We have a brand new updated website! Click here to check it out!

Category: College

MWSU baseball drops opener at No. 16 Southern Indiana

Posted on

EVANSVILLE, Ind. – One inning created a gap Griffon baseball (5-9) couldn’t close Friday in the opening game of a three-game series at No. 16 Southern Indiana (5-2). Missouri Western lost its fourth-straight game, 8-1.

Southern Indiana scored six — five with two-out — runs in the bottom of the first on Carson Dwyre (2-1) who suffered his first loss of the season. After Southern Indiana tied the game at one in the first, Dwyre struck out Southern Indiana’s designated hitter for the second out. Four-straight Screaming Eagle singles with two outs drove in five more runs in the inning and proved to be enough to hold off Missouri Western.

NOTABLES

  • It was the seventh game this season against a team currently ranked in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association poll. MWSU is 1-6 in those games
  • Maurice Bruce and Michael Miller both went 2-for-4 in the game. Bruce drove in the Griffon run
  • MWSU batters struck out 10 times in the game while walking once
  • Dwyre went 4 1/3, allowing six runs – one earned – on six hits. He struck out five and walked one
  • The Griffons were charged with three errors in the game
  • Kellan Richards struck out two in 1 2/3 innings of relief. He’s now struck out five batters in 5 1/3 innings

UP NEXT
Game two of the series is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 3.

Nebraska knocked out of Big Ten quarterfinals by No. 15 Michigan

Posted on

NEW YORK (AP) — Maybe the most familiar fight song in college sports filled Madison Square Garden as Michigan turned the last six minutes of its Big Ten Tournament quarterfinal against Nebraska into garbage time.

“Hail to the victors valiant,” the many Michigan fans sang as they were able to start turning their attention to a semifinal on Saturday that will bring a little extra juice to the Garden. For just the second time, Michigan and Michigan State will meet in the Big Ten Tournament.

“It’s a rivalry game, even though it’s postseason you want to come out and have a sense of urgency and be ready for a fight,” Michigan guard Muhammad-Ali Abdur-Rahkman said after the 15th-ranked Wolverines eliminated the fourth-seeded Cornhuskers 77-58 on Friday.

Abdur-Rahkman scored 21 points and Moe Wagner had 20 as fifth-seeded Michigan (26-7) dealt a significant blow to Nebraska’s NCAA hopes.

Michigan and Michigan State’s only other meeting in the Big Ten Tournament came in the 2014 championship game at Indianapolis. The Spartans won 69-55.

“I expect it to be really exciting,” Michigan coach John Beilein said. “I think there will be a lot of Michigan fans here, but I expect Michigan State fans to travel well. I don’t know the numbers, but we are in New York City. Our alums and our fans are.”

The Michigan fans had plenty of time to sit back and enjoy Friday’s game against Nebraska.

Wagner and Abdur-Rahkman were both limited by foul trouble in Michigan’s opening tournament victory against Iowa on Thursday. The Wolverines’ stars fouled out in the overtime game against the Hawkeyes, but Michigan survived without them.

Against the Huskers (22-10), Wagner and Abdur-Rahkman were full-go and Nebraska could not do much to stop them. Wagner drove the baseline for a dunk late in the first half that helped the Michigan go up 34-24 at the break.

Abdur-Rahkman’s 3 with 6:01 left in the second half made it 61-42 for the Wolverines, giving their fans the opportunity to sing and chant “N-I-T” at Nebraska.

Isaiah Roby and James Palmer Jr. led Nebraska with 16 points each.

BIG PICTURE

Michigan: The Wolverines lost by 20 at Nebraska back in January in one of their worst offensive showings of the season. Abdur-Rahkman said Michigan failed to adjust to the Huskers’ defensive switches. “I think we just seen it a lot more. As of late, teams have been trying to switch out their defenses against us,” Abdur-Rahkman said.

Whatever the issue was in Lincoln, it was solved the second time around. The Wolverines got to the basket effectively in the first half, and the 3-point shooting that was off against Iowa (3 for 19) was on against Nebraska (11 for 23).

