FRISCO, Texas – Northwest Missouri State University sophomore Justin Pitts has been named to the Division II Bulletin’s All-America third team on Monday in a press release from the organization.

Pitts was one of three MIAA players to be recognized along with Conner Beranek of Nebraska-Kearney and Taevaunn Prince of Missouri Southern. Beranek was a fourth team member and Prince earned honorable mention accolades. Javion Blake of Washburn earned all-freshman team honors.

Now a two-time first-team All-MIAA performer, Pitts scored in double figures in all 32 games played this season and eclipsed 20 points 21 times, including a career-high 38 points against Minnesota State in the Central Region semifinals, third-most in school history (3/13/16).

He reached 1,000 career points in just 53 games. The sophomore was named Central Region tournament Most Outstanding Player after scoring 88 points on 35-of-51 shooting across three games. Through two seasons at Northwest, Pitts is the all-time leader in three point field goal percentage, drilling 49.4 percent of his shots from behind the arc (131-for-265).

The Blue Springs, Mo. native led the Bearcats in scoring (21.7), three point percentage (49.4), assists (5.0) and steals (1.5), helping Northwest to an MIAA-record 19 conference victories, an outright MIAA regular season title, an MIAA tournament title and a third-straight trip to the Central Region Championship game.

— Northwest Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State tennis picked up men’s and women’s MIAA victories on Monday afternoon over Washburn on Monday afternoon in Maryville, Mo.

The No. 16 ranked Bearcat men’s tennis team beat the No. 25 ranked Ichabods, 7-2, sparked by a 3-0 start in doubles.

The Northwest women won, 7-2, over Washburn, capturing all six singles points after falling behind 2-1 in doubles.

The Bearcat men are now 10-2 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play. The Ichabod men fall to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in conference action.

The Northwest women improved to 6-7 on the year and 2-0 in conference play. The Washburn women are now 5-6 overall and 2-2 in MIAA action.

Men’s Results
1. Valarezo Plaza,Aleja (WU) def. #49 Boissinot,Romain (NW) 6-0, 6-2
2. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Barlow,Matt (WU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
3. Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) def. Hunter,Blake (WU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Tete,Mauro (NW) def. Hampton,Zach (WU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Glowick,Fin (NW) def. Agritelley,Will (WU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Munoz-Poletti,Dario (WU) def. Autones,Aymeric (NW) 3-6, 7-5, 10-7

1. Riveros,Alvaro/Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) def. #16 Valarezo Plaza,Aleja/Hunter,Blake (WU) 8-6
2. Boissinot,Romain/Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Barlow,Matt/Hampton,Zach (WU) 8-4
3. Tete,Mauro/Altmann,Josef (NW) def. Horton,Trey/Agritelley,Will (WU) 8-1

Women’s Results
1. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NW) def. Shkembi,Laura (WU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Emersic,Kaja (NW) def. Blackim,Jodie (WU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Kolen,Aniek (NW) def. Plum,Maggie (WU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Jacquet,Margaux (NW) def. Holloman,Whitney (WU) 6-3, 1-6, 10-5
5. Gallardo,Andrea (NW) def. Johnston,Holly (WU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Sestokaite,Vilune (NW) def. Shepler,Gwen (WU) 6-3, 7-5

1. Burr,Ally/Blackim,Jodie (WU) def. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas/Sestokaite,Vilune (NW) 9-7
2. Jacquet,Margaux/Kolen,Aniek (NW) def. Shepler,Gwen/Plum,Maggie (WU) 8-5
3. Gonzales,MaKenna/Shkembi,Laura (WU) def. Gallardo,Andrea/Emersic,Kaja (NW) 8-5

Both teams will host Cameron University on Friday, April 1, at 11 a.m. on the Frank Grube Courts.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Missouri, 8-7, on Sunday afternoon at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.

The Bearcats fall to an even 13-13 overall and 8-8 in the MIAA play. UCM improved to 15-8 and 13-3 in conference action.

