The Northwest Missouri State men’s tennis team captured the 2014 MIAA Men’s Tennis Championship on Sunday afternoon at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo. Northwest beat Southwest Baptist, 5-1.

Northwest jumped out to an early 2-1 lead after a pair of wins in doubles. Lluis Altimires and Sergio DeVilchez won 9-8 in a tiebreaker, 7-3, at the No. 1 position and Romain Boissinot and Julien Couronne won at No. 3, 8-5.

The Bearcats picked up three straight-set victories in the singles to secure the title. Alvaro Riveros won at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-2. Altimires won at No. 4 singles, 6-2, 6-0, and Couronne picked up the No. 5 singles point, winning, 6-3, 6-3.

Northwest will now await seeding for the NCAA Tournament. The live selection show will be available online on Tuesday, April 29th, at 7 p.m. CST.

Northwest Missouri 5, Southwest Baptist 1
Apr 27, 2014 at Springfield, Mo. (Cooper Tennis Complex)

Singles competition
1. Kinal,Kristof (SBU) vs. DeVilchez,Sergio (NW) no result
2. El Kheshen,Omar (SBU) vs. Boissinot,Romain (NW) no result
3. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Blodig,Chris (SBU) 6-3, 6-2
4. Altimires,Lluis (NW) def. Cardona,Daniel (SBU) 6-2, 6-0
5. Couronne,Julien (NW) def. Margiotta,Guido (SBU) 6-3, 6-3
6. Doering,Yannick (SBU) vs. Glowick,Fin (NW) no result

Doubles competition
1. Altimires,Lluis/DeVilchez,Sergio (NW) def. Kinal,Kristof/El Kheshen,Omar(SBU) 9-8 (7-3)
2. Cardona,Daniel/Blodig,Chris (SBU) def. Riveros,Alvaro/Clews,Amery (NW) 8-5
3. Boissinot,Romain/Couronne,Julien (NW) def. Margiotta,Guido/Doering,Yannick (SBU) 8-5

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team celebrated senior day on Saturday afternoon with a two-game sweep of Pittsburg State to close out the regular season. The Bearcats took game one, 11-2, and also claimed the nightcap, 8-2. Prior to the game, Northwest honored seniors Ryker Fox, Austin Warren, Blane Reutter, Daulton Perry, Brandon Huske, Alex Singleton, Eric McGlauflin, Ryan Abernathy and Jon Pomatto.

Game One

Northwest tallied 15 hits en route to an 11-2 victory over the Gorillas in game one. Eight of the nine Bearcats who recorded an at-bat got hits with six putting together multi-hit performances.

Ryker Fox went the distance for his seventh win of the season. He allowed just two earned runs while striking out six and issuing two walks. The Bearcats scored two in the second, three in the fifth and six in the sixth inning.

Jon Pomatto went 3-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. Steven Garber and Ryan Abernathy each went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Garber drove in two runs, as did Blake Hardegree who went 2-for-for with a run scored. Austin Wulff was 2-for-3 with three runs scored and an RBI. Brandon Huske had a pair of RBI for Northwest.

Game Two

The Bearcats scored two runs in the third and plated six runs in the seventh to take game two, 8-2. In the third, Ryan Abernathy doubled to drive in Alex Singleton. Two batters later, Abernsthy scored on a Steven Garber single.

Northwest broke it open in the seventh as Singleton doubled to lead off. Abernathy singled to score Singleton. Garrett Fort doubled to bring in Pomatto, Garber and Abernathy. Zach Ferreira singled to score Fort and Huske singled to drive in Zach Douglas.

Every batter for Northwest recorded a hit on the afternoon as the Bearcats outhit Pitt State, 14-4. Abernathy and Huske each finished the game going 3-for-5. Abernathy had two RBI and two runs scored. Fort was 2-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored. Singleton was 1-for-5 with two runs scored.

Daulton Perry picked up the win, going 6.0 innings without allowing an earned run. He struck out two, allowed just two hits and walked one batter. Blane Reutter and Jon Pomatto pitched the final three innings, allowing just one earned run between them.

This concludes the Bearcats 2014 season. Northwest finishes the year with an even 23-23 record and a 17-20 mark in MIAA play.

— Northwest Sports Information —

For the fifth consecutive season, the Northwest Missouri State softball team is headed to the MIAA conference tournament as they split a double header with Northeastern State Saturday taking game one, 6-5, before falling in game two, 14-13, in nine innings.

Chantel Adams hit her 11th double of the season to plate Jordan Ereth and Torri Blythe to get her team on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Adams then scored from second with a double by Kristen Uthe.

NSU answered back with one run in the third, two in the fourth and one more in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead.

Steph Mark singled in Ereth to tie the game up at 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning before the RiverHawks reclaimed the lead with one run in the top of the sixth.