Nebraska: Selection Sunday is more than a week away with the Big Ten playing its tournament earlier than usual to get it into the Garden. It figures to be an uneasy wait for coach Tim Miles and his Huskers.

“I think we’re just going to wait to see what happens,” Palmer said. “Whether it’s the NCAA — which I think we should be. But we’re just going to wait this week and see what happens.”

Despite a fourth-place finish in the Big Ten, and winning eight of nine to end the regular season, many projections have Nebraska firmly on the bubble for an at-large NCAA bid.

“Well, I believe we’re an NCAA Tournament team now,” Miles said. “That was — we just ran into a buzz saw with Michigan, but I don’t think that undoes what we’ve already accomplished.”

The Huskers best regular-season victory is probably against Michigan. They had a close loss against Kansas and the Big Ten schedule did them no favors, giving them road games at Michigan State, Purdue and Ohio State with no return home games.

If Nebraska is left out, the Big Ten is looking at getting only four teams in the tournament, barring an upset winner at the Garden.

UP NEXT

Michigan: The Wolverines beat the Spartans 82-72 in January at East Lansing.

Nebraska: NCAA or NIT?

— Associated Press —

Northwest baseball hammers Fort Hays State 13-1

Posted on

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team defeated Fort Hays State, 13-1, in a seven-inning game on Friday at Larks Park in Hays, Kan.

The Bearcats improve to 7-6 overall and 4-0 in MIAA play.

Alixon Herrera drove in four runs, going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, two doubles and a walk.

Joseph Hietpas threw the complete 7.0 innings. He struck out 13, allowing one run on seven hits. He allowed just one walk.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored five runs in the second, four in the third and four in the fifth. Fort Hays scored its lone run in the first inning.
– The Bearcats had 13 runs on 10 hits with no errors. The Tigers scored one run on seven hits and committed three errors.
– Logan Rycraft was 2-for-5 with three runs driven in. He hit a double, scored a run and also reached on a walk.
– Kevin Handzlik went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs.
– Hudson Bilodeau was 1-for-3 with two runs driven in. He was also hit by a pitch.
– Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-2, drawing four walks. He scored twice.
– Mondesi Gutierrez scored a pair of runs, going 1-for-2. He drew two walks and was hit by a pitch.
– Landon Figg drew a walk and scored a run.
– Luke Hassman scored three times after reaching twice on walks and once on a hit by pitch.
– Aaron Barratt was hit by a pitch. He drove in a run and also scored a run.
– Hietpas set the Tigers down in order in the third and the fifth innings.

Key Northwest Innings
– Hassman and Herrera drew back-to-back walks to start the second. Handzlik laid a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up and Hrdlicka drew a walk to loadthe bases. Gutierrez drew a walk to force in Hassman to tie the game, 1-1. Barratt hit a grounder to short that scored Herrera but an error by the shortstop kept the bases loaded. Rycraft hit a 2-RBI single to drive in two more runs, forcing a pitching change. Bilodeau laid down a sacrifice bunt to score Barratt for Northwest’s fifth run.

– In the third, Hassman again led off with a walk. Herrera hit a double down the right field line to drive in Hassman. Handzlik followed it up with a single to score Herrera. Handdzlik was picked off but Hrdlicka drew a walk, forcing a pitching change. Gutierrez drew a walk and Barratt was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rycraft drew a walk to force in Hrdlicka. Bilodeau grounded into a fielder’s choice, allowing Gutierrez to score.

– Rycraft started the fifth inning by working a full count and driving a ball into left field for a double. Bilodeau was hit by a pitch. Figg grounded into a fielder’s choice, forcing out Bilodeau at second. Hassman loaded the bases by getting hit by a pitch. Herrera cleared the bases with a double down the right field line, making it 12-1 Bearcats. Handzlik hit a single to right on an 0-2 pitch. An error by the right fielder allowed Herrera to score Northwest’s 13th run.

Up Next
– Game two of the three-game series takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday.

— Northwest Athletics —

K-State women rally past Kansas in Big 12 tournament opener

Posted on

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Kaylee Page scored 20 points and Kayla Goth 19 to spark a fourth-quarter rally and Kansas State eliminated in-state rival Kansas 72-63 in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament Friday night.