The Bearcats pulled ahead in the sixth with a three-run inning. The Mules struck late, getting a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eight for the go ahead run.

All nine Bearcat hitters either reached base safely or drove in a run during Sunday’s game.

Northwest scored seven runs on 10 hits with one error. The Bearcats got four runs in the fourth and three in the sixth.

UCM scored two in the first, two in the second, three in the seventh and one in the eight. The Mules collected 12 hits and three errors.

Ozzie Adams was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI. He hit his fourth double of the year in the sixth inning.

James Holler was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

Aaron Barratt went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. He drew a walk and also stole his fourth base of the year.

Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-3 with a walk. He crossed the plate twice for the Bearcats.

Garrett Fort was 1-for-5 with a run scored.  Nick Gotta went 1-for-3 and drew his MIAA leading 29th walk of the season.

Jake Lewis was 1-for-5. Kolby Greenslade got a pair of RBI and also scored a run.

Brad Roberts started the game for Northwest, going 7.0 innings. He allowed seven runs on nine hits. He walked three and struck out five.

Carson Smith pitched the eighth inning. He allowed one run on three hits. He walked a batter and recorded a strikeout.

Fort led off the Northwest third inning with a single to left and Holler followed it up with a four-pitch walk. Hrdlicka laid down a bunt that the pitcher couldn’t field, loading the bases with no outs. Barratt ripped a double to deep left, scoring Fort and Holler to make it 4-2 UCM. Two batters later with one out, Greenslade grounded out to short, allowing Hrdlicka to score to close the lead to 4-3. Adams tied the game as he hit a grounder to third that was bobbled. Barratt came in from third to tie the game, 4-4.

With the score tied, 4-4, Roberts worked a perfect fifth inning, getting a strikeout, a ground out and a line out.

Hrdlicka and Barratt drew back-to-back walks to leadoff the sixth inning for Northwest, prompting a UCM pitching change.Gotta squared around to lay down a sacrifice bunt but for the second time in the game, the Mules’ pitcher was unable to handle it, allowing all the runners to reach safely. Greenslade drove in the go ahead run by scoring Hrdlicka on a fielder’s choice to short. With one down and runners on the corners, Adams laced a ball down the left field line for a double, scoring both runners to put Northwest up, 7-4.

Northwest returns home to face Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday, March 30, at 2 p.m. The Bearcats will host Pittsburg State starting on Friday, April 1.

— Northwest Athletics —

The bats came alive for the No. 16-ranked Northwest Missouri State softball team Saturday in St. Charles, Mo., leading to a sweep of Lindenwood.

Northwest rattled off 11 hits in a 13-1 victory in game one before collecting 15 base knocks to take game two, 12-1. Both contests were halted after five innings via the eight-run rule.

The Bearcats improved their record to 24-8 overall and 8-4 in MIAA play, while the Lady Lions fell to 8-26 this season and 5-11 against conference opponents.

Chantel Adams and Jessica Rawie each drove in six runs on the day while Madison Jones added five RBIs.

The Bearcats will return home for a stretch of 12 games in 12 days at Bearcat Field. Northwest will open the homestand with a conference doubleheader against Missouri Western Tuesday, March 29. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Missouri, 6-5, in 10 innings on Friday afternoon at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.

The Bearcats fall to 13-12 overall and 8-7 in the MIAA while the Mules improved to 14-8 and 12-3 in conference action.

Northwest trailed 4-1 in the ninth but rallied with three runs to force extra innings.

Nick Gotta was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. He drew two walks and stole two bases.

Kolby Greenslade was 1-for-4 with a run scored. He drew a pair of walks and stole a base.

Ozzie Adams was 2-for-6 with a run scored.

Jake Lewis drew two walks, scored a run and also drove in a run.

Aaron Barratt was 1-for-1 after entering the game as a pinch runner in the seventh inning.

Garrett Fort recorded an RBI and James Holler was 1-for-5.

