Sports – Page 410 – St. Joseph Post Archive

MIAA hands out weekly football honors

Posted on September 12, 2016

Kansas City, Mo. – Northeastern State’s Dimonic McKinzy has been named the MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week with Pittsburg State’s Spencer Brown being named the Defensive Athlete of the Week. Central Missouri kicker Billy Greco has been named the MIAA Special Teams Athlete of the Week.

MIAA Football Offensive Athlete of the Week
Dimonic McKinzy, QB, Northeastern State

McKinzy became the only quarterback in the MIAA with more than three touchdown passes in a game this season when his five TD throws led NSU to a thrilling 35-31 come-from-behind victory over Lindenwood. The sophomore was 23-for-47 passing for 300 yards, five touchdowns and zero interceptions. He also led the RiverHawks in rushing with 38 yards on 10 carries. Northeastern State trailed 31-21 with 5:30 left in the game, but McKinzy led the RiverHawks on two late TD drives that amassed 181 yards in just 3:09. The final game-winning drive went 98 yards in just 1:38 and was capped by a 17-yard TD pass to Gary McKnight with just 33 seconds remaining on the clock. The 6-0 sophomore quarterback is a native of Kansas City, Mo. where he competed at Wyandotte High School prior to playing one season at Hutchinson Community College.

MIAA Football Defensive Athlete of the Week
Spencer Brown, LB, Pittsburg State

Brown tipped and intercepted a pass that he returned 25 yards for the game-clinching touchdown with 1:30 to play in the game as Pitt State scored a 45-31 road win over Central Oklahoma Thursday (Sept. 8). The Gorillas led 37-31 when Brown made his clinching play. The Lees Summit, Mo., native made a game-high nine tackles including key stops in the fourth quarter as Pitt State limited UCO to 50 total yards in the final period to allow the Gorillas to finally overtake the Bronchos. Pitt State forced UCO into three turnovers in the contest. The 6-0 senior linebacker is a native of Lee’s Summit, Mo. where he competed at Lee’s Summit West High School.
Missouri Western.

MIAA Football Special Teams Athlete of the Week
Billy Greco, K, Central Missouri

Greco went 4-for-4 in PAT attempts and connected on both of his field goal attempts as the Mules beat Fort Hays State 34-17. The Papillion, Neb. native had field goals of 23 and 26 yards. He now has 19 made field goals in his career, moving him in to a tie for eighth most in a career at UCM. He also moved in to eighth place all-time at UCM in scoring for a kicker with 108 points. The 5-10 sophomore kicker is a native of Papillion, Neb. where he competed at Papillion-La Vista South High School.

— MIAA Press Release —

Nebraska’s Gerry named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week

Posted on September 12, 2016

Nebraska senior safety Nathan Gerry was honored for his performance against Wyoming, as he was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week Monday morning.

Gerry’s return sparked the Blackshirts to six turnovers against the Cowboys in Nebraska’s 52-17 win. The senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., finished with a pair of interceptions, a team-high seven tackles, including a TFL, and a pass breakup. The six turnovers forced by the Blackshirts – all coming in the second half – led directly to 28 Husker points, and marked the most turnovers forced by the Huskers since the 2010 season.

With his two interceptions – the first multi-interception game of his career – he moved into the top-five of NU’s career interceptions list, while he also became the fifth defensive back in program history to record 200 career tackles.

Monday marked the first time that Gerry, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, has won the conference’s weekly honor.

The Huskers return to action on Saturday, as they host No. 22 Oregon in the 350th consecutive sellout at Memorial Stadium. Kickoff for the ABC nationally televised broadcast is set for 2:30 p.m. (central).

— NU Athletics —

Chiefs overcome 21-point deficit, beat Chargers 33-27 in OT

Posted on September 11, 2016

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Alex Smith squirmed out of the pile in the end zone, got to his feet and let out a roar.

All it took was the largest comeback in the 56-year history of the Kansas City Chiefs for the stoic quarterback with the California cool to finally let some emotion show.

Smith threw for 363 yards and two touchdowns to rally his team from a three-touchdown hole, then scored on third-and-goal on the first possession of overtime for a heart-stopping 33-27 victory over the San Diego Chargers in their season opener Sunday.

“Lot of emotion at the end of the game,” Smith said with a smile.

