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Category: College

Northwest Missouri State baseball wins series finale at Northeastern State

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TAHLEQUAH, Oklahoma – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball squad captured the rubber game today in a three-game set at Northeastern State. The Bearcats recorded a 19-15 triumph over the Riverhawks.

Northwest moved to 6-7 overall and 2-1 in MIAA play, while Northeastern State fell to 2-11 overall and 1-2 in league play.

Northeastern State jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second by executing small ball to get runners around the bases.

In the third, Northwest notched two runs of their own despite beginning the inning with a pair of outs. Senior infielder Mondesi Gutierrez walked to get the ball rolling for the Bearcats. Gutierrez was then advanced to third after senior outfielder Derek Hussey reached base on a throwing error. Senior catcher Jay Hrdlicka drew a walk to load the bases. The first hit of the afternoon for the Bearcats came when senior catcher Alixon Herrera singled to left, scoring Gutierrez and Hussey.

The Riverhawks added one in the bottom half of the third, increasing their lead to 6-2.

The Bearcat offense exploded with a seven-run fourth to take a 9-6 advantage. During the top of the fourth, the Bearcats offense rallied and tallied seven runs in the inning to take back the lead over Northeastern State, 9-6. To lead off the fourth, junior infielder Calvin Rudolph and sophomore infielder Matt Gastner each singled. Freshman outfielder Ryan Koski advanced them with a sacrifice bunt. The Bearcats loaded the bases when senior infielder Logan Rycraft was hit by a pitch. Gutierrez followed with a single to left scoring Rudolph and leaving the bases loaded. A wild pitch allowed Gastner to score and advanced Gutierrez and Rycraft. Hrdlicka recorded his first hit in the game during the inning by singling to right, scoring both Gutierrez and Rycraft. Hrdlicka advanced to third base when Herrera reached on a throwing error. Sophomore infielder Peter Carlson singled advancing Herrera to second and allowing Hrdlicka to trot across home. Rudolph produced a two-out, two RBI double to deep right center to cap the monstrous seven-run inning.

The Riverhawks drew to within 9-8 with a two-run sixth.

In the eighth, both teams combined to score 10 runs on nine hits. Northwest scored four in the top of the eighth with a two-out rally, initiated by Herrera singling to right field. Freshman Jonathan Hernandez pinch ran for Herrera. Hernandez advanced to second on a single by Carlson. Up next, Rudolph singled to left to load the bases for the Bearcats. Gastner singled to right, scoring Hernandez and Carlson, while moving Rudolph to third. Junior infielder Matt Schingel clubbed a double, scoring Rudolph and Gastner, but was called out when trying to stretch it into a triple.

Heading into the bottom of the eighth, Northwest held a 13-8 lead with closer Trevor Dudar on the hill. But, Northeastern State answered with six runs on four hits and took advantage of a Bearcat error to retake the lead at 14-13.

The Bearcats returned the favor, scoring six runs of their own in the top of the ninth to take a decisive 19-13 lead over the Riverhawks. Northwest tallied the six runs on four hits in the comeback.

The Riverhawks managed only one run in the bottom of the ninth allowing the Bearcats to take it 19-15 and two of three games in the series.

The Bearcats used five pitchers on Saturday. Max Spitzmiller made the start and pitched 1 1/3 innings. Spitzmiller gave up three hits and three runs, while striking out one. Dudar got the victory as he went 3 2/3 innings despite giving up six hits, nine runs (seven earned) and striking out six, while walking seven. Gibson Brown relieved Dudar with two on and no one out in the ninth. Brown gave up a single and a sacrifice fly but was able to close out the victory for the Bearcats.

Northwest will travel to back to Oklahoma for a three-game set at Central Oklahoma this Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The series was originally set for Maryville, but was moved to Edmond, Oklahoma because of inclement weather and field conditions.

NOTES: Herrera is riding a 10-game hitting streak … Gutierrez and Hrdlicka extended their on-base streaks to 13 games … first baseman Matt Gastner knocked in four runs and notched his first three-hit game of the season … third baseman Calvin Rudolph and left fielder Peter Carlson also produced their first three-hit games of the season.

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU softball splits doubleheader with Sioux Falls

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JOPLIN, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team (9-5) split a doubleheader with Sioux Falls (5-2) on Sunday at Missouri Southern.