Anthony Caenepeel got the start on the mound, going 6.1 innings. He allowed four runs on nine hits, with three being earned. He struckout three and walked one.

Hondo Pearcy pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to get Northwest into the ninth. He struck out one, walked one and did not allow a hit.

Carson Smith gave up two runs, only one earned, going 1.2 innings. He had a strikeout and a walk, allowing one hit.

Gotta started the gane by drawing a six pitch walk. Greenslade followed it up with a single up the middle and Adams reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Lewis drew a walk on four pitches, driving in Gotta to make it 1-0 Northwest.

Caenepeel worked a perfect second inning, recording a flyout and two groundouts on just five pitches. Pearcy worked a perfect eighth inning to set up the Bearcat rally in the ninth, getting a strikeout, a foul out and a flyout.

Greenslade reached on a fielder’s choice after a Gotta leadoff single. Adams singled to center to put runners on first and second with one out. Lewis drew a walk to load the bases. Barratt hit the first pitch he saw, scoring Greenslade to make it 4-2 Mules. Fort grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Adams to make it a one run game. With Meyer at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Fort to score from third to tie the game, 4-4.

Holler led off the 10th with a single to center and went to second on a Jay Hrdlicka sacfice bunt. Nikko Pablo came in to pinch run for Holler at second with one down. Gotta came up next and hit a 2-1 pitch into center, scoring Pablo to put the Bearcats up, 5-4.

The series concludes on Saturday at 1 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

The No. 16-ranked Northwest Missouri State softball team split a pair of conference contests with Lincoln Friday afternoon in Jefferson City, Mo.

The Bearcats used nine hits to topple the Blue Tigers in game one, 5-1, before falling 3-2 in the nightcap.

Northwest is now 22-8 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA, while Lincoln moves to 3-30 this season and 2-12 against conference opponents.

Torri Blythe had four hits and scored two runs on the day.

Kendle Schieber (12-3) struck out five batters and gave up just three hits in six innings of work to pick up the win in game one. The senior added an RBI single on offense.

The Bearcats will head to St. Charles, Mo. for an MIAA twin bill with Lindenwood Saturday, March 25 beginning at 11 a.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Missouri, 16-6, on Thursday afternoon at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.

Northwest falls to 13-11 overall and 8-6 in MIAA play. The Mules improved to 13-8 overall and 11-3 in conference action.

The Bearcats got hits from eight different players and drew four walks on the day.

The game was called in the bottom of the eight due to the MIAA run rule.

Garrett Fort was 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.  Ozzie Adams went 2-for-4 with a run. He had a two RBI double in the first.  Nick Howard was 1-for-4 with a pair of RBI and one run.  Aaron Barratt was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.  James Holler was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a double.  Nick Gotta, Kolby Greenslade and Derek Meyer each picked up a hit for Northwest. Meyer and Gotta each drew walks.

Joseph Hietpas started and went 6.0 innings. He allowed eight runs on 10 hits. Only five of the runs were earned. He walked two and struck out three.

With two down in the first, Adams doubled down the left field line and Lewis walked to bring up Howard. Howard responded with a double to left center, clearing the bases to put Northwest up, 2-0. Fort singled in Howard in the next at bat with a hit to right field to make it 3-0.

In the bottom of the second, UCM looked poised to take the lead after a leadoff single and a wild pitch put a runner on second with no outs. But Hietpas got a flyout to right and Barratt came up throwing, gunning down the runner trying to tag up and advance to third on the play. Hietpas got a first pitch flyout to center in the next at bat to end the Mules’ threat.

Barratt singled to lead off the seventh and went to second on a Gotta walk. Adams hit an infield single to load the bases with one out. Lewis grounded into a fielder’s choice as Adams was forced out at second. Gotta went to third and Barratt scored to make it 5-4 UCM.

