Sports – Page 309 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Mizzou drops the rubber game of series at Vanderbilt

Posted on May 7, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Mizzou Baseball dropped the rubber game of a three-game series, 14-5, to Vanderbilt Sunday afternoon at Hawkins Field. Mizzou rallied from down 4-0 to take a 5-4 lead, but Vanderbilt hung three runs in the fourth, two more in the fifth and five in the sixth to put the game away. Mizzou falls to 29-20 on the year and 9-15 in SEC play while Vanderbilt improves to 29-18 and 12-11 in SEC play.

Mizzou junior starter Bryce Montes De Oca (Lawrence, Kan.) took the loss while Vandy freshman LHP Zach King earned the win after settling things down for a Vanderbilt staff that walked seven and hit three more batters through the first four innings. Junior C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) tallied his 13th multi-hit game of the season and drove in three of Mizzou’s five runs, notching a pair of bases-loaded singles on the day.

After a three-pitch strikeout, Jeren Kendall tagged Montes De Oca for a one-out triple in the bottom of the first, just past a diving Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) at first base. Montes De Oca nearly escaped the jam, getting Julian Infante on strikes and working a 0-2 count on Reed Hayes. But Hayes lined a 1-2 pitch back up the middle to give Vanderbilt and early 1-0 lead.

Mizzou put the first two men on in the second and moved them over on a sacrifice bunt as it looked to even the game. Vandy starter Chandler Day then struck out Sharp and got Ian Nelson (Lake St. Louis, Mo.) to fly out to center field to strand a pair.

The wind factored into a tough second inning for the Tigers. Ethan Paul popped up to open the frame, but the wind hung it up and LF Kameron Misner (Poplar Bluff, Mo.) couldn’t get under it and that got the inning started. Vanderbilt loaded the bases with one out for the All-American Kendall. Montes De Oca struck him out for the second out of the inning as he looked like he may get out of the jam. Infante then popped up to shallow left center and Mizzou couldn’t get under it as the wind hung it in the perfect spot, allowing all three runs to score on a double.

Mizzou got a pair of runs in the third, one on a Bond bases loaded single and another on a Misner sacrifice fly to the cut the lead to 4-2. Mizzou got into the Vanderbilt bullpen in the third and that paid off in the fourth. Mizzou tallied three hits and drew three walks off reliever Colin Snyder to score three in the inning. Junior OF Johnny Balsamo (Kansas City, Mo.) tallied an RBI single and Bond roped a two-run, bases-loaded single to score two more, giving Mizzou its first lead at 5-4.

Vanderbilt tied the game in the bottom half of the fourth though, taking advantage of a walk and an error in front of a Hayes double. Mizzou went to the bullpen from there and brought in Andy Toelken (Green Cove Springs, Fla.). He struck out JJ Bleday for the second out by C Jason Delay ripped a two-run, two-out single to give Vanderbilt the lead back at 7-5.

Mizzou then went quietly in the fifth and Vanderbilt broke the game open with the two-spot in the bottom half before exploding for five runs in the sixth, capped by Infante’s sixth and seventh RBIs of the game as he ripped a double off the wall in left center. That was all that Vanderbilt needed to earn the series win.

Mizzou will be off midweek as it takes its final exams. South Carolina comes to Columbia next weekend for a three-game series beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Taylor Stadium.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Pham’s 2-run HR lifts Cards over Braves in 14 innings

Posted on May 7, 2017

ATLANTA (AP) — After seeing the Braves leave runners in scoring position in the first three extra innings, Tommy Pham was sure the Cardinals would take advantage when their opportunity arrived.

He was the one who came through.

Pham hit two homers, including a two-run drive in the 14th inning, and St. Louis recovered after blowing a four-run lead to beat Atlanta 6-4 on Sunday and complete a three-game sweep.

Pham’s long home run in the 14th off Josh Collmenter (0-1) drove in rookie Magneuris Sierra, who reached on second baseman Jace Peterson’s fielding error.