The Chiefs trailed 24-3 in the second half before mounting their charge, and it really kicked into gear when Smith hit Jeremy Maclin with a back-shoulder fade to get within 27-17 with 9 minutes to go.

Cairo Santos added a 33-yard field goal a few minutes later. Then, after forcing a three-and-out, Spencer Ware finished a four-play drive with a touchdown plunge to knot the game at 27.

It took Kansas City 10 plays to march 75 yards in overtime. Smith finished it with his plunge from the 2-yard line, keeping the ball rather than pitch when the smallest of creases opened.

By the time Smith reached his feet, the Chiefs had flooded onto the field to celebrate.

“You’re going to have games like this that show your character, show your grit,” coach Andy Reid said. “I’m proud of the way they handled it. They had confidence in each other.”

Philip Rivers threw for 243 yards and a touchdown, and Melvin Gordon scored the first two TDs of his career. But the Chargers were unable to keep any drives going in the fourth quarter, when the Chiefs were charging to their NFL-leading 11th consecutive regular-season victory.

“You just can’t let them back in. We’ve got to close it,” Chargers offensive tackle Joe Barksdale said. “Everybody with eyes who saw the game has got to know, we have to close it. It’s not acceptable to be up by 24-3 and lose the game. We know that.”

The collapse came after San Diego wide receiver Keenan Allen left in the second quarter with what appeared to be a serious knee injury. He already had six catches for 63 yards.

Even without Allen, the retooled Chargers and their improved offensive line managed to build a 21-3 halftime lead. And it looked as if their eight-game skid against AFC West rivals would finally end.

That all changed once the fourth quarter began.

Josh Lambo missed a 54-yard field goal with San Diego leading 27-10, and the momentum swung toward Kansas City. Smith calmly completed six passes and marched his team 56 yards to the end zone, Santos hit his field goal and Ware his touchdown run, and the game was headed to overtime.

The Chiefs carried their newfound momentum all the way to the finish.

BLACK POWER

Chiefs cornerback Marcus Peters held a black-gloved fist aloft during the national anthem in a salute reminiscent of Tommie Smith and John Carlos at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. It was his way of standing beside 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s stance on social injustice.

“I’m supporting Colin and what he’s doing, as far as raising awareness with the justice system,” said Peters, who grew up in Oakland, California. “Coach said it was OK if I wanted to express my thoughts about what I wanted to do, so I just expressed it.”

Peters did link his left arm with his teammates as country singer Trace Adkins performed the anthem. The Chiefs said in a statement they decided to lock arms in a show of solidarity.

MISSING NAMES

The Chiefs played without star pass rusher Justin Houston , who could be out until November as he recovers from ACL surgery in February. The Chargers were without defensive end Joey Bosa, the third pick in April’s draft, who remained on the exempt list after a lengthy holdout.

RUNNING IT: Ware finished with 70 yards rushing and had seven catches for 129 yards, giving the Chiefs a big boost without Jamaal Charles. The four-time Pro Bowl running back is still recovering from surgery last season to repair his ACL and was inactive Sunday.

INJURY REPORT

Allen missed the final eight games last season with a lacerated kidney , and now could be out the rest of this season. He never put weight on his right knee after going down Sunday.

“There is speculation about an ACL,” coach Mike McCoy said, “but we’ll run tests when we get back home.”

Chiefs linebacker Sam Barrington left in the second half with a hamstring injury.

— Associated Press —

Royals combine to two-hit White Sox in 2-0 victory Sunday

Posted on September 11, 2016

CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Kennedy wanted to talk about Chris Sale’s outing more than his own performance.

“What did he go, eight innings, 12 punchouts?” Kennedy said. “You know you’re going up against one of the best pitchers in the American League. I just wanted to go out there and try to give our team a chance.”

Kennedy did a lot better than that, combining with three relievers on a two-hitter and helping the Kansas City Royals edge Sale and the Chicago White Sox 2-0 on Sunday.

The key for Kansas City was swinging early. Kendrys Morales homered on Sale’s first pitch of the second and Eric Hosmer did the same in the fourth.

“Honestly, I just try to get out of that box as quick as I can without getting embarrassed,” Hosmer said.

