The Northwest Missouri State baseball team won a pair of MIAA contests against Missouri Southern on Saturday at Bearcat Field in extra inning, walk-off fashion. Northwest won both games in the bottom of the tenth innings, taking the first game, 2-1, and winning the nightcap, 4-3. Northwest moves to 18-13 on the season and 13-10 in MIAA play. Missouri Southern drops to 19-14 and an even 13-13 in MIAA play.

Game One

Northwest’s Ryker Fox and Missouri Southern’s David Reese engaged in a pitchers battle that needed extra innings to decide a victor. Fox went 7.0 innings, allowing just one run while striking out seven. Reese went the entire way for MSSU, giving up just two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts.  Blane Reutter came in for Fox following the seventh inning to pick up the win, going 3.0 innings of perfect relief, allowing no runners with one strikeout.

In the seventh, Missouri Southern broke the scoring drought as a two-out walk came back to hurt the Bearcats. In the bottom of the seventh, Northwest loaded the bases and Jon Pomatto, who started the inning with a single, scored as Brandon Huske was hit by a pitch.

In the 10th, Huske walked and Paul Johnson doubled to right center. After Ryan Abernathy walked to load the bases, Eric McGlauflin hit a ground ball to the left side and the Lions were unable to throw out Huske on the play, scoring the winning run.

Game Two

Northwest jumped on the board early with three runs in the bottom of the third. Huske started the inning with a single and scored on a Paul Johnson single that the centerfielder misplayed, allowing Johnson to advance to second. McGlauflin grounded into a fielder’s choice as Johnson was out at home. After a Pomatto walk, Steven Garber doubled to drive in a pair of runs.

Missouri Southern added three in the top of the fifth to tie the game. The game would remain tied heading into the bottom of the 10th. McGlauflin doubled down to right field with one out. Garrett Fort was called on to pinch run. The next batter, Pomatto, singled to left, scoring Fort from second for the winning run.

Nikko Pablo started and went 4.0 innings with five strikeouts for the Bearcats. The Bearcat relief pitchers had 6.0 scoreless innings as Andrew “Bex” Trout pitched 2.0 scoreless innings and Daulton Perry picked up the win after going 4.0 innings.  Northwest outhit the Lions, 10-6, in the nightcap.

The series with Missouri Southern concludes tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at noon. The games will include a seven-inning contest followed by a nine-inning game.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State softball team split in double header action Saturday against MIAA foe Fort Hays State as they took game one, 7-4, and dropped game two, 3-2, in eight innings.

The Bearcats scored quickly to begin game one as Steph Mark hit her, team leading, eighth home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning. It was a two run shot that plated Jordan Ereth who had led off the inning with a single.

FHSU was able to get on the board in the second inning off the bat of a solo home run.

Mark added her third RBI of the game in the third inning with a sacrifice fly that scored Ereth from third. Chantel Adams hit a two out single up the middle to bring in Torri Blythe and put her team up 4-1.

Another solo home run by the Tigers in the top of the fourth brought them within two.

Mark added her fourth and fifth RBI’s of the game in the bottom half of the inning with a two out single to left field.

Two runs in the top of the fifth by FHSU brought the game to 6-4.

The Bearcats added one more insurance run in the fifth when Maddie Jones knocked a solo home run over the center field wall.

Abbie Vitosh sat down the Tigers in order in the sixth, then struck out one in the seventh on her way to the complete game victory in the team’s 7-4 win. Vitosh allowed three earned runs on six hits while striking out six batters as she moved her record to 6-8 on the season.

Torri Blythe ran her way into the record books in game one as she stole her 17th base of the season. Blythe now moves to number five on the single-season stolen base chart passing graduate assistant coach, Kit Daugherty.

Northwest scored first in game two as well with Mark hitting a RBI double and Adams following with a RBI single of her own.

FHSU plated one run in the sixth and then tied it up with two out in the seventh at 2-2 before taking the lead in the top of the eighth.

The Bearcats managed to load the bases with two outs for Mark who lined out to the center fielder who made a diving catch to secure the Tigers 3-2 win.

Sarah Baldwin was handed the loss in game two as she pitched all eight innings allowing one walk, 2 earned runs and striking out six.

Northwest moves to 15-19, 8-8 on the season and will have a quick turnaround as they play host to Nebraska-Kearney Sunday. Game one is scheduled to start at noon, with game two set to follow.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State tennis program picked up wins from both the men’s and women’s teams against Lindenwood on Saturday at home. The Northwest men won 9-0 and improved to 11-2 overall and 3-0 in MIAA play. The women picked up a 5-4 victory and are now 9-10 and 5-3 in conference play. Lindenwood men’s team is now 5-7 on the year and 1-3 in conference action while the women are 6-7 and 1-4 in conference action.

The women got singles wins from Alexis Bartek at No. 2, Aniek Kolen at No. 3 and Marianne Hull at No. 5. In doubles, Lorena Rivas Jarolim and Bartek won at No. 1 and Kolen and Stephanie Mannix won at No. 3.

