The Northwest Missouri State men’s tennis team claimed the No. 1 seed for the upcoming MIAA Centennial Men’s Tennis Championships with a 7-2 victory over Washburn on Tuesday at the Washburn Tennis Complex.

Northwest saw its record move to 17-4 overall and a perfect 4-0 in league play. The Ichabods fell to 7-7 on the year and 1-2 in conference action as they will wrap up their final MIAA match on Thursday.

It’s the second consecutive season the Bearcats have finish with an unblemished record in conference play as they look for their third straight MIAA Tournament Title.

In doubles action the Bearcats jumped out to an early 2-1 lead with wins at No. 2 and No. 3 doubles. Both pairs won their matches by identical 8-1 scores while Northwest fell at No. 1 doubles 9-7.

In singles, Northwest quickly raced out to a 6-2 lead claiming easy wins at No. 2 and No. 3 singles via Mario Jakovljevic and Rafael Bugiga. Jakovljevic took a 6-2, 6-2 win while Bugiga claimed his No. 2 singles with a 6-2, 6-4 victory.

Luis Altimires fell for only the second time at No. 5 singles, but the Bearcats picked up their teammate taking wins at No. 4 and No. 6 singles to seal the match.

Calvin Patterson closed out the match for Northwest at No. 1 singles with another tough win. Patterson claimed a 7-5, 7-5 win for his 10th victory of the season.

The men’s MIAA Championships begin on Saturday as Northwest takes the No. 1 seed into the tournament. The Bearcats open play at the Plaza Tennis Center in Kansas City at 11 a.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team split a doubleheader with the Southwest Baptist Bearcats Sunday afternoon, winning 10-1 in game two following a 6-1 loss in game one.

Coupled with Northwest’s doubleheader sweep over Southwest Baptist on Friday, the Bearcats took three-of-four games in the series to pass Southwest Baptist in the MIAA standings where Northwest currently sits at 14-24 overall and 13-15 in conference play.

Game one saw the Southwest Baptist pitching take over as starter Mike Nielebeck pitched seven shutout innings allowing just four hits while striking out four.

Southwest Baptist jumped to an early 3-0 lead in the third off of three hits and two Northwest errors.

Northwest would get on the board in the fourth thanks to singles by Ryan Abernathy and Cameron Bedard.  An Eric McGlauflin RBI would plate the Bearcats’ lone run.

Southwest Baptist would tack on one run in the fourth and two runs in the sixth to take the 6-1 advantage.

Bedard led Northwest offensively in game one recording two hits.

On the mound, Chris Green would record the loss moving his record to 2-4 on the season.

Game two saw the two teams traded single runs in the first inning as an Eric McGlauflin squeeze bunt would score Ryan Abernathy.  The run was Abernathy’s first of two in the nightcap; giving him a team-leading 41 on the season.

The scored remained 1-1 until Northwest broke the game open in the top of the fourth inning with five runs on four hits and three Southwest Baptist errors.  The inning was started by a McGlauflin double with key RBI hits ensuing from Abernathy and Cameron Bedard.

The 6-1 lead would be more than enough for Northwest starting pitcher Sean Brady, who turned in his second consecutive superb outing on the hill.  Just like the previous week, Brady would allow no earned runs while pitching six innings and allowing just three hits.

Northwest would add a pair of runs in both the seventh and ninth innings on two-run singles by Cole Mapes and Abernathy to finish the scoring.

Patrick Brady and Josh Parrish combined to throw three innings of scoreless relief for Northwest.

Abernathy, Eric Swain and Tyler Durant each collected a pair of hits in the game, with Abernathy and Mapes both driving in three runs.  With the two hits, Abernathy has now collected multiple hits in 20 of the team’s 38 games.

Up Next: The Bearcats continue MIAA play next weekend when they travel to Pittsburg, Kan. for a four-game series with the Pittsburg State Gorillas.  First pitch on Friday from Al Ortolani Field is slated for 6 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Needing a sweep of MIAA foe Southwest Baptist the Northwest Missouri State diamond Bearcats picked up two wins Friday with a 5-3 and 10-3 win in doubleheader action from Dodson Field.

