-0.

The Bearcats also had a great showing from the hill as Blane Reutter went the distance for the complete game win. Reutter needed 110 pitches for the 9.0 inning victory as he had five strikeouts, allowed five earned runs and gave up only one walk. Reutter improves to 1-1 on the season.

Northwest added one run in the fourth as Abernathy scored on a throwing error by Northeastern’s third basemen putting the team up 5-2. The Bearcats tallied two more runs in the top of the ninth when Eric Swain singled in Brandon Huske and Abernathy.

A solid pitching performance and seven scattered hits over nine innings helped the Bearcats get their first win in MIAA competition this season. Northwest improves to 1-3, 1-0 in 2013. The RiverHawks and Bearcats will be back at it tomorrow for a double header with the first pitch scheduled for noon with the third and final game of the series to follow.

— NWMSU Sports Information —