College – Page 301 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Griffons’ nine-game winning streak snapped by Nebraska-Kearney

Posted on April 23, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri Western Baseball fell on Saturday afternoon to Nebraska-Kearney 2-1, snapping their nine-game winning streak.

The Griffons and Lopers were locked in a pitchers dual until the Lopers broke the 1-1 tie in the top of the eighth inning. Jacob Richardson came up with an RBI single up the middle, propelling the Lopers to a 2-1 lead.

MWSU left two runners on in the bottom of the fifth and seventh inning but couldn’t get anyone across the plate to help the Griffon pitching staff.

Missouri Western was limited offensively, collecting only six hits in the game. Cosimo Cannella and Brandon Downs each had two hits for the Griffons. Kody Matthews and Ozzie Rodriguez each tallied a hit in the game.

Weston Caindec had a solid outing but couldn’t pick up the victory as he pitched 7.1 innings and allowed just six hits in the game. Preston Bailey had 1.2 innings of work and allowed two hits.

Joe Sievers was effective on the mound for the Lopers, pitching seven innings and allowing just six hits and striking out six batters. Chayse Gulzow picked up his third save of the season.

The Griffons and Lopers will face off on Sunday with a game time at noon at the Spring Sports Complex.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats blowout Central Oklahoma in game two of series 16-8

Posted on April 23, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team beat Central Oklahoma, 16-8, on Saturday afternoon at Simmons Field in Edmond, Okla.

Northwest improves to 22-18 overall and 17-13 in MIAA play with the win. The Bronchos fall to 24-17 and 16-14 in conference action.

The Bearcats scored 16 runs on 16 hits.

James Holler hit a pair of homeruns, going 3-for-5 in the game with six RBIs and three runs scored.

Key Northwest Statistics
– The Bearcats scored four runs in the first, seven in the fourth, two in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the ninth.
– Central Oklahoma got four runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the seventh and one in the eighth.
– Kevin Handzlik hit a homerun and drove in five runs, going 2-for-5 on the day with a run scored. He also drew a walk.
– Ozzie Adams went 3-for-5 with four runs scored. He had two doubles and drove in two runs.
– Garrett Fort was 3-for-4 with a run scored, a stolen base and a walk.
– Aaron Barratt went 2-for-5. He drew a walk and also scored a run.
– Jay Hrdlicka went 1-for-3 with a pair of walks. He drove in a run and crossed the plate three times.
– Nick Gotta went 1-for-4 with a run scored, a stolen base and a walk.
– Jake Lewis was 1-for-5 with a run scored and a walk.
– Kolby Greenslade drew a walk and also drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.
– Joseph Hietpas went 4.1 innings in the start. He recorded five strikeouts on the afternoon.
– Nikko Pablo pitched the final 4.2 innings of the game for the win, allowing just one run on six hits. He struck out five batters and did not issue a walk.
– Both teams committed three errors.

Key Northwest Innings
– Gotta and Hrdlicka began the game by both reaching safely. Adams hit a double to left to score Gotta to make it 1-0. With no outs, Holler hit a three-run homerun to right center to put Northwest up, 4-0.

– The Bearcats batted around in the fourth, Lewis got things started with a walk and Barratt singled to right field. Fort singled to load the bases. Greenslade hit a sacrifice fly to left to score Lewis. Gotta reached on an error to load the bases again. Hrdlicka singled on the first pitch he saw to right to score Barratt. After a pitching change, Adams walked to score Fort. Holler hit a sacrifice fly to score Gotta to make it 8-0. With two down, Handzlik took an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence for a three-run homerun to put Northwest up, 11-0.

– Adams led off the sixth by reaching on an error and made it all the way to third. Holler followed it up with his second home run of the day to right center, making it 13-5.
– Pablo worked a perfect sixth innings, setting the Bronchos down in order.

– Hrdlicka started the seventh with a walk and after a lineout, Holler doubled to right center to put runners on second and third. Handzlik came up with a two-RBI single up the middle to put the Bearcats up, 15-5.

– In the ninth, Adams scored on a wild pitch to Lewis to make it 16-8. Adams led off with a double to left center and moved to third on a groundout. With two down, he crossed the plate on a wild pitch to Lewis.

Up Next
– The three-game series concludes on Sunday at 1 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou loses at No. 12 South Carolina Saturday 5-1

Posted on April 23, 2016

COLUMBIA, S.C. – Mizzou Baseball dropped game two of its series at No. 12 South Carolina, 5-1, on Saturday afternoon at Founders Park. Mizzou starter Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) was tagged with the loss despite turning in a quality start, allowing just six hits over 6.0 innings while being charged with three runs (two earned) with five strikeouts and two walks. Carolina’s Braden Webb earned the win as he improved to 8-2 on the year.

