The Northwest Missouri State University softball team went 1-1 at the Arkansas-Monticello Division II Softball Challenge in Bentonville, Ark.

– The Bearcats fell in the first game at Memorial Park to Arkansas Tech, 6-0, but rebounded to beat Arkansas-Monticello, 9-2, in the afternoon.

Game One Headlines (Arkansas Tech 6, Northwest 0)

– The Golden Suns scored six runs on eight hits to beat the Bearcats in the first game, 6-0.

– It was Northwest’s first game of the year while Arkansas Tech improved to 4-1.

Game One Key Statistics
– Abigail Gilson was 1-for-1 with two walks.

– Chantel Adams was 1-for-3.

– Torri Blythe and Kiana Baderdeen each went 1-for-4 in game one.

– Alexis Kelsey drew two walks.

– Rachel Smith got the start and went 5.2 innings. She allowed five earned runs on six hits. she struck out four batters while walking just three.

– Taylor Blackford allowed one hit and recorded the final out of the sixth inning.

Game Two Headlines (Northwest 9, Arkansas-Monticello 2)

– The Bearcats scored nine runs on 10 hits with three errors. The Cotton Blossoms scored two runs on six hits with no errors.

– Northwest scored five runs in the first, one in the third, one in the fifth and two in the seventh. Arkansas-Monticello scored single runs in the fourth and seventh innings.

– Freshman Kaitlin Weis was 2-for-4 on the day with five RBIs and a run scored, launching her first home run of the year in the first inning.

Game Two Key Statistics
– Torri Blythe went 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Blythe had a single, double and a triple on the afternoon.

– Baderdeen was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

– Jessica Rawie and Alexis Kelsey each went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored and a walk.

– Rebecca Maher was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk.

– Adams drew three walks and came around to score a pair of runs.

– Holly Posegate got the start and went a complete 7.0 innings. She struck out two with two walks. She allowed just one earned run on six hits.

Up Next
– Northwest will face Harding University on Saturday at 10 a.m., followed by a 1 p.m. game against Henderson State

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team moved to 5-0 on Thursday with a 7-2 victory at Ouachita Baptist at Rab Rogers Field in Arkadelphia, Ark.

– The Bearcats’ 5-0 record marks the best start to a season since 1973. The Tigers fall to 0-5 on the year with the loss

– Anthony Caenepeel picked up his second win of the year, striking out five in 7.0 innings of work. He allowed just one run on three hits, issuing two walks.

– Ozzie Adams drove in three runs, all coming on a bases loaded sixth inning double.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored seven runs on eight hits with no errors. Ouachita Baptist scored two runs on four hits with two errors.

– The Bearcats scored one run in the fourth, four in the sixth and two in the seventh. The Tigers got single runs in the fifth and eighth innings.

– Landon Figg went 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

– Luke Hassman went 1-for-2 on the day with a walk.

– Kevin Handzlik was 1-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. He also had a sacrifice bunt in the fourth.

– James Holler was 1-for-3 on the day with a pair of walks and a run scored.

– Garrett Fort drew a walk and eventually came around to score in the sixth inning.

– Aaron Barratt hit a sacrifice fly, drew a walk and scored a run after entering the game in the sixth inning as a pinch runner.

– Jay Hrdlicka went 1-for-3 with a run scored.

– Matt Schingel was 1-for-2 on the day.

– Logan Rycraft drove in a run in the seventh inning and also drew a walk on the day.

– Caenepeel put the Tigers down in order in the third and then struck out the side in the fourth.

– Jacob Wagner got the final two outs of the eight inning. He recorded one strikeout.

– Jimmy McElwain worked a scoreless ninth inning, getting three straight pop outs to end the game.

Key Northwest Innings
– Holler led off the fourth with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Handzlik. Figg singled to center, putting runners on the corners. With two down, Hrdlicka reached on an error by the shortstop, allowing Holler to score to make it 1-0 Northwest.

– After Ouachita Baptist tied the game, 1-1, Northwest got four runs in the top of the sixth. Figg let off by getting hit by a pitch and went to second on a Hassman single. Barratt came in to run for Hassman. Hrdlicka loaded the bases with a single to center. Rycraft hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Figg. After a Fort walk loaded the bases, Adams hit a three-RBI double down the left field line to give the Bearcats a 5-1 lead.

– In the seventh, Handzlik walked to lead off and Figg doubled to center to put runners on second and third. Handzlik would score on a Barratt sacrifice fly to make it 6-1. After Hrdlicka was hit by a pitch, Rycraft lined out to center but Figg was able to come around to score on a throwing error by the center fielder.

