Sports – Page 185 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Griffon softball extends win streak to five with sweep of Rockhurst

Posted on March 21, 2018

ST. JOSEPH – Griffon Softball (12-17) hit a season-high five-game win streak with a non-conference, doubleheader sweep of Rockhurst (10-17) on Wednesday.

Missouri Western won game one, 4-0 behind stellar pitching from Kenzie Hilzer and battled for a 7-5 sweep clincher in game two.

Hilzer faced just two over the minimum in game one, throwing a two-hit shutout. A tie game after one inning, the Griffons scored one run in the second and another in the third before Rockhurst tied game two on a two-out, two-run home run. Missouri Western scored four in the bottom half of the fourth to re-gain the lead and earn Barbara Billingsley her second win of the season.

NOTABLES
– Hilzer struck out four and walked one in the game one victory that evened her season record at 7-7

– Kaili Hinds earned her first save of the season, holding Rockhurst off the scoreboard on no hits and four strikeouts in the final three innings of game two

– Shelbie Atwell went 3-for-7 at the plate with four RBIs, hitting a home run in game two

– Morgan Frost also went 3-for-7 with two runs scored

– Rebekah Mueller drove in three in the doubleheader on two hits

– Tamara Hicks stole three bases in three attempts

– The Griffons were a perfect 6-for-6 on stolen base attempts, getting two more from Shelby Uhl and one from Lauren Houston

– Missouri Western pitchers held Rockhurst to eight hits over 14 innings and a .167 batting average. They struck out nine and walked four

UP NEXT
Missouri Western gets a brief break before getting back into MIAA play with a home doubleheader against Northeastern State (16-11, 4-0) on Thursday at 4 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcat baseball gets run-ruled at Nebraska-Kearney 17-1

Posted on March 21, 2018

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Nebraska-Kearney 17-1 on Wednesday at Kearney, Nebraska.

The Bearcats fall to 12-12 overall and 8-5 in conference while the Lopers improve to 14-10 overall and 7-3 in conference play.

Key Northwest Statistics
– Northwest scored one run in the third inning. Nebraska-Kearney had one in the first, two in the second and third, eight in the fourth and two in the fifth and sixth innings.

– The Bearcats had one run on four hits and no errors. The Lopers had 17 runs on 18 hits with no errors.

– Logan Rycraft went 1-for-2 with one run scored and a walk.

– Luke Hassman finished 1-for-2.

– Hudson Bilodeau was 1-for-4 with a RBI.

– Aaron Barratt went 1-for-2 with a double.

Key Northwest Innings
– Rycraft started the top of the third inning with a single to center field and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. After an out, Bilodeau singled to center field to score Rycraft from second and conclude the scoring for the Bearcats.

Up Next
– The Bearcats will take on Washburn University on Thursday at 4 p.m. in Topeka, Kansas.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri State hires Dana Ford as men’s basketball coach

Posted on March 21, 2018

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Missouri State has hired Tennessee State basketball coach Dana Ford.

Tennessee State athletic director Teresa Phillips announced in a university release that Ford has accepted the Missouri State job. Missouri State will introduce Ford at a Thursday news conference.

Ford replaces Paul Lusk, who was fired after going 105-121 in seven seasons. Missouri State went 18-15 overall and 7-11 in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.

The 33-year-old Ford went 57-65 in four seasons at Tennessee State. The Tigers went 52-39 over the last three seasons after posting a 5-26 mark in Ford’s first year. Tennessee State went 15-15 this season.

Ford played for Illinois State and has been an assistant at Winthrop, Wichita State and Illinois State.

— Associated Press —

MWSU’s McCarthy named MIAA Golfer of the Week

Posted on March 21, 2018

ST. JOSEPH – Griffon men’s golfer Patrick McCarthy has been named MIAA Golfer of the Week.

McCarthy earned his second conference honor when he tied for second place at the Warrior Invitational in Las Vegas. The sophomore tied a career-low with a 67 and was 5-under-par in the final round to finish the tournament at 1-under-par 143. His performance helped the Griffons place third as a team.

McCarthy’s first MIAA Golfer of the Week selection this season was on Sept. 27, 2016. He has four top-five finishes and one tournament championship on the season.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 25 Missouri baseball takes care of Arkansas State again

Posted on March 21, 2018March 21, 2018

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Baseball won its 14th consecutive home game after defeating Arkansas State, 14-9, Wednesday afternoon at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou scored seven runs in the fifth inning and matched a 62-year old school record with 10 stolen bases in the game – including five in the seven-run fifth alone – as it took control of the game at that point.