The Royals won their second straight to stay four games behind Baltimore for the final AL wild-card spot. They have to jump five teams over the final 20 games to reach the playoffs for the third straight year.

“We needed this,” Hosmer said.

Kennedy (11-9) walked four, but Adam Eaton’s leadoff single was the only hit off the right-hander in six innings. He improved to 5-0 in his last six starts.

Peter Moylan and Kelvin Herrera each threw a perfect inning before Wade Davis worked around Eaton’s single and a walk in the ninth for his 24th save.

Sale (15-8) struck out 12 in eight innings while becoming the first White Sox pitcher with four consecutive 200-strikeout seasons. It was his third game of 10 or more strikeouts this season and No. 34 for his career.

Sale also went over 200 innings for the second straight season.

“I think more than anything, it’s the innings,” Sale said. “I was told very early on when I got here 200 innings was the benchmark for a starting pitcher.”

But Sale, who has gone at least eight innings in five straight starts, has just one win since starting for the AL in the All-Star Game. It has fueled speculation Sale could be traded in the offseason to help a rare rebuilding project for the struggling franchise.

“I don’t worry about that stuff. It’ll shake out on its own,” Sale said. “I wear this uniform with a lot of pride and I hope I can continue to do that.”

Kennedy, who struck out six, stymied Chicago despite occasional control issues amid his late-season turnaround.

He walked the bases loaded in the third with two out before Melky Cabrera flied to right. Kennedy worked around another walk in the fifth when Tyler Saladino lined to the mound to start a double play.

Davis got Jose Abreu to line to right and struck out Justin Morneau with two on to close the Royals’ fourth win in six games.

“It’s hard to bunch offense against Chris Sale,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “You have to hope you can get a pitch and not miss it. That’s what Mo did. That’s what Hos did and you just hope that your pitching matches.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: Yost said OF Lorenzo Cain (sprained left wrist) will see a specialist and they’ll decide in a week if he’ll be shut down for the season. “We’re just doing everything we can right now,” Cain said. “Hopefully, I can get back on the field.” … C Salvador Perez started a second straight game in his return from a wrist injury. “Salvy is a different scenario, it’s just a bone contusion,” Yost said.

White Sox: Sale stayed in after taking a liner off his knee in the third. He recovered to throw out Paulo Orlando at first.

MEMORIES

The 15-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks hit home for both managers. Chicago’s Robin Ventura was playing for the Mets and Yost was with the Braves then. The teams faced off in the first game in New York after the attack.

Both men brought up the significance of Mike Piazza’s game-winning home run.

“People could cheer, people could hug each other and laugh and root for their team again,” Ventura said.

UP NEXT

Royals: Oakland comes to Kansas City for four games, with Royals RHP Dillon Gee (6-7, 4.34 ERA) facing LHP Ross Detwiler (1-3, 5.15 ERA) on Monday.

White Sox: AL Central-leading Cleveland visits for four games starting Monday, with RHP Miguel Gonzalez (3-6, 3.81 ERA) facing RHP Carlos Carrasco (11-7, 3.15 ERA).

— Associated Press —

MWSU soccer earns 1-0 OT win over Minnesota-Crookston

Posted on September 11, 2016

ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western soccer team had chance after chance after chance. It just took the team 96 minutes to take advantage of one of them.

Cassidy Menke’s goal off a rebound in the sixth minute of overtime was Missouri Western’s only goal, and the only one her team needed in a 1-0 overtime win over Minnesota Crookston on Sunday afternoon. Missouri Western, again, dominated the action. The Griffons ended the contest with a 24-3 shot advantage, 11-2 for shots on frame. Missouri Western just couldn’t find the back of the net until Ashlyn Powers took a shot from the right wing that deflected off Minnesota Crookston goalkeeper Olivia Puttin’s diving hand, right to Menke, who hesitated then rolled one in from inside the box for the win.

Lexie Martin earned her second career victory in goal for the Griffons, moving to 2-0 on the season with her first career shutout. Martin’s back line stepped up and limited Minnesota Crookston to just two shots on goal and Martin did her part by saving both. Menke led the Griffons in shots with six, three coming on goal. Maddy Cowell took five shots with one on goal. Powers had four shots with three on goal.

