INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team will host Nebraska-Kearney in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Bearcats earned the NCAA’s Central Region top seed and the Lopers are the No. 4 seed. Details for the match date, time and location will be finalized later this week and will be made available as soon as possible.

Northwest beat the Lopers back on Sunday, April 2, in Kearney, Neb., by a score of 7-2. All four regional bids were filled by MIAA schools. Washburn will travel to face Southwest Baptist in the other Central Region match.

The winner of Sunday’s match will qualify for the NCAA Championship Tournament starting on May 9, 2017, in Altamonte Springs, Fla.

— Northwest Athletics —

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – For the second time this season, Northwest Missouri State University senior Anthony Caenepeel has been named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week. Caenepeel threw 8.1 scoreless innings on Friday in a 2-0 win over Central Oklahoma. The right hander allowed just four hits before handing the game over to the Bearcat closer Nikko Pablo. He struck out seven Bronchos and issued just one walk in the victory.

Back on April 4, Canepeel earned the weekly conference honor after recording 14 strikeouts in a complete game shutout at Pittsburg State. Teammates Brad Roberts (March 7) and Joseph Hietpas (Feb. 7) have each earned MIAA honors this season.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team beat Central Oklahoma, 5-2, on Sunday at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

The Bearcats improve to 26-16 overall and 15-14 in MIAA play. The Bronchos are now 23-17-1 overall and 13-16 in conference action.

Northwest takes the series, 2-1, after winning Friday’s game.

Kolby Greenslade drove in three runs, going 2-for-4.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored one in the third, three in the fifth and one in the seventh. The Bronchos once in the first and once in the fourth.

– The Bearcats had five runs on eight hits with one error. Central Oklahoma had two runs on 10 hits with no errors.

– Kevin Handzlik was 2-for-4 with a double.

– Ozzie Adams went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk.

– Garrett Fort went 1-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

– Landon Figg was hit by a pitch, drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and scored a run.

– Jay Hrdlicka drove in a run, stole a base and drew a walk.

– James Holler went 1-for-4 with a pair of walks and a stolen base.

– Aaron Barratt drew a walk and stole a base.

– Brad Roberts got the start on the mound, going 5.0 innings with a walk and five strikeouts. He allowed just one earned run on five hits. He retired the side in the third.

– Jacob Wagner worked the sixth inning without allowing a hit, striking out one.

– Nikko Pablo worked the final three innings without allowing a run. He gave up five hits with one walk while striking out one.

Key Northwest Innings
– Fort started the third with a single to left. After numerous pickoff attempts, Fort was able to steal second after the catcher tried to throw behind him at first, allowing him to reach second. After a flyout allowed Fort to tag and advance to third, Figg hit a sacrifice fly to deep center to score the Bearcats’ first run.

– Northwest loaded the bases with one down in the fifth as Adams hit an infield single, Figg was hit by a pitch and Holler drew a walk. Hrdlicka grounded into a fielder’s choice allowing Adams to come in to score, tying the game, 2-2. After Hrdlicka stole second, Greenslade came through with a two-RBI single to right to put Northwest up, 4-2.

– Adams led off the seventh with a single to left. After a pair of outs, Hrdlicka drew a walk to put runners on first and second. Greenslade knocked in his third run of the game with an RBI single to right, scoring Adams from second to make it 5-2 Bearcats.

Up Next
Northwest will play the third and final game in its mid-week series with Missouri Western on Wednesday, April 26, at 4 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Oklahoma, 10-0, on Saturday at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

The Bearcats fall to 25-16 overall and 14-14 in MIAA play. The Bronchos are now 23-16-1 overall and 13-15 in conference action.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Central Oklahoma scored three in the fifth, three in the sixth and four in the seventh.

– The Bearcats had two hits and three errors. UCO had 10 runs with nine hits and no errors.

– Landon Figg went 1-for-3.

– Ozzie Adams was 1-for-3.

– James Holler reached on a walk.

-Joseph Hietpas started and went 5.1 innings allowing three earned runs on three hits. He struck out five and walked four.

Key Northwest Innings
– Hietpas set the Bronchos down in order in the second and fourth innings.

Up Next
– Game third and final between the Bronchos and the Bearcats will start at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University softball team fell twice to Washburn on Saturday at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

– Northwest fell in the first game, 3-1, and lost the second, 1-0.

– The Bearcats are now 27-19 overall and 16-10 in MIAA play. Washburn improves to 25-30 overall and 12-14 in conference action.

Game One Key Statistics (Washburn 3, Northwest 1)
– The Bearcats scored their lone run in the third inning. Washburn scored once in the fourth and twice in the fifth.

– Northwest had one run on three hits with no errors. The Ichabods had three runs on nine hits with one error.

– Kaitlyn Weis was 1-for-3 with an RbI. She also pitched the final 2.1 innings without allowing a run. She gave up just two hits and a walk while striking out one.

– Chantel Adams was 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.

– Kiana Baderdeen was 1-for-3 with a run scored. She also stole a base.

– Rebecca Maher drew a walk.

– Taylor Blackford started in the circle, going 4.2 innings. She allowed three runs on seven hits. She struck out two and did not issue a walk.

Game One Key Innings
– In the third, Baderdeen singled to left to lead off and stole second. After a strikeout, Torri Blythe laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Baderdeen to third. Weis came up with an RBI single to center, driving in the first run of the game.

– Blackford set the Ichabods down in order in the first and third innings. She retired nine of the first 10 batters she faced.

