 ST. JOSEPH- Griffon baseball (16-13) won its second straight game with an 8-3 victory over Missouri Southern (19-11).
Faced with two outs is when Missouri Western did its most damage. MWSU scored four of its eight runs with two outs including two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Back-to-back singles from Maurice Bruce and Casey Danley gave the Griffons an early 3-1 lead. In the fifth inning, Dusty Stroup sent a two-run home run to left center-field and extended the lead to 5-1. An inning later, a two-out error led to Missouri Western adding a run when Bailey Zimmer scored from first base on a Casey Danley single to center. The Griffons added runs in the bottom of the 7th and 8th inning to secure the win. NOTABLES
UP NEXT |
Category: Sports
Bearcats get swept at home by Northern State Friday
The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team dropped a pair of non-conference games against Northern State in Maryville, Mo.
– The Bearcats fall to 17-14 overall while the Wolves improve to 9-11 overall.
Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 0, Northern State 6)
– Northern State scored one run in the first, four in the second and one in the fourth inning.
– Northwest had no runs on six hits with two errors. The Wolves scored six times on 11 hits with one error.
– Kevin Handzlik finished the first game 2-for-3.
– Hudson Bilodeau was 1-for-4.
– Mondesi Gutierrez went 1-for-4.
– Luke Hassman was 1-for-3.
– Jay Hrdlicka went 1-for-2 with a walk.
Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 3 , Northern State 12)
– Northwest scored two runs in the second and one in the fourth inning. The Wolves scored two in the first and second, one in the fifth, four in the seventh, one in the eighth and two in the ninth inning.
– The Bearcats had three runs on eight hits and two errors. Northern State had 12 runs on 21 hits and no errors.
– Hudson Bilodeau finished the day 2-for-5 with on run scored and a double.
– Landon Figg finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
– Derek Hussey went 2-for-4 with one RBI and a double.
– Aaron Barratt was 1-for-3 with one run scored, a double, one walk and a stolen base.
– Logan Rycraft went 1-for-4 with one run scored.
Game Two Key Innings
– After an out, Rycraft singled to the shortstop and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bilodeau singled to left field and quickly advanced to second on a wild pitch. Figg hit a two out single to right center to score Rycraft and Bilodeua and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.
– Barratt drew a one out walk in the fifth, promptly stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Hussey hit a two out double down the left field line to score Barratt to give the Bearcats another run.
Up Next
– Northwest will take on Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday, April 3rd at 3 p.m in Maryville, Mo.
Missouri Western softball drops two games at Central Missouri
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Griffon Softball (16-21, 8-4) dropped both games of a doubleheader at Central Missouri (21-15, 10-2) on Friday afternoon.
Central Missouri took game one, 4-1 and game two, 4-2, out-hitting Missouri Western 17-12 in the doubleheader. The sweep gave Central Missouri five-straight wins and Missouri Western its third-straight loss.
NOTABLES
– Rebekah Mueller went 2-for-2 on the day with four walks and a run scored
– Gabi Carter went 3-for-6 on the day
– Shelbie Atwell went 3-for-7 in the doubleheader
– Markee Brown drove in two runs without a hit
– Kenzie Hilzer did not allow a walk and held UCM to two earned runs in game one
UP NEXT
The road trip continues for the Griffons at Southwest Baptist (12-21, 2-8) on Saturday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in Bolivar.
— MWSU Athletics —
No. 22 Missouri loses series opener at No. 16 Auburn
AUBURN, Ala. – Mizzou Baseball dropped its series opener to No. 16 Auburn, 5-2, Friday night (March 30) at Plainsman Park. Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) hit a leadoff homer on the first pitch of the game before Auburn starter – projected first round draft pick Casey Mize – tossed 7.1 innings in his sixth win of the season. He allowed two runs on five hits without a walk while striking out seven. It was his fewest strikeouts in a start this season and just the fourth time he has allowed multiple runs in a start.
Mizzou sophomore LHP T.J. Sikkema (DeWitt, Iowa) took the loss, his first of the season, after allowing four runs on six hits over 6.0 innings. Auburn tagged him for two runs in the bottom of the first and two more in the bottom of the sixth to put the game away.