“I was pumped,” Pham said. “I was telling everybody in the dugout, `Let’s go!’ I was joking around — `We don’t get paid for overtime.’ When Peterson made that error, it was our chance, and coincidentally I was the guy up with the opportunity. To come through and get it over with was huge.”

Recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Pham had a career-high four hits and drove in three runs. He also hit a homer on Friday.

Freddie Freeman’s 11th homer off Brett Cecil in the eighth tied the game, completing Atlanta’s comeback from a 4-0 deficit.

Matt Carpenter had a first-inning homer for St. Louis. He went deep in all three games during the series, giving him seven home runs this season.

Sam Tuivailala (1-0), the Cardinals’ seventh pitcher, allowed one hit in two scoreless innings. Kevin Siegrist worked the 14th for his first save.

The Braves used nine pitchers and the Cardinals eight in a game that lasted 4 hours, 6 minutes.

Atlanta loaded the bases against closer Seung Hwan Oh in the 11th but couldn’t score. With two outs, Carpenter fielded Ender Inciarte’s grounder behind first base before flipping the ball to Oh. A review confirmed the on-field call that Oh barely beat Inciarte to the bag.

“We could have won that game with that play,” Inciarte said. “It’s frustrating.”

The Cardinals escaped more trouble in the 12th when Tuivailala struck out Kurt Suzuki to end the inning with runners on second and third.

Cardinals right-hander Jonathan Broxton fanned Matt Kemp with runners on first and third to end the 10th.

“We had the right guys up there but just couldn’t get the big hit,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “It happens sometimes.”

Michael Wacha allowed two runs on five hits and two walks in six innings for St. Louis.

Atlanta knuckleballer R.A. Dickey gave up four runs and eight hits in six innings. The Braves began the game ranked last in the majors with their 4.91 ERA.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: OF-1B Jose Martinez was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a groin strain. Martinez got hurt trying to beat out a grounder Saturday night. He was sent to St. Louis for an examination to determine the severity of the injury. … CF Dexter Fowler did not start for the third straight game due to a sore shoulder. He popped out to center field as a pinch hitter in the 12th.

Braves: RHP Mauricio Cabrera was optioned to Triple-A Gwinnett after being activated from the 10-day disabled list. He had been sidelined with a right elbow strain.

DEBUT FOR SIERRA

The 21-year-old Sierra started in center field after being promoted from Class A Palm Beach before the game. He was hitting .272 at Palm Beach. Sierra had a one-out single in the sixth and was picked off first by Dickey. Sierra showed his speed when he caught pinch-hitter Emilio Bonifacio’s drive to the left-center gap in the sixth.

GOOD GLOVE
Braves right fielder Nick Markakis made diving catches of drives hit by Yadier Molina in the fifth and Carpenter in the eighth. A disbelieving Carpenter watched the replay of the grab by Markakis in the right-center gap on the video board before returning to the dugout.

STANDING ROOM ONLY

Attendance was 40,200 for the second sellout of the series and fifth of the season at new SunTrust Park.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (1-3, 3.75 ERA) looks for his second straight victory in Monday night’s series opener at Miami.

Braves: Following an off day, RHP Bartolo Colon (1-3, 6.27) pitches Tuesday night at Houston.

— Associated Press —

Two Missouri Western women’s golfers earn All-MIAA honors

Posted on May 5, 2017

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s golf team had two representatives on the All-MIAA team released Friday.

Shi Qing Ong repeated as a first team All-MIAA selection after her outstanding sophomore season. Ong claimed four individual championships and tied for the lead in a fifth, finishing top-10 in every event she played this year. Chong Yong was named second team All-MIAA after her freshman season. Yong had two top five finishes and tied for sixth at the MIAA Championships.

The pair will lead their team in its second straight appearance at the NCAA Central Super Region Women’s Golf Championship next week. This year’s event will be played May 8-10 at Minnehaha Country Club in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

2017 ALL-MIAA WOMEN’S GOLF TEAM
First Team All-MIAA
Baylee Price, Northeastern State *MIAA Golfer of the Year
Shi Qing Ong, Missouri Western
Marla Souvannasing, Central Oklahoma
Ebba Moberg, Northeastern State
Dakota Limkemann, Lindenwood

Second Team All-MIAA
Olivia Sobaski, Central Missouri *MIAA Freshman of the Year
Makena Mucciaccio, Central Oklahoma
Sydney Roberts, Central Oklahoma
Hannah Perkins, Fort Hays State
Chong Yong, Missouri Western

Honorable Mention: Elizabeth Leath, Central Missouri; Anna Pool, Central Oklahoma; Yolanda Rotzinger, Lindenwood; Maggie Bryant, Lindenwood; Natalie Long, Lindenwood; Halie Wright, Northeastern State.

— MWSU Athletics —

Kansas City loses to White Sox, splits four-game series

Posted on May 4, 2017May 4, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Derek Holland hitched up the heavy, gaudy wrestling belt strapped around his waist and flashed the kind of smile any world champion would wear after having their arm raised in the ring.

It was fitting, too, the way the White Sox left-hander pinned down the Royals on Thursday.

Holland scattered three hits while pitching into the seventh inning, and Jose Abreu and Matt Davidson went deep, helping Chicago to a 8-3 win over Kansas City and a split of their four-game set.

“It’s about time I earned this,” Holland said of the belt, which is awarded by Melky Cabrera and a bunch of other White Sox teammates to the game MVP. “It’s hard to get it.”

Holland (3-2) has deserved it on several occasions: He’s allowed two earned runs or fewer in his first six outings this season. In this one, he struck out seven with only one walk before exiting with two outs in the seventh, and only one of the two runs charged to him was earned.

“Listen, he came to spring training and everyone was asking what we expected of him,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. “He’s doing exactly what we expected of him.”

Meanwhile, Royals counterpart Ian Kennedy was going through a double-dose of misfortune.

First, the right-hander surrendered five runs on six hits and a walk in his first truly shaky start of the season. Then, Kennedy (0-3) was forced to leave with one out in the fifth after feeling a pinch in his right hamstring — an MRI exam during the game revealed a Grade 1 strain.

“Walking I don’t feel it, just the pitching motion and doing everything else,” Kennedy said. “It’s one of those things we’ll see how it feels tomorrow. It stinks.”

Asked whether Kennedy was headed for the disabled list, manager Ned Yost replied: “”I don’t know. We’re discussing our options right now.”

Kennedy struggled from the onset, giving up a one-out single to Cabrera and a 427-foot homer to Abreu in the first. Davidson added his solo shot into the fountains in left in the second.

In the fourth, Kennedy was victimized by an error, hit a batter and committed a balk before giving up back-to-back hits. He also walked a batter as the White Sox pushed two more runs across.

“I was missing my spots. I was all over the place,” Kennedy said. “It was just a bad day.”

Five runs were more than enough for Holland, who retired the first 10 batters he faced.

Mixing a fastball and sinker, Holland kept the punchless Royals guessing all the afternoon, silencing a Kauffman Stadium crowd filled with kids out for “School Day at the K.” He only allowed two doubles before the seventh inning, when the Royals finally managed to coax two runs across.

The White Sox had already tacked on two of their own in the seventh off the Kansas City bullpen.

STATS AND STREAKS

Abreu also homered in his final at-bat Wednesday night. … White Sox reliever Anthony Swarzak has retired 13 straight and 31 of his last 32 batters. … Kennedy has received five runs of support in his six starts. … The Royals have committed eight errors in their last 12 games. They had just one in the first 15 games. … The Royals lost a challenge for the first time in seven tries this season.

RECORD-SETTING WELT

Royals OF Alex Gordon was plunked by a pitch with one out in the seventh, the 79th time he’s been hit by a pitch. That set a franchise record that Gordon had shared with Mike Macfarlane.

SCRATCH AND SNIFF

White Sox 3B Todd Frazier was a late scratch due to back stiffness, though the timing of the move — right before first pitch — had some on social media sniffing about trades. Frazier has been linked to the Red Sox, who are in desperate need of help at the position.

