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Category: Sports

St. Louis uses five-run seventh to take down Detroit

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DETROIT (AP) — The St. Louis Cardinals needed something to get them going on Sunday against the Detroit Tigers.

Out of nowhere — again — a squirrel appeared.

In an episode sure to revive St. Louis fans’ memories of the 2011 Rally Squirrel, this game at Comerica Park was scoreless going into the seventh inning. That’s when a squirrel took up residence between second and third base.

There was a delay and, with some prompting from the Tigers infield, the critter moved into foul territory and eventually made its escape in right field.

The Cardinals wound up scoring five times in the inning and avoided a series sweep with a 5-2 victory.

“I don’t think you can discount that factor,” manager Mike Shildt said. “The squirrel shows up and we score five runs. We only had six in the whole series before that.”

During the 2011 NL Division Series, a squirrel cut across the diamond at Busch Stadium, running right past home plate during a game against Philadelphia. The Cards went on to win the playoff series and later the championship — their World Series rings even depicted a squirrel.

“I don’t necessarily believe in superstitions like that,” said Cardinals shortstop Paul DeJong, who had a hit in the seventh. But he added: “Maybe you could call it the Rally Squirrel.”

The Cardinals lost the first two games of the series in walk-off fashion and didn’t have a baserunner until the sixth against Michael Fulmer.

St. Louis, which has a one-game lead for the second NL wild card spot, won for the third time in eight games.

“You never want to get swept by anybody,” said Kolten Wong, who drove in the Cardinals’ first run. “We knew they could be dangerous, because they have nothing to lose, and they gave us a battle. Luckily, we were able to get one.”

Detroit’s four-game winning streak was snapped.

John Gant (7-5) allowed two runs on five hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings. He struck out six.

“I knew I really needed to bear down, because we needed this game,” Gant said. “I had to go out there and give my best effort.”

Carlos Martinez pitched the ninth for his second save. After the game, Shildt said Martinez will replace Bud Norris as the team’s closer.

Fulmer (3-11) was perfect through five innings but only got four more outs. He allowed five runs on five hits and three walks in 6 1/3 innings, striking out five.

“He was cruising, and then everything fell apart behind him,” Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said. “We didn’t make a couple plays, we dropped a ball and they found a bunch of holes. I don’t think they hit a ball hard off him.”

Fulmer fell to 0-6 in his last nine starts, with the Tigers losing all nine.

“My job is to help this team win games, and I’m obviously not doing that,” he said. “But I can feel the progress every time. This is the best I’ve felt in two years.”

In the seventh, Marcell Ozuna and DeJong both hit infield singles with one out, and Wong followed with an RBI single to left. Yairo Munoz followed with a flyball down the right-field line that Niko Goodrum dropped, allowing the second run to score.

Greg Garcia was intentionally walked, loading the bases, and Carson Kelly hit the third infield single of the inning to make it 3-0. Victor Alcantara replaced Fulmer and allowed a sacrifice fly to Matt Carpenter before Jose Martinez’s RBI single gave the Cardinals a five-run lead.

“Fulmer was really tough, but we found some little holes,” Kelly said. “You never know when that squirrel will show up, but we needed it there.”

The Tigers got their two runs in the bottom of the seventh, thanks to doubles from Nicholas Castellanos, James McCann and Ronny Rodriguez.

Carpenter and Shildt were both ejected after Carpenter was called out on strikes to end the ninth.

ROSTER MOVES

The Tigers brought up three players from Triple-A Toledo, one day after the Mud Hens were eliminated from the International League playoffs. Prospect Christin Stewart is expected to play regularly in left field, while C Jarrod Saltalamacchia will serve as the third catcher and RHP Zac Reininger will add a bullpen arm. Stewart made his major-league debut, pinch-hitting for Ronny Rodriguez with two out in the ninth. He popped out to third to end the game.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Return home for a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Adam Wainwright (1-3, 4.00 ERA) starts Monday for the Cardinals against Pittsburgh’s Trevor Williams (12-9, 3.15).

