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Category: Sports

Northwest splits baseball doubleheader with Rockhurst

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KANSAS CITY, Missouri – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team split a non-conference doubleheader at Rockhust University on Wednesday.

The Bearcats scored a 6-4, eight-inning win in the opener, only to see the Hawks rally in the nightcap for a 7-5 triumph.

GAME ONE
Northwest scored an extra-inning triumph over Rockhurst with a pair of runs in the eighth inning to take it, 6-4.

Connor Quick had a two-hit game to extend his hitting streak to 18 in a row, but it was Derek Hussey who came through with a one-out, two-run single to left field that provided the winning runs in the opener.

Alixon Herrera scored an unearned run in the second to give the Bearcats a 1-0 lead. Herrera doubled to lead off the second and moved to third on a passed ball. Matt Gastner hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Herrera.

After giving up a solo homer in the bottom half of the second, Northwest plated a pair of runs in the third. Jordan Peck posted a leadoff double and eventually scored on a Logan Rycraft single to right. Rycraft stole second and scored on an error during Quick’s at bat in the third.

The Bearcats extended the margin to three runs in the fourth. For the third consecutive inning Northwest had its leadoff batter double – this time it was Peter Carlson with the two-bagger. Hussey moved him over to third on a sacrifice bunt and Carlson scored on a sac fly from Rycraft.

Northwest had built a 4-1 lead through three and a half innings before Rockhurst notched a run in the fourth and two more in the sixth to even it up at 4-4.

Trevor Dudar pitched the seventh and got the win, while Aaron Easley worked around a walk in the eighth to earns his second save of the season.

GAME TWO
Northwest looked to take both ends of the doubleheader as the Bearcats built a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fourth. However, Rockhurst rallied with three in the fourth and four in the sixth to get the split, 7-5.

A leadoff double from Gastner in the second was followed by another double from Mondesi Gutierrez to put the Bearcats on the board, 1-0. Hussey laced a single to left that scored Gutierrez and gave the Bearcats a 2-0 cushion. Hussey stole second and claimed both third and home on wild pitches for a 3-0 Bearcat advantage. Northwest had a chance to blow the contest wide open, but left the bases loaded in the second.

The Bearcats added to the lead in the fourth. Hussey led off with a single to left. Rycraft reached on a bunt single to the pitcher and Calvin Rudolph loaded the bases when he was hit by a pitch. Quick drew a bases loaded walk to score Hussey. Herrera then lifted a sac fly to center to make it 5-0 in favor of the Bearcats. However, Northwest failed to do any more damage as Rudolph was picked off and Gastner flied out to left.

The Hawks got to Bearcat starter Tristan Ledger in the fourth for three runs. Max Ross relieved him with two out in the fourth and got out of a bases loaded jam with the Bearcats holding a 5-3 lead.

Russell Simmons retired the side in order in the fifth, but ran into trouble in the sixth. Simmons got two outs in the sixth but left the bases loaded following a single and two walks. Jarret Cronin came on and induced a ground ball to Rycraft at shortstop, but a throwing error allowed two runs to score and the game was tied. The Hawks came through with a two-out two-RBI single to extend the Rockhurst lead to 7-5.

The Bearcats attempted a two-out rally in the seventh. Peter Carlson worked the count full and drew a walk. Gutierrez then reached on an error to put the tying runs on base. However, Jordan Peck struck out to end it.

Simmons suffered the loss and dropped to 0-3 on the year.

NOTES: Rycraft had a three-hit game in the second contest … Hussey went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI in the nightcap … Quick’s 18-game hitting streak was snapped in the second game, but he drew a walk to extend his consecutive on-base games streak to 26 in a row.

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU men finish 6th at MIAA Golf Championships

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MONKEY ISLAND, Okla. – The Missouri Western men’s golf team turned in a 291 on the final round of the MIAA Golf Championships to finish tied for sixth with a three-round total of 888. Patrick McCarthy was named All-MIAA for the third time in his career.

