The Northwest Missouri State University softball team falls in a double header against Emporia State in Emporia, Ks.

The Bearcats falls to 25-15 overall and 16-8 in conference, while Emporia State improves to 22-28 overall and 12-12 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 1, Emporia State 9)
– Northwest scored one run in the fourth inning. ESU scored four runs in the first, three in the third and two in the fifth inning.
– The Bearcats had one run on five hits and three errors. The Hornets scored nine runs on ten hits and one error.
– Rebecca Maher finished 1-for-3 and scored one run.
– Jaedra Moses went 1-for-2.
– Erin Keeney was 1-for-2.
– Karli Allen finished 1-for-2.
– Kiana Baderdeen went 1-for-2.

Game One Key Innings
– Maher started the top of the fourth inning with a single up the middle and Moses followed it up with a single of her own to put Maher on third. Maher was able to come in and score on an error by the catcher to put the Bearcats on the board.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 5, Emporia State 6)
– The Bearcats scored three runs in the fifth, one in the sixth and one in the seventh inning. Emporia State scored two runs in the first, third and second inning.
– Northwest had five runs on eight hits and two errors. The Hornets had six runs on seven hits and one error.
– Moses finished the game 3-for-4 with one run scored.
– Maher went 2-for-4 with one RBI, a run scored, a double and a homerun.
– Kaitlyn Weis was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored and a homerun.
– Keeney went 1-for-4 with one RBI, a homerun and a run scored.
– Jessica Rawie finished 1-for-2 with one run scored, one RBI,drew a walk and a homerun. 

Game Two Key Innings
– After an out, Maher put the Bearcats on the board with a solo shot over the right center fence. Moses kept it going with a single to third base and would come in to score on a homerun down the left field line by Weis to pull the Bearcats within one.

– With two outs, Rawie sent a 2-1 pitch over the left field fence to tie the game at four.

– In the top of the seventh, the Bearcats would pick up their last run on a Keeney homerun to right field.

Up Next
– Northwest will take on Washburn Univeristy Friday, April 20 in Topeka, Ks., at 1:30 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum has announced three additions, Diego Bernard, Xavier Rhodes and Luke Waters’ to the 2018-19 Bearcat roster. All three players were selected to the 2018 GKCBCA All-Star Game.

Bernard was an all-state performer at Lafayette High School in St. Joseph, Mo.

“Diego is an incredible athlete and has the ability to make plays off the dribble and score from multiple levels. What sets him apart from others is his mentality on defense and the edge that he plays with on the court,” said McCollum. “He’s another great player from a very good high school program (St. Joe Lafayette) that we have a lot of success recruiting from in the past ”

Bernard helped lead a senior campaign where Lafayette High School had 22 wins, a MEC Conference Championship, a District Championship and a Sectional Championship game appearance. He was named all-conference four years, all-district three years, a Class 3 all-state selection and is a member of his schools 1,000-point club.

Rhodes was a three-year varsity letterman at Rockhurst High School.

“Xavier is a very quick and is very tough to contain off the dribble. He is an incredible finish at the rim, one of the best that we have seen at the high school level. His court vision and ability to get his teammates involved stuck out a lot in the recruiting process.”

Rhodes senior season included helping lead his team to 20 wins, a District Championship, and a Sectional Championship game appearance. He averaged 15 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.5 assists, and three steals a game. He was also on the 2018 Missouri Class 5 All-state team.

Waters’ was a four-year varsity player and all-time leader scorer at Olathe Northwest High School.

“Luke comes from a great high school program at Olathe Northwest that has had a lot of talent over the years with Shavon Shields (Nebraska) and Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky, Sacromento Kings). Luke’s name stands atop of the program in terms of scoring and leading his team to the first ever state tournament appearance for the school. He is a high character kid that can score in a variety of ways.”

Waters’ led his team to first state appearance in school history as a junior and was a 1,000-point scorer. He was a Kansas All 6A 1st Team as a senior and a two-time Sunflower League 1st team.

— Northwest Athletics —

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team picked up a sweep over the University of Nebraska Kearney on Tuesday in Kearney, Ne.

The Bearcats improve to 22-18 overall, 17-8 in conference, while the Lopers fall to 22-18 overall and 15-10 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 9, Nebraska-Kearney 8)
– Northwest scored one in the first, seven in the sixth and one in the ninth inning. The Lopers got two runs in the first, third, fourth and eighth innings.
– The Bearcats had nine runs on ten hits with one error. UNK had eight runs on 14 hits with four errors.
– Mondesi Gutierrez went 2-for-5 with one stolen base.
– Landon Figg finished 2-for-5 with one run scored, four RBIs, a double and a grand slam.
– Luke Hassman was 2-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored, a stolen base and drew two walks.
– Hudson Bilodeau went 1-for-4 with a stolen base, three runs scored and drew a walk.
– Aaron Barratt was 1-for-4 with a double, a walk, one RBI, and a run scored.
– Matt Schingel finished 1-for-5 with one RBI.
– Derek Hussey was 1-for-3 with one RBI and a run scored.

Game One Key Innings
– To get the Bearcats on the board, Bilodeau reached first after being hit by a pitch and was moved in to scoring position by a sacrifice bunt by Gutierrez. Figg reached safely on a hit by pitch to put runners on first and second. Hassman brought in Bilodeau to score with one out, and conclude the scoring for the Cats.

– After an out, Hussey reached safely after being hit by a pitch and Rycraft reached on a fielder’s choice. Bilodeau singled to center field to load the bases for the Cats. With two outs, Figg launched a grand slam over the center field fence to clear the bases and put the Bearcats within one. Hassman would then get hit by a pitch and promptly steal second. Handzlik drew a two out walk and Barratt doubled to right center to bring in Hassman and Handzlik on a fielding error. Schingel then hit a single to left field to score Barratt and put the Bearcats ahead 8-6.

– With a tie game going in to the bottom of the ninth inning, Bilodeau walked and stole second. Gutierrez would move him to third on a single to left field and then steal second. Hassman singled to right field to bring in Bilodeau to give the Bearcats a 9-8 walk-off win.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 13, UNK 4)
– The Bearcats scored four in the first, one in the second and third innings, two in the fifth, one in the eighth and four in the eighth inning. UNK scored two in the first and seventh innings.
– Northwest had 13 runs on 20 hits with one error. The Lopers scored four run on eight hits with four errors.
– Barratt finished the game going 4-for-5 with three runs scored and two RBIs.
– Bilodeau went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and a walk.
– Hassman was 3-for-6 with one RBI and he scored two runs.
– Gutierrez finished 2-for-6 with one RBI and one run scored.
– Handzlik went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI.
– Hussey was 2-for-5 with one RBI, a double and a run scored.
– Logan Rycraft finished 2-for-5 with one RBI, a run scored and a double.
– Figg went 1-for-6, scored two runs and had one RBI.
– Matt Schingel was 1-for-4 with two RBIs.
– Nathan Russell picked up the win after throwing five innings, only allowed four hits and he struck out three batters.

Game Two Key Innings
– Bilodeau started the second game of the day with a double down the left line and advanced to third on a single by Gutierrez. Figg would then come up and hit a single to left field to score Bilodeau and put runners on first and third. Hassman followed it up with a single to right center to score Gutierrez and place Figg in scoring position. Handzlik kept the hitting going with a double to left center to score Figg and put Hassman on third. Barratt fin a grounder to second base to score Hassman and give the Bearcats a 4-0 lead in the first inning.

– After an out, Bilodeau would hit his second double of the game and then come around to score on a single to left field by Gutierrez.

– Handzlik and Barratt started the top of the third with a pair of singles and after an out, Hussey reached safely on an error to load the bases. Rycraft reached on a fielder’s choice to move all runners and score Handzlik from third to put the Cats up 6-2.

– Barratt began the fifth inning with a single to center field and quickly moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Schingel. Hussey would then single to left field to move Barratt to third and then bring him home on an error. Rycraft continued the scoring after he doubled to left center to bring in Hussey and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.

– Barratt would again start the inning with a single to left field and move to second on a bunt by Schingel. Hussey brought him in to score on a double down the left field line and put the Bearcats up 9-2.

– In the top of the eighth, Figg reached on a fielding error and moved to second on a single to the shortstop by Hassman. Handzlik would lay down a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher and reach safely to load the bases. Barratt would bring in Figg with a single to left field and to keep the bases loaded. Schingel singled to right field to score Hassman and Handzlik, and put runners on the corners. On a ground ball to the infield, Barratt was able to score and give the Bearcats a 13-4 lead.

Up Next
– Northwest will take on Missouri Southern on Thursday, April 19 at 4 p.m. in Joplin, Mo.

— Northwest Athletics —