Up Next
– The Bearcats will take on Henderson State on Friday at 3 p.m. in Arkadelphia, Ark., before facing Truman State on Saturday at noon.

— Northwest Athletics —

By David Boyce

MARYVILLE, Mo. – On a cold winter’s evening on Jan. 13, 2016, Northwest Missouri State traveled to venerable White Auditorium and suffered a seven-point loss to Emporia State.

It was a moment Emporia State players can tell the rest of the MIAA about what it felt like to beat the Bearcats. Since that time, no other conference team has walked off the court a winner against Northwest.

On Wednesday evening at Bearcat Arena, Emporia State became the latest victim to Northwest’s record-breaking reign in the MIAA. Despite a spirited effort from the Hornets, Northwest used defense and its team-oriented offense to come away with a 65-43 victory.

Before the game, Northwest coach Ben McCollum reminded his players what Emporia State did to the Bearcats over a year ago.

“I think coach Mac is really good at giving us motivation for each game,” said junior Chris-Ebou Ndow, who finished with 11 points. “When we are on a streak like we are, winning the amount of games that we are, it is easy to lose focus and lose motivation. But coach Mac does a good job of reminding us of important things like that.

“We were very aware that Emporia State was the last team to beat us, and we kind of wanted revenge for that.”

Northwest has now won 26 straight regular-season conference games, shattering the old MIAA mark of 19 set in 1931 by Northwest. The Bearcats, ranked No. 1 in the NABC top 25, improved to 22-0 overall and 14-0 in the MIAA.

The Bearcats were particularly impressive on defense, holding Emporia State to 28.6 shooting from the field.

“It really came down to our effort and intensity,” said senior D’Vante Mosby, who finished with 12 points. “Coach put it on us to compete like we know we can. It really came down to us getting stops and not thinking too much and just playing.”

The Hornets started well, scoring the first points of the game on a three-pointer from Tyler Jordan. Their last lead came at 9-8 on a three-pointer by Garin Vandiver.

Undaunted by a couple of long treys, the Bearcats hunkered down on defense and took off on offense. It started with a drive for a layup from senior Anthony Woods to put Northwest ahead for good at 10-9.

Justin Pitts followed with the first of several dazzling drives to the basket for a layup. And then the Bearcats tossed in a three-pointer from senior Zach Schneider. In a blink, Northwest bolted to a 15-9 lead.

Emporia State stayed within three to five points over the next couple of minutes until Northwest hit the Hornets with another spurt. Leading 16-13, freshman Ryan Welty pump faked on his patented baseline three-pointer, drove in and hit a five-foot floater.

The seed was now planted for Welty to get an open three on his next shot attempt. And the seed rapidly sprouted with a Welty trey that increased Northwest’s lead to 21-13.

The Hornets kept battling and prevented their deficit from hitting double-digits until fairly late in the first half. Northwest built on its 25-18 lead on a basket by Ndow.

A nifty pass from Mosby to Ndow led to another easy basket in the paint and Pitts followed that with another jaw-dropping drive for a layup. The six quick points in the paint increased the lead to 31-18.

The Bearcats put it in cruise control the rest of the half and went into halftime ahead 35-26. Emporia State was lucky it was down nine points. It could have been worse. Northwest shot 51.7 percent from the field and held the Hornets to 30.8 shooting.

Northwest needed only 4 minutes to start the second half to put the game away. Junior Brett Dougherty got the Bearcats off to a fast start. Dougherty scored in the paint and then provided an assist that led to an easy field goal from junior Xavier Kurth, making it 39-26.

After a basket from Emporia State, Pitts scored, followed by a basket by Dougherty and then the dagger three-pointer by Schneider, which pushed Northwest’s lead to 46-28. The 9-0 run concluded on a basket by Pitts, making it 48-28.

“It is our discipline,” Ndow said. “Sometimes people make runs on us. We never panic. We always stick to the game plan.

“Coming out in the second half, we knew we needed a boost. We knew that team could stick around if we didn’t make a jump on them. We came out in the second half and did a good job.”

Northwest kept hustling even with a commanding lead. It really showed with 12 minutes left and the Bearcats up 53-35. Off a missed Northwest free throw, Mosby battled for the rebound and got it, which brought applause from the crowd.

The Bearcats were never challenged the rest of the game. Northwest returns to action 3:30 p.m. Saturday in its first and only meeting of the season with Washburn. It will be the final time Bob Chipman coaches at Bearcat Arena. Chipman is retiring after 38 years as the head coach at Washburn.

“It is always enjoyable to play Washburn. They are well coached,” McCollum said. “Obviously, he has won a lot of games. It will be a challenge for us. It is exciting for us to coach against him one last time and hopefully play well.”

— Northwest Athletics —