Game Two Key Statistics (Washburn 1, Northwest 0)
– Washburn scored the game’s lone run in the first inning.

– The Bearcats had seven hits while the Ichabods scored one run on four hits. Neither team had an error.

– Holly Posegate threw the complete 7.0 innings, allowing just one run on four hits. She walked two and struck out four.

– Jessica Rawie was 2-for-3 with a walk.

– Adams was drew a pair of walks, going 1-for-2.

– Blythe and Abigail Gilson each went 1-for-3 with a walk.

– Jaedra Moses was 1-for-3.

– Baderdeen was 1-for-4.

– Weis and Karli Allen each drew a walk.

Game Two Key Innings
– Posegate put the Ichabods down in order in the fourth and seventh innings.
Up Next

– Northwest will now await seeding for the 2017 MIAA Tournament in Edmond, Okla., starting on Thursday, April 27.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team won its eight-straight MIAA Tournament title on Thursday, defeating Washburn, 5-3, on Thursday in Lincoln, Neb.

– The MIAA Tournament was held at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center on the campus of the University of Nebraska.

– The win moves no. 18 Northwest to 17-3 on the year while Washburn falls to 16-4.

– Northwest’s No. 3 doubles team of Aymeric Autones and Josef Altmann put the Bearcats on the board first but Washburn took a 2-1 lead, claiming No. 1 and No. 2 doubles.

– Fin Glowick tied the match, 2-2, with a win at No. 6 singles and Autones put the Bearcats up 3-2 with a point at No. 5 singles.

– After Washburn got a point back at No. 3 singles, Sergi Fontcuberta won at No. 2 to put Northwest within a point of victory.

– Romain Boissinot was took the first set at No. 1 singles. But Washburn battled back to force a second-set tiebreaker. Boissinot took the quick lead and went on to win the set and the match.

Scores
1. Boissinot,Romain (NW) def. Valarezo Plaza,Aleja (WU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) def. Hunter,Blake (WU) 6-3, 6-4
3. Barlow,Matt (WU) def. Tete,Mauro (NW) 6-2, 6-2
4. Altmann,Josef (NW) vs. Haase,Paul (WU) 4-6, 6-3, 1-4, unfinished
5. Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Hunter,Tommy (WU) 6-1, 6-1
6. Glowick,Fin (NW) def. Brill,Chase (WU) 6-1, 6-2

1. Valarezo Plaza,Aleja/Hunter,Blake (WU) def. Tete,Mauro/Serrano,Jorge (NW) 8-2
2. Barlow,Matt/Hunter,Tommy (WU) def. Boissinot,Romain/Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) 9-8 (7-5)
3. Altmann,Josef/Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Brill,Chase/Haase,Paul (WU) 8-0

Up Next
Northwest will now await seeding in the NCAA Division II Tournament. The selection show can be found HERE and will air on Tuesday, April 25, at 7:30 p.m. CST.

— Northwest Athletics —

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has announced the addition of guard Joey Witthus to the 2017-18 Bearcat roster. Witthus, who played the past two seasons at Minnesota State, will be eligible to play next season and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

“We are extremely excited that Joey will be joining our program,” said McCollum. “On the floor, Joey makes for a tough match up. He is a very good three-point shooter, he can put the ball on the floor to make plays and with his size he has the ability to post up and score in the paint. More importantly, Joey is a great kid, comes from a great family, and fits the high character profile that we look for in a student athlete. He is a perfect fit for our group and we would like to welcome him to our basketball family.”

Witthus has started all 61 games he had appeared in for the Mavericks the past two seasons. As a sophomore, he averaged 13.7 points and 4.7 rebounds per game, logging 934 minutes (32.2 mpg). For his career, he has knocked down 137-of-326 (42.0 percent) of his long range attempts and is a career 80.1 free throw shooter (145-181). Witthus was an All-NSIC second team performer and was named to the NSIC All-Academic Team.

A 6-6 standout guard at Chanhassen High School in Chanhassen, Minn., Witthus scored 1,593 points during his prep career.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team beat Emporia State, 5-0, on Wednesday at the Sid and Hazel Dillon Tennis Center in Lincoln, Neb., in the MIAA tournament semifinal round.

The No. 18 ranked Bearcats are now 16-3 on the year while Emporia State falls to 10-7.

Northwest swept all three doubles points and then took singles points at No. 1 and No. 2 to secure the win.

Sergi Fontcuberta and Romain Boissinot each contributed a pair of points in the win. The duo won at No. 2 doubles and each took a singles point.

Scores
1. #39 Boissinot,Romain (NW) def. Pont,Gerard (ESU) 6-2, 7-6 (7-2)
2. Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) def. Dixon,Oliver (ESU) 6-2, 6-2
3. Cameron,Patrick (ESU) vs. Tete,Mauro (NW) no result
4. Altmann,Josef (NW) vs. Mota,Matheus (ESU) 1-0, unfinished
5. Autones,Aymeric (NW) vs. Sadique,Farhan (ESU) unfinished
6. Glowick,Fin (NW) vs. Levanovich,Anton (ESU) unfinished

1. Tete,Mauro/Sherif,Youssef (NW) def. Cameron,Patrick/Mota,Matheus (ESU) 8-6
2. Fontcuberta,Sergi/Boissinot,Romain (NW) def. Pont,Gerard/Dixon,Oliver (ESU) 9-7
3. Altmann,Josef/Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Winkler,Lukas/Sadique,Farhan (ESU) 8-3

Northwest will face Washburn on Thursday in the championship match. Start time is 8 a.m.

— Northwest Athletics —