TRAINER’S ROOM

White Sox RHP Nate Jones went on the 10-day DL with elbow inflammation and LHP David Holmberg’s contract was purchased from Triple-A Charlotte before the game. GM Rick Hahn said he believes Jones will be able to pitch again in a couple weeks. To make roster space for Holmberg, the White Sox transferred LHP Carlos Rodon to the 60-day DL. He’s been out with left biceps bursitis.

UP NEXT

White Sox: RHP Miguel Gonzalez starts the series opener at Baltimore on Friday night.

Royals: RHP Jason Hammel gets the nod to open a three-game set with Cleveland on Friday night.

— Associated Press —

Cardinals drop series finale against Milwaukee 5-4

Posted on May 4, 2017May 4, 2017

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jesus Aguilar’s first major league home run broke a seventh-inning tie, leading the Milwaukee Brewers over the banged-up St. Louis Cardinals 5-4 on Thursday night.

Cardinals right fielder Stephen Piscotty left the game after the second inning with a strained right hamstring and center fielder Dexter Fowler came out following the third with a strained right shoulder. Randal Grichuk moved from left to center and Aledmys Diaz shifted from shortstop to left in the first outfield appearance of his professional career.

Piscotty pulled up with a strained right hamstring after crossing first base on his grounder to third base that ended the second. Fowler was hurt in an unsuccessful attempt for a diving catch on Hernan Perez’s third-inning drive.

Randal Grichuk moved from left to center and Aledmys Diaz shifted from shortstop to left in the first outfield appearance of his professional career.

Milwaukee won its first series at St. Louis since April 28-30, 2014, ending a streak of 15 series losses and two splits.

With the score 4-4, Aguilar pinch hit for pitcher Oliver Drake (2-0) and homered against Matt Bowman (1-1) in his 100th career big league at-bat over four seasons.

Keon Broxton had four hits for the Brewers, including an RBI double in the third and a home run in the fifth against Adam Wainwright that tied the score 4-4.

Drake got his second win of the series, striking out Matt Carpenter to strand runners at second and third in the sixth inning. Neftali Feliz walked Carpenter leading off the ninth, then got three straight outs for his eighth save in nine chances.

Wainwright gave up four runs and 10 hits in five innings. Brewers starter Chase Anderson allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Fowler hit a two-run triple in a three-run second, but Travis Shaw had a two-run double in the third and scored on Broxton’s double. Yadier Molina’s RBI single put the Cardinals ahead 4-3 in the bottom half.

WEB GEMS

Piscotty threw out Broxton at the plate when he tried to score on Anderson’s single. … Grichuk made a leaping catch against the wall to rob Jonathan Villar of a leadoff extra base hit in the third.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Brewers: LF Ryan Braun (right trapezius soreness) missed his third straight game.

Cardinals: INF Jhonny Peralta (upper respiratory illness) is to begin a rehab assignment at Class A Palm Beach on Friday.

UP NEXT

Brewers: RHP Jimmy Nelson (1-2, 5.34 ERA) is slated to start the opener of a three-game series at Pittsburgh on Friday. Nelson is 2-2 with a 2.96 ERA in five starts at PNC Park.

Cardinals: RHP Lance Lynn (3-1, 2.45 ERA) is to pitch the first game of a three-game series at Atlanta.

— Associated Press —

MWSU’s Glaude, Rathmann named CoSIDA Academic All-District

Posted on May 4, 2017May 4, 2017

ST. JOSEPH – Missouri Western baseball’s David Glaude and Griffon softball’s Morgan Rathmann were named CoSIDA Academic All-District on Thursday.

Glaude, a senior, is batting .360 on the season with 46 RBIs, 13 doubles and seven home runs. The Quebec City, Canada native has a 3.37 GPA in construction engineering.

Rathmann, a senior, has an average of .366 with 19 RBIs, 11 triples and seven doubles. She also has 23 stolen bases on the season. Rathmann has a 4.0 GPA in English Education and is from Neosho, Missouri.

Both Glaude and Rathmann are now eligible for CoSIDA Academic All-America honors.

— MWSU Athletics —-

Tiger basketball adds Canisius graduate transfer Kassius Robertson

Posted on May 4, 2017May 4, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Men’s Basketball has signed one of the country’s top shooters in graduate transfer guard Kassius Robertson (Toronto, Ontario) of Canisius College, head coach Cuonzo Martin announced Thursday. The 6-3, 180-pound guard sank 41.0 percent of his three-point field goal attempts as a junior for the Golden Griffins in 2016-17, averaging 16.1 points per game.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Kassius Robertson into our Mizzou Basketball Family,” Martin said. “Kassius is an experienced leader and someone who knows what it takes to be successful at this level. His skillset goes beyond shooting the basketball, as his overall ability to impact the game will be a huge benefit to our program. Best of all, Kassius has an undergraduate degree in hand, and we look forward to him being an outstanding role model and teammate.”

Experienced from his days at Canisius, Robertson started 66-of-67 games for the Golden Griffins over the past two seasons. For his college career, he has averaged 12.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game from 2014-17.

Robertson has shown off his excellent marksmanship through three seasons tormenting the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), hitting on 44.8 percent (405-of-904) of his overall field goal attempts and 40.3 percent (213-of-528) of his three-point field goal attempts. Playing a crucial role for Canisius, Robertson averaged a team-best 34.0 minutes per game as a sophomore in 2015-16 and 33.4 minutes per game this past season.

“I really appreciated the vibe I got from the Mizzou coaching staff,” Robertson said. “Coach Martin’s level of realness was unmatched, really. He and I have already had so many conversations. Coach told me wasn’t going to be a salesman and bombard me, which is what happens a lot. This was about an opportunity and what he saw in me. And he was right.

“Mizzou’s campus was so nice. I was really impressed with that. So many people around and so many different buildings and facilities. Best of all, Mizzou Arena is beautiful. I got so excited walking around in there, and I really can’t wait to play in front of Mizzou’s fans.”

Robertson’s 16.1 points per game as a junior were a team-best as he led Canisius to an 18-16 overall record. He vaulted forward as a scorer during his sophomore season in 2015-16, with his 14.4 points per game coming in as a 68 percent improvement from his freshman campaign.

As a freshman in 2014-15, Robertson earned All-MAAC Rookie Team honors after averaging 6.8 points and 2.2 rebounds per game over 33 games. He shot an impressive 47.4 percent (74-of-156) from the field in his initial collegiate campaign, joining the roster after a redshirt season in 2013-14.

Robertson played his final high school season for Thornlea Secondary School as a senior in 2012-13, averaging 22.0 points, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game. He previously had played two seasons at Vaughn Secondary School.

The son of Shannon Robertson and Wadsworth Walters, Robertson earned a bachelor’s degree in health & wellness from Canisius College and will join Mizzou as a graduate student with one year of eligibility remaining.

Robertson’s signing of a financial aid agreement with the University of Missouri includes him in a growing recruiting class with current signees Blake Harris (Chapel Hill, N.C.), Michael Porter, Jr. (Columbia, Mo.), and C.J. Roberts (North Richland Hills, Texas). Learn more about Harris here, Porter here and Roberts here.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Griffons close regular season with 12-2 win over Drury

Posted on May 3, 2017May 3, 2017

ST. JOSEPH – Dustin Agnew was nearly perfect and the Missouri Western bats weren’t far behind in a 12-2 regular season finale win over Drury (30-16) for the Griffons baseball team (29-18) Wednesday night.

Agnew was perfect for five and two-thirds before a single in the sixth ended his bid for a perfect game and his night. The junior was on a 60-pitch count that got extended to 68 with the possibility of an unforgettable night. The hit that ended Agnew’s outstanding start almost wasn’t as the sharply hit ball up the middle by Drury’s Justin Abernathy was gloved by a diving David Glaude who couldn’t quite make the throw in time.