Mizzou falls to 19-7 (3-4 SEC) while Auburn improves to 22-5and 4-3 in SEC play.
TURNING POINT
With Mizzou trailing 2-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, Auburn finally got to Mizzou starter T.J. Sikkema after the first-inning barrage. Sikkema walked the leadoff man Will Holland, despite getting ahead 1-2. He then walked Steven Williams despite being up 0-2 and three-hole hitter Brendan Venter made him pay, roping a single to right field to extend Auburn’s lead to 3-1. The home Tigers added a run a sacrifice fly and took a 4-1 lead.
Mizzou cut the lead to 4-2 in the top of the seventh on a sacrifice bunt by Connor Brumfield (Columbia, Mo.), but Auburn DH Edouard Julien hit a leadoff homer in the bottom half of the frame and that was all the scoring Friday.
TOP TIGERS
– Senior OF Trey Harris homered on the first pitch of the game, taking a fastball to left center for his third homer of the year. He has reached base safely in 18 straight games.
– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner doubled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to eight games. It was his team-leading ninth double of the season. He has reached base in 18 straight games and hit safely in eight.
NOTES
– Despite the loss, Mizzou still leads the all-time series with Auburn, 10-5.
– Mizzou falls to 5-2 on Fridays this season.
– Mizzou is now 11-5 in three-game series this season.
– Mizzou falls to 4-4 on the road and 6-6 away from home this season.
– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner doubled in the first inning, extending his hitting streak to eight games. It was his team-leading ninth double of the season. He has reached base in 18 straight games.
– Senior OF Trey Harris has reach base in 18 straight games as well after his first-inning homer.
– Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 12th time in the last 16 games. On the year, Mizzou has scored in the first inning in 15 of 26 games, going 13-2 in those contests.
UP NEXT
Mizzou and Auburn play game two of their three-game set Saturday at 6 p.m.
— Mizzou Athletics —
Northwest Missouri State softball sweeps Southwest Baptist
The Northwest Missouri State University softball team swept Southwest Baptist in a conference double header in Bolivar, Mo.
The Bearcats (18-10) won the first game, 5-0, and the second game, 9-2.
Game One Key Statistics (Northwest 5, Southwest Baptist 0)
– The Bearcats scored two runs in the third and two in the seventh inning. .
– Northwest had two runs on seven hits with one error. SBU scored no runs on four hits and no errors.
– Rebecca Maher finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBIs, two runs scored, one walk and two home-runs.
– Sydne Brashear was 2-for-3 with one double.
– Jaedra Moses went 2-for-4.
– Karli Allen was 1-for-3.
– Kiana Baderdeen finished 1-for-3 with one run scored.
– Taylor Blackford threw seven shutout innings allowed four hits and did not record a walk.
Game One Key Innings
– After two outs, Baderdeen singled to center field and then came around to score on a two run homerun by Maher to give the Bearcats a 2-0 lead.
– Allen started off the inning with a single to right field and Lynnlee Parrott came in to pinch run. Parrott advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Brashear and moved to third on a fielder’s choice by Baderdeen. Both runners would come in to score on Maher’s second homerun of the game to make the score 5-0.
Game Two Key Statistics (Northwest 9 , Southwest Baptist 2 )
– Northwest scored four runs in the first, three in the fifth and two in the seventh inning. SBU scored two runs in the seventh inning.
– The Bearcats had nine runs on 10 hits with one error. Southwest Baptist had two runs on five hits with three errors.
– Kaitlyn Weis finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs, two runs scored and a homerun.
– Erin Keeney was perfect from the plate going 3-for-3 with one RBI, one run scored and a walk.
– Maher went 1-for-2 with two runs scored and three walks.
– Abigail Gilson was 1-for-4 with one run scored, two RBIs and a homerun.
– Brashear went 1-for-3 with two walks and one run scored.
– Parrott was 1-for-1.
– Rachel Smith threw a complete seven inning game allowed five hits and two runs.