The Griffons improved to 3-1 in the season and will move later this week into conference opponents, though the games will not count toward the MIAA standings. Missouri Western travels to Northwest Missouri Stat, Friday for a non-conference tilt, then it’s across Missouri for the Griffons to Lindenwood on Sunday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Cardinals lose to Milwaukee on Braun’s 9th inning home run

Posted on September 11, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun fouled off the pitch he liked before coming through for the Brewers.

Braun hit a solo home run in the ninth inning and the Brewers beat St. Louis 2-1 on Sunday, dropping the Cardinals back in the NL wild-card race.

The Cardinals are a half-game behind the Mets for the second wild-card slot.

Braun connected on a 3-2 fastball off Kevin Siegrist (5-3) for his 27th homer of the season and 19th in his career against the Cardinals.

“The 0-1 pitch was the best pitch to hit,” said Braun, who fouled it off. “It was better than the one I hit. The one I hit out was on the black in.”

Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell liked Braun’s approach in the at-bat.

“He hit a couple of foul balls there where he took really good swings,” Counsell said. “He’s (Siegrest) tough on righty’s, always has been. Braun got himself back in the count and he made a mistake. It was a no-doubter.”

St. Louis had tied it in the eighth when Matt Carpenter doubled and scored on Stephen Piscotty’s sacrifice fly off Tyler Thornburg (6-5).

Thornburg struck out three in the ninth.

“We only used Thorny once in the last week so he was well rested,” Counsell said. “We gave him the extra outs. He’s got a great mentality in this role.”

The Cardinals fell to 32-39 at home this season.

“It’s always disappointing,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said. “In these close games, you feel like you got a real shot and they’re always hard to swallow when it doesn’t work out.”

The Brewers’ other run came in the first on singles by Scooter Gennett and Braun and a sacrifice fly from Chris Carter.

Milwaukee had just four hits in the game, with Braun getting the only one after the fifth inning.

Zach Davies pitched 7 1/3 innings and gave up one run on five hits while striking out seven and walking one.

“This is a game where you have to battle even harder,” Davies said. “Every pitch counts.”

Cardinals rookie Luke Weaver allowed three hits in six innings. He struck out eight with one walk.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha, who has missed 29 games with shoulder inflammation, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Monday. He threw one Friday.

ACTIVATED

The Cardinals activated All-Star shortstop Aledmys Diaz from the disabled list. Diaz, 26, had missed 36 games since he broke his right thumb when he was hit by a pitch from the Marlins’ Andrew Cashner. At the time he was injured, Diaz was hitting a team-leading .312 with 14 homers and 57 RBI in 96 games.

ATTENDANCE

The Cardinals eclipsed the 3 million mark in attendance for the 13th consecutive year and joined the Los Angeles Dodgers as the second team to pass the figure this season. It is the 20th time overall St. Louis has passed the 3 million total.

UP NEXT

Brewers: Wiley Peralta (6-9) will face Cincinnati’s Keyvius Sampson(0-1). Peralta, the opening day starter, earned a win in his last start Sept. 6 in a 12-5 victory over the Cubs.

Cardinals: Mike Leake (9-9) will face Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks (14-7) on Monday night at Busch Stadium. It will be Leake’s 199th career start. He was activated from 15-day DL (shingles) before his last start on Sept. 7 and allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings for no-decision in a 4-3 loss to Pittsburgh.

— Associated Press —

Griffons move to 2-0 with dominate win at Missouri Southern

Posted on September 11, 2016

JOPLIN, Mo. – The opponent and location were different, but the script was much the same as week one as the Missouri Western football team defeated Missouri Southern 51-14 on Saturday night. It was the Griffons’ fourth-straight win in Joplin and the largest margin of victory in Joplin for the Griffons in the 47-year history of the rivalry.

For the second straight game, Missouri Western dominated the ground game, out rushing Missouri Southern 262 yards to 30. The Griffon offense totaled 525 yards and limited Missouri Southern to 284. The 51 points in Joplin combined with the 44 scored last week are the most points for a Griffon Football team through the first two weeks since scoring 117 combined against Mesa State and Lincoln in 2010.