No. 8 seed Kansas State (16-14) advances to meet top-seeded Baylor (18-12) in Saturday’s quarterfinal round.

Page made five of Kansas State’s 8 3-pointers. Goth, the first player in the program’s history with 400 or more points and 175 assists in a season, was 5 of 7 from the field, made 7 of 11 free throws and had eight assists.

Peyton Williams scored 14 and Rachel Ranke 10 for the Wildcats.

Kansas (12-18), the 9 seed, held the lead for the first three quarters of play and half of the fourth quarter until Goth and Page wrapped 3-pointers around a Kansas miss for a 59-all tie. The consecutive treys capped an 11-3 run to pull even. The Wildcats outscored Kansas 13-4 down the stretch.

Tyler Johnson led the Jayhawks with 18 points. Kansas has lost nine straight games to Kansas State.

— Associated Press —

Griffons advance to MIAA Semifinals with another upset of 4th-seeded UCO

Posted on

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The slipper fits for the Cinderella Griffons. Missouri Western, who is the No. 12 seed in the MIAA Tournament, knocked off 4th-seeded Central Oklahoma 49-46 in the quartefinals of the MIAA Tournament Thursday at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City.

The Griffons improve to 13-17, while UCO falls to 22-7.

Missouri Western became the first 12-seed to ever win an MIAA quarterfinal game and will now face the previous lowest seed to ever advance to the semifinals, No. 9-seed Lindenwood. The Lions made it to the semis for the second straight year as the 9-seed by upsetting No. 1-seed Central Missouri Thursday night. Missouri Western’s semifinal match-up with Lindenwood comes Saturday at 2:15 p.m.

Down by one at half, the Griffons outscored Central Oklahoma 29-25 in the second half. Two huge jumpers by Manaia Timson at the end of the third quarter gave the Griffons a 34-33 lead heading into the fourth quarter. The Griffons stretched the lead to seven with 3:39 left in the game. Central Oklahoma cut the lead to two with 1:31 left, but Melia Richardson knocked down a pair of free throws with 21 seconds remaining to put the game out of reach.

NOTABLES
– Richardson finished with a game-high 17 points

– Savannah Lentz scored nine points on 3-of-9 shooting from behind the arc

– KeShara Scott led MWSU with seven rebounds

– All three MWSU guards (Richardson, Lentz and Timson played all 40 minutes

– The Griffons held first team All-MIAA point guard Melinda Murillo to 4-of-10 shooting and forced her into four turnovers

– Central Oklahoma went 1-for-12 from three-point range

– Missouri Western led for exactly 20 minutes

UP NEXT
The Griffons play No. 9 seed Lindenwood in the MIAA Tournament semifinals inside Municipal Auditorium at 2:15 p.m. on Saturday. The game will be broadcast on 680 KFEQ AM.

— MWSU Athletics —

Brett Weiberg steps down as men’s basketball coach at Missouri Western

Posted on

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western State University Director of Athletics Josh Looney announced Thursday that the University has accepted the resignation of men’s basketball head coach Brett Weiberg. Weiberg spent five seasons (2013-18) as head coach at MWSU and compiled a 47-93 overall record, including a 29-69 mark in MIAA play.

“Brett has led our men’s basketball program with high character, integrity and passion. We appreciate his dedication to our student-athletes and always representing our program and university in a first-class manner. We wish Brett and his family nothing but the best moving forward,” Looney said.

MWSU was 6-21 this season and 4-15 in the MIAA.

Weiberg led the Griffons into the postseason four times including a first round win at Washburn in the 2016 MIAA Championships. Five Griffons were named All-MIAA during Weiberg’s tenure and his student-athletes were consistently named to Missouri Western and MIAA academic honor rolls.

“I have been blessed to be the coach of Griffon Basketball and want to thank my family, my players and staff for the countless hours of hard work and dedication,” Weiberg said. “While I take great pride in the fact that we made significant improvements in almost every aspect of the program, the simple fact is we did not win enough games.”

“The athletic staff and coaches at Missouri Western are outstanding and a special thanks to each and every one of them. The MWSU employees are second to none and the people of the city of Saint Joseph are simply the best.”