The loss drops the Tigers to 20-20 overall and 4-13 in SEC play while South Carolina goes to 32-8 and 13-4 in SEC play. Offensively, Mizzou was led by CF Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.), who had a pair of hits and an RBI. Senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) had his career-long 11-game hitting streak snapped but he did walk and was hit by a pitch as he has reached base safely now in 12 straight games.

After Webb struck out the side in the first inning, Houck came out and struggled, allowing the first five South Carolina batters to reach base. Alex Desitno delivered a bases-loaded single through the right side to plate a pair, but Houck minimized the damage after that, getting a 1-2 fielder’s choice and a pair of strikeouts to get through the inning.

After knocking in a pair of runs, Destino then made a diving catch in left to rob extra bases from OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). That turned out to be a big out as Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) singled in the next at-bat as the play likely saved a run. Bond has now hit safely in five consecutive games. RF Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas) also walked in the frame and he has now reached base safely in a team-long 15 consecutive games.

Houck had to pitch out of trouble again in the second as the first two Gamecock batters reached base a walk and hit batter. But he got a flyout, a strikeout and 1-3 bounce out to get out of the inning. Jonah Bride then doubled to lead off the third inning and scored on a passed ball to give South Carolina a 3-0 lead after three innings.

Mizzou finally got to Webb in the top of the fifth inning as he walked a pair to bring up Ring who singled through the right side for his second hit of the day and an RBI, cutting into the lead. After Webb walked the bases loaded, Lavy flew out to center to strand the bases loaded.

The Tigers threatened to get more in the sixth inning, putting two men aboard with two outs, but Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.) struck out to strand a pair. Mizzou left eight runners on base through the first six innings as South Carolina carried a 3-1 lead into the seventh.

Mizzou stranded two more runners in the seventh inning on a tremendous play in the right centerfield gap by CF Dom Thompson-Williams as he went down to his shoelaces for a catch on a sinking line drive by Harris, which likely would have been extra-bases and runs for Mizzou.

RHP Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) then relieved Houck in the bottom of the seventh. South Carolina added two unearned runs off of Bartlett on a single to right center by Destino, who drove in four of South Carolina’s five runs on Saturday. That put the game out of reach for Mizzou.

Mizzou and South Carolina will play game three of their series tomorrow at 12:30 p.m. (CT) at Founder Park.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest softball ends regular season with two wins at Washburn

Posted on April 23, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State softball team wrapped up the regular season with a pair of victories over Washburn Saturday afternoon in Topeka, Kan.

The bats came alive for the No. 25-ranked Bearcats, who rattled off 12 hits in each contest.

Northwest captured game one by a score of 8-4 before topping the Ichabods in six innings in the nightcap, 10-0.

The Bearcats close the regular season 36-12 overall, the most regular season wins in school history. Northwest heads into the postseason with a 19-7 mark in the MIAA, placing the Bearcats in a tie for second with Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma. The Ichabods wrap up the year 19-27 and 8-18 in conference action.

Kendle Schieber earned her 20th victory of the season, tying the record for most wins in a single season (Shelly Navara, 1987).

The Bearcats will head to Oklahoma City, Okla. to participate in the 2016 MIAA Softball Championship Tournament next week, with first and second round action set to begin Thursday, April 28.

— Northwest Athletics —

Mizzou women sign Kansas tranfer Lauren Aldridge

Posted on April 21, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball has signed transfer guard Lauren Aldridge (Marshfield, Mo.), head coach Robin Pingeton announced Wednesday. Aldridge, 5-7, started all 63 games for Kansas over the last two seasons and averaged a team-leading 11.1 points and 2.4 assists for the Jayhawks in 2015-16. Per NCAA transfer regulations, Aldridge will sit out the 2016-17 season and has two years of eligibility remaining.

“We are very excited to have Lauren join our basketball family,” Pingeton said. “She is going to be a great addition. Lauren is such a high-character young lady that embraces hard work. She has had great success on the court and in the classroom. Her natural position is at point guard, but she has the ability to slide over into a shooting guard role as well. She has a high basketball IQ, a motor and she is a fierce competitor.”

During her two seasons in Lawrence, Aldridge averaged 9.6 points, 3.7 assists, 1.9 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 35.1 minutes per game. She holds career shooting totals of 37 percent (190-for-515) from the field, 35 percent (102-for-290) from 3-point range and 85 percent (121-for-143) from the free throw line.