Baylee Scarbrough brought the game back to even at 6-6 with a solo home run to left center field, her fourth of the year.

With bases loaded in the bottom of the seventh, Mark hit her fourth walk off hit of the season giving her team the 6-5 victory and punching their ticket to the conference tournament.

Paige Blythe earned the win as she threw 3.0 innings in relief giving up one earned run and striking out two.

Game two quickly turned into a slugfest with the teams combining for 26 hits and 27 runs in nine innings.

Taszia Roseberry, Jill Henry, Mark, and Adams all hit home runs. For Henry, it was her first collegiate home run.

The game went into extra innings and NSU took a 14-11 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Bearcats managed two runs, falling a run short as they split the double header.

Abbie Vitosh received the loss as she pitched the final three innings moving her record to 7-12 on the season.

Northwest will take on rival Missouri Western when the conference tournament begins on Thursday. Specific dates and times will be put out in a release as soon as they are available.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State men’s tennis team picked up a 5-0 win over Washburn on Saturday in the MIAA Championships semi-final round to advance to the finals tomorrow at the Cooper Tennis Complex.

The Bearcats swept the doubles points to begin the match. Lluis Altimires and Sergio DeVilchez won at No. 1 singles 9-8 (7-4). Amery Clews and Alvaro Riveros won at No. 2 doubles, 8-4, and Romain Boissinot and Julien Couronne won at No. 3, 8-6. In singles, Northwest got a win at No. 2 from Boissinot, 6-4, 6-2, and from Riveros at No. 3, 7-6 (6-4), 7-6 (6-3). The other singles competitions were unfinished at the time the match was decided.

Northwest will now face No. 2 seed Southwest Baptist tomorrow at 11 a.m. for the MIAA Championship. Southwest Baptist beat Nebraska-Kearney, 5-1.

Northwest Missouri 5, Washburn 0
Apr 26, 2014 at Springfield, Mo. (Cooper Tennis Complex)

Singles competition
1. DeVilchez,Sergio (NW) vs. Kozaczuk,Arek (WU) unfinished
2. Boissinot,Romain (NW) def. Florence,Bobby (WU) 6-4, 6-2
3. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Schlenker,Thilo (WU) 7-6 (6-4), 7-6 (6-3)
4. Altimires,Lluis (NW) vs. Keulers,Marko (WU) unfinished
5. Couronne,Julien (NW) vs. Joost,Chance (WU) unfinished
6. Glowick,Fin (NW) vs. Fletcher,Steven (WU) unfinished

Doubles competition
1. DeVilchez,Sergio/Altimires,Lluis (NW) def. Kozaczuk,Arek/Fletcher,Steven (WU) 9-8 (7-4)
2. Riveros,Alvaro/Clews,Amery (NW) def. Joost,Chance/Florence,Bobby (WU) 8-4
3. Boissinot,Romain/Couronne,Julien (NW) def. Schlenker,Thilo/Keulers,Marko (WU) 8-6

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team fell twice to Pittsburg State on Friday in an MIAA doubleheader at Bearcat Field. The Bearcats fell 5-2 in game one and 4-3 in game two. Northwest is now 21-23 overall on the year and 15-20 in MIAA action. Pittsburg State is now 18-30 overall and 13-24 in conference action.

Game One

Northwest scored the first two runs of the game but gave up a four-run fifth inning to drop the opening game, 5-2. Austin Warren threw 6.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs on six hits to go along with a pair of strikeouts.

Northwest scored in the first as Brandon Huske was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to to third on a single by Nikko Pablo. One batter later, Huske scored on a Ryan Abernathy groundout.

In the second, Austin Wulff and Steven Garber each singled to start the inning and moved up on a wild pitch. After a walk from Jon Pomatto, Blake Hardegree grounded into a fielders choice as Wulff was forced out at the plate, but Garber scored as the throw from the catcher to first hit Hardegree and bounced away.

Game Two

Despite outhitting the Gorillas, 11-5, Northwest was unable to take advantage and fell in game two, 4-3. Wulff, Pablo and Zack Ferreira each had a pair of hits for the Bearcats.

Down 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, Austin Wulff lifted his team leading seventh home run to deep left field to tie the game, 1-1. After Pitt State took a 4-1 lead, Northwest got a timely double from Ferreira in the seventh with one out. After a Huske single moved him to third, Pablo drove him in with a sinlge through the left side.

In the ninth, Northwest loaded the bases as Pomatto walked, Ferreira singled and Huske walked with one out. Pablo hit a sacrifice fly to deep left to score Pomatto, bringing the Bearcats to within one, 4-3. But on the next at bat, a pitch that seemed to get away from the Pitt State catcher was quickly corralled, and with Ferreira trying to advance on the play, he was thrown out at third to end the game.

