Sports – Page 476 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Northwest Missouri State tennis teams sweep Washburn

Posted on March 28, 2016March 28, 2016

Northwest Missouri State tennis picked up men’s and women’s MIAA victories on Monday afternoon over Washburn on Monday afternoon in Maryville, Mo.

The No. 16 ranked Bearcat men’s tennis team beat the No. 25 ranked Ichabods, 7-2, sparked by a 3-0 start in doubles.

The Northwest women won, 7-2, over Washburn, capturing all six singles points after falling behind 2-1 in doubles.

The Bearcat men are now 10-2 overall and 1-0 in MIAA play. The Ichabod men fall to 9-4 overall and 2-1 in conference action.

The Northwest women improved to 6-7 on the year and 2-0 in conference play. The Washburn women are now 5-6 overall and 2-2 in MIAA action.

Men’s Results
1. Valarezo Plaza,Aleja (WU) def. #49 Boissinot,Romain (NW) 6-0, 6-2
2. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Barlow,Matt (WU) 6-2, 3-6, 6-1
3. Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) def. Hunter,Blake (WU) 6-4, 6-3
4. Tete,Mauro (NW) def. Hampton,Zach (WU) 6-2, 6-2
5. Glowick,Fin (NW) def. Agritelley,Will (WU) 6-1, 6-2
6. Munoz-Poletti,Dario (WU) def. Autones,Aymeric (NW) 3-6, 7-5, 10-7

1. Riveros,Alvaro/Fontcuberta,Sergi (NW) def. #16 Valarezo Plaza,Aleja/Hunter,Blake (WU) 8-6
2. Boissinot,Romain/Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Barlow,Matt/Hampton,Zach (WU) 8-4
3. Tete,Mauro/Altmann,Josef (NW) def. Horton,Trey/Agritelley,Will (WU) 8-1

Women’s Results
1. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NW) def. Shkembi,Laura (WU) 6-1, 6-2
2. Emersic,Kaja (NW) def. Blackim,Jodie (WU) 6-3, 6-3
3. Kolen,Aniek (NW) def. Plum,Maggie (WU) 6-4, 6-1
4. Jacquet,Margaux (NW) def. Holloman,Whitney (WU) 6-3, 1-6, 10-5
5. Gallardo,Andrea (NW) def. Johnston,Holly (WU) 6-0, 6-3
6. Sestokaite,Vilune (NW) def. Shepler,Gwen (WU) 6-3, 7-5

1. Burr,Ally/Blackim,Jodie (WU) def. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas/Sestokaite,Vilune (NW) 9-7
2. Jacquet,Margaux/Kolen,Aniek (NW) def. Shepler,Gwen/Plum,Maggie (WU) 8-5
3. Gonzales,MaKenna/Shkembi,Laura (WU) def. Gallardo,Andrea/Emersic,Kaja (NW) 8-5

Both teams will host Cameron University on Friday, April 1, at 11 a.m. on the Frank Grube Courts.

— Northwest Athletics —

Volquez tunes up with 5 strong innings, Royals go 1-1 Monday in split squad games

Posted on March 28, 2016

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Edinson Volquez tuned up for his start on opening day and a Kansas City Royals split squad beat the San Diego Padres 11-3 Monday.

Volquez gave up two runs and five hits, striking out four and walking two. His next start will be Sunday night when the champion Royals host the New York Mets in a World Series rematch.

“I think I get better in spring training,” Volquez said. “Better than last year, the year before, the year before that. My ERA is better than last year. I haven’t pitched good in spring training for a long time. It doesn’t matter what happens here in spring training. I just try to move forward for the first game.”

Volquez finished with a 3.95 ERA this spring after a 6.33 in 2015 and a 9.64 in 2014.

“He threw the ball really well, good life, good command, good breaking ball,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He’s ready to go.”

Lorenzo Cain and Whit Merrifield each homered and drove in three runs. Cain connected with Mike Moustakas aboard in the first and delivered an RBI single in the fourth. Merrifield led off the first with a homer off Drew Pomeranz and contributed a two-run double in the second. Dusty Coleman added a two-run homer in the sixth.

Derek Norris homered on Wade Davis’ first pitch in the sixth. Davis had not given up a run in his first seven outings, covering seven innings.

Pomeranz is competing for the final Padres rotation slot.

“Obviously, I’d like to have another start, not have that be my last one,” Pomeranz said.

STARTING TIME

Padres: Pomeranz surrendered two homers sandwiched around a single to the first three batters.

“I don’t think it (the wind) had much to do with it,” Pomeranz said. “The home runs they hit, they hit pretty hard. It’s a bad pitch selection I guess early on for me. After the first three guys, I kind of settled in and started making some pitches, started pitching.

“I was out there throwing to the first couple of guys. I wasn’t out there pitching yet. It’s a trap you fall into in spring training, trying to work on something, but you have to get guys out.”

Royals: Volquez, who threw 90 pitches, said he would like to take the same stuff, “maybe just a little bit better that that” into his first start.

“I would like to be more ahead in the count,” Volquez said. “So I just want to stay aggressive and attacking those hitters, get more first-pitch strikes so I don’t have to go 3-2 count all the time, like I did today to a few hitters.”

TRAINERS’S ROOM

Padres: RHP Jon Edwards (minor elbow stiffness) has not pitched since March 18. … 1B Brett Wallace (right foot injury) is running the bases but has not played in a Cactus League game since March 13.

PEORIA, Ariz. — Robinson Cano hit a drive over the giant batter’s eye in center field for his seventh spring homer, and the Seattle Mariners rallied for a 6-4 win over a Kansas City Royals split-squad on Monday.

Cano also connected three times in Seattle’s win against the Cubs on Sunday.

Nelson Cruz also homered for the Mariners, who trailed 3-0 through three innings. Cruz hit a solo drive in the fourth, and Cano went deep an inning later.

“Wow, that was a bomb,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said of Cano’s shot. “He’s feeling really good right now. Seeing the ball great. His swing’s on time and we just need to keep him right there for when we get to Arlington.”

The Mariners open the season next Monday at Texas.

The spring game featured a matchup of No. 5 starting pitchers, with Seattle’s Nathan Karns, named to the rotation by Servais before Monday’s start, giving up two earned runs and five hits in six innings.

Karns got the outing he was looking for after a shaky stretch this spring.

“Much better. Felt like a pitcher out there. I was just trying to go in there and throw strikes, try to work ahead,” Karns said. “Be ahead and try not to fall behind. I knew if I found a count where I had to throw a pitch over the plate I was able to do that, and I liked the results after that.”

Kansas City’s Kris Medlen pitched 4 1/3 innings and allowed two earned runs and eight hits.

“I felt really good the first three (innings),” Medlen said. “I changed fastball grips in the middle of my windup to Nelson Cruz, for some reason, I have no idea why … But yes, just missed execution. And then to get in a little bit of a jam and have to challenge Robbie Cano, 2-2, 3-2. You’re not going to win a lot of those battles, really. They’re two really good hitters.”

Alcides Escobar tripled and scored twice for the Royals. Both teams committed two errors that led to runs.

MARINERS MOVES

The Mariners optioned 1B-OF Stefen Romero and LF Chris Taylor to Triple-A Tacoma, clearing the way for Luis Sardinas to make the opening-day roster as a utility infielder. Sardinas is hitting .321 with 14 RBI in spring training.

MONTERO CLAIMED

The Mariners lost Jesus Montero on Monday when the 26-year-old first baseman was claimed off waivers by Toronto. Montero, at one time one of the majors’ top catching prospects, appeared in 208 games in parts of four seasons with Seattle, batting .247 with 24 homers and 92 RBI.

The move, combined with Romero being sent to the minors, likely means Korean slugger Dae-Ho Lee will make the major league roster as Seattle’s backup first baseman to Adam Lind.

“It’s leaning that way,” Servais said.

Montero hit .237 in 38 at-bats in spring training games.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Kansas City played its last split-squad game of spring training. Medlen won’t pitch again in Arizona before the regular season.

“The pitches will be there when it counts and physically, getting up over 90 pitches, my body felt great,” he said. “And yeah, anytime you finish a spring training game and you feel good, it’s a pretty big comfort.”

Mariners: Karns is scheduled to make his last spring start on Saturday against Colorado. He is on track to make his first regular-season start in the team’s first series at home against Oakland.

Karns beat out left-hander James Paxton for the last rotation spot. Paxton made 13 major league starts last season, but was optioned to Tacoma earlier on Monday.

“We all know James Paxton is going to be a big part of our team at some point this season,” Servais said. “We’re going to need him, so let’s get him in a good spot mentally.”

Karns, new to Seattle after being acquired from Tampa Bay in the offseason, had kind words for Paxton.

“It’s just a number’s game. He’s a great talent. I know he’ll be back up here before we know it,” Karns said. “I just wish him the best. It’s nice to have that kind of environment here where even though we were challenging and put in a position of competing against each other, we were still supporting one another. That was huge for me, coming in to a new clubhouse.”

UP NEXT

Royals: Yordano Ventura gets his second-to-last tuneup before the regular season with a start Tuesday against the San Francisco Giants.

Mariners: Taijuan Walker is scheduled for his sixth start of the spring Tuesday against Cleveland and Josh Tomlin.

— Associated Press —

Holliday hits first spring home run, Cardinals beat Mets 3-1

Posted on March 28, 2016March 28, 2016

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Matt Holliday hit his first home run this spring, a long drive off Bartolo Colon that helped the St. Louis Cardinals beat the New York Mets 3-1 Monday.

Holliday’s shot hit the Marlins clubhouse beyond the left field wall. The Marlins and Cardinals share the complex.

Holliday later singled and scored in the fourth inning.

That was all the work the 12-year veteran needed for the day.

“Some of them need to go nine (innings) and some of them maybe not so much,” manager Mike Matheny said. “He puts together a homer and another laser — that’s a good day to just get out.”

Cardinals starter Carlos Martinez gave up one run and three hits in six innings. He walked none and struck out four.

Martinez finished his outing by throwing a fastball past Yoenis Cespedes.

“That’s a good fastball hitter,” Matheny said. “I thought it was just a great outing.”

Colon allowed three runs and seven hits in six innings.

Neil Walker doubled and scored the Mets’ run.

Playing his first Grapefruit League game since straining his knee on March 10, Mets shortstop as Asdrubal Cabrera went hitless in three at-bats.

St. Louis won for only the second time since March 12. The Mets’ loss broke a string of three consecutive ties, and left them winless in 11 games.

STARTING TIME

Mets: Colon threw 68 of his 92 pitches for strikes. Afterward, Colon said he could pitch out of the bullpen for New York’s first two games of the season in Kansas City.

Cardinals: Martinez will pitch in a minor league game for St. Louis on Saturday before rejoining the club for the season opener in Pittsburgh.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Catcher Yadier Molina was scratched from the starting lineup because of a bruised toe suffered in the weight room. Matheny said he is day to day. … Reliever Jordan Walden made his first appearance since March 21. The Mets loaded the bases against Walden on two hits and a hit batter but couldn’t push across a run. Walden hasn’t allowed a run in six Grapefruit League appearances, but his health remains a concern.

OQUENDO OVER?

St. Louis third base coach Jose Oquendo conceded that if his knee doesn’t heal properly during his upcoming medical leave of absence, he may be forced to retire.

“I don’t know yet,” he said. “I can’t tell what I’m going to do two to three months from now.”

Oquendo underwent two surgeries on his right knee during the past year, including one a couple weeks ago. He’s hoping the medical leave, which the Cardinals announced on Sunday and expect to last the entire season, will help him avoid having to undergo knee replacement surgery.

UP NEXT

Mets: New York and Sean Gilmartin host the Marlins.

Cardinals: Adam Wainwright starts against Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals.

— Associated Press —

Mizzou gets swept by No. 4 Vanderbilt as they drop series finale Sunday

Posted on March 28, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball lost to No. 4 Vanderbilt, 17-7, on a wet and cold Sunday afternoon at Taylor Stadium. The Commodores scored six runs in the second inning (only one earned), capitalizing on two errors, a pair of walks and a three-run homer by CF Bryan Reynolds. The six runs were scored off of Mizzou starter Austin Tribby (Springfield, Mo.), who falls to 2-3 on the season. Junior SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) and junior OF Kirby McGuire (Round Rock, Texas) each had RBI singles in the loss, McGuire’s being a two-run single for this first career Division I RBIs. Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) also hit his third homer of the season, a three-run shot, in the ninth inning, giving him a team-high 20 RBI.

Vanderbilt took advantage of two Mizzou errors, two walks and two hits – one hit being a three-run homer by Bryan Reynolds – to score six runs in the second inning, knocking Tribby from the game after just 1.2 innings. Only one of the six runs that Tribby allowed was earned as he left the game allowing three hits and two walks while striking out one.

Mizzou got back on the board in the bottom of the second with a two-run single by McGuire, his first Division I RBIs. It was also his first start since opening weekend as he had been out with a hurt hand.

Reynolds then hit his second homer of the game in the top of the fourth inning off of Mizzou reliever Ty Shoaff (Akron, Ohio). And RBI single by Tyler Campbell in the fifth inning extended Vanderbilt’s lead to 9-2. Howard then laced an RBI single in the sixth inning, but Vanderbilt answered with two more in the top of the seventh and led 11-3 after seven.

Vanderbilt then tacked on six more runs in an error-filled eighth inning to extend the lead to 17-3 and Mizzou’s bats were quiet after the sixth inning until the ninth when Mizzou scored four runs, three coming on Lavy’s homer and another coming on an RBI single by Jack Klages (St. Louis, Mo.).

Mizzou will be back in action Tuesday as its host St. Louis at Kauffman Stadium, home of the Kansas City Royals at 6:30 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Western women’s golfers finish ninth at UNK Spring Invite

Posted on March 27, 2016

AXTELL, Neb. – The Missouri Western women’s golf team finished in ninth place at the UNK Spring Invite Sunday, recording a team score of 646 over the two rounds of golf. The event was played at the Awarii Dunes golf course which is a par 72 – 6236 yard course.

Shi Qing Ong was the highest finisher for the Griffons as she scored a 153 in her two rounds of golf, finishing in 11th place individually. Senior Callie Wilson was second for the Griffons, firing a 163 in her two rounds. Madison Romjue scored 164 during the tournament.

Missouri Western finished two strokes behind Iowa Western CC for eighth place and 13 strokes behind SW Oklahoma State for seventh place. Northeastern State took the team title, tallying a 607 team score. Central Oklahoma finished in second place team and Arkansas Tech finished in third place.

Baylee Price of Northeastern State won the individual award, scoring a 145 in the two day event.

The Griffons are back in action for the Henderson State University Invitational at the Big Creek Golf & Country Club, starting April 4th.

— MWSU Athletics —

Young gets knocked around as Royals lose to A’s Sunday 10-1

Posted on March 27, 2016

MESA, Ariz. (AP) — Jed Lowrie and Chris Coghlan hit home runs and Kendall Graveman pitched seven solid innings in the Oakland Athletics’ 10-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Danny Valencia had two hits and drove in a pair of runs and Yonder Alonso added two hits for the A’s. Josh Reddick, Khris Davis and Billy Butler also drove in runs.

“Lowrie seems like he gets a good at-bat every time out,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “He’s been consistent the whole spring.”

Tony Cruz homered in the seventh for the Royals.

Chris Young pitched 4 1/3 innings, giving up five earned runs and nine hits.

Joakim Soria, who gave up his first earned runs of the spring in his last appearance, pitched a perfect seventh for the Royals.

Graveman took a shutout into the seventh. He allowed four hits, struck out six and walked one.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Young was the victim of the Arizona sun as the Royals committed four errors.

“We got him past 90 pitches on his pitch count and that’s the important thing,” Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. “A lot of those balls that found holes wouldn’t be hits during the regular season. All in all, it was a pretty good outing.”

Yost also said that Young will make a “backdown start” in his next outing.

Athletics: Graveman felt this was an important game for him and the team.

“I’ve been getting incrementally better in every game and I wanted to keep that going,” Graveman said. “I think this was in the right direction. I was able to throw all my pitches for strikes. To win this game is big because pretty soon, they’re going to count.”

Graveman was particularity happy with the development of a changeup, a pitch he worked on during the offseason and a pitch he needs.

“I think it weakens the contact and gets them off my fastball,” Graveman said. “I have to be able to throw that pitch to both lefties and righties.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: OF Jarrod Dyson (right oblique strain) has begun a throwing program. He’s expected to return to action by mid-April.

Athletics: OF Sam Fuld returned to camp following the birth of his first child. He’s been out with a sore shoulder. … RHP Henderson Alvarez will throw a bullpen on Tuesday and is expected to throw to hitters when the team returns to Oakland either Saturday or the following Wednesday. … Former A’s shortstop and AL Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby threw out the first pitch.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez is scheduled to make his first start against a major league team in two weeks and his fourth overall on Monday in Surprise against the San Diego Padres as he prepares for his opening day start. He’ll be opposed by LHP Drew Pomeranz.

Athletics: RHP Jesse Hahn starts Monday’s game in Mesa against the Cleveland Indians and RHP Danny Salazar.

CUTS

Athletics: Optioned OF Jake Smolinski to Triple-A Nashville; Reassigned C Carson Blair to the minor league camp.

— Associated Press —

Garcia throws well but St. Louis loses to Miami 4-2

Posted on March 27, 2016

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — J.T. Realmuto’s two-out, two-RBI bloop single in the sixth broke a 2-2 tie and propelled the Miami Marlins to a 4-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Sunday.

Realmuto lofted what normally would have been a routine fly ball to right-center field, but Cardinals’ right fielder Stephen Piscotty had been positioned to guard the line moments earlier. The ball barely eluded diving center fielder Tommy Pham, allowing Giancarlo Stanton and Martin Prado to score.

The Marlins’ comeback overshadowed a strong start by Jaime Garcia. The Cardinals’ lefty didn’t allow a hit until the fifth inning, when Miami struck for two runs.

Realmuto played a role in that rally, too, recording the Marlins’ first hit, a single, then scoring one batter later on Adeiny Hechavarria’s double.

Marlins ace Jose Fernandez spent much of the afternoon working on off-speed pitches. One in particular didn’t work out: Pham smacked a 3-2 curveball over the left field wall, giving St. Louis a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Greg Garcia followed with a single that ended Fernandez’s afternoon. He allowed five hits and walked three while striking out six in 3 2/3 innings.

“I know he’s throwing a lot of change-ups,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said. “I don’t know if that’s necessarily what he wants to do all year long, but I know he’s working on it.”

Fernandez was fortunate to surrender only those two runs.

St. Louis strung together three hits in the second inning but failed to score because Jedd Gyorko passed Matt Adams between second and third base on Brayan Pena’s double to center field. Adams was making his way back to second to tag up, anticipating that Marcel Ozuna might catch Pena’s drive. But Gyorko, who had a better read on the ball, rounded second and didn’t see Adams until it was too late.

“When I saw the ball go down I assumed that Matt was running — and he was trying to tag up,” Gyorko said. “I’ve got to pay better attention to know what he’s doing instead of just watching the ball.”

The only blemishes on Garcia’s line through the first four innings were a pair of walks to Stanton. The Cardinals also intentionally walked the slugger in the sixth.

St. Louis has won only once in its last 13 games, dating back to March 12.

STARTING TIME

Cardinals: Sunday was the final spring start for Garcia, but he may remain in Jupiter when the Cardinals head north in order to throw against minor leaguers on Friday, which would be his next scheduled start.

Marlins: Fernandez’s start was his last before the Marlins shift from Jupiter to Miami. His next appearance will be in Friday’s exhibition against the New York Yankees in Marlins Park. “I think it’s going to be great — being at home warming up in the bullpen, everything works into it,” Fernandez said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: Manager Mike Matheny said reliever Jordan Walden, who had been resting a sore shoulder, is expected to pitch on Monday. Walden has yet to allow a run this spring in five appearances, but he hasn’t pitched in a game since March 21.

UP NEXT:

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez will make his final spring start on Monday when Bartolo Colon and the New York Mets come to Jupiter.

Marlins: Miami will send Chris Narveson to Viera to face Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals.

— Associated Press —

Top-seeded Jayhawks fall to No. 2 Villanova in Regional final

Posted on March 27, 2016March 27, 2016

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Villanova players danced and celebrated after pulling off what many thought would be the NCAA Tournament’s most difficult task.

Beating Kansas, the No. 1 overall seed, required taking the Jayhawks out of their comfort zone while seizing the opportunities that resulted. The Wildcats did both effectively even though it wasn’t always pretty, and their reward is a berth in the Final Four.

Kris Jenkins made two free throws with 13.3 seconds remaining, Jalen Brunson added two more with 3.5 seconds left and second-seeded Villanova upset the top-seeded Jayhawks 64-59 on Saturday night in the South Region final. The Wildcats will play Oklahoma next weekend in Houston.

Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart each made big steals in the final minute to help the Wildcats (33-5) pull off the upset and end the Jayhawks’ 17-game winning streak. The Wildcats are back in the Final Four for the first time since 2009, and they can credit balanced scoring and ferocious defense.

Jenkins, Hart and Ryan Arcidiacono each scored 13 points for the Wildcats. They used a 10-0 run to take a 50-45 lead and get key baskets and plays down the stretch in beating the Jayhawks (33-5).

“Every guy on this team is willing to do whatever it takes to win, man,” said Jenkins, who made all six free throws to offset 3-for-10 shooting. “Everybody on this team sacrifices. But we’re not satisfied. We’re looking forward to our next game in Houston. This definitely is a special feeling but like I said before, we’re not satisfied.”

Devonte’ Graham had 17 points, and Frank Mason III and Wayne Selden Jr. added 16 each for Kansas, which got just four points from leading scorer Perry Ellis. The Jayhawks shot 46 percent from the field and even won the rebounding battle 32-28, but played from behind most of the night.

Even when it was ahead, Kansas never seemed in control and ended up making desperation plays that didn’t work.

Graham made 5 of 9 from long range but fouled out late, and everyone else was a combined 1 for 13 from behind the arc. Kansas also committed 16 turnovers, including several in the final minutes when it was within a possession of tying or leading.

“I think the basket shrunk a little bit for us, and certainly, they probably got some confidence the way they were defending us,” Kansas coach Bill Self said about Villanova. “But it came down them making free throws and it came down to a couple of loose balls, and that was the difference in the outcome.”

Villanova got 10 points from Daniel Ochefu, including a big jumper with 6:14 left, just one of many big plays the Wildcats made to preserve the lead after finally wresting it from Kansas.

It wasn’t easy. Mason scored five points and the Jayhawks cut it to 60-59 with 15 seconds left. But Arcidiacono, who turned 22, preceded that with four free throws before Jenkins and Brunson followed with two more. The Wildcats made 18 of 19 at the line and all eight in the final 33 seconds.

The Wildcats were also given the ball with 34 seconds left when officials determined that Graham undercut Hart on a scramble after Graham’s turnover. Graham fouled out at that point, and Mason’s foul led to the first of Arcidiacono’s foul shots.

Darryl Reynolds had two free throws and Bridges had a key tip-in for the Wildcats as well in a game in which they shot 40 percent from the field.

Villanova gets to pursue its second national title in its fifth Final Four berth, though the NCAA vacated its 1971 appearance because star Howard Porter had signed a pro contract while still in college. The Wildcats will face Oklahoma next Saturday in Houston.

More importantly, the Wildcats did what no team had been able to over two months and really wasn’t expected to in knocking out the tournament favorite. But both teams had been ranked No. 1 this season and have been winning even bigger in the tournament.

This Elite Eight matchup seemed inevitable as a result, with Villanova coach Jay Wright comparing it to a heavyweight bout in Friday. The Wildcats ended up cutting off the court with a zone defense and mixing in timely offense.

Villanova’s 40-percent shooting including 4-of-18 from long range didn’t matter as the Wildcats had the victory that moves them into April.

“We wanted to make it a street fight, make it an ugly game,” said Arcidiacono, who made 6 of 7 from the line to seal the win on his 22nd birthday. “I think we did that.”

ALL-REGION TEAM

Jenkins was named the regional’s Most Outstanding Player. Joining him on the team were teammates Hart, Ochefu and Arcidiacono and Kansas’ Devonte’ Graham.

TOURNAMENT TIDBITS

Villanova: The Wildcats scored 13 points off 16 turnovers. … The win tied a school record for season victories set last season.

Kansas: The Jayhawks’ 16 turnovers were four above their season average. … Landen Lucas had 12 rebounds and six points.

UP NEXT

Villanova: Faces Oklahoma in Final Four in Houston next Saturday.

— Associated Press —

Griffons score 21 runs to complete three-game sweep at Northeastern State

Posted on March 27, 2016

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Missouri Western baseball team scored a season-high 21 runs and claimed a three-game sweep at Northeastern State on Saturday.

Missouri Western capped the huge day with an eight-run eighth inning then held Northeastern State off the scoreboard for the fourth straight inning to end the game in eight innings on run-rule. The Griffons totaled 24 hits and four home runs, including two from Alex Heuring, who went 4-6 with five RBIs, three runs scored and a triple to go with the two long balls.

Cosimo Cannella went 4-4 at the plate with four RBIs and four runs scored. Cannella also walked twice in the game. After hitting two home runs on Friday, Orencio Fisher went 3-5, Saturday, with an RBI, two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases. Jeremy Alvarado drove in four and went 3-5 with two runs scored. Kody Matthews was 3-5 with three RBIs, three runs scored and a home run. Evan Jones moved to 4-0 on the season. He went five innings, allowing five runs on eight hits. Alex Clavet, Weston Caindec and Blaine Werth each pitched one inning in relief. The three, combined, allowed two hits and no runs.

The win improved Missouri Western to 19-8 on the season and 11-5 in the MIAA. The Griffons stay on the road early next week with a Tuesday game at Emporia State before hosting Lindenwood for three games, Apr. 1-3.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats get swept by Central Missouri

Posted on March 27, 2016March 27, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Missouri, 8-7, on Sunday afternoon at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.

The Bearcats fall to an even 13-13 overall and 8-8 in the MIAA play. UCM improved to 15-8 and 13-3 in conference action.

The Bearcats pulled ahead in the sixth with a three-run inning. The Mules struck late, getting a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eight for the go ahead run.

All nine Bearcat hitters either reached base safely or drove in a run during Sunday’s game.

Northwest scored seven runs on 10 hits with one error. The Bearcats got four runs in the fourth and three in the sixth.

UCM scored two in the first, two in the second, three in the seventh and one in the eight. The Mules collected 12 hits and three errors.

Ozzie Adams was 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI. He hit his fourth double of the year in the sixth inning.

James Holler was 2-for-4 with a walk and a run scored.

Aaron Barratt went 1-for-3 with a pair of RBI and two runs scored. He drew a walk and also stole his fourth base of the year.

Jay Hrdlicka was 1-for-3 with a walk. He crossed the plate twice for the Bearcats.

Garrett Fort was 1-for-5 with a run scored. Nick Gotta went 1-for-3 and drew his MIAA leading 29th walk of the season.

Jake Lewis was 1-for-5. Kolby Greenslade got a pair of RBI and also scored a run.

Brad Roberts started the game for Northwest, going 7.0 innings. He allowed seven runs on nine hits. He walked three and struck out five.

Carson Smith pitched the eighth inning. He allowed one run on three hits. He walked a batter and recorded a strikeout.

Fort led off the Northwest third inning with a single to left and Holler followed it up with a four-pitch walk. Hrdlicka laid down a bunt that the pitcher couldn’t field, loading the bases with no outs. Barratt ripped a double to deep left, scoring Fort and Holler to make it 4-2 UCM. Two batters later with one out, Greenslade grounded out to short, allowing Hrdlicka to score to close the lead to 4-3. Adams tied the game as he hit a grounder to third that was bobbled. Barratt came in from third to tie the game, 4-4.

With the score tied, 4-4, Roberts worked a perfect fifth inning, getting a strikeout, a ground out and a line out.

Hrdlicka and Barratt drew back-to-back walks to leadoff the sixth inning for Northwest, prompting a UCM pitching change.Gotta squared around to lay down a sacrifice bunt but for the second time in the game, the Mules’ pitcher was unable to handle it, allowing all the runners to reach safely. Greenslade drove in the go ahead run by scoring Hrdlicka on a fielder’s choice to short. With one down and runners on the corners, Adams laced a ball down the left field line for a double, scoring both runners to put Northwest up, 7-4.

Northwest returns home to face Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday, March 30, at 2 p.m. The Bearcats will host Pittsburg State starting on Friday, April 1.

— Northwest Athletics —