An extensive national search to find a new head coach will begin immediately. Aaron Coombs will serve as the team’s interim head coach until a new head coach is named.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 14 Mizzou women open SEC Tourney with 59-50 win over Ole Miss

Posted on

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Amber Smith had 16 points, nine rebounds and five assists and No. 14 Missouri beat Mississippi 59-50 in the second round of the SEC Tournament on Thursday night.

Sophie Cunningham added all 11 of her points in the second half and sixth-seeded Missouri advanced the quarterfinals to face No. 3 seed Georgia on Friday night. During the regular season, Missouri lost its only meeting with Georgia on the road 62-50.

Missouri never trailed although 14th-seeded Ole Miss closed the first half on a 12-3 run to go into halftime down 28-26. The Tigers outscored the Rebels 13-4 in the third quarter and mostly led in double digits throughout the fourth.

Smith was 6 of 9 from the field and the Tigers made 17 of 35 in winning their first SEC Tournament game in six tries.

Madinah Muhammad had 20 points and Alissa Alston added 10 for the Rebels.

— Associated Press —

Johnson leads Missouri State past Valpo in MVC Tournament opener

Posted on

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Alize Johnson had 22 points, 19 rebounds and six assists to help seventh-seeded Missouri State hold off No. 10 seed Valparaiso 83-79 in the first round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Thursday night.

Jarrid Rhodes, who totaled 20 points, and Ryan Kreklow, who finished with 11 points off the bench, made eight straight free throws in the final minute to seal the win. Johnson had his 20th double-double of the season.

Missouri State (18-14) won the right to face against No. 2 seed Southern Illinois (19-12) on Friday. Southern Illinois took an 81-80 overtime victory the last time the teams met on Feb. 24. The Bears also lost the previous game 79-77.

Johnson started the scoring with a jumper and Missouri State never trailed, taking a 39-33 lead into intermission. Johnson kicked off the second half with two free throws and Jarred Dixon drained a trey for a 44-33 lead. Valparaiso (15-17) closed to 75-72 after Jaume Sorolla completed a 3-point play with 1:46 left as the Bears went scoreless for almost four minutes. Tevonn Walker, who had 25 points, drained a 3 to cut the gap to 81-79 in the final seconds.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Director of Athletics Mel Tjeerdsma announces retirement

Posted on
Mel Tjeerdsma file photo. Courtesy Todd Weddle | Northwest Missouri State University.

Maryville, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University Director of Athletics Mel Tjeerdsma has announced his retirement, effective April 30.

Tjeerdsma has served in the role since April 2013 after leading the Bearcat football program for 17 years.

“My past five years as athletic director have been very rewarding and this time has allowed me to give back to the university that I love,” Tjeerdsma said. “I would like to thank Dr. Jasinski for giving me the opportunity to return as athletics director.

“It’s hard to put into words how blessed I’ve been to work with our athletics administrative staff. They are the ones who have been responsible for getting the daily work done to allow our athletics department to accomplish so much over the past five years. I’ll always be grateful to all of our coaches for all of the energy and enthusiasm that they put into our athletics program each day. Along with all of those mentioned, I want to give a special thanks to our student-athletes and our great fans who make up the Bearcat family. It’s been a thrill to serve as athletics director at Northwest.”

Mel Tjeerdsma file photo. Courtesy Todd Weddle | Northwest Missouri State University.

According to a press release, during Tjeerdma’s tenure as athletics director, Northwest has captured four NCAA Division II national championships, 11 MIAA regular season titles and six MIAA tournament titles. During 2016-17, the Bearcats became the first institution in NCAA Division II history to win both a football and men’s basketball national championship in the same academic year.

As director of athletics, Tjeerdsma has also been instrumental in numerous facility upgrades on the Northwest campus, including the construction of a video board at Bearcat Stadium, the resurfacing of the track and new field turf at Bearcat Stadium, and the creation of the Harr Athletic Success Center. In the fall of 2018, the doors to the Carl and Cheryl Hughes Fieldhouse will open, marking the completion of the single largest public-private partnership in the history of Northwest Missouri State University.

