Sports – Page 459 – St. Joseph Post Archive

KC blanked again by Seattle for fifth straight loss

Posted on May 1, 2016

SEATTLE (AP) — Wade Miley scattered five hits for his first career shutout and Kyle Seager hit a three-run homer to cap a four-run first inning off an ineffective Yordano Venture and pace the Seattle Mariners to a 6-0 victory over Kansas City on Saturday night, the Royals’ fifth consecutive loss on their current road trip.

Miley (2-2) struck out four and walked none for his second complete game in 139 starts. His only other complete game was last September with Boston in a 9-2 victory over Philadelphia, when he allowed two runs and five hits.

Seth Smith, whose homer accounted for the Mariners’ only hit in a 1-0 victory Friday night, homered in the first inning, a one-out solo shot, his fourth.

The Mariners capitalized on two walks in the first off Ventura (2-1), who allowed five runs, three hits with six walks in four-plus innings.

With two outs in the first, Ventura walked Nelson Cruz and Adam Lind, and Seager followed with his fifth homer to make it 4-0.

Miley benefited from a successful challenge in the third. Paulo Orlando was safe at second when shortstop Ketel Marte bobbled Alcides Escobar’s one-out infield chopper while trying for the force out. The call was overturned after review and Mike Moustakas followed with a ground-rule double to left-center, holding Escobar at third. Miley escaped by retiring Lorenzo Cain on a pop out to short.

Seattle took a page out of the Royals’ offensive play book and manufactured a run in the fourth. Seager walked to open the inning, Chris Iannetta singled and both runners advanced on Marte’s sacrifice bunt. Second baseman Omar Infante then attempted a difficult throw home on Leonys Martin’s chopper, but Seager slid in ahead of the tag.

The Mariners made it 6-0 in the sixth when Dillon Gee hit Cruz with a pitch with the bases loaded. Cruz was also hit by a pitch in the second inning and walked twice.

UP NEXT:

Royals: RHP Ian Kennedy (2-2, 2.77 ERA) allowed five runs and seven hits in a 6-1 loss to the Angels in his last start to open the current winless road trip. He was 0-2 with a 5.59 ERA in two starts last season against the Mariners when he was with San Diego.

Mariners: Seattle wraps up a six-game homestand before heading out for seven games on the road. RHP Taijuan Walker (2-0, 1.44 ERA) has allowed two or fewer runs and pitched at least six innings in each of his first four starts.

TRAINING ROOM:

Mariners: With relievers Joaquin Benoit (right shoulder inflammation) and Charlie Furbush (left shoulder tendinitis) both on the 15-day DL, RHP Nick Vincent has taken advantage of the opportunity. Vincent, acquired from San Diego right before the start of the season, retired Cain with the tying run on third in the eighth inning of Seattle’s 1-0 victory on Friday night. “Last night he did a great job. Coming in there, that was going to be his hitter. He attacked,” manager Scott Servais said. “He’s attacked every time he comes in. He goes right after them. He knows who he is and he executes.”

— Associated Press —

Mizzou rallies in the eighth again to defeat Volunteers

Posted on May 1, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball (23-21, 6-14) secured the series win with another eighth-inning rally to defeat Tennessee (24-20, 6-14), 6-5, Saturday afternoon (April 30) at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou scored two runs in the eighth inning thanks to RBI singles from senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) and sophomore OF Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.). Senior LHP Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.) pitched the final 1.1 innings to get the win for Mizzou.

Sophomore RHP Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) pitched well, going 7.2 innings giving up eight hits and two earned runs. Houck struck out six batters, marking the eighth time he has struck out at least six in a single game this year.

The offense used the long ball to their advantage, taking Tennessee’s starter Zach Warren over the fence twice in the first two innings, the only home runs he has given up all year, staking Mizzou to an early 3-0 lead.

Junior SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) hit the first homer on a solo bomb over the Mizzou bullpen in left field during the first inning. That home run extended his hitting streak to four games and his reached base streak to seven. Howard finished the day 1-4 and is now hitting .471 in his four game hitting streak.

Sophomore C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) hit his team-leading seventh home run of the season with a two-run shot to right center field in the bottom of the second. His big fly gave Bond a new season high with 26 RBI. He followed that by doubling down the left field line in the bottom of the seventh for his ninth multi-hit game of the season.

Mizzou used small ball to finish off the Volunteers in the seventh and eighth innings. Junior OF Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas) got Mizzou’s first pinch-hit hit of the year on an RBI single in the seventh to tie the score at four. Tennessee took the lead once more in the eighth inning off of a solo home run to dead center, but Mizzou answered with four singles in the bottom frame to earn the 6-5 win, capped off by Harris’ RBI single through the right side.

Mizzou continues its three-game series with Tennessee with game three Sunday (May 1) at 11:30 a.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

St. Louis drops second straight to Washington

Posted on May 1, 2016

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jayson Werth is finding his stroke for a team that wrapped up a big first month.

Werth’s three-run home run capped a four-run first inning and Joe Ross had another stingy outing for the Washington Nationals in a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

“The way things have been going, I feel like I can’t just catch a break,” Werth said. “I think it got us going, it got me going. Hopefully I can build on that and we can get this thing rolling.”

Ross (3-0) allowed one run on six hits in six innings, raising his ERA to 0.79. He has given up only two runs in 22 2/3 innings and bounced back nicely after skipping a turn because of a blister on his middle finger.

“I felt good, I felt pretty strong,” Ross said. “There wasn’t really like an inning or two of trying to settle in, so I think the time off, I guess, paid off for me.”

Manager Dusty Baker said he just kept an eye on the right-hander.

“He got out of trouble a couple times and made some pitches when he had to,” Baker said. “He wasn’t on a pitch limit, he was kind of on a performance limit.”

Werth added an RBI single in the eighth, his fifth in the first two games of a weekend series and 10th of the year, and raised his batting average to .211. With the victory, Washington clinched its first series win in St. Louis since May 25-27, 2007. It goes for a sweep Sunday after raising its record to 8-24 at 11-year-old Busch Stadium.

The NL East leaders are 16-7, their best start since moving from Montreal in 2005.

“You can’t win anything in April, but you can lose it,” Werth said. “We’ve got great chemistry.”

Opponents had been 2 for 13 with no runs in the first against Jaime Garcia (1-2) before the Nationals jumped on the lefty for four runs on three hits. Daniel Murphy had an RBI single before Werth hit his fourth over the left-field wall on a 2-1 changeup.

“I thought it stayed too much in the middle of the plate,” Garcia said. “I’ve just got to make a better pitch there.”

The Cardinals had two hits, a sacrifice bunt and Matt Carpenter’s sacrifice fly for a run in the fifth.

Garcia gave up only one more hit before leaving after 6 1/3 innings, striking out six and walking three. He entered the game 4-1 against Washington.

“My job is to keep us in the ballgame and give us a chance to win,” Garcia said. “I didn’t get the job done.”

Yadier Molina singled and doubled for an 11-game hitting streak and has reached safely in a career-best 18 straight games.

ON LEAVE

Carlos Martinez was given permission to leave the Cardinals on Friday to attend to a personal matter. Manager Mike Matheny said Martinez would start Sunday’s series finale.

SIGNIFICANT

Aledmys Diaz singled in the ninth for his 30th hit in April. Albert Pujols is the only other Cardinals rookie to do it, with 34 hits in 2001.

SLUMPING

St. Louis CF Jeremy Hazelbaker had two errors, one fielding and one throwing, and the second miscue resulted in an unearned run in the eighth. Randal Grichuk struck out pinch hitting in the seventh and is hitless in his last 16 at-bats.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals C Wilson Ramos remained on the bereavement list while in Venezuela following the death of his grandfather.

UP NEXT

Washington RHP Max Scherzer (2-1, 4.35) is 0-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts in his hometown. Martinez (4-0, 1.93) is among six pitchers in the majors to win the first four starts of the season.

— Associated Press —

Smith, Griffons Blank UCO to Advance to MIAA Tournament Championship

Posted on April 29, 2016

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Janie Smith kept the nation’s fifth highest scoring offense to no runs to help Missouri Western softball to the MIAA Tournament Championship game with a 2-0 win over Central Oklahoma.