Game Two Key Innings
– Maher led off the first with a walk and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Moses. Weis would then bring Maher around to score on a two-run homerun to right field. Keeney kept the hitting going with a single to center field. After an out, Gilson brought Keeney home on another two-run homerun to right field and gave the Bearcats a 4-0 lead.
– Brashear drew a one out walk in the fifth and after another out, Maher and Moses both drew walks. Brashear and Maher came in to score on a single to right field by Weis. Keeney kept the inning going with a single to right field to score Moses from third.
– Moses got the inning going after she reached safely on an error. Weis singled down the left field line and Parrott singled to third base to load the bases. Jessica Rawie walked to advance the runners and score Moses. After a wild pitch all runners advanced and Weis scored from third to give the Bearcats a 9-0 lead.
Up Next
– Northwest will take on University of Central Missouri on Saturday in Warrensburg, Mo., in a double header starting at noon.
— Northwest Athletics —
MWSU men’s golf finishes third at Upper Iowa Invitational
WAYNE, Neb. – Griffon men’s golf shot a 595 and placed third at the Upper Iowa Invitational held at the Wayne Country Club. Missouri Western had four players place inside the 16 of the individual field and was a stroke back from second place.
Patrick McCarthy and Cole Roberts both tied for 10th place with a 4-over-par 148. Lucas Horseman tied for 13th with a six-over-par 150, his second top-13 finish of the season. Jacob Majeske finished a stroke behind Horseman with a seven-over-par 151. Kevin Kim rounded out the MWSU scorecard with a 156.
Nebraska Kearney won the team title with a 577. UNK’s Jay Cottam won individual honors with a 4-under-par 140. Missouri Western travels to the Central Region preview on April 9 and 10 at Missouri Bluffs Golf Course in St. Charles, Missouri.
— MWSU Athletics —
Northwest Missouri State defeats Northern State for fifth straight win
The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team took game one against Northern State, 9-2, on Thursday in Maryville, Mo.
The Bearcats improve to 17-12 overall while the Wolves fall to 7-11 overall.
Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored two runs in the first, second, third, and fourth and one in the seventh inning. Northern State had one run in the first and one in the third inning.
– The Bearcats had nine runs on nine hits and no errors. The Wolves had two runs on five hits with one error.
– Mondesi Gutierrez went 2-for-5 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two stolen bases.
– Hudson Bilodeau was 1-for-4 with two runs scored and one walk.
– Landon Figg finished 1-for-4 with one walk.
– Kevin Handzlik went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, a sacrifice fly and a walk.
– Aaron Barratt was 1-for-3 with one walk, one stolen base and a RBI.
– Matt Schingel went 1-for-3 with a walk and one run scored.
– Derek Hussey finished 1-for-3 with one RBI, a sacrifice fly, one stolen base and a run scored.
– Logan Rycraft was 1-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored and a double.
– Luke Hassman went 1-for-3 with one walk.
– Brad Roberts threw seven innings only allowed two runs on four hits and struck out 11 batters.
Key Northwest Innings
– To start the first inning, Bilodeau singled to the first baseman and advanced to second on a fielder’s choice by Guiterrez. Figg singled to right field to load the bases with no outs. Hassman reached base on a fielder’s choice to short and Bilodeau was able to score on the play. Gutierrez came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Handzlik to right field to give the Bearcats a 2-1 lead.
– After an out, Rycraft and Bilodeau drew back-to-back walks and advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Gutierrez singled to center field to score Rycraft and Bilodeau and made the score 4-1.
– Schingel drew a two out walk to get a rally going for the Bearcats in the bottom of the third inning. Hussey would then move him to third on a single to center field. Hussey promptly stole second to put runners on second and third. Rycraft would bring both runners in on a double to right center and increased the Bearcat lead to 6-2.
– Gutierrez started the fourth inning with a single to center field, and moved to second on a one out walk by Hassman. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch and Gutierrez would come in to score on a fielder’s choice by Handzlik. Barratt hit a two out single up the middle to score Hassman from third and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.