Tigers: Justin Verlander (14-9, 2.73) returns to Comerica Park to face the Tigers on Monday in the first of a three-game series with the Houston Astros. Francisco Liriano (4-9, 4.90) starts for Detroit.

— Associated Press —

No. 25 Missouri Western splits two matches Saturday in Wichita

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WICHITA, Kan. – The 25th ranked Missouri Western volleyball team (7-4) went 1-1 on the final day of the 2018 Jet Classic, hosted by Newman University.

The Griffons made quick work of the host-school before getting into a five-set barn burner with St. Edward’s (8-4).

MATCH 1: #25 MWSU 3, Newman 0 (25-20, 25-11, 25-18)
The Griffons tied a season-high with eight aces and put up eight blocks in a dominant sweep of the host, Newman (1-7). Missouri Western had 60 points in the match to Newman’s 31; 44 kills to Newman’s 26 and the Griffons didn’t allow a single Newman ace in the match. Ali Tauchen had 11 kills on a .563 hitting percentage, five total blocks and two aces. Stephanie Doak had 15 kills to lead the Griffons. Lauren Murphy had 38 assists to go with four total blocks, seven digs and two aces.

MATCH 2: St. Edward’s 3, #25 MWSU 2 (23-25, 28-26, 23-25, 25-18, 27-29)
St. Edward’s prevented the Griffons from coming home with a 4-0 record on the weekend in a wild final match of the day for Missouri Western. The teams traded close sets back and forth before the Griffons used a 13-2 run to end the fourth set, forcing the fifth. Missouri Western jumped ahead early in the fifth and had the game at match point, 14-11 in the fifth. From then on it turned into a back-and-forth set with the Griffons struggling to get ahead before St. Edward’s claimed the set, 29-27 and the match 3-2. Stephanie Doak had a career-high 26 kills in the match and was one of five Griffons with double-digit kills. Lauren Murphy had a double-double with 70 assists and 18 digs. Shellby Taylor had 18 kills. Rachel Losch hit .308 with 10 kills and six total blocks. Ali Tauchen had 16 kills and Sam Duncan had 14.

UP NEXT
The Griffons finally get to play in front of a home crowd, unveiling the newly remodeled MWSU Fieldhouse and two banners from the record breaking 2017 season on Sept. 14 against No. 10 Central Missouri (9-2).

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou rolls up over 600 yards of offense in win over Wyoming

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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri quarterback Drew Lock usually dissects defenses with his arm. Wyoming learned the hard way that his legs have a little juice, too. Lock threw four touchdown passes and ran for another TD as the Tigers won 40-13 on Saturday night.

The senior quarterback is known for his gaudy passing numbers, and he added to them against the Cowboys, completing 33 of 45 passes for 398 yards. He added a career-high 51 rushing yards, which was almost half of his total for all of last season.

“I’m glad I could put that on film to show people I am athletic, even though I knew I was athletic the whole time,” Lock said with a laugh.

In the second quarter, Lock showed nifty footwork dodging defenders on a 12-yard touchdown scramble. He bowled over cornerback Antonio Hull to convert a third-and-7 play on the ensuing drive. He finished that possession with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tight end Albert Okwuegbunam that gave the Tigers a 16-0 halftime lead.

Missouri (2-0) scored on its first four possession of the second half to put the game out of reach.

“We got whupped,” Wyoming coach Craig Bohl said.

After a fruitless first half full of misfired pass attempts and stuffed runs, Wyoming (1-2) looked better offensively in the second half. Jevon Bigelow scored on a 7-yard touchdown run, and Cooper Rothe connected on field goals of 51 and 36 yards. Tyler Vander Waal completed 13 of 28 passes for 160 yards.