In game one, the Griffons found themselves down 9-1 before scoring seven unanswered run and getting the tying run to third with two out in the top of the seventh. Missouri Western couldn’t get the ninth run home to extend the game and fell 9-8. Game two didn’t present quite as much drama as the Griffons fell behind by two runs in the second. They tied it in the third then added three in the fifth and one in the sixth to win 6-2.

SERIES NOTABLES

  • The Griffons out-hit the Cougars, 22-13 and out-scored them 14-11
  • After an errorless day in the field on Saturday in Joplin, the Griffons were tagged with four errors on Sunday, three in game one
  • Morgan Frost went 6-for-7 in the doubleheader with three doubles, two triples and five RBIs
  • Brea Blanton continued an impressive weekend, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs and her first career home run
  • Tayor Hoelscher went 4-for-7 at the plate
  • Lauren Houston was 3-for-5 at the plate and scored five of the team’s 14 runs
  • Kaili Hinds got the win in game two and pitched three innings in relief of Lexi Kinnaird in game one. Hinds allowed two runs on five hits with nine strikeouts and one walk in 10 total innings of work, holding Sioux Falls to a .152 batting average.

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western heads back to southwest Missouri for its third-straight previously unscheduled doubleheader
  • The Griffons play at Drury (7-4) on Tuesday, Feb. 26.

— MWSU Athletics —

Missouri women fall short at Auburn 58-54

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AUBURN, Ala. – Mizzou Women’s Basketball (19-9, 8-6 SEC) dropped a tough SEC road contest on Sunday, as Auburn (20-7, 8-6 SEC) won 58-54 at Auburn Arena. It was Mizzou’s second consecutive contest decided by less than five points.

Senior guard Sophie Cunningham (Columbia, Mo.) led the way for Mizzou by scoring with 19 points on 7-for-15 shooting from the field, while junior guard Amber Smith (Shreveport, La.) recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

With nine points, redshirt senior guard Lauren Aldridge (Marhsfield, Mo.) notched her 1,000 career point in the game.

TURNING POINT

Mizzou outscored Auburn, 23-12 in the third period to take a seven-point lead heading into the final quarter, but Auburn responded in the fourth by outscoring Mizzou 20-9 to edge the Tigers, 58-54. Junior guard Jordan Chavis (Lexington, N.C.) drained a three-pointer from the top of the arc to cut Auburn’s lead to 54-52 with 24 seconds remaining, but Auburn was able to convert on 4-of-6 shots from the free throw line in the game’s final 30 seconds.

TOP TIGERS

  • Cunningham scored 19 points in the game on 7-for-15 shooting from the field while grabbing five rebounds and dishing out two assists.
  • With 10 points and 11 rebounds, Smith recorded her eighth double-double of the season. Smith shot 5-for-11 from the field and dished out a team-high three assists.
  • Aldridge scored nine points, dished out a team-high three assists and matched a career-high with five rebounds.

NOTES

  • Aldridge recorded her 1,000 career point in the game with a third quarter three. Aldridge scored 603 points with Kansas between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons before transferring to Mizzou where she has scored 398 points over the past two seasons.
  • Cunningham continued her recent scoring surge, as she has now scored in double figures in 10 consecutive contests and is averaging 21.3 points over that stretch.
  • After recording just two double-doubles in her freshman and sophomore seasons combined, Smith has now recorded eight double-doubles on the season.
  • Mizzou continued its staunch defense in the game, as Mizzou held Auburn to 58 points, marking the 24th time in 28 games Mizzou has held its opponent to 65 points or less.
  • Mizzou shot 43.8 percent (21-for-48) from the field in the game, marking the 14th time in the last 16 games the Tigers have shot at least 40 percent from the field.

UP NEXT

Next, Mizzou continues its two game road trip with a Thursday, Feb. 28, matchup at Arkansas. Tipoff from Fayetteville is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Western Track & Field teams finish 12th at MIAA Championships

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MARYVILLE, Mo – Missouri Western competed in its final team competition of the indoor season at the MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships in Maryville on Sunday. Both the women’s and men’s teams finished 12th in the three-day event.

Sunday was the finals for nine track events, as well as several field events for the both the men and women. After qualifying for the women’s 200m and 400m finals on Saturday, Hanna Williams was unable to compete in Sunday’s finals. However, Williams will advance to the NCAA Div. II Indoor National Championships in the 400m on March 8 due to her automatic qualifying mark of 54.37 set at the Bearcat Invite on Feb. 9.

