ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished out their first spring tournament with a seventh place finish, shooting a team score of 663 over the two days. Missouri Western fired a 327 on day one and 335 in their final round.

Missouri Western had three players finish within the top-35 in the two day invitational. Celine Lim was the Griffons top golfer, finishing tied for fifth place with a score of 155 in her two rounds. She shot a 75 and 80 in her two rounds, respectively. Callie Wilson and Madison Romjue each finished with a score of 168 to place them tied for 34th in the tournament.

Arkansas Tech took both the individual and team titles at the Holiday Inn Express Classic, scoring a 619 as a team. Rebecka Surtevall and Taylor Kline finished in solo possession of first and second places. Surtevall scored a 151 while Kline recorded a 152.

The Griffons will travel to Kearney, Nebraska starting on Monday, March 30 to take part in the UNK Invitational. The invitational will be held at the Awarii Dunes Country Club.

— MWSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball beat Fort Hays State on Sunday afternoon at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo., 4-3.

Northwest moves to 12-12 on the year and 9-7 in MIAA play. The Tigers drop to 4-17 overall and 4-12 in conference action.

The Bearcats gave up two runs in the top of the ninth but rebounded by scoring the winning run in the bottom of the ninth on a bases loaded walk by freshman Nick Howard.

The win gives Northwest its first MIAA series win, beating the Tigers 3-1 over the weekend.

Nikko Pablo got the start and went 6.2 innings, allowing six hits with eight strikeouts. He walked one batter and allowed just one unearned run.

Carson Smith got the win, going 2.1 innings, allowing three hits and two runs. He struck out three batters.

Nick Gotta was 2-for-5 on the day with a run scored, while Austin Wulff was 1-for-1 with a run scored. He was walked once and scored the winning run after getting hit by a pitch to start the ninth.

Luke Wilkinson hit his second double of the season, going 1-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, while Derek Meyer was 1-for-3.

Northwest Missouri State will play a pair of midweek non-conference games beginning on Tuesday at Quincy, followed by a Wednesday game at Culver-Stockton.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State softball team wrapped up play at the MWSU Apple Market Classic with a split on Sunday in St. Joseph, Mo.

The Bearcats jumped out to an early lead and held on to defeat Concordia-St. Paul, 8-7, and then Northern State held the Bearcats to four hits in the second game, defeating Northwest 4-0.

The Bearcats head into spring break with a 9-13 record.

In game one, Rebecca Maher reached base three times and scored two runs from the leadoff spot, while Stephanie Mark finished 2-for-4 with a double, four RBI and two runs scored.

Jessica Rawie clubbed a pair of doubles, driving in two runs, Kendle Schieber drove in two runs on three singles and Torri Blythe scored three runs after finishing 2-for-3 at the plate.

Sarah Baldwin made the start for the Bearcats, surrendering two earned runs on eight hits over 4 1/3 innings pitched. The junior tallied two strikeouts and one walk.

Paige Blythe came in to throw the final 2 2/3 innings, earning the win after scattering three hits and giving up one run.

In game two, Kendle Schieber struck out 10 Wolves batters over 6 1/3 innings while giving up three earned runs on six hits. Schieber’s performance was the first double-digit strikeout effort for the Bearcats in over two years (Jenna Creger, 3/15/13). The junior added a single at the plate.

Torri Blythe singled in the first and stole her 10th base of the season, while Cassidy Lee and Rebecca Maher also added singled for the Bearcats.

Northwest Missouri State will travel to Liberty, Mo. on Wednesday for a mid-week doubleheader against William Jewell. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader with Fort Hays State at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

Northwest won the first game 8-3 but dropped the nightcap, 10-5.

The Bearcats are now 11-12 overall and 8-7 in MIAA play. Fort Hays State is now 4-16 on the year and 4-11 in conference action.

In game one, Paul Johnson was 3-for-4 on the day, collecting an RBI and three runs scored. He hit his first two triples of the season.

Nick Gotta reached safely three times, drawing a walk while going 2-for-3 from the plate, while Kolby Greenslade scored a pair of runs for Northwest, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI.

Joseph Hietpas got the win, going 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits with four strikeouts.

In game two, Johnson was 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored, while Meyer was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Gotta was 2-for-4 with his seventh double of the season. He had two RBI and scored a run.

Northwest used five pitchers on the day. Brad Roberts picked up the loss, going 2.2 innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Only three of the runs were earned.

The Bearcats and the Tigers conclude the four-game series Sunday afternoon with a nine-inning contest scheduled for noon at Bearcat Field.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State softball team lost two non-conference games on Saturday at the MWSU Apple Market Classic in St. Joseph, Mo.

The Bearcats lost to No. 14 Winona State 3-2 and dropped their second game of the day against Wayne State by a score of 4-1.

Northwest falls to 8-12 on the season.

In game one, Ashley Wilcoxson finished with her first multi-hit game of the season after slapping a pair of singles, Kendle Schieber crushed her first home run of the year in the fifth inning and Stephanie Mark reached base on two base hits and also stole her first bag as a Bearcat.

Sarah Baldwin started the game for Northwest, giving up two earned runs on five hits over six innings. The junior tallied 15 ground ball outs, compared to just one fly ball.

In game two, Abbie Vitosh started in the circle for the Bearcats, giving up four runs on eight hits across four innings to take the loss.

Ashley Wilcoxson drove in her first run in a Bearcat uniform on a single in the second inning, while Jessica Rawie scored the lone run for Northwest.

The Bearcats will wrap up play in St. Joseph, Mo. when they face off against Concordia-St. Paul and Northern State on Sunday. The doubleheader begins at 11 a.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team picked up a 4-2 win over MIAA member Fort Hays State on Friday afternoon at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

Northwest moves to 10-11 overall and 7-6 in MIAA play with the win. Fort Hays drops to 3-15 overall and 3-10 in MIAA play.