On the men’s side, Northwest got wins from Sergio De Vilchez, Romain Boissinot, Alvaro Riveros, Lluis Altimires, Julien Couronne and Fin Glowick, in respective order. In doubles, De Vilchez and Altimires won at No. 1, Riveros and Couronne at No. 2 and Boissinot and Amery Clews won at No. 3.

Up next, the Northwest women’s team will host William Jewell on Tuesday, April 8, starting at 3 p.m. The men’s match originally scheduled with St. Edwards (Okla.) for tomorrow, April 6, has been canceled. The men will next head toSouthwest Baptist on April 10.

Women’s Results
Northwest Missouri State 5, Lindenwood 4

Singles competition
1. Marras, Gloria (LWU) def. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NW) 6-4, 7-5
2. Bartek,Alexis (NW) def. Piccamiglio, Clara (LWU) 6-1, 6-2
3. Kolen,Aniek (NW) def. Ivanova, Daria (LWU) 6-2, 6-3
4. Pinol,Mariona (LWU) def. Mannix,Stephanie (NW) 6-3, 7-6
5. Hull,Marianne (NW) def. Castro, Diana (LWU) 6-4, 6-4
6. Medvedeva,Alexandra (LWU) def. Anderson,Mindy (NW) 6-0, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas/Bartek, NW (NW) def. Medvedeva,Alexandra/Marras, Gloria (LWU) 8-0
2. Ivanova, Daria/Pinol,Mariona (LWU) def. Hull,Marianne/Veasey,Mara (NW) 8-2
3. Kolen,Aniek/Mannix,Stephanie (NW) def. Piccamiglio, Clara/Castro, Diana (LWU) 8-2

Match Notes
Lindenwood 6-7, 1-4
Northwest Missouri State 9-10, 5-3; Regional ranking #7

Men’s Results
#16 Northwest Missouri 9, #47 Lindenwood 0

Singles competition
1. DeVilchez,Sergio (NW) def. Bogic,Filip (LWU) 6-0, 6-0
2. Boissinot,Romain (NW) def. Ysa,Yoshi (LWU) 6-3, 2-6, 7-6
3. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Rabenhorst,Johannes (LWU) 6-2, 7-6
4. Altimires,Lluis (NW) def. Bruenger, Nicholas (LWU) 7-5, 6-2
5. Couronne,Julien (NW) def. Lopez,Sergio (LWU) 6-3, 6-2
6. Glowick,Fin (NW) def. Bovrlic, Slabodor (LWU) 6-1, 6-1

Doubles competition
1. DeVilchez,Sergio/Altimires,Lluis (NW) def. Bruenger, Nicholas/Ysa,Yoshi (LWU) 8-4
2. Riveros,Alvaro/Couronne,Julien (NW) def. Lopez,Sergio/Bogic,Filip (LWU) 8-6
3. Boissinot,Romain/Clews,Amery (NW) def. Vicencio,Juan/Rabenhorst,Johannes(LWU) 8-3

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State director of athletics Mel Tjeerdsma has been selected for induction into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will take place on Saturday, April 12, at the Sioux Falls Convention Center. The event will begin with a social hour at 4:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. Tickets are available for $40 by calling Dakota Sports in Sioux Falls (605-332-2131).

“Being selected for induction into the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame is a great honor for me,” said Tjeerdsma. “I am proud to be a South Dakota native and its very special to be recognized in your home state.”

Tjeerdsma, who returned to Maryville last year to become the director of athletics, won 183 games as the head football coach of the Bearcats. He captured three NCAA Division II national championships and 12 MIAA titles in 17 seasons. He was a Springfield High School graduate and went on to earn his degree from southern State. Tjeerdsma will be one of nine inductees honored at the event.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The offense was stagnant for the Northwest Missouri State softball team Tuesday as they fell to top 25 Truman State 1-0 in game one and then 4-1 in game two.

The Bearcat offense managed three hits in the game coming from Kristin Uthe, Steph Mak and Taszia Roseberry. Mark and Roseberry both hit doubles, but were left stranded on the base paths. Northwest stranded four runners on base during the game.

Abbie Vitosh started game one and held TSU to only one run. Vitosh went the distance for the complete game in the loss.

The Northwest bats could not get going in game two either.

The offense garnered three hits for the second game in a row with a solo home run coming off the bat of Chantel Adams in the fourth inning to tie the game at 1-1.

TSU plated three unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead.

The Bearcats were unable to put a big inning together as Sarah Baldwin was tagged with the loss giving up six hits, one earned run and striking out two.

Northwest, now 14-18, will get back to MIAA competition this weekend as they play host to Fort Hays State Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Bearcat Field.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State senior guard DeShaun Cooper and freshman forward Zach Schneider both received honors from the Division II Bulletin on Monday. Cooper was named a fourth-team All-America selection while Schnedier garnered All-Freshman team accolades.

Cooper was the MIAA Player of the Year and an NABC All-American for the Bearcats. He was also a first team All-Central Region selection from CoSIDA/Daktronics and was a first team All-Central District honoree from the NABC. He earned All-Central Region tournament honors as Northwest finished the year at 24-9 after reaching the Sweet 16. He finished his Northwest career ranking first in assist average (4.3 apg), second in career assists (489), third in three pointers (170), third in free throws made (440), fourth in points (1,702), sixth in field goals made (546) and seventh in steals (132).

Schneider was the MIAA Freshman of the Year, appearing in all 33 games for the Bearcats. He averaged 7.7 points per game and 2.8 rebounds per contest. He shot 44.9 percent from beyond the arc (70-for-156) and scored in double figures in 10 games. Schnedier established himself as one of the Bearcats’ top outside shooters on a team that set a school mark for three-point accuracy in 2013-14. He hit at least one three pointer in 27 contests.

Northwest finished the year 24-9 and won the MIAA co-regular season championship with a 16-3 mark. The Bearcats advanced to the NCAA Sweet 16.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State sophomore Alvaro Riveros was named the MIAA Men’s Tennis Athlete of the Week in a release from the conference office on Monday.

Riveros went 3-1 in singles and 2-1 in doubles last weekend as the Bearcats went 3-1 over the weekend. Riveros picked up wins at No. 3 singles over Truman State, No. 47 Harding and Emporia State. He teamed with Julien Couronne at No. 2 doubles to defeat Truman State and Emporia State. This spring, Riveros is 8-2 at No. 2 singles and 8-3 at No. 2 doubles.

The Bearcats will take on Washburn on Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Topeka, Kan.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State senior Seth Staashelm was named the MIAA Men’s Field Athlete of the Week on Monday in a release from the conference office.

Staashelm won the Herschel Neil Decathlon over the weekend at Bearcat Stadium, hitting an NCAA provisional mark of 6,611 points. He had five 700+ point events including weekend highs of 758 points in the high jump (1.95m), 736 points in the 100 (11.58) and 717 points in the 110 hurdles, running 16.14. Nationally, Staashelm’s mark is seventh highest total this season.

The Bearcats will resume action on April 10-11 at the Emporia State Combined Events or on April 11-12 at the Missouri Relays. The Northwest Invitational that was originally scheduled for April 12 has been canceled.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team finished a weekend road series with Washburn on Sunday with a 7-4 victory on the road at Falley Field. The Bearcats move to 16-13 on the season and 11-10 in MIAA action. Washburn is now 13-13overall and 13-11 in conference play.

Ryker Fox went 7.2 innings for Northwest, allowing just four runs while striking out two. Jon Pomatto got the save, pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

Northwest jumped out to an early 3-0 lead, scoring twice in the first and adding one in the second before Washburn crossed the plate for the first time in the fourth. The Bearcats responded with a three run sixth inning and added another in the seventh. Washburn would score three times in the eighth but would be unable to get any closer.

Ryan Abernathy doubled in Pomatto in the first and Abernathy would score two batters later on a groundout by Austin Wulff.  In the third, Brandon Huske tripled, driving Paul Johnson in after he beganthe inning by getting hit by a pitch.

With two outs in the sixth, Derek Meyer singled to score Paul Johnson and James Holler. Meyer scored in the next at bat as Zack Ferreira doubled down the left field line. In the seventh, Eric McGlauflin grounded out, scoring Pomatto who reached on an error to start the inning.

Northwest returns home on Friday to take on Missouri Southern at 2 p.m. The four-game MIAA series with the Lions will also include a 1 p.m. Saturday doubleheader and a single game on Sunday at noon.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State men’s tennis team fell to the Wichita State Shockers, 4-0, on Sunday afternoon. Northwest is now 10-2 on the season. Wichita State, which was ranked No. 72 this week in the Division I poll, is now 14-7.

The match was called after Wichita State captured the first four singles matches. While the two did not meet on the court, it did feature Northwest sophomore Sergio De Vilchez and his brother, Guillermo De Vilchez, who is ajunior at Wichita State.

Northwest’s next match will be on Wednesday, April 2 in an MIAA contest for both the men’s and women’s teams against Washburn in Topeka, Kan. The match scheduled against William Jewell on Monday has been postponed for a later date.

Singles competition

1. Ilija Cuic (WSUM) def. Sergio De Vilchez (NW) 6-0, 6-4
2. Tin Ostojic (WSUM) def. Boissinot,Romain (NW) 6-1, 6-2
3. Tomislav Gregurovic (WSUM) def. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) 6-4, 6-2
4. Guillermo de Vilchez (WSUM) def. Altimires,Lluis (NW) 6-2, 6-2
5. Guillermo Nicol (WSUM) vs. Couronne,Julien (NW) 6-3, 1-2, unfinished
6. Jocelyn Devilliers (WSUM) vs. Azzaoui,Hicham (NW) 6-0, unfinished

Doubles competition
1. Sergio De Vilchez/Altimires,Lluis (NW) vs. Tomislav Gregurovic/Tin Ostojic (WSUM) no result
2. Riveros,Alvaro/Couronne,Julien (NW) vs. Ilija Cuic/Jocelyn Devilliers (WSUM) no result
3. Azzaoui,Hicham/Boissinot,Romain (NW) vs. Guillermo de Vilchez/Guillermo Nicol (WSUM) no result

— Northwest Sports Information —