Kole Klocko started the game and allowed one earned run in 4.2 innings. Daulton Perry allowed two unearned runs in 2.0 innings. Andrew “Bex” Trout and Blane Reutter each threw scoreless innings in relief.

The regular season comes to a close tomorrow with a double-header against the Gorillas starting at 1 p.m. Between the two games, Northwest will honor its nine-member senior class.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State softball team opened up their final weekend of the regular season dropping both games of a double header to Central Oklahoma 7-1, in game one and 9-7 in game two.

UCO put up three runs in both the first and second innings to jump out to a 6-0 lead before scoring one more run in the top of the fifth.

Steph Mark drove in the only run of the game for the Bearcats with a single that plated Jill Henry from third.

Jordan Ereth went 3 for 4 supplying three of the team’s eight hits in game one.

Abbie Vitosh was tagged with the loss as her record moves to 7-12.

The Bronchos jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the first in game of two.

Cassidy Lee singled in Baylee Scarbrough in the bottom of the second inning to get her team on the board.

UCO answered back with three runs of their own in the top of the third before Northwest plated six runs in the bottom half of the inning.

The Bearcats offense opened up for six runs on five hits with RBI’s coming from Kristen Uthe, Madison Jones, Taszia Roseberry, Lee, Scarbrough and Ereth.

UCO added one more in the sixth to go up 9-7.

Northwest could not complete the comeback as the game ended with the Bearcats leaving the bases loaded.

Sarah Baldwin took the loss pushing her record to 10-10.

Paige Blythe threw, a combined, seven innings in relief in the two games for Northwest, giving up two runs while striking out two.

The Bearcats, now 19-27 and 12-12 in the MIAA, will host Northeastern State Saturday for their final home series of the regular season. The seniors will be honored before the first pitch of game one, which is scheduled for 11 am.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State women’s basketball coach Michael Smith has announced the addition of Taylor Shull to the 2014-15 roster. Shull, a native of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, played the last two seasons at Division I member Bradley University. She will have two years of eligibility remaining beginning in the fall.

“I’ve seen Taylor play numerous times throughout her HS and AAU career, she is exactly what we need in a point guard,” said Smith. “Her transferring in with two years experience at the Division I level will be very beneficial in being able to step right in and lead our program.”

Shull appeared in 37 career games for Bradley over two seasons after a standout career at Mt. Pleasant Community High School. As a prep, she set school records for career, single season and single game scoring. She was a two time all-state selection and a four-time all-district and All-Southeast Conference selection. As a junior and senior, she earned conference Player of the Year accolades. A four-sport standout, she qualified for state in track and field four times and was a two-time all-conference performer in volleyball.

2014-15 Roster Additions
Raven Bunn – Independence, Mo. (Fort Osage HS)
Elizabeth Finn – Bettendorf, Iowa (Bettendorf HS)
Samantha Hurst – Harrisonville, Mo. (Kansas City Kansas CC/Harrisonville HS)
Tanya Meyer – Sioux City, Iowa (Sioux City West HS)
Alexa Schaaf – El Dorado Springs, Mo. (El Dorado Springs HS)
Taylor Shull – Mt. Pleasant, Iowa (Bradley/Mt. Pleasant HS)
Bailey Smith – Columbus, Neb. (Columbus HS)
Morgan Walker – Rembrandt, Iowa (North Iowa Area CC/Sioux Central HS)

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State softball coach Ryan Anderson announced the additions of Becca Maher (Des Plaines, Ill.) and Jessica Rawie (Liberty, Mo.) on Thursday morning.

“I believe that both of these individuals can come in and make an immediate impact for us,” said Anderson. “They are both very good athletes and come in with a good knowledge of the game. While both are very good at their primary positions, they each have the ability to adapt and possibly play multiple positions, which is a great advantage.”

Maher was an All-Mid Suburban League performer and an all-area performer for Elk Grove High School. She helped lead her team to a fourth place finish atstate as a sophomore and has also participated in volleyball and basketball. Maher has been named all-academic four times and is a member of the senior academic honor society.

Rawie earned all-district and All-Greater KC Suburban Big 6 Conference honors all four seasons at Liberty High School. She earned all-region honors as a catcher three times and was an academic all-state honoree as a senior. In her final season, she led the team with a .461 batting average and hit .605 with runners in scoring position. She also led the team in runs, RBIs and stolenbases. A multi-sport athlete, Rawie also lettered in basketball and track. Her parents, Doug and Cindy Rawie, are both graduates of Northwest Missouri State and her older sister, Megan, is a senior at Northwest.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State golf coach Pat McLaughlin has announced the signings of two student-athletes to the 2014-15 Bearcat roster. Shelby Williams (Adair, Iowa) and Gia Zupancic (Pueblo, Colo.) will join Maddy Probst from Lawson, Mo., who signed with Northwest in the fall.