Fort and Meyer led off the eighth with back-to-back singles. Handzlik came in to pinch run for Meyer. Holler hit an 0-1 pitch down the right field line for a double, driving in Fort. Barratt grounded out to third, scoring Handzlik from third.

The series continues with the Mules on Friday at 4 p.m. Game three is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team fell to Division I member Wichita State University, 5-0, on Tuesday afternoon in Wichita, Kan.

The Bearcats fall to 7-2 overall on the year and Wichita State improved to 13-8.

The match was played with Division I scoring rules with doubles counting as one point.

Match Results
1. #89 Tin Ostojic (WSU) def. Boissinot,Romain (NW) 7-6, 6-2
2. Miroslav Herzan (WSU) vs. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) 2-6, 6-2, 2-3, unfinished
3. Jocelyn Devilliers (WSU) def. Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) 6-3, 6-3
4. Sergio de Vilchez (WSU) def. Tete,Mauro (NW) 6-1, 6-1
5. Eddie Stoica (WSU) def. Glowick,Fin (NW) 6-4, 6-4
6. Vitor Mendes (WSU) vs. Autones,Aymeric (NW) 7-5, 3-0, unfinished

1. #65 Jocelyn Devilliers/Tin Ostojic (WSU) def. Fontcuberta,Sergi/Riveros,Alvaro (NW) 6-2
2. #42 Miroslav Herzan/Haru Inoue (WSU) vs. Boissinot,Romain/Autones,Aymeric (NW) 4-3, unfinished
3. Sergio de Vilchez/Eddie Stoica (WSU) def. Tete,Mauro/Abaitua,Vazquez (NW) 6-2

Both men’s and women’s teams will be at home against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday, March 25, at 2 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University Director of Athletics Mel Tjeerdsma has announced that Buck Scheel has been named head coach of the Bearcat women’s basketball team. The announcement comes after a nationwide search that included over 100 applicants. A formal press conference to introduce Scheel will be held on Tuesday, March 29, at 11:30 a.m. in the Tower View dining room in the J.W. Jones Student Union.

“During Buck’s two and a half months as interim head coach, it was very evident that he had the qualities that we were looking for in our head women’s basketball coach,” said Tjeerdsma. “I am excited about the culture that he has already begun to establish with our team. There’s no doubt that we have the right person to lead our women’s basketball program back to the top of the MIAA.”

Scheel was named interim head coach on Dec. 16, 2015, prior to a road contest against Lincoln University.

“I want to thank Mel Tjeerdsma, the Northwest administration team and the department of athletics for this opportunity,” Scheel said. “I felt we made some major strides in the second half of our season and I’m excited to get the chance to continue building off of the strong base that we worked hard to establish.

“I am convinced that with our resources at Northwest, there is no question we can build a championship caliber basketball team here. The MIAA is one of the toughest conferences in the nation and continually puts high-seeded teams in the NCAA Tournament. I believe that in order to establish a winning culture, you need to start with quality student-athletes, both in the classroom and on the court. I’m excited to be able to continue to represent Northwest Missouri State and I look forward to expanding my role both on campus and in the community.”

Scheel joined the Northwest staff prior to the start of the 2013-14 season as an assistant coach. He previously served as the assistant coach at State Fair Community College, where he helped lead a Lady Roadrunner team to a 68-28 record in three years. SFCC won a Region 16 championship in 2011 and advanced to the Region 16 tournament all three years.

Prior to SFCC, Scheel was the head women’s basketball coach at Southwestern Community College in Creston, Iowa, from 2007 to 2010. He coached multiple all-conference athletes both on the floor and in the classroom.

Scheel graduated from Waldorf University in Forest City, Iowa, where he was a co-captain for two years. He graduated with a degree in business management with an emphasis in marketing. Scheel also worked as a student assistant at Waldorf University following his graduation. He received a master’s degree in sports management from Columbia Southern University in Orange Beach, Ala. Scheel is a native of Columbus, Neb.

Scheel will fill out his staff in the coming weeks.

— Northwest Athletics —