Skyler Windmiller had one of his best games in a Griffon uniform, completing 83-percent of his passes (15-18) for 229 yards and two touchdowns. The junior signal caller also rushed 10 times for 47 yards and two touchdowns. Much like last week, Windmiller spread the football around, completing passes to eight different Griffons, nine total caught passes on the night. Brock Broughton and Terry Jackson Jr. caught the touchdown passes. Broughton led the Griffons in receiving yards with 83. Patrick Bolton led the team with four receptions for 46 yards.

On the ground, Josh Caldwell led the way again, rushing 12 times for 92 yards and a touchdown. Kendall Short carried it 16 times for 77 yards and Derek Gray added his second career touchdown on six carries for 24 yards.

Missouri Western overcame three first half turnovers to take a 28-6 lead to halftime. The Griffons also once again won despite some special teams hiccups. Missouri Southern blocked a Griffon punt for a safety. Dijuan Ussery also fumbled on a kick return and the Griffons missed their third field goal of the season.

The win sets up the game of the week in the MIAA next Saturday as the Griffons host Central Missouri at 6 p.m. in St. Joseph. The Griffons and Mules are both 2-0 with Central Missouri ranked No. 16 in last week’s AFCA poll and No. 8 in the D2Football.com poll. It’s Family Weekend and Military Appreciation night at Spratt Memorial Stadium.

— MWSU Athletics —

Lock leads Missouri past Eastern Michigan 61-21

Posted on September 11, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Saturday morning, Missouri coach Barry Odom woke up to a text message informing him of something he did not know; since 1957, only one Missouri coach-Bob Stull in 1989-won in their home debut.

Make that two.

Drew Lock tied a school-record with five touchdown passes as Missouri ran away with its home opener, defeating Eastern Michigan 61-21 Saturday.

Odom, who was a linebacker for Missouri from 1996-99, discussed the surreal nature of earning his first home win as coach of his alma mater.

“It got to me a little bit tonight. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t…I feel the responsibility to do it right, because there are so many people that have worked so hard to put this program where it is.”

Lock completed 24 of 37 pass attempts for 450 yards, only 30 yards shy of the school record.

“He did some really good things tonight,” Odom said of Lock. “He is doing a great job of running our offense, and things are slowing down tremendously for him. I think he will continue to grow by learning from his mistakes, while learning from the good things he does as well.”

The Tigers (1-1) amassed 647 yards of total offense, the most since Sept. 17, 2011. Running backs Demarea Crockett and Ish Witter combined for 25 rushes, 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Ray Wingo led Missouri in receiving yards with 125 on just three catches, one of which was a 52-yard touchdown midway through the third quarter. Johnathon Johnson caught five passes for 115 yards and a touchdown, and Emmanuel Hall had three catches for 90 yards.

“Their passing attack proved to be too strong,” said Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton, who is now 4-22 in three seasons with the school. “The long balls, and even just the quick game, would eat up yards. They did a really good job of that.

“We just got run by on some of those long balls, and some well-placed balls, and some speed and size at receiver that we just weren’t able to combat.”

On the final play of the first quarter, Johnson bobbled a high-arcing punt near midfield, but recovered and took it 54 yards for a touchdown. He finished with 210 all-purpose yards.

“It was scramble mode,” Johnson said of the circus play. “I had to pick it back up. I knew I had muffed it, so I was just trying to get it back up, and I just cut it across the field.”

Odom said he’s seen this type of playmaking ability from Johnson before.

“The things he did on the field tonight, he does in practice on Tuesday’s and Wednesdays. It’s important to him that he is a total package player, having the ability to not only play out wide, but to return punts and block. He is only going to get better.”

Eastern Michigan quarterback Todd Porter was 23 of 45 for 287 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed 13 times for 46 yards and one touchdown.

The Eagles (1-1) struggled offensively, especially in the first half. Their first seven drives consisted of five punts, an interception and a 1-yard touchdown run. They converted 11 of 21 third down attempts and were 0 for 1 on fourth down.

Missouri cornerback Aarion Penton broke up three passes, made two tackles and had an interception, but left the game with a sprained shoulder and did not return.

Eastern Michigan cornerback Juan Giraldo was ejected early in the fourth quarter for a targeting hit on Missouri receiver Keyon Dilosa.