THE TAKEAWAY

Wyoming: Senior running back Nico Evans, who had rushed for 279 yards in the first two games, didn’t make the trip to Missouri. Without Evans, who injured his ribs in the third quarter of Wyoming’s loss to Washington State on Sept. 1, the Cowboys rushed for 88 yards against the Tigers.

Missouri: Emanuel Hall didn’t even start the first four games of last season, but since then he has established himself as one of the nation’s most productive wide receivers. Hall caught 10 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown against Wyoming, giving him 14 catches for 342 yards in two games. “He’s matured as a competitor,” Missouri coach Barry Odom said. “He’s matured in his ability to prepare the right way during the week. He has grown up. He has the ability at times to take over a game.”

UP NEXT

Wyoming: The Cowboys will host FCS opponent Wofford on Saturday.

Missouri: The Tigers will try to avenge last year’s 35-3 loss to Purdue when they play the Boilermakers in West Lafayette, Ind.

— Associated Press —

Woerth earned 100th career win in Northwest’s victory over Newman

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WICHITA, Kansas – Northwest Missouri State head volleyball coach Amy Woerth earned her 100th career coaching victory Saturday night as the Bearcats topped Newman University in a three-set sweep. Northwest won by set scores of 25-17, 25-21, 25-15.

Woerth becomes the fourth Northwest volleyball coach to reach the 100-win plateau. Sarah Pelster (199 from 1991-2002), Pam Stanek (176 from 1977-1981) and Susie Homan (105 from 1982-1984) were the previous three Bearcat mentors to win at least 100 matches.

Maddy Bruder secured her fifth double-double of the season with 15 kills (.419) and 13 digs.

Sofia Schleppenbach hit .500 with 10 kills and added a team-best five blocks. Bethany Elkins recorded nine kills (.412) and produced four blocks.

Northwest limited Newman to .019 hitting percentage as the Jets had 25 kills against 23 errors.

Northwest will return to the court Friday as the Bearcats embark on MIAA play against Lindenwood. First serve is set for 7 p.m. in Bearcat Arena.

NOTES: Bruder has recorded 47 career double-doubles … the Bearcats won all three matches at the Jet Classic in 3-0 sweeps … Northwest is 8-0 in three-set matches this season.

— Northwest Athletics —

Kansas State falls at home to No. 18 Mississippi State 31-10

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MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) — There was so much attention being paid to Mississippi State quarterback Nick Fitzgerald’s return to the field Saturday that nobody paid much to running back Kylin Hill.

Certainly not the Kansas State defense. Not even himself, really.

After Hill ran for 211 yards and accounted for three scores, and after the No. 18 Bulldogs’ swarming defense shut down the Wildcats in a 31-10 rout, the sophomore running back acknowledged he wasn’t even sure how many yards he’d piled up during the game.

“I honestly don’t know,” Hill insisted. “Having Fitz back there helped because they were already watching him, so that opened up holes for me. He’s a great overall player — NFL-caliber.”

Yes, the senior quarterback had his share of highlights, too. He threw for 154 yards and two touchdowns, ran for another 159 yards , and paced an offense that piled up 538 yards total in giving the Bulldogs (2-0) their first Power Five road win since beating Baylor in September 1995.

Not bad considering it was also Fitzgerald’s first game since last November. He missed their bowl game after a serious foot injury against Ole Miss, and then was suspended for last week’s season opener.

“It’s always good to go out there and finally get to reap the rewards of all the hard work that you’ve put in with your teammates,” he said. “It was amazing to get out there.”

Pretty amazing watching his running back work, too.

“He works his butt off every day,” Fitzgerald said. “You knew he was going to have a big day. I never once thought he was going to get tackled behind the line of scrimmage, I think it happened once?”

Hill and Fitzgerald helped the Bulldogs to a 17-3 lead over the Wildcats (1-1), despite a sloppy, penalty-filled first half. But it was a 95-yard march in the third quarter that put the game away, when Hill ripped off a 52-yard run and Fitzgerald capped it with a touchdown toss.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats’ two-quarterback system of Skylar Thompson and Alex Delton struggled to get going. Thompson was 7 of 17 for 86 yards and a touchdown while running for 34 yards, and Delton was 2 of 4 for 14 yards with an interception that led to the Bulldogs’ TD late in the first half.