Lucas Horseman (2-under) and McCarthy (1-under) each turned in their lowest rounds of the tournament on Wednesday. Horseman finished tied for 15th with a three-round total of 220 while McCarthy tied for 19th with a 222. Also tied for 19th was Tom Buffington. Cole Roberts finished with a 234 and Jake Mikesch turned in a three-round score of 239.

The Griffons started the day on fire and were at 9-under at one point early in the final round, but finished the tournament 24-over par, 22 strokes behind fourth place finishers Washburn and Central Oklahoma. Lindenwood took the team title with an impressive 21-under, 843, claiming the MIAA Championship by 12 strokes.

Buffington finished the tournament even on par-3 holes, third best in the field, and had the second most pars in the field with 39. McCarthy’s 8-under on par-5 holes was tied for third best in the field. Roberts and McCarthy were among a handful of golfers with Eagles in the tournament.

— MWSU Athletics —

Royals roll Rays 10-2 to salvage final game of series

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay ace Blake Snell lasted one out into the fourth inning in his return from a broken right fourth toe as the Rays were beaten 10-2 by the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday.

The 2018 AL Cy Young Award winner, who hurt the toe attempting to move a decorative display in his bathroom on April 14, allowed three runs, five hits, two walks and struck out three during a 65-pitch outing.

The left-hander (2-2) had given up one run and nine hits over 19 innings in three starts prior to the injury.

Adalberto Mondesi hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, Billy Hamilton had two hits and two RBI, and Jakob Junis (2-2) gave up one run and four hits in five innings for the Royals, who stopped a five-game losing streak.

Junis bruised his right hand on Yandy Diaz’s drive that resulted in an inning-ending double-play in the fifth.

Snell, signed to a $50 million, five year contract on March 21, said Tuesday that he still had some discomfort in the toe when he walks, but not when throwing on a mound.

The Rays decided that Snell was ready to return despite throwing just an 18-pitch bullpen session Saturday and eight pitches off a mound Monday.

Snell was replaced by Ryan Yarbrough with a runner on third and one out in the fourth.

Kansas City greeted Yarbrough with consecutive bunt singles, including Cam Gallagher’s that drove in a run, and Hamilton’s RBI double that made it 4-1.

Hamilton had a run-scoring triple and Mondesi hit his third homer off Yarbrough to put the Royals ahead 8-1 in the sixth.

Hamilton is 3 for 36 overall against the Rays.

Mondesi added an eighth-inning RBI single.

Tampa Bay went up 1-0 on Joey Wendle’s RBI double in the first before the Royals tied it during the second when third baseman Daniel Robertson was charged with an error for an errant throw on a slow roller by Hamilton.

Both Hamilton (first base) and Terrance Gore (third base) were both tagged out during rundowns on the same play to end the second with Whit Merrifield batting.

Merrifield homered leading off the third.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: 3B Hunter Dozier (lower back) was out of the lineup for the second straight game but could start Friday.

Rays: RHP Hunter Wood was transferred from the paternity list to the family emergency list and may rejoin the team Friday. Manager Kevin Cash said Wood’s baby was born premature but is fine and being monitored. … Wendle was hit by a Jake Diekman pitch in the sixth and left with a fractured right wrist.

UP NEXT

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (left shoulder) will make his first start of the season Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels.

Rays: RHP Charlie Morton (2-0) will start Friday night at the Boston. The Rays were swept in a three-game series by the Red Sox last weekend.

— Associated Press —

Western softball stays at No. 6 in Central Regional Rankings

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ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western softball team held at No. 6 in the NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings this week.

With last week off, the Griffons held steady at No. 6 and stayed in position to return to the NCAA Division II Central Region Championships. The top eight teams in the final rankings head on to NCAA postseason play. Missouri Western missed the regional last year for the first time since 2013. The new No. 1 team in the nation, Central Oklahoma held the top spot in the regional rankings followed by Winona State, Augustana (S.D.), Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas. Central Missouri was the other MIAA representative in the rankings, coming in at No. 8 this week.

The Griffons host Washburn and Emporia State to close out the regular season this weekend. The games come with MIAA Championships seeding implications and more. The Griffons are still mathematically in contention for the regular season MIAA title, but would need some help sitting three games back of Central Oklahoma. Washburn will enter St. Joseph tied for third in the MIAA standings with Central Missouri, two games behind the second-place Griffons. Emporia State begins the weekend tied for fifth in the standings, three games back of the two tied for third place.

Friday’s games with Washburn will be part of the Second Annual Teal Games. On Saturday, the team will recognize its seven seniors following the doubleheader against Emporia State.

— MWSU Athletics —

Cardinals beat Brewers 5-2 to complete three-game sweep

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ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright was warm enough on a cool day, allowing one run in six innings for his 150th career victory, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-2 on Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.

Last year’s MVP, Christian Yelich, had most of the day off but still had a chance to rescue the Brewers. He came up as a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded in the ninth inning, but Jordan Hicks struck him out to pick up his seventh save in eight chances.

Wainwright (2-2) matched his season low in runs allowed, and it was his first quality start in a game with a starting temperature of 60 degrees or cooler since May 27, 2017.

Marcell Ozuna and Yadier Molina homered for the Cardinals as part of a four-run fourth. Ozuna’s three-run homer extended his on-base streak to 14 games, and it was his 17th career homer against the Brewers, the most he’s had against any opponent.

Molina’s blast extended his 12-game hitting streak, tying him with Paul DeJong for the longest by a Cardinal this season. Paul Goldschmidt got the rally started with a single, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.

St. Louis’ three-game sweep of Milwaukee was its first against its NL Central rival since July 1-3, 2016. The teams have already played 10 times this season, and Wednesday’s result evened the season series at 5-5. They combined for 45 home runs in the 10 games.

Jhoulys Chacin (2-3) lasted four innings, allowing four runs on five hits. Zach Davies on April 13 was the last Brewers pitcher to turn in a quality start.

Brewers starters have gone 8-7 with a 5.84 ERA this season, and they are the only team in the NL whose starters average less than five innings per game. Help is coming soon, however, in the form of left-hander Gio Gonzalez, who has agreed to a one-year contract with Milwaukee, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity Wednesday because the agreement had not been announced.

Eric Thames homered in the first for Milwaukee. The team’s last 23 runs have come via the home run.

BADER’S BACK

Before the game, the Cardinals activated OF Harrison Bader (right hamstring strain) from the 10-day injured list and optioned RHP Daniel Ponce de Leon to Triple-A Memphis.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: Yelich (rest) wasn’t in the starting lineup for the first time this season.

Cardinals: OF Tyler O’Neill (right elbow ulnar nerve sublaxion) went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in his first rehab game at Double-A Springfield on Tuesday night.

UP NEXT

Brewers: RHP Chase Anderson (2-0, 3.00 ERA) will get the start as Milwaukee continues its trip against the Mets on Friday. Anderson is 2-2 with a 3.94 ERA in six career starts against the Mets.

Cardinals: RHP Miles Mikolas (2-1, 4.97) kicks off a three-game set against the visiting Reds and RHP Anthony DeSclafani (0-1, 5.59) on Friday. Mikolas gave up a pair of runs in eight innings on Saturday, becoming the first St. Louis starter this season to record an out beyond the sixth inning.

— Associated Press —

DA declines to charge Chiefs’ Hill in domestic violence case

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OLATHE, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas district attorney has declined to charge Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill with a crime in a domestic incident that involved his fiance and their 3-year-old child.

Tyreek Hill -photo courtesy KC Chiefs

Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe said Wednesday “we believe a crime has occurred, however, the evidence in this case does not conclusively establish who committed this crime.”

Police were called to the home of Hill and Crystal Espinal twice last month, and the investigators said their child had been injured. Howe said there will be “a continued involvement by state officials” but declined to discuss the health of the child.

He described the case as a difficult one because of the child’s involvement.

___

MWSU’s Ong leads MIAA Championships after round two; Griffons in fifth

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MAYETTA, Kan. – Missouri Western Women’s Golf has now played through the second of three rounds at the MIAA Women’s Golf Championships. Shi Qing Ong has climbed into first place with her tournament-best score of 71 (-1) in the second round. The Griffons slid to fifth in the team standings, but remain just three strokes back of third place.

Missouri Western posted the exact same team score as it did in the first round, finishing at 313 for a two-round total of 626. Nebraska Kearney and Central Oklahoma each managed to jump the Griffons in the team standings, as both squads improved off of their first-round marks by over 10 strokes. The Griffons are still within reach of a top-three finish, trailing Nebraska Kearney by just three strokes for third place.

Shi Qing Ong entered Tuesday in a tie for fourth place after her 74 (+2) in the opening round. After her score of 71 (-1) in the second, Ong now sits atop the individual leaderboard with a combined score of 145 (+1). Her second-round score is the best of any completed round at the event. She has also scored the most birdies of anyone in the field, and has been thriving on the lower-par holes. She leads the field in par-three scoring, going two-under on those holes. Ong appears to be in the midst of a three-player competition for the title, as she will aim to outlast Rosie Klausner (146) and Olivia Sobaski (147), both from Central Missouri.

Anna Bech remains tied for 16th with her 77 (+5) on Tuesday. Bech improved three strokes from yesterday’s first round and currently has a total score of 157 heading into Wednesday. She has the second-most birdies at the tournament with eight.

Jenna Kosmatka shot an 82 (+10) to bring her score to 163 and sit tied for 26th. One stroke behind Kosmatka is Chong Yong. Yong scored an 83 (+11) on Tuesday after her 81 (+9) in the first round.

Katie Irvin finished Tuesday’s second round with an 88 (+16) after her 78 (+6) in the opening round.

The Griffons will begin the third and final round of the MIAA Women’s Golf Championships beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcat softball gets swept by Central Missouri

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MARYVILLE, Missouri – The University of Central Missouri Jennies took two games from the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats Tuesday in a doubleheader.

The Jennies battled back in game one, winning 10-9 over the Bearcats. The Jennies took game two, 10-4.

Game One
The Bearcats were the first to score in the bottom of the second inning scoring four runs. Jaclyn Weydert got things going with a homer to left field. Olivia Daugherty hit a three-run blast to left center, bringing in Jacee Winn and Grace Ruehle to score and go up 4-0 over the Jennies.

Karli Allen scored in the bottom of the third inning from a wild pitch, pushing the Bearcat lead to 5-0.

The Jennies scored three runs in the top of the fourth inning to cut the Bearcat lead to 5-3.

Kiana Baderdeen got an RBI in the bottom of the fourth, allowing Jaedra Moses to score and push the lead to 6-3.

Central Missouri scored one run in the top of the fifth from an RBI to cut the lead to 6-4.

The Jennies rallied in the top of the sixth inning scoring three runs and taking the lead 7-6 over the Bearcats.
The Bearcats answered in the bottom of the sixth, also scoring three runs. Sydne Brashear singled to left field, bringing in Moses to score. Weydert also had a single allowing Ady Watts to score. Grace Ruehle got an RBI, bringing in Baderdeen to to the plate and taking back the lead 9-7.

The Jennies fought back in the top of the seventh inning scoring three more runs and taking game one over the Bearcats, 10-9.

Game Two
Ashlyn Cook started the second game strong for the Jennies with a homer to center field in the first inning and to grab an early 1-0 lead over the Bearcats. The Jennies put another run on the board in the top of the second and pushed their lead to 2-0.

Jaedra Moses had a two-RBI hit allowing Ady Watts and Sydne Brashear to score and tie the game at 2-2.

Central Missouri scored a run in the top of the fifth off an RBI, advancing the lead to 3-2 over the Bearcats.

The Jennies’ offense took off in the top of the sixth inning, scoring seven runs and going up 10-2 over the Bearcats.
Moses reached base on a fielder’s choice in the bottom of the sixth that allowed Weydert to score and cut the lead to 10-3.
Brashear homered in the bottom of the seventh inning, but it wasn’t enough to catch back up to the Jennies. Central Missouri took game two, 10-4.

The Bearcats are now 11-24 overall and 6-16 in conference play.

Up next for the squad is home doubleheaders Friday and Saturday against Emporia State and Washburn. Friday’s doubleheader against Emporia State begins at 2 p.m. and Saturday’s doubleheader against Washburn will begin at 12 p.m.

NOTES: Northwest tallied 14 hits in the opening game, including a three-hit performance from Jaedra Moses … Moses added a hit and an RBI in the second game … Karli Allen went 3-for-4 in the second contest … Northwest posted 24 total hits in the two games … UCM posted 26 hits.

— Northwest Athletics —

Royals lose fifth straight as they fall at Tampa 5-2

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ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Jalen Beeks took over from opener Ryne Stanek in the second and struck out seven in 4 2/3 shutout innings, Mike Zunino homered for the second straight game and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Kansas City 5-2 Tuesday night, sending the Royals to their fifth straight loss.

Homer Bailey (2-2) failed in his attempt to win three straight starts for the first time in five years, getting taken out after Tampa Bay’s first four batters reached in the second inning.

Zunino had three of Tampa Bay’s seven hits and drove in two runs.

AL East-leading Tampa Bay clinched its seventh series win in eight series and extended its winning streak against the Royals to 10 games. Kansas City is an AL-worst 7-17.

Beeks (1-0) allowed two hits and two walks, retiring eight straight in one stretch.

Emilio Pagan struck out two in a perfect ninth for his second save in two nights, the first two saves of his major league career, completing a six-hitter.

Bailey (2-2) gave up four runs, three hits and four walks in one inning-plus, his ERA rising to 5.63. Bailey, who went 1-14 last year, was coming off his first consecutive winning starts since July 2017.

Joey Wendle hit a two-run single in the first, ending an 0-for-16 start.

Zunino hit an RBI single in the second, when Jake Newberry entered with the bases loaded and allowed Brandon Lowe’s run-scoring single and Yandy Diaz’s sacrifice fly that boosted the Rays’ lead to 4-0. Zunino homered off Tim Hill in the sixth.

Martin Maldonado hit his first homer for the Royals, a seventh-inning drive off Austin Pruitt, who threw a run-scoring wild pitch in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: 3B Hunter Dozier did not play, a day after leaving a game due to back spasms. … LHP Brian Flynn (sprained left elbow) is to start an injury rehabilitation assignment Wednesday at Triple-A Omaha.

Rays: 1B Ji-Man Choi was placed on the restricted list because of a personal matter.

UP NEXT

LHP Blake Snell (2-1) will make his first start in 10 days for the Rays in the finale of a nine-game homestand. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner missed a start after fracturing his right fourth toe attempting to move a decorative display in a bathroom on April 14. RHP Jakob Junis (1-2) starts the finale of the Royals’ 10-game trip.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western men in 7th after day one of MIAA Golf Championships

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MONKEY ISLAND, Okla. – After the first two rounds of the MIAA Men’s Golf Championships at Shangri-La Country Club, the Missouri Western men’s golf squad is in seventh place with a score of 597. Leading the Griffons on Tuesday was Tom Buffington, who sits tied for 15th entering the third and final round.

After scoring a 303 in the first round, the Griffons improved by nine strokes for a second-round score of 294. Directly ahead of Missouri Western and in sixth place is Missouri Southern with at 586. Lindenwood is the current leader of the tournament, and will look to continue to fend off Northeastern State and Washburn for the top spot.

Tom Buffington ended the first two rounds as the top score for Missouri Western with a 147. Buffington opened the tournament with a 76 (+4) in the first, but improved in the second round with a score of 71 (-1). Buffington’s second round was the best single-round score of any Missouri Western golfer on Tuesday. His 28 pars are also the second-most in the field at the championship.

Lucas Horseman is tied for 27th after a two-round total of 150. His best round came in the first when he shot just one-over with a 73.

Patrick McCarthy’s score of 151 on Tuesday lands him in a tie for 29th. After a 78 (+6) in the first round, McCarthy bounced back with a 73 (+1) in the second. He also led the team with seven birdies.

Jake Mikesch finished with a score of 156 while Cole Roberts wrapped up Monday with a 159.

Missouri Western will tee off the final round of the MIAA Men’s Golf Championships on Wednesday at 8:30 a.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

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