TAKEAWAYS

Missouri: In a 26-11 loss at West Virginia last week, Missouri’s offense ran 100 plays, more than any team in the nation. That tempo slowed somewhat Saturday, as the Tigers ran 78 plays. However, they nearly doubled their average yards per play, from 4.6 against West Virginia to 8.3 against the Eagles, and scored the most points since a 62-10 win against Southeast Louisiana Sept. 1, 2012.

Eastern Michigan: Starting running back Shaq Vann was limited to just one carry for 10 yards. Vann injured his shoulder early in the first quarter and did not return. Ian Eriksen became the Eagles’ primary ball carrier with Vann on the sidelines, rushing 23 times for 90 yards and a touchdown.

UP NEXT

Missouri: The Tigers host Georgia (2-0) next Saturday night. The Bulldogs defeated Missouri 10-9 last season in Athens.

Eastern Michigan: The Eagles travel to UNC Charlotte (1-1) next Saturday in the first meeting between the schools. The 49ers football program began in 2013.

— Associated Press —

Royals hold off White Sox 6-5, remain 4 back of wild card

Posted on September 11, 2016

CHICAGO — The Kansas City Royals want to wait a week before deciding whether to shut down Lorenzo Cain. The outfielder may or may not agree.

The Royals’ 6-5 comeback victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday night was overshadowed by the unknown future of their former All-Star.

Whit Merrifield hit a go-ahead two-run double in a three-run seventh inning and closer Wade Davis barely made it hold up in the ninth. The 2015 World Series champions remained four games back of Baltimore for the second AL wild card.

But being without Cain could dampen those postseason hopes.

Cain returned Friday from a sprained wrist, but was basically swinging one-handed. He was back sidelined Saturday, and while manager Ned Yost said before the game Cain will likely have to play through pain, Cain told Fox Sports Kansas City that it was “highly likely” he was finished for the season.

After the game, a team spokesman said Cain had received a stem cell shot that didn’t work and they wanted to wait a week to see if his wrist gets better.

At his locker after the game, the spokesman repeated that news to Cain before he addressed reporters.

Cain said nothing for a few seconds before declining to answer whether he thought he would return.

“I’ve go to talk to some more people because we talked about something earlier,” Cain said. “I’ll have to get back to you.”

Davis gave up a single to Tyler Saladino and a double to Adam Eaton to lead off the ninth before Melky Cabrera’s infield single cut the deficit to one.

With the tying run on third and one out, Davis struck out Jose Abreu and Justin Morneau for his 23rd save.

“He got himself into a little bit of trouble, but that what he does best,” Yost said. “He just buckles down when he needs to and got big outs.”

Eric Hosmer hit a two-run homer in the first and Alex Gordon a solo shot in the fourth off White Sox starter James Shields. The struggling righty exited after six innings leading 4-3 before the Chicago’s bullpen faltered.

Chris Beck (2-2) was charged with three runs while giving up two hits and a walk and getting one out.

Davis was the last of five relievers after Edinson Volquez, who allowed four runs and nine hits over five innings.

Kevin McCarthy (1-0) got the last out of the sixth for his first major league win.

“I still haven’t wrapped my head around the whole being up here yet,” McCarthy said. “My head is still spinning.”

Shields, who helped the Royals reach the 2014 World Series, allowed three runs and four hits. He avoided his 18th loss despite moving into the major league lead with 37 home runs allowed.

“I gave up two homers, but the other two hits were kind of just really weak hits,” Shields said.

Morneau doubled twice and drove in a run in a two-run fifth as the White Sox went ahead 4-3.

Abreu drove in his 90th run and Saladino went 3 for 4 to leave him 9 for 12 in the past three games.

Volquez allowed the leadoff batter to reach in all five innings, but the Royals overcame Chicago’s 12 hits for their fourth win in 10 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: C Salvador Perez (wrist) returned after a two-game absence and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

White Sox: Manager Robin Ventura said it’s unlikely 2B Brett Lawrie, who last played July 21, returns this season. Lawrie remains in Arizona dealing with nagging knee pain after originally being sidelined with a hamstring injury. “It’s become a long shot at this point just because he’s been out so long,” Ventura said.

MERRIFIELD’S YEAR

Merrifield, a 27-year-old rookie forced into duty thanks to Kansas City’s numerous injuries, has driven in 21 runs in 60 games.

“It was big,” Merrifield said. “Happy I came through right there.”