It was just the second time Central Oklahoma had been shutout all season. The senior pitcher struck out Jobi Heath on a 2-2 pitch with the tying run at second base to end the game. The Griffons took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth off back-to-back doubles by Katie Klosterman and Sydney Washington. Smith battled through the first six with a 1-0 lead. In the seventh she gave up a leadoff double to MIAA Player of the Year Morgan Heard then walked the potential tying run. The Bronchos used a sacrifice bunt to get runners on third and second. Smith then coaxed a groundout to herself before the big strikeout to end the game.

The Griffons will await the winner of a game between Central Oklahoma and Pittsburg State on Saturday. The final elimination game was scheduled for Friday, but the threat of severe weather forced the MIAA to push the game to Saturday morning. Missouri Western is now one win away from claiming both the regular season and tournament championships for the first time in program history.

Klosterman and Washington’s doubles were two of just four hits the Griffons were able to get off Central Oklahoma’s Jessi Walker. Smith held UCO to seven hits, while striking out five and walking four to pick up her 22nd win of the season and giving the No. 13 Griffons their 42nd win of the year.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest knocked out of MIAA softball tournament by Southwest Baptist

Posted on April 29, 2016April 30, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State came up on the losing end of a low-scoring affair with Southwest Baptist to open day two of the 2016 MIAA Softball Championship Tournament at the ASA Hall of Fame Complex in Oklahoma City, Okla.

– A pair of home runs off the bat of Caitlyn Cooner was all the offense SBU needed to take a 3-1 victory and advance in the tournament.

– Northwest moves to 37-14 this season and has been eliminated from the conference tournament with the loss. SBU improved its record to 24-34 overall.

– The game was interrupted by a 29 minute lightning delay in the top of the fourth inning.

Key Statistics

– Kendle Schieber (21-6) took the loss after scattering six hits in a complete game effort, striking out five SBU batters.

– Junior Torri Blythe singled twice and scored the lone Northwest run, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk.

– Kiana Baderdeen reached base twice, drawing a walk before singling in the top of the seventh.

– First baseman Alexis Kelsey singled in a run in the third inning, finishing 1-for-4.

– Sophomore Rebecca Maher singled in her second at bat before laying down a sacrifice bunt later in the contest.

Key Innings

– Northwest jumped in front in the top of the third with a string of two-out singles. Blythe sent a sharp grounder back up the middle before Maher lined one sharply into the hole at short. With two out and two on, Kelsey dropped in a bloop single just over the second baseman’s glove and into right field, allowing the speedy Blythe to score from second.

– Schieber retired eight straight SBU batters between the first and fourth innings, but a one out single followed by a home run in the bottom of the fourth gave Southwest Baptist the lead for good.

– A leadoff single from Baderdeen, a walk to Blythe and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Maher loaded the bases for Northwest in the top of the seventh, but the rally came up short after a pair of flyouts ended the contest.

Up Next

– The Northwest squad will await the release of the 2016 NCAA Division II Softball Championship Bracket, set to be announced Monday morning, May 2 at 9 a.m. Northwest was ranked fourth in the final Central Region poll.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western baseball gets swept by Central Missouri

Posted on April 29, 2016

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Missouri Western Baseball dropped both games of the a doubleheader at Central Missouri on Friday afternoon. The Mules won 6-4 in the first game and took the second game 6-2 against the Griffons.

Game 1

The MWSU offense was held in check for the last six innings of the game, collecting only four hits in that time period. Missouri Western scored all four runs in the first three innings of the game.

Landon Mason and Orencio Fisher scored in the opening inning for the Griffons but the Mules were quick to respond with three runs themselves in the bottom half of the first inning. UCM used a two-run home run and scored on a throwing error in the inning.

The Mules recorded another two-run home run in the bottom of the second inning, giving them a 5-2 lead heading into the third inning.

The Griffons managed to score two runs in the top of the third but couldn’t even the score or take the lead against the Mules pitching. UCM scored one more run in the bottom of the third inning on a bulk, giving Central Missouri a 6-4 lead.

The Griffons used four different pitchers in the game. Kellan Richards pitched 4.2 innings and allowed just one hit. He also managed to strikeout three batters.

Fisher and Kody Matthews were the only Griffons with multiple hits in the game. Fisher finished the game, going 4-for-4 and adding two runs and one RBI in the game.

On the mound for UCM, Ethan Westphal went all nine innings and struck out 10 batters.

Game 2

In game two, Central Missouri scored the first two runs of the game in the bottom of the second inning and never looked back. They were able to build their lead by adding one more run in the third inning, giving UCM a 3-0 advantage.

The Griffons scored one-run in the top of the fourth inning and another in the ninth inning. Brandon Downs singled to right field in the fifth to bring home Kody Matthews. The other run for the Griffons came when Alex Heuring doubled down the left field line, bringing home Brandon Downs in the ninth.

Nick Gawley, David Glaude, Alex Heuring and Brandon Downs all tallied two hits in the game.

Pitcher Weston Caindec went 4.1 innings and allowed five runs on the day. He also struck out three batters while facing 21 total.

The Griffons will face Lincoln at home next weekend, starting on Friday, May 6th at 6 p.m. The second game of the series on May 7th has been pushed back to a 7 p.m. first pitch.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats drop two more games to Emporia State

Posted on April 29, 2016April 29, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team dropped a Friday double header to Emporia State at Bearcat Field in Maryville, Mo.

– Northwest fell in the first game, 7-1, and dropped the second game, 7-2.

– The Bearcats are now 24-22 overall and 19-17 in MIAA play. The Hornets improved to 33-14 overall and 25-11 in conference action.

– Between the games, Northwest honored Carson Smith, Nick Gotta, John Osborne, Derek Meyer and Zachary Douglas for Senior Day.

Game One Key Northwest Statistics (Emporia State 7, Northwest 1)

– Northwest scored one run in the sixth and finished the game with four hits and three errors.

– Emporia State scored on in the third, one in the fifth and five in the eighth. The Hornets had seven runs on 11 hits with one error.

– Kolby Greenslade went 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.

– Garrett Fort went 1-for-2 with a run scored and a walk. He was also hit by a pitch.

– Kevin Handzlik was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

– Aaron Barratt drew two walks in the game.

– Joseph Hietpas started and went 7.0 innings. He allowed just three runs on six hits. He struck out six and walked two.

– Bryce Shea worked the final 1.1 innings of the contest. He allowed just one unearned run on three hits. He didn’t walk a batter and had three strikeouts.

Game One Key Northwest Inning

– Fort was hit by a pitch to start the sixth and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Adams. After a groundout moved him to third, Handzlik hit a single up the middle for an RBI, driving in Fort to cut the Hornets’ lead in half, 2-1.

Game Two Key Northwest Statistics (Emporia State 7, Northwest 2)

– Northwest scored two runs on five hits with five errors. The Bearcats got single runs in the second and fifth innings.

– The Hornets scored three in the first, one in the second, two in the fourth and one in the sixth. ESU had seven runs on nine hits with one error.

– Garrett Fort was 1-for-3 with an RBI double.

– Kolby Greenslade was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored.

– Ozzie Adams was 1-for-3 with a walk.

– Jake Lewis and Aaron Barratt each went 1-for-4.

– Nick Gotta had a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning.

– Kevin handzlik was hit by a pitch in the second and came around to score Northwest’s first run.

– Brad Roberts started and went 5.0 innings. He allowed four earned runs with six strikeouts. He walked three batters on the day,

– Jimmy McElwain pitched 2.1 innings of hitless relief. He faced nine batters without allowing a baserunner.

– Carson Smith got the final five outs for Northwest. he went 1.2 innings and did not allow a hit. He struck out two batters.

Game Two Key Northwest Innings
– With one out in the second, Handzlik was hit by a pitch and Lewis followed it up with a single past the shortstop. After a flyout to center that allowed Handzlik to tag and advance to third, Fort came up with a double down the right field line to score Handzlik and move Lewis to third.

– Roberts worked a perfect fifth inning. He struck out the first two batters then got a groundout to close out the frame.

– Greenslade doubled down the left field line with one down in the fifth and went to third on a wild pitch in the next at bat. Gotta came through with a sacrifice fly to center to score Greenslade to make it 6-2 ESU.

Up Next
– Northwest has added a home game on Tuesday, May 3, at 3 p.m. against Quincy University at Bearcat Field. Northwest will conclude the 2016 regular season with a three-game series at Fort Hays State in Hays, Kan., starting on Friday, May 6, at 7 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

St. Joseph Mustangs announce 2016 promotional schedule

Posted on April 29, 2016April 29, 2016

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The St. Joseph Mustangs drew record crowds during the 2015 campaign, and they’re hoping for another fun season with promotions scheduled for every home game.