Mizzou improves to 17-5 on the year while Arkansas State moves to 8-10. The Tigers have won 14 straight home games for the first time since May 5, 2006, through March 16, 2007.

Junior righty Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) earned the win, settling things down with 3.0 shutout innings while Mizzou pulled away through the middle innings. Arkansas State starter Zachary Patterson took the loss, falling to 0-1.

TURNING POINT
Heading to the bottom of the third inning, Mizzou trailed 4-3. The Tigers plated a pair of runs in the inning to take a 5-3 lead. Mizzou tacked on one more run in the fourth as RHP Brian Sharp began to settle things down on the mound. Mizzou then exploded for seven runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, using four walks and five hits (all singles) in the frame.

The big blow came on a Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) bases-loaded two-run, two-out single. Arkansas State actually got to two outs in the inning before Misner’s hit as nine straight Tigers reached base after a two-out walk by leadoff man Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). Eight of Mizzou’s nine hitters reached base at least once in the fifth inning.

TOP TIGERS
– Sophomore 1B Kameron Misner went 2-for-3 with two runs, four RBI and three stolen bases. He also walked once.

– Junior RHP Brian Sharp earned his second win after tossing 3.0 shutout innings, allowing just one hit with three strikeouts. He also walked three times at the plate.

– Freshman Mark Vierling went 2-for-5 with two runs and two RBI.

– Junior OF Connor Brumfield went 2-for-3 with two runs, two RBI and three stolen bases.

– INF Paul Gomez and C Chad McDaniel each tallied multi-hit games Wednesday. McDaniel also walked twice.

– Junior OF Zach Hanna drew a career-high three walks and added a hit, an RBI and three runs.

NOTES
– Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Arkansas State, 20-8.

– Mizzou is now 3-0 on Wednesdays this season.

– Mizzou moves to a perfect 11-0 on the year at home and has won 14 consecutive home games dating back to last season. That is the longest regular season home winning streak for Mizzou since May 5, 2006, through March 18, 2007, when it won 16 straight.

– Mizzou improves to 6-0 this season in midweek games and 13-4 in midweek games under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.

– Mizzou did not commit an error for the fourth consecutive game and has just one error in its last nine contests. Mizzou’s fielding percentage is up to .983 on the year.

– Mizzou scored 10+ runs for the sixth time this season and is 6-0 in such contests.

– Mizzou stole 10 bases Wednesday, matching a 62-year-old school record. Mizzou stole five bases in the fifth inning alone.

– Kameron Misner and Connor Brumfield each stole three bases Wednesday, becoming the first Tigers to do so since Brumfield had three against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on April 11, 2017.

– Freshman Chad McDaniel made his first career start at catcher Wednesday.

– Mizzou won for just the third time this season when scoring second in a game.

UP NEXT
Mizzou opens a three-game series with SEC West foe Mississippi State Friday at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Chiefs sign defensive tackle Xavier Williams

Posted on March 21, 2018March 21, 2018

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Kansas City Chiefs announced on Wednesday that the club has signed defensive tackle Xavier Williams.

“With Xavier you are talking about another player that we feel has a tremendous upside,” General Manager Brett Veach said. “He’s an athletic defensive tackle who can push the pocket and contribute for us in both the run and pass game.”

Williams (6-2, 309) has played in 23 games (two starts) in three NFL seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2015-17). His career numbers include 28 tackles (22 solo), 0.5 sacks (-5.0 yards), two tackles for loss and one forced fumble. He originally entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Cardinals on May 5, 2015. The Kansas City, Missouri, native, played collegiately at Northern Iowa and prepped at Grandview High School in Grandview, Missouri.

— Chiefs Communications —

Missouri Western moves up Pittsburg State baseball series

Posted on March 21, 2018March 21, 2018

ST. JOSEPH – Due to the forecast, Griffon Baseball’s three-game home series against Pittsburg State has been moved up one day.

The series will now begin Thursday, March 22 with a 1 p.m. first pitch. Game two will be March 23 at 1 p.m. with the finale on March 24 at 1 p.m.

Missouri Western (14-9, 7-3) extended its win streak to nine games Tuesday night with an 11-inning win over Emporia State. Pittsburg State (16-9, 8-5) has lost four of its last five following a 7-6 loss at Northeastern State, Tuesday.