The Griffon bats did their part as well, tying a season-high with 20 hits. Missouri Western hit seven doubles, including three from Andrew Curry which tied an MWSU single game record. Curry was 3-for-4 at the plate and just missed two home runs with doubles high off the wall. Nick Gawley went 4-for-4 with his third home run of the season and four RBIs. David Glaude continued his hot streak, going 3 for 5 with four RBIs.

Agnew improved to 6-0 on the season. Nate Hunter gave up just one hit in his inning and a third of work. Richard Peoples pitched the final inning, allowing a walk and a two-run home run before retiring the next three.

Missouri Western won 13 of its final 14 games in the regular season. The Griffons will be the No. 2 seed in the MIAA Baseball Championships which begin May 11 in Joplin, Missouri. Wednesday night’s victory was a non-conference win, but will count towards the Griffons’ in-region record. The Griffons were ranked fifth in the latest central region poll, with the top-eight teams qualifying for the regional tournament.

— MWSU Athletics —

Nate Karns dazzles for Royals in victory over White Sox

Posted on May 3, 2017May 3, 2017

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Nate Karns pitched six innings of one-hit ball, striking out four in his final frame, and the Kansas City Royals cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday night.

Karns (1-2) wound up striking out seven with only one walk in his best performance of the season, one that helped Kansas City assure itself at least a split of the four-game series with the finale Thursday afternoon.

Mike Pelfrey (0-2) kept the White Sox in it until the sixth, when he gave up a single, double and triple in succession. Eric Hosmer followed with a sacrifice fly for a 3-0 lead, a shot to center that came within about 5 feet of giving the Royals a natural team cycle.

Pelfrey allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings, and White Sox slugger Jose Abreu homered off the Kansas City bullpen with two outs in the ninth.

There was little indication a pitchers’ duel would break out Wednesday night.

Karns had allowed 10 runs and four homers over 10 2/3 innings in his last two games, losing both of them. That included a 5-2 loss to the White Sox just last week.

Yet he managed to handcuff the hot-hitting White Sox on Wednesday night, giving up a single with two outs in the first inning and little else. Karns dealt with another runner in the fourth thanks to his own error, and a third runner in the sixth when he struck out Yolmer Sanchez with a wild pitch.

Karns wound up striking out four in that inning, fanning Abreu to end it. It was the first time a Royals pitcher struck out four in an inning since Kevin Appier on Sept. 3, 1996.

Meanwhile, Pelfrey had surrendered seven runs over 8 2/3 innings in his first two starts of the year, and that was only marginally better than his performances all of last season.

But the big right-hander bore down against the weak-hitting Royals, giving up a pair of singles and a walk over the first five innings, easily escaping trouble each time.

The Royals finally got to him in the sixth when Mike Moustakas followed Whit Merrifield’s one-out single with his double to the gap in right. Lorenzo Cain followed with an RBI triple to the same spot, and Hosmer’s fly ball to the wall in center gave Kansas City a comfortable cushion.

The Royals tacked on three more runs off the Chicago bullpen.

BROKEN LUMBER

White Sox center fielder Leury Garcia was so frustrated after striking out while chasing a pitch in the dirt in the fifth that he slammed his bat in the dirt. It promptly shattered, earning a jeer from the crowd.

UP NEXT

White Sox: LHP Derek Holland takes the mound Thursday in the series finale. His last win against the Royals came on April 22, 2011, at Globe Life Park.

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy is winless in his last nine starts, dating to a 2-0 win in Chicago last Sept. 1. He has posted a 3.07 ERA during that streak.

— Associated Press —

Cards, Brewers postponed; Thursday’s game moved to 6:15

Posted on May 3, 2017May 3, 2017

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals’ home game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday night has been postponed by bad weather.

A makeup date was not immediately announced. Adam Wainwright of the Cardinals and Chase Anderson of the Brewers had been set to start the game.

The Cardinals said Thursday’s game against the Brewers, originally scheduled for 12:45 p.m., had been pushed back to 6:15 p.m. because of the weather forecast.

Heavy rains have swollen many rivers to record levels in parts of Missouri, Illinois, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Hundreds of people have been displaced and thousands more are potentially in harm’s way.

— Associated Press —