– To start the seventh inning, Handzlik singled up the middle and after an out moved to third on a single to right field by Schingel. Hussey brought Handzlik in on a sacrifice fly to centerfield to make the score 9-2.
Up Next
– The Bearcats will take on Northern State University for a double header on Friday, March 30, starting at noon in Maryville, Mo.
— Northwest Athletics —
Royals get clobbered by White Sox in season opener 14-7
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Most days, Tim Anderson’s performance would have made him the star.
Matt Davidson showed up his Chicago White Sox teammate.
The young designated hitter became the fourth player in major league history to homer three times on opening day , while Anderson had to settle for just two of Chicago’s six home runs , and the White Sox pounded the Kansas City Royals 14-7 on Thursday to spoil their 50th anniversary celebration.
“I just couldn’t catch him,” Anderson said with a smile.
Of the four players with three-homer opening days, three have done it against the Royals, while the six homers by Chicago on opening day matched the big league record set by the Mets in 1988.
Jose Abreu also went deep for the White Sox, who picked up James Shields (1-0) in a big way after the former Royals ace surrendered four runs in the first inning. Shields wound up lasting six innings, holding Kansas City without a hit after that shaky first.
Yolmer Sanchez added a three-run single and Yoan Moncada drove in a pair of runs for the White Sox, who forced Royals manager Ned Yost to burn through nine pitchers.
“The boys did an unbelievable job hitting today. It was amazing to watch,” Shields said. “I told them, `You don’t see that many home runs at Kauffman Stadium this early in the year.”
Danny Duffy (0-1) breezed through three innings for Kansas City, but a trio of homers in a five-run fourth ruined his day. The left-hander survived the inning before hitting the clubhouse.
“I think they were heater-hunting,” Duffy said. “One inning, I gave up three homers. Not ideal.”
Despite a cold rain and steel-gray skies, the Royals looked early on as if they would reward the hardy fans who turned out to celebrate the start of their golden anniversary season.
Longtime third baseman Mike Moustakas, who signed a one-year deal during spring training, provided an RBI single in the first before new first baseman Lucas Duda hit a three-run homer to right.
Everything unraveled when the fourth inning began.
Abreu led off a homer binge with a two-run shot , Davidson followed with his first home run , and Anderson added his first two batters later . By the time Moncada added an RBI double off Duffy later in the fourth inning, Chicago had turned a four-run hole into a 5-4 advantage.
“We did the same thing to Shields that they did to Danny in the fourth. We jumped him early,” Yost said. “He was making pitches we could drive and after the first inning really just reeled it back in and pitched a great game.”
Davidson and Anderson went deep again in the fifth off Royals reliever Blaine Boyer, and Sanchez tacked on a bases-clearing single off Burch Smith with two outs in the seventh.
Davidson capped his big game with a three-run homer off Brian Flynn in the eighth , becoming the first White Sox player with a three-homer game since Dan Johnson in October 2012.
“Special day in anybody’s book,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “Just in general, I thought it was a nice start. We fell behind early and that seemed to matter not to any of the guys.”
MORE HOMER NEWS
Davidson and Anderson are the eighth set of teammates with multi-homer days on opening day. The previous was Toronto’s Shannon Stewart and Tony Batista on April 3, 2000, against Kansas City. … The only other White Sox players to have multihomer games on opening day are Alejandro De Aza (2014), Jim Thome (2008), Sammy Sosa (1991) and Minnie Minoso (1960). … The others to homer three times on opening day were Detroit’s Dmitri Young (2005), the Cubs’ Tuffy Rhodes (1994) and Toronto’s George Bell (1988).
TRAINER’S ROOM
Royals: C Salvador Perez (left knee sprain), RHP Nate Karns (right elbow inflammation), INF Adalberto Mondesi (right shoulder impingement) and OF Bubba Starling (left oblique strain) were placed on the DL before the game. Perez is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, though Karns could be back soon.
White Sox: Hard-throwing LHP Carlos Rodon (left shoulder rehab) and C Kevan Smith (sprained left ankle) were placed on the DL retroactive to Monday.