“Just disappointing,” Delton said. “We’re not where we should be when you look at our talent. We’ve scored what, two touchdowns in two games? That’s pitiful.”

The bright spot for Kansas State was bruising running back Alex Barnes, who finished with 75 yards rushing. But even he was held in check by a Mississippi State defense, led by tackle Jeffrey Simmons and end Montez Sweat, that had 17 tackles for loss in its opener.

In truth, they had their way with the Wildcats’ veteran offensive line, which coughed up four sacks and managed only 213 yards total offense. Kansas State’s only touchdown came in the third quarter, when Fitzgerald threw an interception that set up a short field.

“I wouldn’t take anything away from Mississippi State,” Wildcats coach Bill Snyder said, “but as I’ve said so many times it’s not about who you line up against. It’s about us. We just haven’t played as well as we’re capable of playing.”

THE TAKEWAY

Mississippi State: Fitzgerald and Hill made life miserable for the Wildcats’ with the read-option, essentially beating Kansas State at its own game. Fitzgerald was just 11 of 27 passing, though, which could be a byproduct of his rust. “He was a little amped up,” Mississippi State coach Joe Moorhead said. “He made some good throws. He did some great things by improvisation.”

Kansas State: Despite returning all five starters on the offensive line, Kansas State struggled up front against the Bulldogs. Thompson and Delton were under constant duress, and Barnes often had to avoid first contact in the backfield. It made for a stagnant offense all afternoon.

TOSSED FOR TARGETING

Bulldogs safety Johnathan Abram was ejected after getting called for targeting early in the fourth quarter. Abram launched himself into a helmet-to-helmet blow on kick returner Duke Shelley.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

The Bulldogs haven’t done anything to hurt their poll positioning, acing their biggest test until they face Florida on Sept. 29. They have Louisiana and a trip to Kentucky the next two weeks.

UP NEXT

Mississippi State: Louisiana heads to Starkville to face the Bulldogs next Saturday night.

Kansas State: Texas-San Antonio visits Manhattan for the Wildcats’ final nonconference game.

— Associated Press —

Nebraska loses Frost’s debut against Colorado 33-28

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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Steven Montez couldn’t bear to watch.

Colorado’s quarterback had just connected with Laviska Shenault Jr. for the go-ahead touchdown, and now Nebraska backup Andrew Bunch had the Cornhuskers at the CU 20 in the final minute.

“I knew if the crowd went crazy, they probably scored,” Montez said. “I knew our defense was going to do it right. They were going to play good regardless. But I didn’t want to watch that last play.”

Montez might have been the only person in Memorial Stadium who missed seeing Bunch’s last pass sail over JD Spielman in the back corner of the end zone, allowing the Buffaloes to win 33-28 on Saturday and spoil Scott Frost’s debut as the Huskers’ coach.

There was no lack of drama in the teams’ first meeting since 2010, the last season in the Big 12 for both. Though they went their separate ways after some 60 years as conference mates — the Huskers to the Big Ten and the Buffs to the Pac-12 — this game had the look and feel of some of the classics from yesteryear.

“For three quarters I was having about as much fun as I ever had in my life, doing it back home,” said Frost, who returned to his home state to take over the program he quarterbacked to a share of the 1997 national title. “We’ve got to learn lessons to be able to win games like that. When you’re trying to become a good team, you don’t find ways to lose games, especially close ones. You find ways to win them.”

Nebraska (0-1) lost fumbles on its first two possessions and spotted the Buffs a 14-0 lead. Adrian Martinez, the first Nebraska true freshman to start an opener at quarterback, scored the second of his two touchdowns to put the Huskers up 21-14 late in the first half. His 57-yard pass to Spielman made it 28-20 in the third.