Northwest saw its record improve to 12-23 overall and 11-14 in league play moving into a tie with Southwest Baptist at 11-14 in the MIAA as also fell to 16-18-1 overall. The two teams return to action on Saturday with a twin bill scheduled for 12 p.m.

Game one saw the Bearcats hold off a late rally from SBU after getting an outstanding effort from Chase Anderson on the mound. Anderson threw a complete game only allowing three runs in the win.

Anderson did his part keeping SBU off the base paths by walking none, for his fourth win of the season and striking out three.

Northwest would finish with 10 hits including four doubles in the game one win.

Eric McGlauflin put Northwest on the board in the top of the first inning with a ground out to the right side scoring Ryan Abernathy. Abernathy had led off the game with a single for his only hit of the game.

After scoring another run in the second, Northwest extended its lead to 4-1 on a Landinn Eckhardt squeeze play that scored Tyler Durant. Two batters later Jake Kretzer moved to third on a wild pitch and stole home extending the green and white lead.

A RBI double from Durant gave Northwest the final score of 5-3. However that would be all Northwest needed as Anderson only allowed two base runners over the final three innings, but would erase one of the runners on a pickoff in the sixth.

Game two was one of the most complete games Northwest has put together all season pounding out 10 runs on 13 hits and getting a complete game win from Jace Anderson. Anderson scattered nine SBU hits over nine innings only allowing three runs.

The green and white Bearcats would be paced offensively by Eric Swain who blasted a pair of home runs, his eighth and ninth of the season.

Swain’s first home run came in the top of the first to give Northwest an early lead. SBU would push a run across in the bottom to tie the game before the Northwest offense took over.

Northwest pushed four runs across in the next five innings to take a 5-1 lead. From there Anderson would go to work on the mound pitching six innings of scoreless baseball.

Swain would belt his second home run to lead off the seventh inning jump starting the Bearcat offense. Northwest went on to score five runs in the eighth and ninth for the 10-3 win.

Eckhardt and Swain both finished with three hits as Swain added four RBIs in the nightcap.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State softball team got back to their winnings ways Friday afternoon as they split a double header against the Washburn Lady Blues winning 8-2 before falling 4-1 in the nightcap.

With the split, Northwest now sits at 15-27 overall and 5-11 in conference play with just six games remaining on their regular season schedule.

Game one saw the Lady Blues jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning before the Bearcats’ bats would come alive collecting ten hits including two home runs.

Kristine Labertew would even the score for Northwest at 1-1 in the fourth when she belted a solo home run to left center, her fourth home run of the season.

Washburn plated one run in the fifth to take the 2-1 advantage but the Bearcats would strike in the home half of the fifth plating three runs thanks to a Kristine Uthe home run.

The Bearcat upped their lead to 8-2 in the sixth off of hits from Kristine Labertew, Molly Baker, Jordan Ereth and Hailee Hendricks.

Jenna Creger earned the win on the mound for the Bearcats pitching five innings while allowing six hits and striking out three.

Paige Blythe recorded her first save of the season pitching two innings of relief for Northwest.  Blythe allowed just one hit while striking out one.

Hendricks, Labertew and Baker recorded multiple-hits for the Bearcats.

Game two would see the Lady Blues’ pitching take over as Washburn starter Kayla Oldham would pitch the complete game while allowing just four hits leading the Lady Blues to the 4-1 victory.

Washburn would plate all four of their runs in the third while the Bearcats would finally get on the board in the home half of the seventh thanks to a Molly Baker single plating pinch runner Jordan Gadbois.

Baker led the Bearcats offensively recording two hits in the nightcap while Hailee Hendricks and Kayli Schurman would also record hits for Northwest in the loss.

On the mound for Northwest, Abbie Vitosh would record the loss pitching just over three innings.

Up Next: Due to impending weather, the Bearcats Saturday doubleheader with the Fort Hays State Tigers has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 17.  First pitch from Bearcat Field is slated for 11 a.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team announces its third addition by the way of Leavenworth, Kan., signing Grant Greenberg of Leavenworth High.

Greenberg was a Second Team All-State athlete joining future teammate Conner Crooker, who the Bearcats signed earlier in the week. Greenberg was a First Team All-Sunflower League selection as well as Leavenworth County Player of the Year.

“Grant is a kid that we’re excited about,” third-year head coach Ben McCollum said. “He has won at every level he’s competed and brings a toughness that is hard to find. He was extremely well-coached in high school and has a great basketball IQ.”

The Leavenworth senior was a leader helping lead the Pioneers to a 16-6 record as he averaged 22 points per game and seven rebounds on the year. Coach McCollum continued by praising the guard’s ability to lead.

“His leadership abilities and other intangibles are fantastic, and they complement his already-high skill set,” McCollum said. “He wanted to come here and be a part of our program, which made our decision really easy. He will be a great addition to our school and our program.”

Greenberg will join Crooker and Jordan Ashton as members of the 2012-13 signing class. The trio will join a Bearcat team that is coming off a MIAA Championship and a 22-7 season under McCollum as Northwest returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Head Coach Ben McCollum announced the second addition for the 2012-13 season with the signing of Jordan Ashton from Mount Pleasant High School in Iowa.

“We are thrilled to have Jordan join our program,” coach McCollum said. “He already has a winning mentality helping his team to a state title. He is a solid three-point shooter and can create some matchup problems with his ability to slash and finish around the rim. He is only going to get better and with his athleticism he has a very high ceiling. He joins a class of great kids on and off the floor and we feel he will fit in just fine.”

Ashton helped lead Mount Pleasant High to a 26-1 record and captured the Iowa Class 3 State Championship. The 6-3 guard was named First-Team All-State as well as the Player of the Year in Iowa Class 3.

Along with helping lead the Panthers to a state title he was named to the Iowa State Tournament All-Tournament Team along with being named MVP of the State Tournament. Ashton averaged 18.4 points per game shooting 47 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line on the year.

Ashton joins Conner Crooker as the second member of the Bearcats signing class.

Northwest is coming off a MIAA Championship after going 22-7 and earning a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Bearcats will return three starters including seniors DeShaun Cooper and Justin Clark.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcat men’s basketball team announced the first of its 2013 class with the addition of Conner Crooker an all-state guard from Blue Valley North High School in Kansas.

Crooker will come to Northwest on the heels of a third place finish as the Kansas 6A State Championships leading Blue Valley North to a 21-4 record. The guard averaged 15 points per game and three assists during his senior season. He was among the top players in the Kansas City area appearing in the Missouri vs. Kansas All-Star Game.

He was named First Team All-Eastern Kansas League (EKL) and Second Team All-State, where he was joined by University of Kentucky signee, Willie Cauley. Crooker also earned Second Team All-Metro accolades after shooting 86 percent from the free throw line and over 55 percent from behind the three-point line.

The Bearcats are coming off an MIAA Championships and a 22-7 season under third-year head coach Ben McCollum.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State softball team dropped another heart breaker Wednesday to the Drury Panthers falling in game one 2-0 and in game two 6-4 in extra innings at Bearcat Field.

The Bearcats have now lost their last four games and eight of their last 10 as they return to MIAA play on the weekend. Northwest saw its record fall to 14-26 on the season as Drury improved to 29-16 overall completing a season sweep of the Bearcats.

Both teams locked in a pitcher’s duel in game one as Abbie Vitosh held the Panthers to only five hits and two runs over seven innings. However the Bearcat offense was held to only two hits and no runs in the loss.

Vitosh was able to hold Drury scoreless over the first six innings, but the Panthers were still able to break through in the top of the seventh. A double to lead-off the inning followed by a home run gave Drury all the run support they needed as Bearcats went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Game two saw more offense from both teams.

The Panthers got on the board in the top of the first inning and took a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning before the Bearcats got in on the scoring.

Jordan Ereth reached on an error followed by a Hailee Hendricks single. Another DU error gave the Bearcats their first run of the day scoring both Ereth and Hendricks.

DU would tie the game at 2-2 in the seventh on a “Seeing Eye” single that sent the game into extra innings.

In the eighth the Panthers added two runs putting the pressure back on the Bearcats. Northwest would answer as Rachael Schmitz belted a home run to straight away center to tie the game.

However that would be the end of the Bearcat offense, as Drury added another two runs in the top of the seventh; the Bearcats would go down in order in the bottom of the ninth ending the game.

Northwest returns to MIAA play hosting Washburn on Friday at Bearcat Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —