Sports – Page 477 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Houck’s gem not enough as Missouri loses to No. 4 Vandy in 11 innings

Posted on March 27, 2016March 27, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Sophomore RHP Tanner Houck (Collinsville, Ill.) was sensational as Mizzou Baseball dropped game two of its series with No. 4 Vanderbilt, 2-0, in 11 innings on Saturday night at Taylor Stadium. Houck worked a masterful 9.0 shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out 14 Commodore hitters, the most strikeouts by a Tiger hitter since Kyle Gibson fanned 15 on April 3, 2009, against Oklahoma. Houck had just one fly ball leave the infield as he had 11 groundouts, one flyout and a pop up to second to go along with his 14 strikeouts. The only two hits he gave up were ground balls off the bat of Ro Coleman and one of those two was an infield hit.

Mizzou’s offense certainly had its chances and likely needed just one run to escape with the win, but Mizzou went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position on Saturday and missed multiple chances to give Houck the win. The loss drops Mizzou to 14-11 on the year and 0-5 in SEC play.

Junior SS Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) tallied his first multi-hit game since March 6 against UIC to lead Mizzou’s offense, with one of his two hits being a double. Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.), Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) and Ian Nelson (Lake St. Louis, Mo.) also tallied hits in the loss with Nelson’s lone hit registering as his third career double.

But the story on Saturday was Houck. He retired the first 12 batters he faced until a leadoff walk in the fifth inning. The only time Vanderbilt threatened to score on Houck was after a leadoff error in the sixth inning and a one-out single put runners on the corners with one out. Jeren Kendall then flew out to center field, but Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) gunned the go-ahead run at the dish to preserve the shutout.

Vanderbilt then threatened again in the top of the ninth inning after a leadoff infield single by Coleman. He was moved to second base after a pair of outs and Houck, on his 119th pitch, struck out Will Toffey to strand the go-ahead run at second base.

Mizzou nearly won the game for Houck in the bottom of the ninth. Lavy led off the frame with a single through the right side and went to second base on a wild pitch with no outs. Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) then struck out swinging and after an intentional walk, Benes hit into a double play to end the threat.

Vanderbilt then scored two runs on another two-out rally. Reliever Cole Bartlett (Williamsburg, Ind.) got the first two batters of the frame, but a single, a walk and two more singles plated two runs, handing Mizzou the loss. Bartlett took the loss, falling to 1-2 on the year.

Game three of the series will be Sunday at 12 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

MWSU softball blanks Lincoln twice Saturday

Posted on March 27, 2016March 27, 2016

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – The Griffon Softball team held Lincoln off the scoreboard on the way to a doubleheader sweep on Saturday.

Game 1: MWSU 10, Lincoln 0 (5 innings)

Janie Smith did not allow a hit until what proved to be the next to last batter of the game and received more than enough run support on her way to her 12th win of the year and fifth shutout of the season.

Smith (12-6) ended the game allowing just one hit while striking out three and walking four. She stepped into the circle with a 2-0 lead after a two-RBI double from Kailey Green. Sydney Washington led off the fourth with a solo home run, the first of six runs for the Griffons in the inning, five of them unearned.

Shelbie Atwell and Taylor Hamilton had two hits apiece in the game. Green drove in two and Hamilton added a stolen base.

Game 2: MWSU 8, Lincoln 0

Smith started game two and went the first five innings, picking up her 13th win of the season. Shyanne Saladino worked the final two innings to share the shutout with Smith.

Morgan Rathmann broke out in game two, going 3-4 with three runs scored and two stolen bases. Hamilton continued her hot day, going 3-4 at the plate with two RBIs and two runs scored. Atwell and Paige Shifflett also each had two RBIs in game two.

The sweep moved Missouri Western’s overall record to 25-9 with a 10-2 mark in MIAA play. The Griffons stay on the road next week with an important doubleheader at Northwest Missouri State on Tuesday before doubleheaders with Fort Hays State (Apr. 2) and Nebraska-Kearney (Apr. 3) at home next weekend.

— MWSU Athletics —

Northwest softball cruises to two run-rule wins at Lindenwood

Posted on March 27, 2016March 27, 2016

The bats came alive for the No. 16-ranked Northwest Missouri State softball team Saturday in St. Charles, Mo., leading to a sweep of Lindenwood.

Northwest rattled off 11 hits in a 13-1 victory in game one before collecting 15 base knocks to take game two, 12-1. Both contests were halted after five innings via the eight-run rule.

The Bearcats improved their record to 24-8 overall and 8-4 in MIAA play, while the Lady Lions fell to 8-26 this season and 5-11 against conference opponents.

Chantel Adams and Jessica Rawie each drove in six runs on the day while Madison Jones added five RBIs.

The Bearcats will return home for a stretch of 12 games in 12 days at Bearcat Field. Northwest will open the homestand with a conference doubleheader against Missouri Western Tuesday, March 29. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Griffons use eight-run fifth inning to rally past Northeastern State

Posted on March 25, 2016

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Big innings and high run totals are starting to become the norm for the Missouri Western baseball team. It proved to be a good thing, once again, for the Griffons as an eight-run fifth inning helped Missouri Western take game two at Northeastern State 13-9.

It was the ninth time this season the Griffons have scored 10 or more runs, all wins for Missouri Western (18-8, 10-5). Missouri Western trailed 6-2 heading to the fifth, but then exploded for eight runs to take a 10-6 lead. Orencio Fisher hit two home runs in the game, doubling his season total in one day. Fisher went 3-5 at the plate with three driven in and two runs scored. He also stole his 16th base of the season.

Conner Schwienebart picked up his first win of the year (1-4), pitching five innings in relief of the starter, Jared Lloyd. Schwienebart gave up four earned runs and nine hits. He struck out five and walked two. Jeremy Alavarado and Kody Matthews also had three-hit days. Alvaraod went 3-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Matthews was 3-5 with one RBI and one run scored.

The win helped clear up the MIAA standings a bit, for now. Missouri Western, at 10-5 in the conference, left the game Friday alone in fourth in the standings. The two teams wrap up the series Saturday at noon.

— MWSU Athletics —

Bearcats rally at Central Missouri, but fall in extra innings

Posted on March 25, 2016

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Central Missouri, 6-5, in 10 innings on Friday afternoon at Crane Stadium in Warrensburg, Mo.

The Bearcats fall to 13-12 overall and 8-7 in the MIAA while the Mules improved to 14-8 and 12-3 in conference action.

Northwest trailed 4-1 in the ninth but rallied with three runs to force extra innings.

Nick Gotta was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. He drew two walks and stole two bases.

Kolby Greenslade was 1-for-4 with a run scored. He drew a pair of walks and stole a base.

Ozzie Adams was 2-for-6 with a run scored.

Jake Lewis drew two walks, scored a run and also drove in a run.

Aaron Barratt was 1-for-1 after entering the game as a pinch runner in the seventh inning.

Garrett Fort recorded an RBI and James Holler was 1-for-5.

Anthony Caenepeel got the start on the mound, going 6.1 innings. He allowed four runs on nine hits, with three being earned. He struckout three and walked one.

Hondo Pearcy pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief to get Northwest into the ninth. He struck out one, walked one and did not allow a hit.

Carson Smith gave up two runs, only one earned, going 1.2 innings. He had a strikeout and a walk, allowing one hit.

Gotta started the gane by drawing a six pitch walk. Greenslade followed it up with a single up the middle and Adams reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Lewis drew a walk on four pitches, driving in Gotta to make it 1-0 Northwest.

Caenepeel worked a perfect second inning, recording a flyout and two groundouts on just five pitches. Pearcy worked a perfect eighth inning to set up the Bearcat rally in the ninth, getting a strikeout, a foul out and a flyout.

Greenslade reached on a fielder’s choice after a Gotta leadoff single. Adams singled to center to put runners on first and second with one out. Lewis drew a walk to load the bases. Barratt hit the first pitch he saw, scoring Greenslade to make it 4-2 Mules. Fort grounded into a fielder’s choice, scoring Adams to make it a one run game. With Meyer at the plate, a wild pitch allowed Fort to score from third to tie the game, 4-4.

Holler led off the 10th with a single to center and went to second on a Jay Hrdlicka sacfice bunt. Nikko Pablo came in to pinch run for Holler at second with one down. Gotta came up next and hit a 2-1 pitch into center, scoring Pablo to put the Bearcats up, 5-4.

The series concludes on Saturday at 1 p.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

Missouri Western softball splits two games at Lindenwood

Posted on March 25, 2016

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team earned a split in the first of two weekend, road MIAA doubleheaders. The Griffons dropped the first game, but won the second at Lindenwood on Friday.

Game 1: Lindenwood 6, MWSU 4

The Griffons couldn’t hold a 4-0 lead, giving up six unanswered runs in the game one loss.

Paige Shifflett drove in the first three Missouri Western runs with an RBI single in the first and a two-RBI double in the second. Kailey Green put the Griffons up 4-0 in the third with her ninth home run of the season. It was all Lindenwood from there on out as the Lions got on the board in the third, scored two in the fourth and three in the fifth to hand Janie Smith her sixth loss of the season.

All six runs were earned on nine hits against Smith. She struck out five and waked four. Shifflett, Green and Megan Korgie each had two hits.

Game 2: MWSU 11, Lindenwood 5

The Griffons opened the game with six runs in the first then held on, adding five more insurance runs later in the game to earn the split.

Everyone batted in the first with Shifflett opening the scoring by hitting a two-run home run to left. Lindenwood scored four in the bottom of the first, then Missouri Western stetched its lead with three in the fourth. The Griffons added two more in the fifth to add up to 11. Six Griffons had two-hit games with Shifflett, Sydney Washington and Rebekah Mueller picking up two RBIs apiece.

Shyanne Saladino moved to 12-3 on the season with the win. She pitched all seven inning, allowing five runs, just one earned, on eight hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Missouri Western continues its weekend, MIAA road swing with a trip to Lincoln for a doubleheader on Saturday.

— MWSU Athletics —

Mizzou drops series opener at home against No. 4 Vanderbilt

Posted on March 25, 2016March 25, 2016

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou Baseball dropped the first game of a three-game series against No. 4 Vanderbilt, 8-6, on Friday night (March 25) at Taylor Stadium. Mizzou led 6-4 with two outs and no one on in the ninth inning, but three consecutive two-out hits tied the game and Bryan Reynolds capped off the rally with a two-run homer to center to give Vanderbilt the win. Mizzou falls to 14-10 and 0-4 in SEC play while Vanderbilt goes to 18-4 and 2-2 in SEC pla

Despite pitching well, redshirt freshman righty Liam Carter (Highland Park, Ill.) was tagged with his first career loss while Evan Steele earned the win, his first of the year, for Vanderbilt. Ben Bowden got the save. The loss squandered another great start from RHP Reggie McClain (Duluth, Ga.), who scattered eight hits over 6.1 innings while allowing four runs (all earned) with nine strikeouts and just one walk. His nine strikeouts are just two off of his career-high. McClain had a streak of 20.2 innings without a walk snapped on Friday night but still owns a 43-2 strikeout-walk ratio. He struck out six of the first eight batters he faced.

Zach Lavy (Auxvasse, Mo.) and Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) each drove in two runs on Friday and each of their hits were go-ahead hits. Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) also tallied an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the third inning.

McClain was dealing early as he needed just 24 pitches to get through two innings, striking out four Commodore batters in that span, including getting the side swinging in the top of the first. Mizzou threatened in the second inning, putting two men on with one out, but a strikeout by Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Shane Benes (Town & Country, Mo.) ended the frame.

But Mizzou got to Vanderbilt starter Jordan Sheffield in the third. He loaded the bases on two straight walks and a hit batter, bringing up Ring who blasted a single through the left side to score a pair. Harris then launched a sacrifice fly to put Mizzou in top, 3-0.

Vanderbilt got a run back in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI single through the right side by Reynolds. Vandy then tied the game on a two-out, bases loaded single by the middle by Jeren Kendall in the fifth inning, making it 3-3 after five.

But Mizzou answered in the bottom of the frame as Lavy ripped a two-out, two-run triple to the right field corner to score a pair and put Mizzou back on top, 5-3. Lavy then scored on a wild pitch by Sheffield to extend the lead to 6-3. Vanderbilt added a run on a sacrifice fly in the sixth and threatened in the seventh after back-to-back singles by the eight- and nine-hole hitters. After a failed bunt attempt by Ro Coleman, Tim Jamieson went to the bullpen and he went to Carter who pitched Mizzou out of the jam to strand the tying runs on base.

Carter pitched an easy 1-2-3 eighth inning, picking up a pair of strikeouts and he was cruising along in the ninth inning until a two-out single by SS Tyler Campbell, the nine-hole hitter, set up Vanderbilt’s comeback. Coleman then singled through the left side and the two advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch. Kendall then then singled into right center on a 1-2 pitch to tie the game. Reynolds then homered on the next pitch off of reliever Brian Sharp (Liberty, Mo.) and Ben Bowden shut the door on the Tigers in the ninth.

Game two of the series will be Saturday at 5 p.m.

— Mizzou Athletics —

Northwest Missouri State softball goes 1-1 at Lincoln

Posted on March 25, 2016March 25, 2016

The No. 16-ranked Northwest Missouri State softball team split a pair of conference contests with Lincoln Friday afternoon in Jefferson City, Mo.

The Bearcats used nine hits to topple the Blue Tigers in game one, 5-1, before falling 3-2 in the nightcap.

Northwest is now 22-8 overall and 6-4 in the MIAA, while Lincoln moves to 3-30 this season and 2-12 against conference opponents.

Torri Blythe had four hits and scored two runs on the day.

Kendle Schieber (12-3) struck out five batters and gave up just three hits in six innings of work to pick up the win in game one. The senior added an RBI single on offense.

The Bearcats will head to St. Charles, Mo. for an MIAA twin bill with Lindenwood Saturday, March 25 beginning at 11 a.m.

— Northwest Athletics —

MWSU tennis gets road win at Fort Hays State

Posted on March 25, 2016March 25, 2016

HAYS, Kan. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team picked up their first MIAA win of the season with an 8-1 victory over Fort Hays State.

The Griffons dominated in singles competition sweeping all six matches against the Tigers. Missouri Western was able to win all of its singles matches in straight sets besides the No. 6 spot. Sarah Giraldo continued her consistent play at the No. 3 spot, winning 6-0, 6-2 in her match. Meara Smith and Denise Chiao won in the No. 4 and No. 5 positions for the Griffons, respectively.

In doubles competition, the Griffons won in the No. 1 and No. 2 spots but dropped the No. 3 match. Sofia Aguilera and Yasmine El Ghazi controlled the No. 1 singles match, winning 8-1. Giraldo and Joanna Roman Abreu picked up an 8-4 victory at the No. 2 spot.

Singles competition
1. El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Jimenez-Lendinez,L. (FHSU) 6-1, 6-4
2. Aguilera, Sofia (MWSU) def. Johnson,Jessica (FHSU) 6-4, 6-3
3. Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) def. Villalovos,Alina (FHSU) 6-0, 6-2
4. Smith, Meara (MWSU) def. Dick,Raven (FHSU) 6-3, 6-2
5. Chiao, Denise (MWSU) def. Weidemann,Haley (FHSU) 7-5, 6-4
6. Beger, Lindsay (MWSU) def. Noel,Taylor (FHSU) 4-6, 6-4, 10-6

Doubles competition
1. Aguilera, Sofia/El Ghazi, Yasmine (MWSU) def. Jimenez-Lendinez,L./Johnson,Jessica (FHSU) 8-1
2. Abreu Roman, Joanna/Giraldo, Sarah (MWSU) def. Villalovos,Alina/Dick,Raven (FHSU) 8-4
3. Weidemann,Haley/Noel,Taylor (FHSU) def. Beger, Lindsay/Chiao, Denise (MWSU) 8-5

Missouri Western will be in action on Tuesday against Nebraska-Kearney starting at 1 p.m.

— MWSU Athletics —

Kansas City loses to Cueto, Giants 8-5

Posted on March 25, 2016March 25, 2016

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Johnny Cueto pitched six innings and singled against his former team and Brandon Belt hit a three-run homer as the San Francisco Giants beat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Friday.

Conor Gillaspie also homered, Denard Span drove in a pair of runs and catching prospect Trevor Brown added a run-scoring double.

Travis Snider and Cory Decker each hit a two-run homer and Paulo Orlando drove in a run for the Royals. Omar Infante went 3 for 4 and scored twice.

Ian Kennedy allowed five runs on six hits in his four innings. He walked a pair and struck out six.

Giants reliever Sergio Romo struck out the side in the ninth.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Kennedy said the biggest takeaway of the day was getting his pitch count up.

“I fell behind a lot of hitters,” he said. “I was hoping to go deeper into the game, get up and down a couple more times, but I threw so many pitches early on. Even the innings I wasn’t giving up runs, I was throwing a lot of pitches.”

Kennedy said his fastball command was not that far off and his changeup was pretty good.

“I was barely missing and I was missing down,” Kennedy said. “With Belt, I didn’t get it quite as high as I wanted. I tried elevating that pitch, but it didn’t happen. It’s about getting ready for the season rather than focus on results.”

With George Kottaras in the original lineup as designated hitter, Kennedy was surprised when Cueto came to bat in the third.

“I heard his name and turned around and saw him,” he said. “I was prepared to face Kottaras.”

Giants: Cueto said he’s ready to start the regular season after throwing over 90 pitches, using everything in his repertoire.

“Everything was working and I felt comfortable,” Cueto said. “My objective was to get my work done and try to throw to the inside when I want and to the outside when I want.”

Cueto led off the third inning with a single to right field and had to hustle to beat a throw by Paulo Orlando. They exchanged a few light-hearted words afterward.

“I had to run hard or get thrown out,” he said. “I don’t like hitting that much, but I do like moving the runner up.”

Cueto enjoyed going up against his old teammates, too.

“It’s always great to face old friends,” Cueto said. “But that’s baseball; one year you’re on a team and the next year you’re with another team.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Royals: RHP Edinson Volquez (arm fatigue) will have had two weeks between starts when he makes his next appearance Monday. Volquez has thrown in minor-league games. … LHP Tim Collins (left elbow) said he would undergo a second Tommy John surgery after an MRI revealed that the first surgery failed to take hold.

Giants: C Andrew Susac (tendinitis in right hand) has not appeared in a spring game for over a week, although he has been playing in minor league games.

UP NEXT

Royals: RHP Chien-Ming Wang will make his seventh appearance, second start, on Saturday in Surprise against the Oakland A’s and RHP Chris Bassett.

Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija will get the call Saturday when San Francisco travels to Mesa to take on Samardzija’s former team Chicago Cubs and RHP John Lackey.

— Associated Press —