“I am excited about the three new players who will be joining our golf team in the fall,” said McLaughlin. “With the graduation of two of our top scoring players, Kristina D’Angela and Cassie Lowell, I knew it was important to add some recruits who could have an immediate positive impact on our program. Ifirmly believe that all three of these ladies have the capability of doing so.”

Williams arrives at Northwest after playing at Iowa Southwestern Community College. She was the team’s No. 1 player and will be a sophomore beginning in the fall. Williams was an all-state golfer at Adair-Casey High School and was named an all-conference performer three times. As a senior, Williams placedeighth at the state championships after finishing runner up at the regionalmeet. She lettered in golf all four years.

Zupancic was a first-team all-state performer at Pueblo East High School. She was a three-time all-region selection as well. She carries a career 78-stroke average and had an 81-stroke average at the 6,010 yard Flatirons Golf Course at the Colorado Junior Golf Association’s World Qualifier.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State men’s and women’s tennis teams swept an MIAA matchup with Washburn on Wednesday afternoon at the Washburn Tennis Complex in Topeka, Kan. The men’s 6-2 win gives the Bearcats the outright MIAA title as they finish the season at 16-3 and a perfect 5-0 in conference play. The women won 5-4 to improve to 11-14 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA.

The men dropped the two of the first three doubles points but rebounded to win all five of the singles points that were played to completion. Romain Boissinot and MIAA Athlete of the Week Julie Couronne won at No. 3 doubles, 8-5. In singles, Sergio De Vilchez (6-4, 7-6) won at No. 1, Boissonot (6-4, 6-0) won at No. 2, Alvaro Riveros (6-2, 6-0) won at No. 3, Lluis Altimires (6-3, 7-5) won at No. 4 and Couronne (6-1, 7-6) won at No. 5. Fin Glowick (6-2, 4-0) was up at No. 6 when the match was called.

The women fell behind early, dropping two of the double’s points. Aniek Kolen and Stephanie Mannix teamed up to win at No. 2 doubles, 8-6. But the Bearcats dominated in singles, winning four of the six matches. Lorena Rivas Jarolim(4-6, 6-3, 6-4) won at No. 1, Alexis Bartek (5-7, 6-1, 6-1) at No. 2, Kolen(6-1, 6-1) at No. 3 and Mannix (6-4, 6-2) at No. 4.

The MIAA tournament begins on Friday, April 25, with the women taking on Nebraska-Kearney in the first round at 1 p.m. The men will play the winner of Lindenwood andWashburn on Saturday, April 26, at 9 a.m. in the semifinals. All matches will be played at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo.

Men’s Results
#16 Northwest Missouri 6, #39 Washburn 2

Singles competition
1. DeVilchez,Sergio (NW) def. Kozaczuk,Arek (WU) 6-4, 7-6
2. Boissinot,Romain (NWMSU) def. Florence,Bobby (WU) 6-4, 6-0
3. Riveros,Alvaro (NWMSU) def. Schlenker,Thilo (WU) 6-2, 6-0
4. Altimires,Lluis (NWMSU) def. Keulers,Marko (WU) 6-3, 7-5
5. Couronne,Julien (NWMSU) def. Joost,Chance (WU) 6-1, 7-6
6. Fletcher,Steven (WU) vs. Glowick,Fin (NWMSU) 2-6, 0-4, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Kozaczuk,Arek/Fletcher,Steven (WU) def. DeVilchez,Sergio/Altimires,Lluis (NW) 8-6
2. Florence,Bobby/Joost,Chance (WU) def. Riveros,Alvaro/Clews,Amery (NW) 8-4
3. Boissinot,Romain/Couronne,Julien (NW) def. Keulers,Marko/Schlenker,Thilo(WU) 8-5

Women’s Results
Northwest Missouri 5, Washburn 4

Singles competition
1. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NW) def. Buchman,Casyn (WU) 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
2. Bartek,Alexis (NW) def. Blackim,Jodie (WU) 5-7, 6-1, 6-1
3. Kolen,Aniek (NW) def. O’Neill,Sophie (WU) 6-1, 6-1
4. Mannix,Stephanie (NW) def. MoralCarretero,Maria (WU) 6-4, 6-2
5. Holle,Kirsten (WU) def. Hull,Marianne (NW) 4-6, 6-0, 7-6
6. Shepler,Gwen (WU) def. Veasey,Mara (NW) 6-0, 6-0

Doubles competition

1. Buchman,Casyn/Blackim,Jodie (WU) def. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas/Bartek,Alexis (NW) 8-4
2. Kolen,Aniek/Mannix,Stephanie (NW) def. Shepler,Gwen/Holle,Kirsten (WU) 8-6
3. Banks,Nzingha/Sutton,Ashlynn (WU) def. Hull,Marianne/Veasey,Mara (NW) 8-3

— Northwest Sports Information —