On Jan. 8, Tjeerdsma was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame by the National Football Foundation. He is one of three coaches, along with 10 former players, in the 2018 class, who will be inducted in December.

“Mel’s tremendous service to Northwest personifies a champion of Bearcats – champions in the classroom and in competition,” Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski said. “He is a tireless advocate of D-II student-athletes and of Bearcats – past, present and future. We are indebted to Mel and his wife, Carol, for their ongoing engagement and unabashed focus on always advancing Northwest.”

Mel Tjeerdsma file photo courtesy Northwest Missouri State University.

During his time as head football coach of Northwest’s football program from 1994 to 2010, Tjeerdsma led the Bearcats to a 183-43 record, capturing three NCAA Division II national championships and 12 MIAA titles. He was a four-time American Football Coaches Association Coach of the Year honoree and was named MIAA Coach of the Year 12 times. He was the 2009 Liberty Mutual Coach of the Year and is a member of the Division II Football Hall of Fame, the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame, the South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame, the MIAA Hall of Fame and Northwest’s M-Club Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was awarded the FCA Grant Teaff Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tjeerdsma earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Southern (S.D.) State College in 1967 and a master’s degree from Northwest in 1977. He and his wife, Carol, have three married daughters and eight grandchildren.

Jasinski said Northwest is evaluating its options in naming the University’s next director of athletics.

Missouri baseball completes sweep of Alabama A&M

Posted on

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball completed a midweek series sweep of Alabama A&M with a 14-0 win Wednesday afternoon at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou walked a season-high 16 times, the most for Mizzou since 2005, finishing the two-game set with 27 walks. Mizzou turned a fifth-inning triple play to highlight the game, Mizzou’s first triple play since Feb. 23, 2015, in a 1-0 win over Purdue. Mizzou also got a sixth-inning grand slam from senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.), who drove in a career-high six runs in the win.

Mizzou RHP Cameron Dulle (St. Louis, Mo.) earned the win, his first of the season, after going 2.2 shutout innings, striking out three and allowing just two hits. He came in with the bases loaded and one out in the third inning and got a pair of strikeouts as Mizzou seized momentum from there. Alabama A&M’s Quentin Alsbrooks took the loss, falling to 1-0.

TURNING POINT
While Mizzou scored four runs over the first two innings, the turning point of the game came in the bottom of the third. Alabama A&M loaded the bases with one out, threatening to cut into Mizzou’s lead. Head coach Steve Bieser brought in righty Cameron Dulle (St. Louis, Mo.) and he picked up a pair of strikeouts to end the threat. Mizzou then exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth and four more in the sixth, all on Harris’ slam, to put the game away.

NOTES
– Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Alabama A&M, 3-0.

– Mizzou is now 2-0 on Wednesdays, outscoring opponents 23-0 in those games.

– Mizzou is now 20-13 at home under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.

– Junior 3B Brian Sharp extended his hitting streak to seven games, the longest active streak by a Tiger while matching the longest by any Mizzou player this season. He’s reached base in eight straight games.

– Mizzou turned its first triple play since Feb. 23, 2015, against Purdue in a 1-0 win at the Kleberg Bank College Classic.

– Senior OF Trey Harris tallied his first career grand slam in the sixth inning. It was Mizzou’s second grand slam of the season and second in four games after Brian Sharp hit one in the second game of last Saturday’s doubleheader vs. Northeastern. He drove in a career-high six RBI Wednesday.

– As far as we can tell by looking in the record book, it is the first time that Mizzou has turned a triple play and hit a grand slam in the same game.

– Mizzou turned in its second shutout of the season, the first since last Wednesday at No. 24 Miami in a 9-0 win.

– Freshman RHP Cameron Pferrer made his collegiate debut, pitching the top of the eighth inning.

– Freshman RHP Drake Greenwood also made his collegiate debut, pitching the ninth inning.

– Mizzou’s 16 walks drawn were its most since March 20, 2005, vs. North Dakota when it also walked 18 times.

UP NEXT
Mizzou will host Maryland-Baltimore County this weekend in its first home weekend series of 2018. The series beings Friday at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Copyright Eagle Radio | FCC Public Files | EEO Public File