MORE MOVES
The Royals also designated for assignment pitchers Wily Peralta and Ryan Zimmer, selected the contracts of INF Ryan Goins and RHP Blaine Boyer and recalled C Cam Gallagher from Triple-A Omaha. The White Sox selected the contract of LHP Hector Santiago.
UP NEXT
The teams are off Friday before resuming their series this weekend. The White Sox will send RHP Lucas Giolito the mound Saturday night while the Royals counter with RHP Ian Kennedy.
— Associated Press —
Cardinals fall to the Mets 9-4
NEW YORK (AP) — Mickey Callaway’s first game as a manager with the Mets went exactly according to plan.
Yoenis Cespedes drove in three runs and newcomer Adrian Gonzalez hit a go-ahead double to lead Noah Syndergaard and New York past the St. Louis Cardinals 9-4 in their opener Thursday.
Syndergaard (1-0) struck out 10 and walked none in six innings after missing most of last season with a torn lat muscle.
Leadoff man Brandon Nimmo, subbing for injured All-Star Michael Conforto, reached safely four times and scored twice as the Mets chased a furious Carlos Martinez in their five-run fifth inning to make Callaway a winner at sold-out Citi Field.
“It feels great,” Callaway said. “What a ballpark. All of us, the coaches, were sitting there going, man, this is something special. This is a different place than most.”
The 35-year-old Gonzalez also was on base four times with two hits and two walks in his New York debut. The five-time All-Star first baseman was signed for the major league minimum during the offseason after struggling with a bad back last year with the Dodgers.
“Obviously, getting off to a good start is huge, both personally and as a team. I think we accomplished both,” he said.
Yadier Molina hit an early two-run homer for St. Louis that clanged off the left-field foul pole . Jose Martinez (3 for 4) also went deep against Syndergaard and knocked in two but committed a run-scoring throwing error at first base.
“I was mad at myself not making that play, for sure. I put Carlos in a tough situation right there,” Jose Martinez said. “I don’t feel very happy with my performance, because that play was huge for us.”
New York got hitless relief from Robert Gsellman, newcomer Anthony Swarzak and closer Jeurys Familia to finish with 15 strikeouts in an opener played only hours after the death of former Mets star Rusty Staub .
“I thought it was a great team win. A lot of fun,” Syndergaard said. “Kind of kicking myself in the butt for allowing that Martinez guy to get a little too comfortable, but that won’t happen again.”
Todd Frazier, also making his Mets debut, drew a one-out walk from Carlos Martinez (0-1) in the fifth and scored from first on Gonzalez’s double into the right-field corner for a 4-3 lead.
Syndergaard, who threw his first three pitches 99 mph , helped himself with a sacrifice bunt, and young shortstop Amed Rosario — batting ninth behind the pitcher — delivered a two-run single .
Cespedes, who had a two-run single in the second, chased Carlos Martinez with an RBI single . The two-time All-Star pitcher, who walked six, really went wild once he got to the bench, knocking over a bucket of bubble gum.
“I didn’t have command,” he said. “In the last game (of) the spring I was comfortable, so I don’t know what happened.”
Jay Bruce, back after the Mets traded him to Cleveland last August, added an RBI single off Matt Bowman to cap the outburst.
“I put our lineup against anyone,” Bruce said. “We have veteran guys. We have young guys with so much talent.”
New York catcher Kevin Plawecki also had two walks and two hits, including a late RBI single.
“Just a great all-around effort today,” Frazier said. “A good kick-start to the season.”
HELP ON THE WAY
Less than two hours before the first pitch, the Cardinals landed a closer. Greg Holland agreed to a $14 million, one-year contract with the team, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement was pending a physical and had not been announced. A three-time All-Star, Holland was a free agent after leading the National League with 41 saves last year for Colorado. His addition would be a major boost to an unsettled Cardinals bullpen lacking a proven closer in the wake of several injuries.
FAST STARTERS
Despite losing their first eight openers in the 1960s, the Mets have baseball’s best record on opening day at 37-20. They’ve won 22 of their last 25 season openers at home. The previous Mets manager to win his debut was Jeff Torborg in 1992.
