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Category: College

Griffons pull away to take game two of series at Fort Hays State

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HAYS, Kan. – A four-run eighth inning opened up a tight ball game and vaulted Griffon Baseball (25-21, 17-15) to a 7-1 win over Fort Hays State (13-33, 5-27) on Saturday evening.

Missouri Western led 2-1 after seven innings, but scored four in the top of the eighth. The inning included an RBI double by Dusty Stroup and a two-run home run by Ryan Smith. All four Griffon runs in the inning were unearned as Fort Hays State committed one of its six errors in the game with two out in the inning. Six of the seven Griffon runs in the game were unearned.

NOTABLES

  • Brooks Day had two more hits, going 2-for-5 with a run scored. It extended Day’s hitting streak to 14 games. He’s batted .442 with six doubles, four home runs and two triples during the streak
  • Stroup went 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored
  • Smith went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored as a reserve, entering for Nolan Meyer in the fourth
  • Preston Bailey picked up his sixth save of the season, pitching 3 2/3 innings. He struck out three and gave up a pair of hits
  • Levi Abrahamson (2-2) got the win, allowing one run on five hits through 5 1/3 innings. Abrahamson struck out four

UP NEXT
The Griffons go for the series sweep, Sunday, at 1 p.m. in the team’s final regular season road game.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State rolls past Southwest Baptist 14-3

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The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team defeated Southwest Baptist, 14-3, on Saturday at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

The Bearcats improve to 28-18 overall and 23-9 in MIAA play. SBU falls to 16-30 overall and 10-22 in conference action.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored twice in the first, three in the third, one in the fourth, two in the second and six in the sixth inning. Southwest Baptist scored two in the sixth and one in the seventh.
– The Bearcats had 14 runs on 16 hits with no errors. SBU had three runs on five hits with two errors.
– Kevin Handzlik was perfect from the plate going 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBIs.
– Mondesi Gutierrez went 3-for-4 with an RBI, a walk and three runs scored.
– Hudson Bilodeau finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a walk.
– Landon Figg went 2-for-3 with an RBI, a walk and three runs scored.
– Aaron Barratt was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored, a walk and a two run homerun.
– Matt Schingel went 2-for-3 with a run scored and three RBIs.
– Luke Hassman 1-for-4 with an RBI and one run scored.
– Brad Roberts threw a complete game throwing seven innings allowed only three runs on five hits and struck out ten batters.

Key Northwest Innings
– After an out, Gutierrez doubled to left field and Figg reached on a walk. Handzlik would hit a sharp single down the right field line to Gutierrez and put runners on the corners. On an attempted double steal, Figg was able to score and make the score 2-0 in the first.

– With one out, Gutierrez tripled to center field and came in to score on a single to right field by Figg. After an out, Handzlik lined a single to right field to advance Figg and put runners on the corners. Barratt walked to load the bases and Schingel singled through the left side to score Figg and Handzlik to put the Bearcats ahead 5-0.

– In the bottom of the fourth inning with one out, Bilodeau double down the right field line and came in to score on a single to center field by Gutierrez.
– Handzlik started the fifth inning with a single to right field and would then come around to score on Barratt’s seventh homerun of the year to put the Cats up 8-0.

– Gutierrez drew a one out walk in the bottom of the sixth inning and advanced to third on a single down the right field line by Figg. Gutierrez came in to score on a double down the right field line by Hassman to put runners on second and third. Both runners came in to score on a hard single to right field by Handzlik. Barratt reached on a fielder’s choice and Schingel singled to the left field to score Handzlik. On an out, Barratt was able to come in and score while Schingel advanced to third. Rycraft reached on an error and Schingel came in to score to make the score 14-2.

Up Next
– Northwest will finish the series with Southwest Baptist Sunday, April 29th at 1 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —

Tigers win slugfest at No. 13 Kentucky

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mizzou Baseball earned a hard-fought 14-11 win in game two of its series at No. 13 Kentucky Saturday afternoon at Cliff Hagan Field. Mizzou ran out to a 9-2 lead before a six-run sixth inning from the Wildcats tightened things up. The Tigers then got five runs in the eighth inning, three on Trey Harris’ team-leading eighth homer, to put the game away. The slugfest came less than 24 hours removed from a Friday night pitcher’s duel in game one.

Mizzou evens the series with the Wildcats and improves to 29-14 and 9-11 in SEC play. Kentucky falls to 28-15 and 9-11 in SEC play, setting up a huge Sunday rubber game at noon (CT) tomorrow on SEC Network+. Junior LHP Michael Plassmeyer earned the win, improving to 5-2 on the year. He allowed six runs on nine hits while striking out seven. RS junior Bryce Montes De Oca earned his first career save.

Mizzou scored its most runs in an SEC game this year and most in a league game during the Steve Bieser era. It was the most runs scored by Mizzou in an SEC game since May 2, 2015, when the Tigers hung 18 on Ole Miss. The 14 runs match the most ever by a Mizzou team in a road SEC contest. Mizzou also scored 14 at Tennessee on March 23, 2013, its first season in the league.

TURNING POINT

Saturday’s game was wild as Mizzou opened a 9-2 lead before Kentucky took advantage of six hits, two walks and a big error to plate six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the lead to 9-8. Kentucky could have had more in the inning, but Mizzou reliever Andy Toelken pitched out of the jam to preserve the lead.

Clinging to a one-run lead with momentum clearly swinging towards the nationally-ranked Wildcats, senior 3B Alex Samples led off the eighth inning with a double, kick-starting a five-run frame that put the game out of reach. Junior SS Paul Gomez delivered a big two-run single with one out and senior Trey Harris delivered the big blow, a three-run homer off the scoreboard in left center, his eighth of the year.

Bryce Montes De Oca locked things down from there, allowing just one hit and one walk over the final 1.1 innings to complete the win. Mizzou hit a season-high four homers in the win, its most since April 15, 2017, also against Kentucky.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“Wild is a good way to explain it. I thought the resiliency of our offense to keep coming back and keep coming back, they made it really hard on Kentucky’s pitchers. They did a good job of sticking to their approach. That’s something we challenged them to do after last night and I think they took that to heart. We have to come back tomorrow and have the same approach. We have a big opportunitytomorrow to go out and win a series.”

TOP TIGERS

  • Junior 1B Brian Sharp hit his fourth homer of the year in the third inning, his first since March 4 against Maryland-Baltimore County. He extended his hitting streak to four games with that homer, a solo shot to right. Sharp tallied his 11th multi-hit game of the season and second in the series Saturday.
  • Freshman CF Cade Bormet extended his hitting streak to seven games with an RBI single in the second inning.
  • Senior 3B Alex Samples posted an RBI in the second inning.
  • Freshman DH Chad McDaniel tallied his seventh multi-hit game of the season and now has six of those in his last 18 games. He is hitting 19-for-51 (.373) over his last 18 games. He had a career-high four hits Saturday.
  • Senior 2B Matt Berler hit his first homer of the season, a three-run shot, in the in fourth inning. It was his first homer since May 23, 2017, in the SEC Tournament opener vs. Texas A&M.
  • Junior OF Zach Hanna hit his fourth homer of the season.
  • Junior SS Paul Gomez tallied the biggest hit of his career with a two-run single in the top of the eighth inning to extend Mizzou’s advantage to 11-8.
  • Senior OF Trey Harris blasted his team-leading eighth homer of the season and drove in three runs while scoring two more.

NOTES

  • With the win, Mizzou cuts Kentucky’s advantage in the all-time series to 8-7.
  • Mizzou improves to 9-6 on Saturdays this season.
  • Mizzou is now 17-13 in three-game series this season.
  • Mizzou is now 9-8 against ranked teams this season with six of the wins coming on the road.
  • Mizzou is now 7-8 in day games this season.
  • Mizzou hit a season-high four homers Saturday. Mizzou had just three homers in its previous nine games combined and just five in 19 SEC games before Saturday. The four homers for Mizzou are its most since April 15, 2017, also against Kentucky.
  • Mizzou is now 4-0 when hitting multiple homers this season.
  • Mizzou scored more than 10 runs for the eighth time this season and first time since April 4 against SIU-Edwardsville. It was the second time in 20 SEC games that Mizzou hung 10 or more runs and the first time since May 17 at LSU.
  • Mizzou’s 14 runs are its most in an SEC game since May 2, 2015, when it scored 18 against Ole Miss. It matches the most ever for Mizzou scored in an SEC road game. Mizzou had 14 against Tennessee in Knoxville on May 23, 2013.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Kentucky will close their series Sunday at noon.

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffons run-rule Fort Hays State in series opener 12-1

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HAYS, Kan. – Griffon Baseball (24-21, 16-15) started off its final road MIAA series of the season with a bang, defeating Fort Hays State (13-32, 5-25) 12-2 in a run-rule shortened game.

The Griffons scored in each of the first five innings and didn’t allow a run until the fourth. Missouri Western totaled six extra base hits in the game including three home runs, two by Brooks Day, and Nate Hunter struck out 10 batters. The Griffons had 12 hits in the game with five players collecting two hits.

NOTABLES

  • Day went 2-for-3 with the two home runs, driving in five and scoring three runs. He also walked once and extended his hitting streak to 13 games. He’s had at least two hits in eight of those 13 games.
  • Dusty Stroup also went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored. He had the other home run for the Griffons.
  • Casey Danley went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI
  • Fahd Shakeel was 2-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI
  • Hunter (8-2) struck out a season high 10 batters in seven innings. He allowed just the one run on seven hits

UP NEXT
Game two of the three-game series is set for a 5 p.m. first pitch on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats outscore Southwest Baptist 19-15 to win first game of series

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The Northwest Missouri State baseball team defeated Southwest Baptist Friday in Maryville 19-15.

The Bearcats are now 27-18 overall and 22-9 in conference while SBU falls to 16-29 overall and 10-21 in conference play.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored tow runs in the first, eight in the fourth, two in the fifth, three in the sixth and seventh innings and one in the eighth inning. SBU scored two in the second and third innings, four in the fifth, three in the seventh and four in the ninth inning.
– The Bearcats had 19 runs on 17 hits with four errors. Southwest Baptist had 15 runs on 17 hits and one error.
– Mondesi Gutierrez finished 4-for-5 with four RBIs, three runs scored, two doubles and one homerun.
– Luke Hassman went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, one RBI, a double and a triple.
– Hudson Bilodeau was 3-for-6 with two RBIs, one run scored and one homerun.
– Aaron Barratt went 2-for-5 with five RBIs, two runs scored and a homerun.
– Landon Figg was 1-for-5 with a walk, two runs scored and two RBIs.
– Kevin Handzlik finished 1-for-4 scoring three times, walked twice and had an RBI.
– Matt Schingel finished 1-for-2 he drew two walks, scored three times and hit his first collegiate homerun.
– Derek Hussey went 1-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and three RBIs.

Key Northwest Innings
– Bilodeau got the Cats going in the first inning with a solo homerun to right field and Gutierrez followed it up with his own homerun to left field to put the Cats up 2-0.

– In the bottom of the fourth, Figg led off with a walk, Hassman singled through the left side and Handzlik drew a walk to load the bases. Barratt would bring them all in when he sent a grand slam over the left center fence to give the Bearcats the lead. Schingel followed him up with a solo shot to center field to increase the lead. Hussey would then draw a walk and move to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rycraft. With two outs, Gutierrez hit a double to left center to score Hussey and Gutierrez would then come around to score on a homerun to right center by Figg.

– After an out, Schingel and Hussey drew back-to-back walks and after another out Bilodeau singled to the shortstop to load the bases. Gutierrez singled to center field to score Schingel and Hussey to make the score 12-8.

– To start the sixth inning, Hassman doubled to center and then came in to score on another double by Handzlik down the right field line. Barratt brought in Handzlik with a single to left field and then would move to second on a sacrifice bunt. After another out, Rycraft was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a single by Bilodeau and Barratt was able to score.

– Hassman led off the seventh inning with a single through the left side and moved to second on a walk by Handzlik. Both runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Barratt and Schingel loaded the bases after he drew a walk. Hussey doubled down the left field line to score all three runners and make the score 18-11.

– In the bottom of the eighth, Gutierrez led off with a double to left center and advanced to third on a fly ball. Hassman reached on an error by the infield and Gutierrez was able to score.

Up Next
– Northwest will take on Southwest Baptist on Saturday April 28, at 2 p.m. in Maryville, Mo.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri Western earns at-large bid to the NCAA men’s golf tournament

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ST. JOSEPH – For the first time in 10 years, the Missouri Western men’s golf team will play in the NCAA Division II Regional. The Griffons were selected eighth in the final central region poll and will begin play in the Central/Midwest Regional May 7 in Findlay, Ohio.

The youthful Griffons were one of four MIAA teams selected to the field of 10 central region participants. Led by All-MIAA selections Patrick McCarthy and Kevin Kim, Missouri Western finished no worse than 10th in all 10 events this year. The Griffons won the Broncho Stampede Invitational to finish the championship portion of their season and tied for first at their home event, the Holiday Inn Express/Candlewood Suites MWSU Invitational in October.

The three round regional will be held at the Findlay Country Club May 7-9. At a minimum, the top three finishing teams at the regional along with the top-two individuals not on an advancing team, will qualify for the NCAA Division II National Championships at the Robert Trent Golf Trail at the Shoals, Fighting Joe Course in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou drops series opener at No. 13 Kentucky

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LEXINGTON, Ky. – Mizzou Baseball dropped its series opener at No. 13 Kentucky, 2-1, Friday night (April 27) at Cliff Hagan Field. Kentucky got a go-ahead two-out homer from cleanup man Luke Heyer off Mizzou starter T.J. Sikkema in the fifth inning and that proved to be the difference. Mizzou falls to 28-14 on the year and 8-11 in SEC play while Kentucky improves to 28-14 and 9-10 in SEC play.

Sikkema took a tough-luck loss, falling to 3-4 on the year. He went 6.0+ innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits while striking out six against zero walks. Kentucky starter and reigning SEC Pitcher of the Year Sean Hjelle earned the win, improving to 6-3 on the year. He tossed 8.0 innings, scattering just six hits while striking out eight. He surrendered just one run on a first-inning sacrifice squeeze by senior C Brett Bond.

Freshman CF Cade Bormet missed a two-out game-tying homer in the top of the ninth inning by about a foot, caroming off the top of the wall, settling for a double to extend his hitting streak to six games. He was stranded on second base representing the tying run.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou and Sikkema took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. After Sikkema retired the leadoff man, a one-out single by C Troy Squires set up the go-ahead inning for the Wildcats. Sikkema induced what would have been a tailor-made double play ball off the bat of Kole Cottam, but Squires was running on the pitch and that extended the inning as Mizzou got just the one out. That loomed large as Luke Heyer hit a go-ahead two-run homer to center field, just over the 390-foot wall.

That blow came as Hjelle appeared to settle in, facing the minimum over the fifth and sixth innings. Mizzou got a leadoff double from Alex Samples in the seventh, but could not push him across as that was Mizzou’s best chance to tie the game.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser

“Really tough game right there. We had our opportunities and just didn’t take advantage of those opportunities. When you don’t do that, you’re going to get in trouble and that’s what happened tonight.”

TOP TIGERS

  • Sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema worked 6.0+ innings, facing one batter in the seventh inning, wallowing just two runs on seven hits with six strikeouts. He walked just one in a tough-luck loss.
  • Junior 1B Brian Sharp reached base in three plate appearances, singling and scoring to leadoff the first, and walk later in the game. He tallied an infield hit in the eighth inning for his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
  • Senior C Brett Bond had Mizzou’s lone RBI on a sacrifice bunt in the first inning.
  • Junior RHP Nile Ball turned in a pair of shutout relief innings, striking out four.
  • Senior 3B Alex Samples hit his third double in the last two games Friday.
  • Freshman Cade Bormet extended his hitting streak to six games with a two-out double in the ninth inning.

NOTES

  • Mizzou now trail the all-time series with Kentucky, 6-8.
  • Mizzou falls to 6-5 on Fridays this season and 22-6 in night games.
  • Mizzou is now 8-8 against ranked teams this season.
  • Mizzou falls to 7-8 in road games this season
  • Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 18th time this season. Mizzou is 13-5 in such games this season. Mizzou has scored 35 runs in the first inning this season (42 runs).
  • Senior 3B Alex Samples hit his eighth double of the season in the seventh inning. He now has three doubles in his last two games.
  • Mizzou played its 25th errorless game of the season Friday as it continues to defend alongside the nation’s best teams.
  • Mizzou held its opponent to fewer than three runs for the 24th time in 42 games. It marked the 21st time in 42 games that the opponent has scored two or fewer runs.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Kentucky will play Saturday at 1 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffons’ Shi Qing Ong named MIAA Golfer of the Year

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Griffon women’s golfer Shi Qing Ong was named MIAA Golfer of the Year as announced by the conference, Friday afternoon.

Ong was the medalist at this week’s MIAA Championships in Kansas City, claiming the individual title by seven strokes. Her MIAA win was the third individual title for the junior this season. She was also named first team All-MIAA for the third time in her career after being named MIAA Golfer of the year four times.

Joining Ong on the first team was Chong Yong. The sophomore had five top-10 finishes this season after qualifying, individually, for the NCAA Division II National Championships last season.

— MWSU Athletics —

MWSU’s softball season ends with loss to Central Oklahoma

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – No. 5-seeded Griffon Softball (25-29) was eliminated from the MIAA Championships with a 3-1 loss to No. 3-seeded Central Oklahoma (31-21), Friday at ASA Hall of Fame Complex.

Kenzie Hilzer and Kaili Hinds combined to strand 13 UCO base runners in the game, working around at least two runners in every inning to hold the Bronchos to three runs on 10 hits. The Griffon offense had a hard time moving base runners itself, leaving seven on base in the game. MWSU had five hits and walked three times.

  • It was just the third time in the Jen Bagley Trotter era the Griffons finished the season under .500 and the first time since 2008 (27-28)
  • The top five batters in the Griffon order went a combined 1-for-13 in the game
  • Gabi Carter went 2-for-3 in the game
  • Tamara Hicks went 2-for-3
  • Morgan Frost drove in the only Griffon run on a single in the third
  • Hilzer (14-14) took the loss, allowing two earned runs on nine hits. She walked five and struck out two

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffons rally past No. 1 seed Washburn to stay alive at MIAA softball tournament

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – No. 5 seed Griffon Softball (25-28) rallied to keep its season alive, coming back to eliminate No. 1-seeded Washburn 5-4 on the opening night of the MIAA Championships.

Shelby Uhl delivered a walk-off single in the bottom of the eighth to push Missouri Western past the MIAA regular season champions. Gabi Carter got on to lead off the eighth by being hit by a pitch. Kalyn Damgaard pinch ran for Carter and got to second two batters later on Markee Brown’s fielder’s choice. Uhl bounced a single into center that scored Damgaard from second to give MWSU the upset win.

Down 4-0 in the bottom of the seventh, the bottom of the Griffon order sparked the rally. Rebekah Mueller led off the inning with a double to left and got to third when Markee Brown singled and advanced on a throw. With runners on second and third, Tamara Hicks struck out. Shelby Uhl gave the Griffs their first run of the game with a sacrifice fly to right that scored Mueller and got Brown to third. Shelbie Atwell followed with an RBI-double to left center. Morgan Frost scored Atwell with a single to left and got to second herself on the throw. Lonnie Groves drove in the tying run with a single to right.

The Griffons were limited to just an infield single through the first six innings, but totaled five hits in the seventh. Kenzie Hilzer picked up the win in relief. The honorable mention All-MIAA pitcher entered with runners on first and second and one out in the eighth. She coaxed two ground outs to end the Ichabod threat.

A 5-3 loss to No. 4 seed Northwest Missouri in the opener pushed the Griffons into the Thursday night elimination game. The win over Washburn moves the Griffons into another elimination game Friday at 11 a.m. against No. 3 seed Central Oklahoma

— MWSU Athletics —

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