Several other Griffons have earned provisional marks throughout the indoor season and will wait to see if those marks will qualify for the national championships. The official selection show for the NCAA Div. II National Championships will air Tuesday, Feb. 26.

POINTS FINISHERS

  • Savannah Simmons, Women’s 60m, 7.63, 4th, 5 points
  • Savannah Simmons, Women’s 200m, 24.74, 6th, 3 points
  • Megan Gillen, Women’s 800m, 2:25.21, 7th, 2 points
  • Jordan Garr, Men’s Shot Put, 16.87m (55-04.25), 7th, 2 points
  • Men’s 4x400m relay (Dre’Shaun Sanders, Grant Buresh, Hayden Belgrave, Chris Stanley), 3:18.85, 7th, 2 points
  • Megan Gillen, Women’s 1 Mile, 5:08.32, 8th, 1 point

SCHOOL RECORDS

  • Men’s 4x400m relay (Dre’Shaun Sanders, Grant Buresh, Hayden Belgrave, Chris Stanley), 3:18.85
  • Riley Gorham, Men’s 1 Mile, 4:18.99

MIAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – WOMEN’S
1. Pittsburg State – 113
2. Lincoln – 112
3. Missouri Southern – 90
4. Southwest Baptist – 87
5. Central Missouri – 54
6. Northwest Missouri – 50
8. Nebraska-Kearney – 43
7. Fort Hays State – 43
9. Washburn – 30
10. Emporia State – 27
11. Lindenwood – 24
12. Missouri Western – 19
13. Central Oklahoma – 8

MIAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS – MEN’S
1. Central Missouri – 121
2. Northwest Missouri – 115
3. Pittsburg State – 89
4. Lincoln – 73
5. Missouri Southern – 67
6. Fort Hays State – 64
7. Nebraska-Kearney – 50.33
8. Lindenwood – 36
9. Washburn – 32.67
10. Southwest Baptist – 25
11. Emporia State – 22
12. Missouri Western – 6

— MWSU Athletics —

Griffons lose another heartbreaker to Central Missouri 69-66

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WARRENSBURG, Mo. – One week after suffering defeat at the hands of a Central Missouri buzzer-beater, the Missouri Western men’s basketball team (12-16, 6-11 MIAA) fell in heartbreaking fashion again to the Mules. After rallying from a 13-point second-half deficit, the Griffons held a seven-point lead with under four minutes remaining. Central Missouri would then hold the Griffons to just one made basket in the final three minutes en route to a 12-2 run to win 69-66 on Saturday.

NOTABLES

  • Missouri Western’s offense struggled throughout most of the first half, shooting just 29 percent from the floor.
  • Bryan Hudson helped keep the Griffons within reach in the first half, scoring 15 of the team’s 25 first-half points.
  • Central Missouri closed the first half on a 20-9 run to take a 36-25 into the halftime break.
  • The Griffons stepped up the defense in the second half as the Mules made just three of their first 10 shots in the second half.
  • Missouri Western slowly chipped away at the Central Missouri lead, taking their first lead of the second half on Hudson’s layup with 13 minutes to play.
  • After the Mules regained control with a one-point lead, the Griffons used a 10-2 run to take the 64-57 advantage with 3:19 remaining.
  • Central Missouri made their final three field goal attempts and went four-of-five from the free-throw line.
  • Tyrell Carroll’s potential game-tying three-point attempt was no good, giving Central Missouri the 69-66 comeback win.
  • Missouri Western’s five starters accounted for all of the team’s 66 points scored.
  • Missouri Western outscored Central Missouri 41-33 in the second half.
  • The Griffons set a new season-best mark with just three turnovers on Saturday, improving from their previous-best of just five against Lincoln on Feb. 7.

LEADERS

  • Hudson led all scorers with 26 points on 60 percent shooting.
  • Carroll finished with 17 points while tying a career-high with eight rebounds.
  • Tyus Millhollin added 11 points with three triples.

UP NEXT

  • With just two games remaining, Missouri Western Men’s Basketball will travel to top-ranked Northwest Missouri (27-0, 17-0 MIAA) on Feb. 26.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 1 Bearcats cruise past Southwest Baptist

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BOLIVAR, Missouri – The No. 1-ranked Northwest Missouri State University men’s basketball squad ran the nation’s longest win streak to 27 in a row with an 85-66 road win over Southwest Baptist University on Saturday.

Northwest drained 16 three-pointers and shot 50 percent from the field overall (28-of-56).