CU (2-0) wrested momentum at that point. Montez’s 8-yard pass to Jay MacIntyre made it a one-point game, and the Buffs missed two chances to take the lead when James Stefanou was wide right and left with two field-goal tries. But Nebraska couldn’t put the Buffs away, failing to convert a fourth-and-1 and Martinez throwing an interception before Montez got his last chance.

“After (Stefanou) missed the second one,” coach Mike MacIntyre said, “our defensive guys were in the huddle saying, `We’re going to stop them.’ The offensive guys were saying, `We’re going to get the ball and go down and score.’ I didn’t have to say a word.”

Colorado (2-0) got the ball for the last time with 2:23 left after Martinez went out of the game because of an injury.

Montez moved the Buffaloes from their 23 to the Nebraska 41 before Ben Stille sacked him to set up a third-and-19 that became third and 24 after a false start. Montez overthrew Jay MacIntyre over the middle, but safety Antonio Reed was called for a personal foul for hitting the defenseless receiver.

“I got drilled,” Jay MacIntyre said. “I kind of made eye contact before he hit me. We got a 15-yarder, so I’m glad he hit me.”

Given new life, Montez hit Shenault along the right sideline for 40 yards and the go-ahead score with 1:06 to play.

The Huskers (0-1) were playing their opener a week late. Last week’s game against Akron was cancelled right after the opening kickoff because of inclement weather.

“I will never make an excuse, but having a game last week certainly probably would have helped the way we came out and played,” Frost said. “It is what it is. Those are the cards dealt to us.”

Montez was 33 of 50 for 351 yards and three touchdowns, with Shenault catching 10 balls for 177 yards.

“Beating Nebraska is great, but it doesn’t taste nearly as good as a Pac-12 championship,” Montez said.

THE TAKEAWAY

Colorado: Montez continues to stamp himself as one of the premier quarterbacks in the Pac-12, making play after play on a day when the running game couldn’t gain traction.

Nebraska: Martinez had a splendid debut before getting hurt, and the defense looks much better than the unit that ranked among the worst in the nation last year. The Huskers had seven sacks after having only 14 last season.

QUOTE TO NOTE

“I got to live two dreams as the head coach of Colorado today. I got to beat Nebraska, which hasn’t been done by Colorado in a long time. And I got to watch my son play, and he made some plays. To get to see him play and do what he did today, that was the dad’s special time.” — Mike MacIntyre on coaching the Buffs to their first win over Nebraska since 2007 and son Jay’s eight catches, including two for TDs.

RARITY FOR THE RUN

Nebraska rushed for 329 yards, its most since going for 458 against Illinois in 2014. Martinez had 117 yards and Greg Bell added 104. Nebraska is now 50-1 at home and 75-3 overall when having two rushers go for 100 yards in the same game.

UP NEXT

Colorado plays at home against FCS opponent New Hampshire.

Nebraska hosts Troy, which visits Lincoln for the fifth time in 18 years.

— Associated Press —

Kansas routs Central Michigan, snaps 46-game road skid

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MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (AP) — Freshman Pooka Williams rushed for 125 yards and two touchdowns as Kansas snapped the second-longest road losing streak in college football history at 46 games, winning 31-7 at Central Michigan on Saturday.

Central Michigan quarterback Tony Poljan was intercepted four times by Kansas (1-1), which won on the road for the first time since Sept. 12, 2009. The Kansas streak was only topped by Idaho State, which lost 48 straight through 2014.

“For our program, for our fans, for our stakeholders, that was really important,” Kansas coach David Beaty said. “Our fans deserve it, and they deserve better.”

Williams was held out of the opener last week for the Jayhawks, a 26-23 overtime loss to Football Championship Subdivision Nicholls. Beaty declined to say why and said he found out late Friday night that Williams would be available on Saturday.

Central Michigan had one first down in the first half, compiling 60 yards on 20 snaps. The Chippewas (0-2) did not cross midfield until there was 7:54 remaining in the third quarter and turned the ball over six times.

“I felt like we left a lot out on the field,” Central Michigan coach John Bonamego said. “I still maintain that all of the mistakes we are making right now self-inflicted and if we can continue to improve and correct these mistakes that we will be a very good football team.”

Kansas quarterback Peyton Bender was 17-of-26 passing for 130 yards, connecting with wide receiver Kerr Johnson Jr. for a 31-yard touchdown to open the scoring.

After two Williams scores, Central Michigan cut the lead to 21-7 on a 31-yard reception by Jamil Sabbagh from Poljan in the third quarter.

But on the first play of the fourth quarter, Shakial Taylor of Kansas went up for an interception and returned it 55 yards for a touchdown and a 28-7 lead.

“We’re looking forward to starting a new beginning and starting a little win streak here,” Beaty said. “We think we’ve got a pretty good football team if we continue working and continue limiting the mistakes that we make.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Kansas: With the historic losing streak behind the Jayhawks in their best chance to snap it this season, Beaty’s team can go one week without its coach on the hot seat. Athletic director Jeff Long released a statement after last week’s loss to Nicholls, saying the evaluation of the program was “ongoing.”

Central Michigan: The Chippewas are 0-2 against Power 5 basketball powerhouse schools after losing 35-20 last week at Kentucky. At least the offense moved the chains a few times late for Central Michigan, which was scoreless in the second half last week and in the first half on Saturday.

UP NEXT

Kansas: Hosts Rutgers on Sept. 15 looking for Beaty’s second Power 5 win in his fourth season with the Jayhawks.

Central Michigan: Plays at Northern Illinois on Sept. 15 in the Mid-American Conference opener.

— Associated Press —

Area High School Football Scores – Friday, September 7

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CITY
Park Hill South 18 (1-2, 1-0 Suburban Red)
@ Central 0 (0-3, 0-2 Suburban Red)

Savannah 83 (1-2, 1-0 MEC)
@ Bishop LeBlond 14 (0-3, 0-1 MEC)

Benton (0-2, 0-0 MEC) SATURDAY 6 PM
@ Lafayette (2-0, 0-0 MEC)

St. Joseph Christian (0-2, 0-2 GRC) OPEN WEEK

AREA
MEC
Chillicothe 0 (0-3, 0-1 MEC)
@ Maryville 47 (2-1, 1-0 MEC)

St. Piux X 28 (2-1, 1-0 MEC)
@ Cameron 14 (2-1, 0-1 MEC)

KCI
Hamilton 22 (2-1, 0-1 KCI)
@ East Buchanan (3-0, 1-0 KCI)

Mid-Buchanan 7 (2-1, 0-1 KCI)
@ Lathrop 48 (3-0, 1-0 KCI)

North Platte 28 (1-2, 1-0 KCI)
@ Plattsburg 6 (1-2, 0-1 KCI)

Lawson 43 (3-0, 1-0 KCI)
@ West Platte 21 (1-2, 0-1 KCI)

GRC
South Harrison 12 (2-1, 1-0 GRC)
@ Putnam County 0 (1-2, 0-1 GRC)

Milan 41 (3-0, 1-0 GRC)
@ Maysville 14 (0-3, 0-1 GRC)

Trenton 7 (0-3, 0-1 GRC)
@ Gallatin 31 (2-1, 1-0 GRC)

Princeton 20 (2-1, 1-0 GRC)
@ Polo 0 (0-3, 0-1 GRC)

8-MAN
GRC
King City (2-0, 1-0 GRC) SATURDAY 2 PM
@ Stanberry (2-0, 2-0 GRC)

North Andrew (1-1, 1-1 GRC) SATURDAY 6 PM
@ Pattonsburg (2-0, 2-0 GRC)

Braymer 6 (0-3, 0-3 GRC)
@ Worth County 70 (3-0, 1-0 GRC)

Albany 6 (1-2, 0-1 GRC)
@ Mound City 58 (3-0, 2-0 275)

275
East Atchison 62 (2-1, 2-1 275)
@ South Holt / Nodaway Holt 38 (0-3, 0-2 275)

Southwest Livingston 48 (3-0, 3-0 275)
@ DeKalb 40 (1-2, 0-2 275)

Stewartsville 32 (1-2, 1-2 275)
@ Rock Port 54 (3-0, 3-0 275)

Platte Valley 40 (1-2, 1-2 275)
@ North-West Nodaway 30 (0-3, 0-3 275)

MWSU soccer comes up short at Augustana 1-0

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – An Augustana (1-1-1) goal in the 16th minute Friday night was the difference in an otherwise even game as the Missouri Western soccer team (1-2) lost 1-0 to the Vikings.

Julie Plonsky snuck a shot by Anna Mayer with an assist from Peyton Stenzel that gave the home team a 1-0 win over Missouri Western. It was the only of nine Augustana shots on goal to get past the Griffons’ freshman goalkeeper. The Vikings’ nine shots on goal to the Griffons’ three was the biggest discrepancy on the stat sheet. Missouri Western had 10 shots to Augustana’s 14. Eleven of Augie’s shots came after halftime to make the final tally look a little different.

Lillian Davis led Missouri Western with four shots. Mayer ended with a season-high eight saves. It was the first time this season the freshman played all 90 minutes.

The Griffons stay in Sioux Falls for the weekend, playing at the University of Sioux Falls (1-2), Sunday at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals drop third straight as they fall at Minnesota 10-6

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MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Eddie Rosario homered, Ehire Adrianza had three hits and three RBI and the Minnesota Twins beat the Kansas City Royals 10-6 on Friday night to snap a five-game skid.

Trevor May (4-1), one of six Minnesota relievers, picked up the win with two shutout innings.

Salvador Perez homered and Jorge Bonifacio had three hits for the Royals, who have lost three straight after winning eight of nine.

Minnesota broke a 6-6 tie with a three-run fifth. Max Kepler and Adrianza had RBI singles against Glenn Sparkman (0-3). Rosario tacked on his team-leading 23rd home run leading off the eighth.

The Twins gave starter Stephen Gonsalves an early lead on Adrianza’s two-run single in the second, but the Royals knocked him out with a six-run outburst in the third. Gonsalves, one of Minnesota’s top pitching prospects, got through the first two innings without much trouble, but the second time through the order was a different story.

After No. 9 hitter Cam Gallagher flew out to start the third, the next five batters reached base against Gonsalves. Alex Gordon’s two-run double tied the score at 2-2, and two batters later Bonifacio singled home Gordon to end Gonsalves’ night.

Perez greeted reliever Alan Busenitz with a three-run homer into the bullpens in left-center. His 24th home run of the season gave the Royals a 6-2 lead.

The Twins sent Royals starter Heath Fillmyer to a similar fate in the bottom of the inning, knocking him out as five of the first six batters reached base. Jake Cave hit an RBI double and scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at 6.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Brett Phillips is day-to-day with a shoulder contusion he suffered running into the wall in Cleveland on Tuesday.

Twins: Rosario returned to the lineup after missing six games with sore quadriceps, but 3B Miguel Sano remained sidelined with a lower left leg bruise suffered on Tuesday in Houston.

UP NEXT

Royals: In the second game of the series Saturday evening, RHP Jorge Lopez (1-4, 2.24 ERA) makes his fifth start for the Royals since being acquired from Milwaukee in the Mike Moustakas deal. His last time out he held the Orioles to one run over seven innings while striking out eight in a 9-1 victory.

Twins: RHP Jose Berrios (11-10, 3.92), the Twins’ lone 2018 All-Star, will try to turn it around against the Royals. In his last seven starts he’s 1/3 with a 5.67 ERA.

— Associated Press —

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