A ROCK BEHIND THE PLATE
Molina started on opening day at catcher for the 14th straight season, a franchise record for one position.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: The club had planned to use newcomer Luke Gregerson as its closer early this season, but he strained his left hamstring late in spring training and opened on the 10-day disabled list with no timetable for his return.
Mets: General manager Sandy Alderson said the team will decide in a couple of days whether Conforto needs a minor league rehab assignment before coming off the disabled list. Conforto is ahead of schedule in his recovery from surgery for a dislocated left shoulder and is eligible to return late next week, when the Mets are in Washington.
UP NEXT
Cardinals RHP Michael Wacha (12-9, 4.13 ERA) starts the second game of the season Saturday afternoon against RHP Jacob deGrom (15-10, 3.53 ERA), the Mets’ initial choice for opening day before his schedule was slowed at the outset of spring training by a stiff back and the birth of his child.
— Associated Press —
KU’s Graham named Wooden All-American and finalist for Wooden Award
LOS ANGELES – Kansas senior Devonte’ Graham has been named to the 10-member 2018 Wooden Award All-America team, the Los Angeles Athletic Club announced Wednesday on ESPNU. Additionally, Graham is one of five players invited for the Wooden Award presentation during the 2018 ESPN College Basketball Awards show, April 6, in Los Angeles.
Joining Graham on the 10-player team includes: Deandre Ayton (Arizona), Marvin Bagley III (Duke), Keita Bates-Diop (Ohio State), Trevon Bluiett (Xavier), Mikal Bridges (Villanova), Miles Bridges (Michigan State), Jalen Brunson (Villanova), Jevon Carter (West Virginia) and Trae Young (Oklahoma). Joining Graham at the ESPN College Basketball Awards show will be Ayton, Bagley III, Brunson and Young.
Also a finalist for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award which will be at the same April 6 awards show, Graham is vying to become the second straight Jayhawk to win both the Cousy and Wooden awards. Frank Mason III was last year’s winner of both. Additionally, Kansas’ Danny Manning won the 1988 Wooden Award.
Voting took place from March 12-19, 2018, allowing voters to take into consideration the opening rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Fans were able to vote through the voting site, sponsored by Wendy’s, at www.woodenawardvote.com. As insisted upon by Coach Wooden at the Award’s creation 42 years ago, all players were certified by their universities as meeting or exceeding the criteria of the John R. Wooden Award.
The 42nd annual presentation of the John R. Wooden Award to the men’s and women’s most outstanding college basketball player will be the anchor presentation of the ESPN College Basketball Awards Presented by Wendy’s on ESPN2 on Friday, April 6, 2018. The men’s and women’s John R. Wooden Award All American Teams will be honored during the ceremony, and the 2018 Wooden Award Legends of Coaching Trophy will be presented to Jay Wright, Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Villanova.
About the John R. Wooden Award
Created in 1976, the John R. Wooden Award is the most prestigious individual honor in college basketball. It is bestowed upon the nation’s best basketball player at an NCAA Division I university who has proven to his or her university that he or she is making progress towards graduation and maintaining a minimum cumulative 2.0 GPA. Previous winners include Larry Bird (’79), Michael Jordan (’84), Tim Duncan (’97), Kevin Durant (’07), Candace Parker (’07 & ’08), Maya Moore (’09 & ’11), Chiney Ogwumike (’14), and last year’s recipients, Kelsey Plum of Washington and Frank Mason III of Kansas.
Since its inception, the John R. Wooden Award has contributed nearly one million dollars to the universities’ general scholarship fund in the names of the Wooden Award All American recipients and has sent more than 1,000 underprivileged children to week-long college basketball camps. Additionally, the John R. Wooden Award partners with the Special Olympics Southern California (SOSC) each year to host the Wooden Award Special Olympics Southern California Basketball Tournament. The day-long tournament brings together Special Olympics athletes and Wooden Award All Americans and coaches in attendance. It is hosted at the Los Angeles Athletic Club during the John R. Wooden Award Weekend.
— KU Athletics —