— MWSU Athletics —

KU’s Graham named First Team NABC All-American

Posted on March 21, 2018March 21, 2018

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas senior Devonte’ Graham has been named to the 2018 All-America First Team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), the organization announced Wednesday.

The NABC is among the outlets used for the official NCAA consensus All-America team and Graham is 3-for-3 on consensus All-America first teams as he was previously named to The Sporting News and USBWA All-America squads.

Joining Graham on NABC All-America First Team is Jalen Brunson (Villanova), Deandre Ayton (Arizona), Marvin Bagley III (Duke) and Trae Young (Oklahoma). There were three teams selected by the NABC which has nearly 5,000 members consisting primarily of university and college men’s basketball coaches. KU head coach Bill Self is the current president of the NABC.

This is the second-straight year a Kansas player has earned NABC All-America First Team honors. Jayhawk Frank Mason III earned the distinction last year and was also named the 2017 NABC Player of the Year, one of 10 national player of the year honors he garnered.

Graham has been named the 2017 Big 12 Player of the Year, All-Big 12 First Team, one of five finalists for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award and All-America First Team by The Sporting News, NCAA.com, the USBWA and the NABC. On the court, he also earned Big 12 Championship All-Tournament Team honors after averaging 14.3 points and 10.0 assists in guiding Kansas to the tourney title.

On every national player of year watch list, Graham is the only player in NCAA Division I this season averaging 17.0-plus pts, 7.0-plus assists, 1.6-plus steals and fewer than 3.0 turnovers per game. Graham is fourth nationally, second in the Big 12, in assists per game at 7.5. The Raleigh, North Carolina, guard is second the Big 12 in assist-to-turnover ratio at 2.7, which is 33rd nationally. Graham is scoring 17.3 points per game, which is fourth in the conference and he is sixth in free throw percentage (83.3), fourth in 3-point field goals made (2.8), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (40.4) and fifth in steals (1.6).

This season, Graham is logging 37.6 minutes per game this year, which ranks as the fifth highest average in a single season at KU and his 1,355 minutes are a KU single-season record. His 98 3-pointers made are fifth on the KU season list as last week he passed his own season high mark of 94 set in 2016-17. Graham’s 254 assists this season are second on the KU list.

No. 1 seed Kansas will play No. 5 seed Clemson (25-9, 11-7 ACC) in the Sweet 16 of the 2018 NCAA Tournament Midwest Regional on Friday, March 23, at 6 p.m. (Central) at CenturyLink Center Omaha.

— KU Athletics —

Griffons get a walk-off win against Emporia State in 11 innings

Posted on March 20, 2018March 20, 2018

ST. JOSEPH – Nolan Meyer delivered the Missouri Western baseball team its ninth-straight win with a walk-off bunt single in the 11th inning against Emporia State on Tuesday. The Griffons defeated the Hornets 7-6 as they improve to 14-9 and 7-3 in the MIAA.

Meyer’s game winner seemed improbable after the Griffons failed to get down successful bunt attempts for three-straight innings prior to his hit. The game winning hit was set up by Dusty Stroup’s leadoff single in the 11th. Casey Danley tried to bunt Stroup over but popped up to the first baseman. Will Jibas got Stroup to third on a hit and run single and set up Meyer’s bunt toward first base that won the game 7-6 on Meyer’s head-first dive into the bag.

After tying the game at six in the bottom of the ninth, Missouri Western had runners at second and third with nobody out, but couldn’t get the winning run across the plate. Meyer led off the 10th by being hit by a pitch before Levi Schreiner reached on an error giving MWSU two on with no outs. Ryan Smith struck out in a pinch hit at bat before two infield pop ups ended the threat.

After blowing a save opportunity by giving up four runs in the top of the ninth, Nate Hunter settled in to hold the Hornets scoreless over the final 2 1/3 on three hits with two strikeouts. Hunter picked up the win (6-2), his fifth in relief during the team’s nine-game win streak.

Emporia State led 2-0 after one inning. Meyer scored the tying run in the fourth on an RBI-single by Ryan Fisher. Emporia State scored four in the top of the ninth to take a 6-4 lead but an RBI triple by Brooks Day and an RBI-single from Casey Danley sent the game into extra innings.