MORNEAU’S FUTURE

Morneau, signed in June to a one-year deal, will decide after the season whether to try to play in 2016. He’s 35.

“Oh, he’s got something left,” Ventura said. “He can play next year if he wants to.”

UP NEXT

White Sox ace Chris Sale (15-7, 3.07 ERA) faces RHP Ian Kennedy (10-9, 3.76) in the series finale Sunday.

— Associated Press —

Kansas gets beat at home by Ohio 37-21

Posted on September 11, 2016September 11, 2016

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Ohio’s Greg Windham played like a fifth-year senior rather than a quarterback making just his second career start, though Kansas certainly did everything it could to help him out.

Two fumbled punt returns. Inopportune penalties. An interception. A safety.

The result was a 37-21 victory for the Bobcats on Saturday that went a long way toward erasing the memory of a triple-overtime defeat to Texas State in their season opener.

“I’m proud of our guys the way they came back,” Ohio coach Frank Solich said. “I thought it showed our resolve. They practiced well this past week. I think the signs were there that they were going to have an opportunity to play well, and to play to our potential hopefully.”

Windham threw for 167 yards and a touchdown while running for 146 and another score. Dorian Brown added 122 yards rushing, Louie Zervos was 5-for-5 on field goals, and Papi White and Mason Morgan scored against a Kansas team coming off its first win in more than a year.

LaQuvionte Gonzalez had a 99-yard kickoff return for the Jayhawks (1-1), but he also muffed those two punt returns. Montell Cozart threw for 198 yards and hit Steven Sims Jr. for a pair of TDs, but the dual-threat quarterback also struggled to deal with constant pressure.

“Offensively we have to do a better job early in the game to help our defense out,” Kansas coach David Beaty said. “The defense, every time I looked up, they were out there.”

The Bobcats blitzed to a 25-0 lead and led 28-7 after a first half as lopsided as they come: They had a 359-21 edge in offense, 18 first downs to one, and controlled the ball for 22 minutes, 56 seconds.

“We just couldn’t get off the field,” Jayhawks safety Fish Smithson said. “It doesn’t matter how long we were out there, we still have to get stops.”

The Jayhawks still managed to make it interesting.

Cozart connected with Sims on a 74-yard touchdown pass on the second play out of the locker room, and then hit Sims from 22 yards out a few minutes later to trim a 28-7 halftime lead to 31-21.

But an Ohio defense that allowed 630 yards to Texas State held the Jayhawks to three straight punts, deflating a crowd that began to dwindle. And Windham showed the poise of a fifth-year senior rather than a quarterback making his second career start, scrambling for a crucial first down midway through the fourth quarter that kept the clock moving and the Kansas offense on the sideline.

“I feel like we have a run game,” Solich said, “and if you have a run game you have a chance.”

The outcome at Memorial Stadium was nothing new for Solich, who went 6-0 against the Jayhawks when he was with former Big 12 rival Nebraska. But it was all-too-familiar for Beaty, who hoped to build on a win over Rhode Island last week that ended the Jayhawks’ 15-game losing streak.

“We are still in that process of building this program,” he said. “We’ve talked to them until we’re blue in the face, one win doesn’t make you special. You have to go back to what got you there.”

STAT DISPARITY

Ohio had the ball for 43:38 while Kansas had it for 13:56, a massive disparity in time of possession. The Bobcats also went 6 for 7 in the red zone while the Jayhawks failed to drive inside the 20.

JAYHAWKS’ HURT WING

Cozart took a shot along the sideline late in the game, hurting his shoulder. Cozart said he could have returned to the game while Beaty said he was being cautious by turning to Ryan Willis. “I didn’t want to take a chance on it,” Beaty said, “because I saw the way he fell.”

THE TAKEAWAY

Ohio: The Bobcats ran for 329 yards without top running back A.J. Ouellette, who hurt his foot the previous week. He was on crutches when the captains went on the field for the coin toss.

Kansas: The Jayhawks were 0 for 8 on third down, failed to pick up both fourth downs, which in turn kept their defense on the field far too long. They were ultimately gassed by the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Ohio: Tries to beat another power-five opponent when it visits Tennessee on Saturday.

Kansas: Heads to Memphis on Saturday to face a team that beat the Jayhawks 55-23 a year ago.

— Associated Press —