Ryan Hawkins scored a team-high 22 points and grabbed a team-best six rebounds and two steals. Joey Witthus also tallied 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-6 from three-point range. Trevor Hudgins posted 18 points and was 4-of-6 from deep. Hudgins also dished out four assists. Ryan Welty sank four triples and scored 14 points to go along with five rebounds.

Northwest did not trail in the contest and led 45-32 at the break.

Northwest (27-0 overall, 17-0 MIAA) will return home Tuesday against Missouri Western. The Bearcats will honor their seniors prior to the tip at 7:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

NOTES: Northwest has won 14 consecutive road games … Northwest has won 18 straight games by double figures … sophomore Ryan Hawkins has tallied at least two steals in 21 of 27 games this season … it’s the sixth time this season that the Bearcats have made 15 or more three-pointers … Tyler Dougherty drained his first career three-pointer.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western women fall at No. 24 Central Missouri 86-66

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WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Missouri Western women’s basketball team lost at No. 24 Central Missouri Saturday 86-66.  The Griffons have now lost three straight as they fall to 12-14 and 7-10 in the MIAA.  The Jennies improve to 20-5 and 13-4 in league play.

NOTABLES

  • Both squads shot the ball well from the start, combining for 52 percent shooting in the first quarter as Central Missouri took a five-point lead into the second quarter.
  • Melia Richardson beat the buzzer at the end of both quarters in the first half. Her layup as time expired in the first half brought the Griffons within 10 points at 46-36.
  • Katrina Roenfeldt led the Griffons with 10 first-half points.
  • The Jennies narrowly outscored the Griffons 20-18 in the third quarter, as the Griffons shot 50 percent in the period.
  • After Central Missouri remained in control throughout the fourth quarter, the Jennies used a 10-1 run to put the Griffons away.
  • The Missouri Western bench outscored Central Missouri 22-2.
  • The Griffons also held a 35-28 rebounding advantage over Central Missouri.

LEADERS

  • Roenfeldt led the Griffons in scoring with 17 points.
  • Anastacia Johnson was the team’s next-leading scorer with 11 points.
  • Brittany Atkins and Olivia Usher each added 10 points.

UP NEXT

  • Missouri Western Women’s Basketball will take on Northwest Missouri (7-19, 3-14 MIAA) in Maryville in its next game.
  • The Bearcats have lost eight-straight games after falling to Southwest Baptist on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou blows 12-point second half lead, loses at Florida

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Kevarrius Hayes had seen enough two weeks ago. Too many close losses. Too many silly mistakes. Too little effort too often.

So Hayes called a players-only meeting.

Florida hasn’t been the same since.

KeVaughn Allen scored 17 points, Keyontae Johnson added 13 and the Gators overcame a 12-point deficit in the second half to upend Missouri 64-60 on Saturday.

Florida (16-11, 8-6 Southeastern Conference) won its fourth consecutive game — the team’s longest streak of the season — and continued to strengthen its NCAA Tournament resume down the stretch.

Allen and fellow senior Jalen Hudson have been catalysts.

“It’s the bottom of the ninth for those guys,” coach Mike White said.

Coming off consecutive road wins at Alabama and No. 13 LSU, Florida looked nothing like the same team in the first half against Mizzou (12-14, 3-11). The Gators shot 30 percent in the opening 20 minutes, had just two assists and trailed by nine.

They found themselves in an even bigger hole when Jordan Geist hit a 3-pointer that made it 40-28 early in the second half.

But Florida started driving to the basket and getting to the free-throw line. The Gators made 25 of 30 from the stripe for the game, including 16 of 19 in the second half.

Allen hit 9 of 10, including two with 5.5 seconds remaining that essentially sealed the victory.

Hudson added 11 points off the bench for the Gators. It was fourth time in the last five games that Hudson reached double figures, a positive step forward after a rough start to his season.

“Just trying to give it everything I got. That’s my motive now,” Hudson said. “It’s just coming to an end and I want to give everything I got. I don’t want to have any regrets. That’s just kind of how I’ve been playing — leave it all out there every game.”

Geist scored 16 points to pace the Tigers (12-14, 3-11), who have now lost four SEC games after leading by 10 or more points. Javon Pickett added 15.

Mizzou missed several chances in the final minute-plus. Reed Nikko missed an and-one free throw that would have tied the game at 61 with 1:17 to play, Torrence Watson missed in the paint and Pickett missed a wide-open 3 with 8 seconds left in a two-point game.

“Everybody was telling me it was a good shot,” Pickett said. “I’ve just got to knock it down. That’s on me.”

Xavier Pinson and Jeremiah Tilmon both fouled out down the stretch, leaving Mizzou with two bench players on the floor.

“It definitely takes away from what we’re trying to do,” Missouri coach Cuonzo Martin said.

BIG PICTURE

Missouri: The Tigers fell to 0-4 in Gainesville and have lost six of seven on the road in SEC play, not really that surprising considering they’ve played all season without highly talented forward Jontay Porter.

Florida: The Gators continues to build a case for making the NCAA Tournament, which looked like a pipe dream a month ago. Hudson has been a big reason for the late-season surge.

SILVER ANNIVERSARY

Florida recognized its 1993-94 team at halftime. Those Gators became the first in program history to reach the Final Four and gave the football-first school a taste of basketball success. Lon Kruger was the coach, and Craig Brown, Dan Cross, Andrew DeClercq and Dametri Hill were the stars.

SHOELESS STINT

Florida forward Isaiah Stokes played about three minutes in the second half without his right shoe. He even altered a shot during the stretch.

“Just keep playing and just try not to have anybody step on your foot,” Stokes said.

UP NEXT

Missouri: Will try to avoid its first four-game losing streak of the season Tuesday at Mississippi State.

Florida: Plays at Vanderbilt on Wednesday, another must-win game for the Gators and their NCAA Tournament hopes.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State women lose at SBU despite making 15 three-pointers

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BOLIVAR, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball team connected on a season-high 15 three-pointers but came up on the short end of a 79-66 decision at Southwest Baptist University.

Southwest Baptist shot 53.8 percent from the field on 28-of-52 field goal attempts.

Northwest knocked in 15-of-30 from three-point range. Sophomore Jaelyn Haggard led Northwest with 20 points as she drained six from distance. Junior Kendey Eaton tallied 15 points and sophomore Kylie Coleman joined her in double figures with 10 points.

Northwest (7-19 overall, 3-14 MIAA) will take to the floor again Tuesday at home against Missouri Western. The Bearcats will honor their seniors prior to the tip at 5:30 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

No. 12 Kansas gets blown out at 14th-ranked Texas Tech

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LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Jarrett Culver scored 26 points and was one of six Texas Tech players to make multiple 3-pointers as the No. 14 Red Raiders overwhelmed No. 12 Kansas 91-62 on Saturday night.

The Red Raiders (22-5, 10-4 Big 12) never trailed, scoring the game’s first five points. They made a season-high 16 3s while winning their fifth game in a row.

When Davide Moretti made their eighth 3-pointer with 6 1/2 minutes left in the first half, it was already 37-17, the largest deficit to that point for Kansas this season. The margin grew to as large as 33.

Texas Tech took over sole possession of second place in the Big 12, one game behind Kansas State (21-6, 11-3) with four regular-season games remaining.

Kansas (20-7, 9-5), which has won the last 14 Big 12 titles, plays its Sunflower State rival Monday night. The Jayhawks have to win then to avoid falling three games behind with only three games to play.

It was most lopsided Big 12 loss for the Jayhawks since an 86-53 loss at Oklahoma State on Feb. 7, 2000. That was more than three seasons before Bill Self became their coach.

There was a raucous crowd of 15,098, the first home sellout for Texas Tech since an 84-65 win over Kansas on March 4, 2009. That was the last time the Jayhawks had lost in Lubbock.

Matt Mooney had 13 points for Tech. Moretti scored 11 points, Tariq Owens had 10, and Norense Odiase added eight points and 13 rebounds.

Culver, Mooney and Moretti each made three 3-pointers.

Dedric Lawson was the only Kansas player in double figures with 14 points.

BIG PICTURE

Kansas: The Jayhawks’ stranglehold on the Big 12 regular-season trophy absorbed a serious blow. It was their fifth consecutive road loss.

Texas Tech: The Red Raiders exacted some revenge from a 79-63 loss at Lawrence three weeks earlier. They shot 61 percent overall (34 of 56) and 62 percent on 3-pointers (16 of 26). In its five-game winning streak, Texas Tech has won those games by an average margin of 25 points.

UP NEXT

Kansas: Hosts No. 23 Kansas State on Monday nght.

Texas Tech: Hosts Oklahoma State on Wednesday night.

— Associated Press —

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