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Category: College

Northwest’s Osborn, Omon to be inducted into MIAA Hall of Fame

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KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University had two individuals selected to the 2018 MIAA Hall of Fame class, in an announcement by the league office. Former women’s tennis player Yasmine Osborn and former football running back Xavier Omon will both be inducted into the MIAA Hall of Fame on June 4, 2018 in the Truman Forum Auditorium at the KC Public Library in Kansas City, Mo.

Osborn, the Lenexa, Kansas native earned All-American status in 1998 and won the MIAA No. 1 singles championship in 1997 and 1998 before taking second in 1999, when she suffered an injury in the championship match. Posting 27 singles wins and 28 doubles victories as a sophomore in 1997, Osborn was an All-American in 1998 after winning 22 singles matches. The Bearcats advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament in each of the three seasons she played.

Omon, the Beatrice, Nebraska native is currently the MIAA career rushing leader after finishing with 7,073 yards. He leads the MIAA record books for season rush attempts (370 in 2007) and career rush attempts (1,271). Omon also holds the second position for MIAA single season rushing yards with 2,337 in 2007, as well as the all-time scorer with 590 points and the single season scoring mark of 228 points in 2007. He also holds 32 of the Bearcats’ 34 records for rushing and scoring. Omon was a three-time First Team All-MIAA selection, while helping the Bearcats claim two MIAA titles and make three appearances in the national title game.

— Northwest Athletics —

Harris’ grand slam lifts No. 22 Mizzou to series win at No. 16 Auburn

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AUBURN, Ala. – No. 22 Mizzou Baseball earned its first road series win over a ranked opponent since 2016 with a 5-0 Easter Sunday (April 1) win over No. 16 Auburn at Plainsman Park. Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit a go-ahead grand slam, his second of the season, in the top of the fifth inning to back a tremendous start by RS junior Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.). Mizzou has won two of its three SEC series this season and four of its last five dating back to last season.

Montes De Oca improved to 4-1 on the season after allowing just one hit over 6.0 shutout innings, striking out five and walking four. Auburn starter Tanner Burns took the loss, falling to 2-4 on the year.

Harris drove in five runs, one off a career-high, with four coming on the grand slam, which was Mizzou’s first hit of the game. Mizzou’s pitching staff threw a one-hitter in the win.

Mizzou is now 21-7 and 5-4 in SEC play and is tied for fourth in the league standings through three weeks of action.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou got a fifth-inning rally started as a key error by Auburn 2B Luke Jarvis played a big part in Mizzou breaking a 0-0 tie. Senior 3B Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) and freshman OF Cade Bormet(San Antonio, Texas) drew back-to-back two-out walks to turn the lineup over to the leadoff man Harris. After Harris took a curveball to lead off his at-bat, Auburn starter Tanner Burns threw him a 0-1 fastball and Harris turned on it, sending it over the green monster in left field for the go-ahead grand slam.

It was Mizzou’s first hit of the game and all four runs were unearned as the error set up the big inning. It was Harris’ second grand slam of the season.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser:
“Hits were tough to come by early in the game. Both pitchers had great stuff going – they were throwing the ball well. We just had to hang in there and we put all of that together and Trey came up with the big blow and got us into a situation we felt really good about.”

On the series win… 
“I’m really happy with our effort and it is a big series win for us. What we talked about postgame was the reason that we are here in this position is what we have done up to this point. We can’t take anything for granted. We have to continue to work hard and know that each series is its own challenge. We have tough travel back in – we’ll get home late tonight and we have to start next week. We have five games sitting in front of us and it is going to be very challenging. We have to enjoy the moment right now, but we have to get ready to go next week.”

TOP TIGERS

  • Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit a go-ahead, two-out grand slam in the top of the fifth inning. It was his second homer of the series and he has now reached base in a career-best 20- consecutive games. It was Harris’ second grand slam of the season and first since Feb. 28 vs. Alabama A&M. Harris drove in five runs Sunday, the second-most he’s had this season (six vs. Alabama A&M).
  • RS junior RHP Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) went 6.0 shutout innings and allowed just one hit while striking out five in his fourth win of the season.
  • Junior RHP Nile Ball (Decatur, Ga.) tallied his fourth save of the season, pitching the final 3.0 innings, allowing no hits with a season-high four strikeouts.

NOTES

  • Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Auburn, 12-5, and has won all five three-game series that it has ever played against Auburn.
  • Mizzou improves to 3-3 on Sundays.
  • Mizzou improves to 2-1 in rubber games this season.
  • Mizzou is now 13-5 in three-game series this season.
  • Mizzou improves to 6-4 in road games this season and 8-6 in games away from home.
  • Senior OF Trey Harris walked to lead off the game, extending his career-best streak to 20 consecutive games reaching base safely. When leading off an inning, Harris has reached in 14 of 30 opportunities (.467).
  • Mizzou has now won two of three SEC series this season, marking the first time since 2015 that Mizzou has won two of its first three SEC series.
  • Mizzou has now won four of its last five SEC weekend series dating back to last season.
  • Mizzou earned its first road series win over a ranked team since downing then No. 15 Arkansas from April 1-3, 2016.
  • Mizzou earned its first SEC shutout since May 19, 2017, in a 5-0 win at Tennessee. It was Mizzou’s fifth shutout this season.
  • Sophomore CF Kameron Misner drew his SEC-leading 32nd walk of the season in the seventh inning.
  • Senior C Brett Bond turned in his ninth multi-hit game of the season.
  • Mizzou was the only SEC road team to win a series this weekend.

UP NEXT

Mizzou will be back in action Tuesday, playing in-state foe Missouri State at Busch Stadium, home of Major League Baseball’s St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch for that game is at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffons complete sweep of Missouri Southern with walk-off win

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ST. JOSEPH – Griffon baseball (17-13, 10-7 MIAA) swept Missouri Southern with a 6-5 walk-off win Saturday. Maurice Bruce singled to centerfield to drive in the game-winning run.

The ninth inning comeback started from the beginning when Levi Schreiner was hit with a pitch in the first at-bat. The Lions couldn’t handle a Kyle Snuttjer bunt during the next batter and a throwing error allowed Schreiner to move to second base and Snuttjer to reach first.

MWSU intensified its scoring threat when a passed ball allowed both runners to move to third and second. The tying run came a few pitches later when another passed ball scored pinch runner Nolan Meyer and moved Jack Hazlett, another pinch runner, to third base. The passed balls set-up Bruce for Missouri Western’s second walk-off win in 11 days.

The Griffons scored five runs in the final four innings and held Missouri Southern scoreless during the stretch. Nate Hunter settled in after giving up two runs in the first inning to throw 8 1/3 innings and four strikeouts.

NOTABLES

  • Maurice Bruce and Casey Danley combined to go 5-for-9 with three runs scored and three RBIs
  • Danley hit his second home run of the season in the bottom of the first inning
  • Dusty Stroup and Fhad Shakeel were both 2-for-4 at the plate with a run driven in
  • Kellan Richards picked up his first win of the season with 2/3 innings of work and a strikeout
  • Four different Griffons recorded at least two hits
  • MSSU’s Zac Shoemaker went 6 2/3 innings, allowed four runs and struck out seven

UP NEXT
Missouri Western travels to Emporia State in Emporia, Kansas on Tuesday, April 3 for a 5 p.m. game.

No. 22 Tigers defeat No. 16 Auburn 2-1

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AUBURN, Ala. – No. 22 Mizzou Baseball scored the go-ahead run on a dropped fly ball in the top of the seventh inning as it upended No. 16 Auburn, 2-1, Saturday night (March 31) at Plainsman Park. Senior RHP Andy Toelken (Green Cove Springs, Fla.) pitched the final 4.0 innings to earn his first win, holding Auburn off the scoreboard as Mizzou rallied for the win. Mizzou improves to 20-7 and 4-4 in SEC play while evening the series with Auburn, setting up a 2 p.m. rubber game on Easter Sunday.

Toelken and starter Michael Plassmeyer (St. Louis, Mo.) were tremendous in Mizzou’s road win over the nation’s No. 5 RPI team. Plassmeyer pitched 5.0 innings, scattering just six hits with seven strikeouts while surrendering just one run. Toelken came in with game tied 1-1 and pitched in 4.0 high-pressure innings, striking out three while allowing just one hit.

Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit the ball to left in the seventh inning that was dropped by LF Conor Davis, allowing the winning run to score from second base.

TURNING POINT

After Mizzou tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fifth inning on a Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) RBI double, the visiting Tigers grabbed the lead in the top of the seventh inning. Harris roped a pitch into left field and Auburn LF Conor Davis drifted under it in the gap and appeared to grab it for the third out. But the ball popped out of his glove allowing Alex Samples (Bridgeport, Texas) to score from second, giving Mizzou a 2-1 lead.

QUOTING MIZZOU

Head Coach Steve Bieser:
“Well it was a pitcher’s duel tonight. Our guys threw the ball outstanding. It was tough on both sides to muster any kind of offense tonight. All I told our guys is that we have to know what type of game we are playing and settle in and win that type of game. I thought they were able to do that tonight.”

TOP TIGERS

  • Senior OF Trey Harris hit an RBI double on a 0-2 pitch in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1. It extended his hitting streak to five games and he has now reached base in 19 straight games. That is the longest streak by a Tiger this season and it is the longest streak of his career. Harris singled in the ninth to give him his 10th multiple hit game of the season.
  • Junior LHP Michael Plassmeyer was great in his seventh start of the season, going 5.0 innings while allowing one run on six hits with seven strikeouts in a no-decision.
  • Senior 3B Alex Samples turned in his fifth multi-hit game of the season and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh inning.
  • Senior RHP Andy Toelken earned his fourth win of the season after tossing the final 4.0 innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three.

NOTES

  • Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Auburn, 11-5.
  • Mizzou improves to 7-2 on Saturdays this season.
  • Mizzou is 12-5 in three-game series this season.
  • Mizzou is now 5-4 on the road this season and 7-6 away from home
  • Mizzou improves to 15-2 in night games this season.
  • Mizzou is now 3-0 in one-run games this season.
  • Junior lefty Michael Plassmeyer struck out seven batters in his seventh start of the season. He now has 58 on the year, resetting his single season career high of 54, set a season ago.

UP NEXT

Mizzou and Auburn will play an Easter Sunday game tomorrow at 2 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State’s Pitts named finalist for Bevo Francis Award

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BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Northwest Missouri State University senior Justin Pitts has been named a finalist for the 2018 Bevo Francis Award, given to the nation’s top small-college basketball player.

Pitts put together one of the most historic careers in Northwest history. This year he was the MIAA Player of the Year and D2CCA Central Region Player of the Year. He was honored as a first team All-America performer by the DII Bulletin, the D2CCA and the NABC. He is the Northwest career leader in points (2,459), FG made (887), FG attempted (1,681) and assists (575) and holds the Northwest record with 10 made three pointers in a single game vs. NSU on 11/30/17.

The Clarence “Bevo” Francis Award is presented annually to the player who has had the finest overall season within Small College Basketball. Bevo Francis played at Rio Grande College (now the University of Rio Grande) in Ohio in 1952-53 and 1953-54. When he arrived on campus, the school had 38 male students enrolled in the school and was on the verge of bankruptcy, planning to close its doors at the end of the 1952-53 school year. In the season before Bevo arrived at Rio Grande, the Redmen (now the Red Storm) had gone 4-19.

During his two seasons at Rio Grande, Bevo became the most popular basketball player in the world, and ultimately helped to save the school from bankruptcy. During his first year, the Redmen went 39-0, and Bevo scored 1,954 points and averaged 50.1 points per game. Against Ashland College (KY), Francis scored 116 points, which included 55 points in the final 10 minutes of the game.

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU softball splits doubleheader at Southwest Baptist

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BOLIVAR, Mo. – It was a close loss and a dominant victory for Griffon Softball (17-22, 8-6), Saturday at Southwest Baptist (13-22, 3-9).

After dropping game one, 4-2, the Griffon snapped their five-game skid with a convincing 15-0 game two win in five innings. Missouri Western used a seven-run fifth inning to get out of Bolivar with a split.

NOTABLES

  • Riley Wilson was 3-for-5 at the plate with two walks, three runs scored and two RBIs
  • Lonnie Groves went 3-for-6 on the day with three RBIs and three runs scored. She hit a home run in game two.
  • Gabi Carter also drove in three runs and went 3-for-7 at the plate
  • Shelbie Atwell walked three times and had a double
  • Kenzie Hilzer and Kaili Hinds combined to hold Southwest Baptist to a .175 batting average in the doubleheader
  • Hinds held SBU to just one hit in game two
  • Hilzer struck out seven in game one with two walks. She allowed four runs on six hits in the game

UP NEXT
The Griffons wrap up a stretch of eight-straight on the road with a non-conference doubleheader at Drury on Tuesday, April 3 before coming back to St. Joseph to host Missouri Southern (April 6) and Pittsburg State (April 7).

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest softball goes 1-1 at Central Missouri

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The Northwest Missouri State University softball team split a pair of conference games against Central Missouri in Warrensburg, Mo.
– The Bearcats improve to 19-11 overall and 10-4 in conference, while Central Missouri improves to 22-16 overall and 11-3 in conference play.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 6, Central Missouri 5)
– Northwest scored one run in the third and five in the fourth inning. The Jennies scored two runs in the fourth, one in the sixth and two in the seventh inning.
– The Bearcats had six runs on 11 hits and four errors. Central Missouri scored five runs on 11 hits and five errors.
– Rebecca Maher went 2-for-5 with two runs scored and one RBI.
– Karli Allen finished the first game 2-for-3.
– Sydne Brashear was 2-for-4.
– Kiana Baderdeen went 2-for-4 with a double.
– Jaedra Moses was 1-for-4 with one run scored and a sacrifice hit.
– Kaitlyn Weis went 1-for-2 with one run scored, four RBIs and a grand slam.
– Erin Keeney was 1-for-3 with one RBI.

Game One Key Innings
– Maher started the top of the third with a single to second base and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice by Moses. Weis was hit by a pitch to load the bases and Keeney hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score Maher and put the Bearcats on the board.

– In the top of the fourth inning, Allen led off with a single to right center and Kenzi Sutton came in to run for her. Brashear moved Sutton to second on a bunt single to the pitcher. Baderdeen laid down a bunt single to the pitcher to load the bases. Maher singled to center field to score Sutton and Moses reached on an error to load the bases again. Weis sent a 1-0 pitch over the center field fence to clear the bases and make the score 6-0.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 0, Central Missouri 2)
– Central Missouri scored one in the first and one in the third inning.
– Northwest had no runs on six hits and one error. The Jennies had two runs on four hits and no errors.
– Baderdeen went 2-for-3.
– Maher finisehd 1-for-4.
– Weis was 1-for-3.
– Keeney went 1-for-3.
– Allen finished 1-for-1 with two walks.

Game Two Key Innings
– In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Bearcats had a three up three down inning. The first batter lined out to Moses, Rachel Smith struck out the next and the third girl grounded out Keeney.

Up Next
– Northwest will play on Friday, April 6, against Pittsburg State in Maryville, Mo., at 2 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons win second straight against Missouri Southern

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ST. JOSEPH- Griffon baseball (16-13) won its second straight game with an 8-3 victory over Missouri Southern (19-11).

Faced with two outs is when Missouri Western did its most damage. MWSU scored four of its eight runs with two outs including two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Back-to-back singles from Maurice Bruce and Casey Danley gave the Griffons an early 3-1 lead.

In the fifth inning, Dusty Stroup sent a two-run home run to left center-field and extended the lead to 5-1. An inning later, a two-out error led to Missouri Western adding a run when Bailey Zimmer scored from first base on a Casey Danley single to center. The Griffons added runs in the bottom of the 7th and 8th inning to secure the win.

NOTABLES

  • Bailey Zimmer went 3-for-4 at the plate with a RBI and scored three runs
  • Casey Danley was 2-for-3 with a run scored and drove in two runs
  • Danley and Maurice Bruce combined for four RBIs
  • Jacob Miller tossed 6 2/3 innings with three runs and seven strikeouts
  • Missouri Southern pitchers combined to strikeout 11 batters

UP NEXT
Missouri Western goes for the series sweep tomorrow at 1 p.m.

Bearcats get swept at home by Northern State Friday

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The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team dropped a pair of non-conference games against Northern State in Maryville, Mo.
– The Bearcats fall to 17-14 overall while the Wolves improve to 9-11 overall.

Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 0, Northern State 6)
– Northern State scored one run in the first, four in the second and one in the fourth inning.
– Northwest had no runs on six hits with two errors. The Wolves scored six times on 11 hits with one error.
– Kevin Handzlik finished the first game 2-for-3.
– Hudson Bilodeau was 1-for-4.
– Mondesi Gutierrez went 1-for-4.
– Luke Hassman was 1-for-3.
– Jay Hrdlicka went 1-for-2 with a walk.

Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 3 , Northern State 12)
– Northwest scored two runs in the second and one in the fourth inning. The Wolves scored two in the first and second, one in the fifth, four in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth inning.
– The Bearcats had three runs on eight hits and two errors. Northern State had 12 runs on 21 hits and no errors.
– Hudson Bilodeau finished the day 2-for-5 with on run scored and a double.
– Landon Figg finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
– Derek Hussey went 2-for-4 with one RBI and a double.
– Aaron Barratt was 1-for-3 with one run scored, a double, one walk and a stolen base.
– Logan Rycraft went 1-for-4 with one run scored.

Game Two Key Innings
– After an out, Rycraft singled to the shortstop and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bilodeau singled to left field and quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch. Figg hit a two out single to right center to score Rycraft and Bilodeua and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.

– Barratt drew a one out walk in the fifth, promptly stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hussey hit a two out double down the left field line to score Barratt to give the Bearcats another run.

Up Next
– Northwest will take on Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday, April 3rd at 3 p.m in Maryville, Mo.

Missouri Western softball drops two games at Central Missouri

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WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Griffon Softball (16-21, 8-4) dropped both games of a doubleheader at Central Missouri (21-15, 10-2) on Friday afternoon.

Central Missouri took game one, 4-1 and game two, 4-2, out-hitting Missouri Western 17-12 in the doubleheader. The sweep gave Central Missouri five-straight wins and Missouri Western its third-straight loss.

NOTABLES
– Rebekah Mueller went 2-for-2 on the day with four walks and a run scored

– Gabi Carter went 3-for-6 on the day

– Shelbie Atwell went 3-for-7 in the doubleheader

– Markee Brown drove in two runs without a hit

– Kenzie Hilzer did not allow a walk and held UCM to two earned runs in game one

UP NEXT
The road trip continues for the Griffons at Southwest Baptist (12-21, 2-8) on Saturday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Bolivar.

— MWSU Athletics —

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