Anthony Caenepeel pitched 8.0 innings, allowing just two runs on three hits with 12 strikeouts. He walked four batters.

Right fielder Austin Wulff was 2-for-3 with four RBI, including a three-run homer in the sixth.

The Bearcats and the Tigers continue the four-game series on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m. Both games will be seven-inning contests.

— Northwest Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State softball team opened play at the MWSU Apple Market Classic on Friday in St. Joseph, Mo.

The Bearcats outlasted Upper Iowa in the first game, 3-2, while Northwest lost to Minnesota State 10-6 in their season game.

The Bearcats are now 8-10 on the year.

In game one, Sarah Baldwin started in the circle for the Bearcats and finished her sixth complete game of the year, giving up two unearned runs on seven hits while striking out seven.

Rebecca Maher scored two runs on a pair of singles. The freshman also stole her third base on the year, while Stephanie Mark crushed her sixth home run on the year, finishing 1-for-2 with two RBI.  Madison Jones finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and Jessica Rawie added an RBI for the Bearcats.

In game two, Cassidy Lee tallied three hits at the plate and drove in two runs, while Chantel Adams clubbed her second homer this season, scoring two runs and driving in one.  Torri Blythe finished 2-for-4 with a run and Stephanie Mark scored one run and drove in another on a pair of singles.

Kendle Schieber started on the rubber for the Bearcats, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings.

The Bearcats will return to St. Joseph, Mo. Saturday for another pair of non-conference games. First, Northwest faces off with #14 Winona State at 10 a.m. before a 2 p.m. contest against Wayne State.

— Northwest Sports Information —

By David Boyce

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team ran into a squad that had the size and athleticism to keep the Bearcats out of any offensive rhythm for the entire Central Regional championship game.

The grit of the Bearcats was what kept Northwest close, but it wasn’t enough as Minnesota State University Moorhead ended Northwest’s season with a 47-42 victory Tuesday evening at the Sanford Pentagon.

Moorhead, 35-3, advances to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight. Northwest finished its season 25-7.

“It was one of those games that defensively we were really locked in,” Northwest coach Ben McCollum said. “It was as good as we have played defensively all year, to hold a team with that much offensive firepower to 36 percent.

“Obviously, holding us to 28 percent made for an extremely ugly game. It was a game right within our grasp. They beat us. It wasn’t anything our kids did. They were the better team today.”

McCollum said seniors Matt Wallace and Grant Cozad stepped up and decided to be better than last year.

“They were,” McCollum said. “They led us to the first outright conference title in 30 years and three out of four conference championships and two Sweet 16s. These guys were pretty darn good for me.”

Despite the disappointment of falling short of winning the regional championship, the Bearcats have plenty to be proud of.

“It was always our goal to get back to the tournament and be as good as last year,” said Cozad, who finished with 15 points. “Matt and I talked about it. We wanted to get back to the Sweet 16 and make the Elite Eight and just try to win that national championship. It stinks not to get this win. We know as a team we could have beat them. It is heartbreaking, but that’s how it happens.”

Northwest lost five seniors off last year’s team that also reached the regional championship game. Coming into the season, the Bearcats were picked to finish fourth in the MIAA.

The Bearcats came into the regional seeded fourth. Northwest overcame a 14-point deficit in the quarterfinals and overcame a 10-point deficit in the semifinals against the No. 1 seed and host school, Augustana.

“I am extremely proud of our team and where they went through,” McCollum said. “If you told me at the beginning of the season that this was where we would be, it would have been hard to believe.”

Northwest was looking for one more upset. The Bearcats fell behind 24-18 early in the second half. Seven straight points by the Bearcats gave them a 25-24 lead. It appeared the second-half magic was back for Northwest.

Unfortunately, Moorhead was cool under fire. The Dragons slowly increased their lead to 39-29 with 7 minutes left. Northwest had trouble generating consistent offense against the Dragons defense.

“It was good, but it wasn’t anything we haven’t seen,” Wallace said. “We had quite a few open looks. They weren’t going in tonight.”

But this was where Northwest showed its guts. Even though shots weren’t falling, the Bearcats kept clawing. With 4 minutes left, Northwest pulled to within four at 39-35 on a layup by Justin Pitts, who finished with 13 points.

The Bearcats were playing great defense. The shot clock was running down when 6-foot-9 senior Isaac Sevlie stood at the top of the key and drilled a three-pointer to make it 42-35 with 3:40 left. Sevlie, who was picked the most valuable player of the tournament, was 0-7 on three-pointers entering the game.

“That kind of broke our backs,” McCollum said.

Back-to-back baskets by Pitts helped Northwest close to 42-39 with 44 seconds left. The Bearcats were forced to foul. Because they only had one team foul, it took them 6 precious seconds to reach six team fouls.

When senior Jordan Riewer went to the line, he made both. After a Northwest miss, Riewer was fouled again and made one, giving the Dragons a 45-39 lead with 25 seconds.

It is easy to look at the shooting percentage by both teams in the first half and think there was some poor shooting taking place. Forget it. Both teams played incredible defense.

Moorhead went into halftime with a slim 20-18 lead because it made the last shot just before halftime.

Northwest was just 6 for 23 from the field for 26 percent. Moorhead wasn’t much better, going 8 for 25 from the field for 32 percent.

The one player who kept Northwest close was Cozad, who was 4 for 5 from the field and scored 11 or the Bearcats’ 18 points.

“I have confidence in myself to hit that shot in any game we play,” Cozad said. “I got it going early. We couldn’t get those drives in the paint. Pitts couldn’t get in there. Conner couldn’t get in there. I tried to space out and they found me.”

— Northwest Sports Information —