In addition to leading Kansas in scoring and assists this past season, Aldridge played a team-high 35.3 minutes per contest and averaged 1.8 rebounds and 0.9 steals per game. She scored in double figures a team-best 20 times as a sophomore, including nine of the first 10 contests and each of the final six games. In 2015-16, she shot 37 percent (116-for-317) from the floor, 36 percent (60-for-169) from beyond the arc and a team-high 83 percent (52-for-63) from the foul line. Aldridge was a first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection and CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree.

As a freshman in 2014-15, Aldridge earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Freshman Team after ranking third in the league with 5.0 assists per game. She averaged 8.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and a team-best 35.0 minutes per game. She reached double figures scoring 14 times and finished with five-plus assists in 10 of the last 14 games. Aldridge shot 37 percent (74-for-198) from the field, 35 percent (42-for-121) from distance and 86 percent (69-for-80) from the charity stripe. She was named an Academic All-Big 12 honoree and was a Phillips 66 Big 12 Freshman Player of the Week (Dec. 7, 2014).

Aldridge was a four-time all-state selection and three-time Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year at Marshfield (Mo.) High School. She was a finalist for Miss Show-Me Basketball as a senior when she led her squad to the District 10 title and a third-place finish in the MSHSAA Class 4 championship. During her prep career, Aldridge guided Marshfield to four consecutive conference championships and set school records for single-game assists and career and single-game 3-pointers. She was a teammate of Mizzou forwards Bri Porter and Cierra Porter with the Missouri Phenom on the AAU circuit, a team coached by Aldridge’s father, Steve.

Aldridge is majoring in Sport Management academically. Her father played baseball at Missouri State while her mother, Jennifer, competed in track and field for the Bears.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffon softball holds spots in both national and regional rankings

Posted on April 20, 2016April 20, 2016

ST. JOSEPH – After splitting a non-conference doubleheader with Northwest Missouri State, the Missouri Western softball team (35-11, 19-3) held its spots in both the national and regional rankings.

Missouri Western remained No. 15 in the NFCA Division II Coaches’ Poll and No. 4 in the NCAA Central Regional poll. With just four games remaining in the regular season, the Griffons hold a two-game lead over No. 25/No. 2 Northwest Missouri State. The Bearcats made their first appearance in the top-25 this week and jumped one spot in the regional rankings. Missouri Western is 8-5 this season against teams currently ranked in the top 10 of the region and 5-5 against teams in the top eight qualifying positions.

This weekend Missouri Western will play doubleheaders at Washburn (April 22) and Emporia State (April 23). The MIAA Tournament will take place next week at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Complex in Oklahoma City. Games will begin Thursday, April 28 with the championship game on Saturday, April 30.

Click here to view the NFCA poll.

Click here to view the regional rankings.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri’s Houck named to Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list

Posted on April 20, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball sophomore RHP Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) has been named to the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List as announced Wednesday (April 20) by USA Baseball. This is the second consecutive season that Houck has landed on the list after being one of just four freshmen to earn the distinction last year. He is the first Mizzou player to land on the Golden Spikes Watch List as both a freshman and sophomore. The Golden Spikes Award is given to the nation’s top amateur player.

Houck has been sensational this year for head coach Tim Jamieson. He has twice earned SEC Pitcher of the Week and took home Louisville Slugger National Player of the Week honors following a dominating start against Vanderbilt in which he allowed two hits over 9.0 shutout innings while striking out a career-high 14. He also earned SEC Pitcher of the Week honors after a complete game shutout of Auburn in which he allowed just four hits with 10 strikeouts. In all, Houck is 4-3 on the year with a 3.22 ERA and is limiting batters to just .187 hitting while striking out 70 in 64.1 innings. He has surrendered just 43 hits n 64.1 innings. In SEC play, batters are hitting just .188 against Houck with just 24 hits in 36.1 innings and he has struck out 38.

Houck has been tabbed as the No. 1 prospect for the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft by several national scouting services. He has also been selected to pitch for USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team for the second consecutive season after earning USA Baseball’s Top International Performance Award for pitching four perfect innings in a combined no-hitter vs. Cuba last summer.

Houck and the Tigers play at No. 12 South Carolina for a three-game series this weekend.

— Mizzou Athletics —

MWSU women finish fourth, men seventh at MIAA golf championships

Posted on April 20, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished in fourth place at the MIAA Championships, recording a 980 in the three rounds of golf. MWSU scored their tournament best on day three of competition with a 317. The event was played at Swope Memorial Golf Course which is a par 72 – 5893 yard course.

All five Griffons finished in the top-35 in the tournament. Freshman Shi Qing Ong finished the tournament tied for eighth place in with a 238 in the tournament. Ong had a 73 in the final round which was the lowest score in the round. Madison Romjue tied for 13th place individually, reporting a 244 in the three rounds of golf. Celine Lim and Callie Wilson finished with a 247 and 252, respectively.

The Griffons finished 12 strokes behind Lindenwood for third place and 22 strokes ahead of Central Missouri for the fourth place in the standings. Northeastern State recorded a 922, winning the tournament by 20 strokes over Central Oklahoma.

Baylee Price of Northeastern State finished the tournament with a 219, winning the individual title. Elizabeth Leath of Central Missouri finished second at 230.

The 2016 NCAA Central Super Regional is scheduled to be played at the Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell, Nebraska on May 1 – 3.

The Missouri Western men’s golf team finished the MIAA Championships with a seventh place finish, scoring a 917.
The Griffons wrapped up the final round with of the tournament with a 304. The event was played at Tiffany Greens Golf Club in Kansas City, Mo. which is a par 72 – 6977 yard course.

Corey Knight led the Griffons with a 223 in the three round tournament, placing him tied for tenth in the individual standings. Ryan Hand was tied for 22nd in the tournament, tallying a 229 at the tournament. Cole Roberts and Jakob Rudosky finished the tournament with a 236 and 237, respectively.

Seven strokes separated the fourth place through eighth place teams at the MIAA Championships. The Griffons were two strokes behind Washburn and Nebraska-Kearney for fifth place and six strokes behind Missouri Southern for fourth place.

Central Oklahoma won the tournament with an 882 team score and Lindenwood University was second with an 891 in the three rounds.

Blake Lammers of Lincoln won the individual award, firing a 210 in the three rounds of golf.

The NCAA Division II Central/Midwest Super Regional is scheduled to be played in Allendale, Michigan on May 2 – 4.

— MWSU Athletics —

KU QB’s Cozart and Ford receive hardship waivers for 2015 season

Posted on April 20, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. – Kansas quarterbacks Montell Cozart and Deondre Ford have received hardship waivers from the Big 12 Conference for the 2015 season. Both Jayhawks will enter the 2016 campaign as redshirt juniors and have two years of eligibility remaining.

“It is great to see the Big 12 is giving Montell and Deondre a year back after both of these guys had their junior seasons end prematurely,” said Kansas head coach David Beaty. “They have worked tirelessly with our medical staff to get healthy and we are fortunate to have two more seasons with them in our program.”

Cozart started three of the first four games for Kansas in 2015 before suffering a season-ending injury at Iowa State. Prior to his injury, he completed 66-of-105 passes for 752 yards and two touchdowns. The Kansas City, Missouri, native also ran 45 times for 113 yards, adding a score on the ground. He enters 2016 with a streak of 101-straight passes without an interception.

Ford saw time in two games in 2015 before his season was cut short due to injury. A native of Waco, Texas, he started at Rutgers, completing six passes for 85 yards before exiting the game with an injury. Ford completed 11-of-23 passes for 132 yards on the season.

KU will begin the 2016 season on September 3 vs. Rhode Island. The Jayhawks will also host nonconference opponent Ohio (Sept. 10/Family Weekend, Band Day) before Big 12 rivals TCU (Oct. 8), Oklahoma State (Oct. 22/Homecoming, K-Club Weekend), Iowa State (Nov. 12) and Texas (Nov. 19) visit Lawrence.

— KU Athletics —

Griffons run-rule Bearcats to extend winning streak to eight games

Posted on April 20, 2016

ST. JOSEPH – About 30 minutes after it was released that the Missouri Western baseball team was the No. 23 team in the country, the Griffons responded with eight runs in the first two innings on the way to a 12-2, eight inning win over Northwest Missouri State.

It was the Western’s eighth straight win after going 7-0 on the road last week. Missouri Western jumped on the Bearcats early as all nine came to the plate in a four-run first inning. Back-to-back doubles by Nick Gawley and Cosimo Cannella put the Griffons up 3-0. Two batters later Kody Matthews put the Griffons up four with an infield single. Gawley went 4-for-4 at the plate with seven RBIs, good for second most ever in a game for the Griffons. Matthews was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and Cannella drove in three with a 2-for-4 day at the plate. Landon Mason stretched his hitting streak to 20 games, but was replaced after the first inning due to recurring eye problems.

Tyler Tuepker got the win in his first start since returning from Tommy John surgery in 2015. He picked up the win, going the first three innings and allowing three hits and two runs. David Anderson pitched three innings in relief, giving up two hits and no runs with four strikeouts. Jared Lloyd and Mike Calimeno went one inning apiece.

The Griffons finished the night tied with just Washburn for second place in the MIAA standings after Emporia State lost to Washburn. Missouri Western hosts Nebraska-Kearney this weekend for a three-game series that begins Friday night at 6 p.m .

— MWSU Athletics —