The defending MINK League champions are bringing back their nightly promotions that have become staples of games at Phil Welch Stadium — Ladies Night each Wednesday, Family Night each Thursday, followed by Friday Night Lites and the Mosaic Life Care Fireworks Spectacular on Saturdays.

There will also be giveaways held throughout the season including Magnet Schedules on June 1 courtesy of Brandy Weiderholt State Farm Insurance, limited edition Mustangs t-shirts to the first 500 fans courtesy of Carriage Square Living and Rehab on June 25, and free pregame family portraits on the field during Ultimate Family Night June 7.

Daddy-Daughter Date Night returns June 4 featuring special photo opportunities with Sleeping Beauty and Sofia the First. Mothers and sons get their date night one week later on June 11 with a special appearance by Spiderman.

The Fourth of July weekend will also be a busy one around Phil Welch Stadium. Each game stretching from June 30 through July 4 will feature the Mosaic Life Care Fireworks Spectacular. Veterans and Active Military will receive free admission on July 3, and are entered into a free drawing on July 4.

Fan Appreciation Night will be held July 20 with free general admission to all fans with any size donation to the Noyes Home.

For the entire 2016 promotions schedule, click here.

— Mustangs Press Release —

Former Griffon Howard hired as assistant women’s basketball coach at Northwest

Posted on April 29, 2016April 29, 2016

MARYVILLE, Mo. – Northwest Missouri State University women’s basketball head coach Buck Scheel has announced the hiring of Heather Howard as the program’s assistant coach. Howard comes to Northwest after spending two seasons as the assistant coach at Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa.

“I’m very excited about Heather joining the staff here at Northwest,” said Scheel. “As a player and a coach, she’s experienced all levels of NCAA women’s basketball and has a great knowledge about what it takes to be successful in the MIAA. She’s not afraid to put the work in and I look forward to her being a part of our Bearcat family.”

Howard was a standout at Shawnee Mission West High School, earning second-team KBCA and Topeka Capital Journal All-State honors as a senior. She also earned first team All-Star Johnson County, All-Sun Country and All-Sunflower League honors. She went on to letter three times at Oklahoma State, playing in 69 contests from 2009-12, earning Academic All-Big 12 first team honors twice. OSU appeared in the 2010 NCAA Division I Tournament and won the 2011-12 WNIT Tournament. Howard finished her career at Missouri Western, starting all 28 games while averaging 13.1 points and 9.5 rebounds during the 2012-13 season. She spent one season as the graduate assistant at Missouri Western following her playing career in 2013-14.

“I’m so excited and grateful to join the women’s basketball staff at Northwest,” Howard said. “I really believe in the direction that Coach Scheel is taking this team. To be a part of it is such a great opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”

Howard will officially start at Northwest on May 2, 2016.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri rallies past Tennessee Friday night

Posted on April 29, 2016April 29, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Senior RHP Reggie McClain (Duluth, Ga.) struck out a career high 12 and junior SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) drove in three as Mizzou (22-21, 5-14) defeated Tennessee (24-19, 6-13) 5-4 at Taylor Stadium on Friday afternoon. The win pushes Mizzou back above .500 with as the team heads down the homestretch of their schedule.

McClain put together a fantastic start, pitching 8.0 innings, giving up two earned runs on seven hits while striking out a career-high 12 and walking none. McClain had control of his pitches all night throwing 88 of his career-high 126 pitches for strikes. Twenty-one of McClain’s 24 outs came by either strikeout or ground out. McClain earned the 11th win of his career, fourth of the season, and first in SEC play.

Howard had himself a day at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a double three RBI and scoring the game-winning run off an impressive slide at home. Howard has hit 21 RBI this season, his third straight season of 20+ RBI. Mizzou is now 11-3 this season when Howard gets an RBI.

Senior 1B Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) continued his All-SEC caliber play by driving in junior OF Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game at four. One batter later sophomore C Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) hit a soft grounder to the shortstop whose throw to the plate was not in time to catch Howard, giving Mizzou the 5-4 lead.

Redshirt sophomore Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) pitched the ninth inning, giving up just one hit on nine pitches to secure the save, his third of the season.

Mizzou will play game two of its series vs. Tennessee Saturday (April 30) at 3 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —