The Northwest Missouri State softball team got back to their winnings ways Friday afternoon as they split a double header against the Washburn Lady Blues winning 8-2 before falling 4-1 in the nightcap.

With the split, Northwest now sits at 15-27 overall and 5-11 in conference play with just six games remaining on their regular season schedule.

Game one saw the Lady Blues jumping out to an early 1-0 lead in the second inning before the Bearcats’ bats would come alive collecting ten hits including two home runs.

Kristine Labertew would even the score for Northwest at 1-1 in the fourth when she belted a solo home run to left center, her fourth home run of the season.

Washburn plated one run in the fifth to take the 2-1 advantage but the Bearcats would strike in the home half of the fifth plating three runs thanks to a Kristine Uthe home run.

The Bearcat upped their lead to 8-2 in the sixth off of hits from Kristine Labertew, Molly Baker, Jordan Ereth and Hailee Hendricks.

Jenna Creger earned the win on the mound for the Bearcats pitching five innings while allowing six hits and striking out three.

Paige Blythe recorded her first save of the season pitching two innings of relief for Northwest.  Blythe allowed just one hit while striking out one.

Hendricks, Labertew and Baker recorded multiple-hits for the Bearcats.

Game two would see the Lady Blues’ pitching take over as Washburn starter Kayla Oldham would pitch the complete game while allowing just four hits leading the Lady Blues to the 4-1 victory.

Washburn would plate all four of their runs in the third while the Bearcats would finally get on the board in the home half of the seventh thanks to a Molly Baker single plating pinch runner Jordan Gadbois.

Baker led the Bearcats offensively recording two hits in the nightcap while Hailee Hendricks and Kayli Schurman would also record hits for Northwest in the loss.

On the mound for Northwest, Abbie Vitosh would record the loss pitching just over three innings.

Up Next: Due to impending weather, the Bearcats Saturday doubleheader with the Fort Hays State Tigers has been rescheduled for Tuesday, April 17.  First pitch from Bearcat Field is slated for 11 a.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State men’s basketball team announces its third addition by the way of Leavenworth, Kan., signing Grant Greenberg of Leavenworth High.

Greenberg was a Second Team All-State athlete joining future teammate Conner Crooker, who the Bearcats signed earlier in the week. Greenberg was a First Team All-Sunflower League selection as well as Leavenworth County Player of the Year.

“Grant is a kid that we’re excited about,” third-year head coach Ben McCollum said. “He has won at every level he’s competed and brings a toughness that is hard to find. He was extremely well-coached in high school and has a great basketball IQ.”

The Leavenworth senior was a leader helping lead the Pioneers to a 16-6 record as he averaged 22 points per game and seven rebounds on the year. Coach McCollum continued by praising the guard’s ability to lead.

“His leadership abilities and other intangibles are fantastic, and they complement his already-high skill set,” McCollum said. “He wanted to come here and be a part of our program, which made our decision really easy. He will be a great addition to our school and our program.”

Greenberg will join Crooker and Jordan Ashton as members of the 2012-13 signing class. The trio will join a Bearcat team that is coming off a MIAA Championship and a 22-7 season under McCollum as Northwest returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2008.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

Head Coach Ben McCollum announced the second addition for the 2012-13 season with the signing of Jordan Ashton from Mount Pleasant High School in Iowa.

“We are thrilled to have Jordan join our program,” coach McCollum said. “He already has a winning mentality helping his team to a state title. He is a solid three-point shooter and can create some matchup problems with his ability to slash and finish around the rim. He is only going to get better and with his athleticism he has a very high ceiling. He joins a class of great kids on and off the floor and we feel he will fit in just fine.”

Ashton helped lead Mount Pleasant High to a 26-1 record and captured the Iowa Class 3 State Championship. The 6-3 guard was named First-Team All-State as well as the Player of the Year in Iowa Class 3.

Along with helping lead the Panthers to a state title he was named to the Iowa State Tournament All-Tournament Team along with being named MVP of the State Tournament. Ashton averaged 18.4 points per game shooting 47 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free-throw line on the year.

Ashton joins Conner Crooker as the second member of the Bearcats signing class.

Northwest is coming off a MIAA Championship after going 22-7 and earning a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Bearcats will return three starters including seniors DeShaun Cooper and Justin Clark.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State Bearcat men’s basketball team announced the first of its 2013 class with the addition of Conner Crooker an all-state guard from Blue Valley North High School in Kansas.

Crooker will come to Northwest on the heels of a third place finish as the Kansas 6A State Championships leading Blue Valley North to a 21-4 record. The guard averaged 15 points per game and three assists during his senior season. He was among the top players in the Kansas City area appearing in the Missouri vs. Kansas All-Star Game.

He was named First Team All-Eastern Kansas League (EKL) and Second Team All-State, where he was joined by University of Kentucky signee, Willie Cauley. Crooker also earned Second Team All-Metro accolades after shooting 86 percent from the free throw line and over 55 percent from behind the three-point line.

The Bearcats are coming off an MIAA Championships and a 22-7 season under third-year head coach Ben McCollum.

— NWMSU Sports Information —

The Northwest Missouri State softball team dropped another heart breaker Wednesday to the Drury Panthers falling in game one 2-0 and in game two 6-4 in extra innings at Bearcat Field.

The Bearcats have now lost their last four games and eight of their last 10 as they return to MIAA play on the weekend. Northwest saw its record fall to 14-26 on the season as Drury improved to 29-16 overall completing a season sweep of the Bearcats.

Both teams locked in a pitcher’s duel in game one as Abbie Vitosh held the Panthers to only five hits and two runs over seven innings. However the Bearcat offense was held to only two hits and no runs in the loss.

Vitosh was able to hold Drury scoreless over the first six innings, but the Panthers were still able to break through in the top of the seventh. A double to lead-off the inning followed by a home run gave Drury all the run support they needed as Bearcats went down in order in the bottom half of the inning.

Game two saw more offense from both teams.

The Panthers got on the board in the top of the first inning and took a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning before the Bearcats got in on the scoring.

Jordan Ereth reached on an error followed by a Hailee Hendricks single. Another DU error gave the Bearcats their first run of the day scoring both Ereth and Hendricks.

DU would tie the game at 2-2 in the seventh on a “Seeing Eye” single that sent the game into extra innings.

In the eighth the Panthers added two runs putting the pressure back on the Bearcats. Northwest would answer as Rachael Schmitz belted a home run to straight away center to tie the game.

However that would be the end of the Bearcat offense, as Drury added another two runs in the top of the seventh; the Bearcats would go down in order in the bottom of the ninth ending the game.

Northwest returns to MIAA play hosting Washburn on Friday at Bearcat Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 3 p.m.

— NWMSU Sports Information —