NOTABLES
– Missouri Western moved to 3-0 in extra-inning games this season

– It’s the second straight year the program had a nine-game win streak after last year’s Griffons rattled off nine-straight MIAA wins between April 9th and 23rd

– Meyer had a team high three hits, going 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI

– Fisher drove in two as the starting designated hitter on a 2-for-2 day with a walk

– Stroup also drove in a pair and went 2-for-5

– Day also went 2-for-5 at the plate with one RBI

– Levi Abrahmson and Kellan Richards combined to retire 12-straight Hornets between the fifth and the eighth innings

– Hunter went 3 1/3 allowing four earned runs on seven hits

– Preston Bailey pitched the first three innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits. He struck out one and walked three

– After starting conference play 0-3, the Griffons left Tuesday’s win in third place in the MIAA standings

UP NEXT
The Griffons put their streak on the line in a three-game, home MIAA series against Pittsburg State (16-9, 8-5). The series is currently scheduled to begin on Friday at 4:00 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

No. 25 Missouri baseball rolls past Arkansas State 11-1

Posted on March 20, 2018March 20, 2018

COLUMBIA, Mo. – No. 25 Mizzou Baseball won the first of two games vs. Arkansas State, 11-1, Tuesday evening at Taylor Stadium, improving the Tigers to 16-5. Mizzou has now won 10 consecutive home games to open the 2018 campaign and has won 13 straight at home dating back to last season.

LHP Junior Tyler LaPlante (Blue Springs, Mo.) earned the win, improving to 3-0 on the year. In his third start of the season, LaPlante went 5.0 shutout innings, and surrendered just three hits in the outing. He struck out four and walked just one in another stellar midweek start.

Mizzou pitchers had an impressive game, striking out 10 batters while keeping Arkansas State off the scoreboard until the seventh inning. Mizzou pitching threw just 111 pitches in 9.0 innings of work Tuesday.

Arkansas State drops to 8-9 for the season. The two teams will play the second and final game of the midweek series Wednesday at 4 p.m.

TURNING POINT
Mizzou scored a run on an RBI single in the first inning as Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) ripped a fastball past down the right field line to put Mizzou on the board before an out was recorded in the frame. Senior OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) opened the inning by reaching on a hit-by-pitch before stealing second base. It was the 10th time in Mizzou’s last 12 games that it has scored in the first inning.

Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante (Blue Springs, Mo.) took over from there, tossing 5.0 shutout innings, allowing just three hits in his third win of the season. Mizzou scored three more runs in the second, two in the fourth, three in the fifth and two in the sixth to back another great outing from LaPlante. Mizzou’s bullpen allowed just one run over the final four innings on an RBI groundout while the staff threw just 111 pitches in the outing.

TOP TIGERS
– Junior LHP Tyler LaPlante was again outstanding in his third start of the season, going 5.0 innings while scattering only three hits with four strikeouts against one walk. On the year, he is 3-0 with a 1.35 ERA in 20.0 innings, striking out 14.

– Senior 3B Alex Samples tallied his first career three-hit game and drove in a career-high five runs Tuesday.

– Junior OF Connor Brumfield tallied his third game with three or more hits this season Tuesday, going 3-for-3. He scored three runs in the game.

– Mizzou senior OF Trey Harris stole his team-leading eight base in the first inning. He now has 33 career steals, which is tied for eighth in school history with Dick Dickinson.

– Sophomore CF Kameron Misner reached base in four of four plate appearances, notching his team-leading 10th multi-hit game of the season. He had an RBI single in the first and an RBI double in the fifth.

NOTES
– Mizzou now leads the all-time series with Arkansas State, 19-8.

– Mizzou is now 3-0 on Tuesdays this season.

– Mizzou moves to a perfect 10-0 on the year at home and has won 13 consecutive home games dating back to last season.

– Mizzou improves to 5-0 this season in midweek games and 12-4 in midweek games under second-year head coach Steve Bieser.

– Mizzou scored in the first inning for the 10th time in the last 12 games. Mizzou is outscoring opponents 27-8 this season and has 86 runs in the first inning under head coach Steve Bieser (80 games, 1.08 per game).

– Mizzou scored 10+ runs for the fifth time this season and is 5-0 in such games.

– Mizzou did not commit an error for the third consecutive game and has just one error in its last eight contests. Mizzou’s fielding percentage is up to .983 on the year.

UP NEXT
Mizzou and Arkansas State will close the two-game midweek series Wednesday at 4 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —