Sports – Page 647 – St. Joseph Post Archive

No. 14 Missouri Western softball splits doubleheader at Fort Hays State

Posted on April 3, 2015

HAYS, Kan. – Two valiant comeback efforts ran out of time in Hays Friday afternoon as the Missouri Western softball team split a doubleheader with Fort Hays State Friday. The Tigers nearly came back from seven down in game one and the Griffons came up one run short of completing a seven run comeback themselves in game two.

GAME 1: #14 MWSU 7, Fort Hays 5

Missouri Western held off a late charge by Fort Hays to pick up the victory in game one. The Tigers scored five runs in the last two innings and brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the seventh.

The Griffons jumped out to a 7-0 lead after five and a half innings. The Tigers picked up three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to make it interesting. Kailey Green hit a three-run, two out home run in the first to put MWSU on the board. Green scored the team’s fourth run of the game in the fourth when she scored on Shelbie Atwell’s ground out. MWSU got three more two-out runs in the sixth. Tiffany Gillaspy drove in two with a doubled down the left field line and Sydney Washington made it 7-0 with a single up the middle that brought Gillaspy home.

Janie Smith hung on for the win, going all seven innings and allowing three earned runs on seven hits. She struck out four and walked three. Smith improved her record to 13-5 on the year. Green went 2-4 at the plate with three RBIs and two runs scored. Atwell and Megan Korgie both went 2-3, as did Washington.

GAME 2: Fort Hays 8, #14 MWSU 7

A similar script with a role reversal from game one saw Fort Hays jump out to a 7-0 lead after the first two innings. After one run in each in the third and fourth innings, the Griffons scored three in the fifth and two in the sixth to have a chance headed to the seventh.

After two straight one-hit shutouts, Shyanne Saladino had her scoreless innings streak snapped when she gave up a three-run home run in the first. Then she gave up another in the second that chased her from the game, or so it seemed. Taylor Schaben gave up a two-run home run to the first batter she faced in relief. Two batters later it became a 7-0 lead for the Tigers.

Sydney Washington put MWSU on the board in the top of the third with an RBI single and Kailey Green’s second home run of the day pulled the Griffon within five in the fourth. After an error and a single put two Fort Hays runners on in the fourth, Saladino reentered. She surrendered an RBI-single that put Fort Hays up 8-2 before recording the final out of the inning. An RBI single from Katie Klosterman and a two-RBI single from Shelbie Atwell pulled the Griffons within three in the fifth. MWSU added two more in the sixth with a run scoring when Gillaspy reached on an error and an RBI double from Green. Saladino retired the Tigers in order in the bottom of the inning to set up the last chance for MWSU. Atwell led off the top of the seventh with a walk before Brooke Schaben popped up to the shortstop. Rebekah Mueller reached on a fielder’s choice that took Atwell off the bases and another pop up to short by Rathmann ended the game.

Green finished game two 2-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. On the day, she was 4-7 with five RBIs and four runs scored. Klosterman also had two hits in game two, going 2-3.

The split left the team’s record at 27-11, 11-3 in the MIAA. MWSU plays at Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcat softball goes 1-1 against Nebraska-Kearney Friday

Posted on April 3, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State softball team split Friday’s doubleheader with Nebraska Kearney at Dryden Park in Kearney, Neb.

The Lopers took game one, 11-8, after scoring six runs in the sixth inning.

The Bearcats came back and won the nightcap in convincing style, outscoring UNK 10-1.

Northwest is now 15-17 on the season and 8-6 in the conference, while the Lopers move to 11-22 overall and 9-9 in the MIAA.

In game one, Torri Blythe finished the game 3-for-4 with two RBI, Kendle Schieber scored a pair of runs and drove in another after clubbing a double and drawing a walk, and Jessica Rawie reached base three times, scoring two runs and driving in one.

Sarah Baldwin took the loss for Northwest, giving up nine runs (seven earned) on eight hits across 5.2 innings.

In game two, Schieber went the distance for the Bearcats, surrendering one run on five hits. The junior struck out three Loper batters while walking one.

Chantel Adams finished game two 2-for-4 with two runs, hitting her sixth home run of the year. Rawie was a triple short of the cycle with the home run being a grand slam. The freshman finished with two runs and five RBI

Blythe slapped three singles in her four at bats, while Maher collected a pair of RBI after finishing 2-for-5 with a double.

The Bearcats travel to Hays, Kan. for another MIAA doubleheader against Fort Hays State on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Home runs by Hosmer and Eibner lead Royals over Astros 11-1

Posted on April 3, 2015April 4, 2015

HOUSTON (AP) — Eric Hosmer and Brett Eibner hit homers on back-to-back pitches in the eighth inning to help the Kansas City Royals beat the Houston Astros 11-1 on Friday night.

The Royals were up by two before Hosmer’s fourth home run of the spring landed in the Crawford Boxes in left field to make it 4-0. Eibner, a pinch hitter, sent the next pitch from Pat Neshek onto the concourse in left-center for his sixth homer this spring.

Neshek, signed in the offseason to beef up Houston’s bullpen, had allowed just one run and four hits in his previous seven outings this spring. This time, he gave up three runs and three hits with a walk in one inning.

Evan Gattis, acquired in a trade with the Braves this offseason, upped his spring average to .417 with his second home run, a solo shot for Houston in the ninth inning.

Mike Moustakas had three hits, including an RBI double in Kansas City’s six-run ninth.

“I think the one thing offensively that stands out is Moose’s game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “He took an opportunity to lead off an inning with a bunt base hit and then had a double down the left-field line. Three base hits all the opposite way — pretty impressive.”

Lorenzo Cain continued his strong spring for the Royals with three hits and two RBIs to leave his average at .377 with one exhibition game remaining.

Chris Young, Jason Frasor and Kelvin Herrera each threw a scoreless inning for the Royals after starter Edinson Volquez left after four innings.

Houston manager A.J. Hinch wasn’t happy with his team’s performance, but looked at the bright side of it.

“We botched a few plays,” he said. “I guess we can attribute that to an ugly spring training game. You have to remember that this is still spring training, so we can flush it down the toilet.”

BLING BLING

The Royals will receive their American League championship rings Monday on opening day in Kansas City after reaching the World Series in their first trip to the postseason since 1985. The on-field ceremony will also include a video of last year’s playoff run before the Royals raise their AL pennant banner.

THE GRASS IS ALWAYS GREENER

Friday was the first game on new grass the Astros installed at Minute Maid Park in March. The new grass was bought in Georgia and moved to a farm in Alabama for care in July. The sod was grown to the Astros’ specifications and delivered and installed by the same team that grew and installed the grass used for this year’s Super Bowl at University of Phoenix Stadium.

STARTING TIME

Royals: Volquez allowed five hits and struck out seven in four scoreless innings, his best outing of the spring. Volquez, who signed a two-year deal with the Royals in December after pitching for the Pirates in 2014, had allowed two or more runs in four of his five starts.

“He executed all of his pitches,” Yost said. “He was consistently down in the zone all night. I thought he was great.”

Volquez was encouraged by his performance.

“All my pitches were there,” he said. “I’ve been making adjustments from my last starts and it carried over here.”

Astros: Scott Feldman yielded seven hits and two runs with four strikeouts in six innings, his longest outing of the spring. He hadn’t pitched more than 4 1/3 innings in his previous four starts.

“I felt like as the spring wore on, I was getting frustrated because I felt like something was a little out of whack,” Feldman said. “But I’ve been working on it between starts, working those things out with (pitching coach Brent Strom) and just trying to go out there and take it out to the game. (Friday) I felt like I’m right where I need to be and hope I feel like that during the season.”

Feldman will start Houston’s second game against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.

ASTROS MOVES

RHP Jandel Gustave, a Rule 5 draft selection, was returned to the Astros. He was drafted by Boston before being acquired by Kansas City and later claimed off waivers by San Diego. He will report to Double-A Corpus Christi.

UP NEXT

These teams wrap up their exhibition schedules Saturday when Kansas City’s Jason Vargas opposes Houston’s Collin McHugh.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State men’s tennis team defeats Harding

Posted on April 3, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State University men’s tennis team picked up a 7-2 victory over Harding University on Friday in Springfield, Mo.

The win moved the No. 19 ranked Bearcats to 10-5 on the year.

Harding entered the match as the region’s No. 9 ranked team and is now 10-6 on the season.

Match Scores
Singles competition
1. #34 Boissinot,Romain (NW) def. Jon Mark Rowden (HU) 6-1, 6-4
2. #43 Tete,Mauro (NW) def. Carlos Crisostomo (HU) 3-6, 6-2, 10-5
3. Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Brandon Hogland (HU) 6-2, 6-4
4. Azzaoui,Hicham (NW) def. Josh Hurt (HU) 6-4, 6-1
5. Adrian Torrico (HU) def. Altmann,Josef (NW) 7-6, 6-4
6. Autones,Aymeric (NW) def. Neto Cacace (HU) 6-1, 5-7, 10-6

Doubles competition
1. Autones,Aymeric/Riveros,Alvaro (NW) def. Jon Mark Rowden/Felipe Carbonari (HU) 8-2
2. Josh Hurt/Carlos Crisostomo (HU) def. Tete,Mauro/Boissinot,Romain (NW) 8-4
3. Azzaoui,Hicham/Altmann,Josef (NW) def. Neto Cacace/Adrian Torrico (HU) 9-8 (7-5)

The Bearcat men return home for a pair of MIAA contests starting on Wednesday, April 8, against Nebraska-Kearney at 3 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Holliday, Grichuk homer as St. Louis beats Triple-A Memphis

Posted on April 3, 2015April 4, 2015

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Matt Holliday hit his first home run of the spring, Randal Grichuk added his team-high fifth and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated their Triple-A Memphis affiliate 8-1 Friday night.

Top prospect Marco Gonzales pitched 5 2/3 innings of three-hit ball for the Cardinals. The left-hander will stay down on the farm at Memphis to begin the season as a starter-in-waiting for St. Louis.

Gonzales struck out four and gave up just an unearned run in the sixth on a groundout. He also delivered an RBI single before 9,827 fans at AutoZone Park.

Gonzales did issue four walks, including one that loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth. Randy Choate came on to get an inning-ending strikeout.

After Redbirds starter Tim Cooney hit Matt Carpenter with a pitch, Holliday launched a drive onto the left-field bluff.

— Associated Press —

Bearcat women lose at Northeastern State 8-1

Posted on April 3, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State University women’s tennis team fell to No. 21 ranked Northeastern State in MIAA action on Friday in Tahlequah, Okla., 8-1.

Northwest falls to 10-5 on the year and 2-1 in MIAA play. The RiverHawks improved to 12-3 overall and 7-0 in conference action.

Match Results
Singles competition
1. Quesada,Camila (NW) def. #21 Savchenkov,Kristina (NSU) 3-6, 6-4, 1-0 (10-7)
2. Husakova,Patricia (NSU) def. Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NW) 6-0, 6-0
3. Worden,Molly (NSU) def. Jaquet,Margaux (NW) 6-1, 6-0
4. Efimenko,Valeriia (NSU) def. Kolen,Aniek (NW) 6-3, 6-3
5. Parker,Easton (NSU) def. Hull,Marianne (NW) 7-5, 6-4
6. Jirickova,Barbora (NSU) def. Sestokaite,Vilune (NW) 6-2, 6-4

Doubles competition
1. Savchenkov,Kristina/Husakova,Patricia (NSU) def. Quesada,Camila/Jarolim,Lorena Rivas (NW) 8-0
2. Jirickova,Barbora/Efimenko,Valeriia (NSU) def. Jaquet,Margaux/Hull,Marianne (NW) 8-5
3. Worden,Molly/Parker,Easton (NSU) def. Kolen,Aniek/Mannix,Stephanie (NW) 8-3

The Bearcats head to Edmond, Okla., for an MIAA match against Central Oklahoma on Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Benedictine announces resignation of track & field coach Darin Schmitz

Posted on April 2, 2015April 3, 2015

Benedictine College Athletic Director Charlie Gartenmayer announced on Thursday the resignation of head track & field coach Darin Schmitz.

“We want to thank Darin for his time at Benedictine,” Gartenmayer said. “And we wish him the best of the luck in the future.”

According to Gartenmayer, Schmitz’s resignation will take effect immediately with assistant coach Rex Lane taking over as interim head coach for the remainder of the outdoor season.

Coach Lane served as the head track & field coach prior to Schmitz. Lane currently serves as the distance coach as well as Benedictine’s cross country coach.

A search for a new head track & field coach will begin immediately with no time table announced for the hiring of the new coach.

— BC Sports Information —

Chiefs announce official dates for offseason program

Posted on April 2, 2015April 3, 2015

The Kansas City Chiefs will begin phase one of the offseason program on Monday, April 20 at The University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex.

To kick off the start of the program, Chiefs Head Coach Andy Reid will be made available to the media along with select players, including quarterback Alex Smith.

Additionally, the Chiefs will hold rookie minicamp from May 16-18. Organized Team Activities begin on May 26 and the club’s mandatory minicamp will be held June 16-18.

The club will hold a pre-draft press conference with General Manager John Dorsey on Friday, April 24 at 11:30 a.m. at The University of Kansas Hospital Training Complex.

— Chiefs Media Relations —

Bearcats give up eight runs in the 9th, lose series opener to Lindenwood

Posted on April 2, 2015April 3, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Lindenwood on Thursday afternoon, 16-9, at Bearcat Field.

The loss drops the Bearcats to 16-16 overall and 11-10 in MIAA play. The Lions also even back out at 16-16 and are now 8-9 in conference action.

The game was tied heading into the top of the ninth, 8-8, before Lindenwood plated eight runs on eight hits.

Steven Garber hit his first two homeruns of the season as he finished 3-for-5 with RBI, and Kolby Greenslade was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a walk. He also stole his ninth base of the season.

Kevin Handzlik was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI, while Nick Gotta went 2-for-5 with a run scored.

Anthony Caenepeel started, going 5.1 innings. He allowed eight runs on 10 hits with five strikeouts. Carson Smith suffered the loss as he went 1.1 innings, allowing seven runs on six hits.

The series with Lindenwood continues Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Both games will be seven-inning contests.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Cardinals and Mets play a scoreless tie in Grapefruit League finale

Posted on April 2, 2015

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — All the tuneups are complete for Matt Harvey. Next up is the real thing.

Harvey capped an exemplary spring training by striking out four in four innings Thursday as the New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals played a 0-0 tie in their Grapefruit League finale.

Harvey allowed three hits and threw 41 of 56 pitches for strikes. He had a 1.19 ERA in six spring training starts, giving up three runs and 17 hits in 22 2/3 innings.

“Everything feels great, as it has all spring training,” Harvey said. “I don’t think there’s much more to accomplish.”

The NL starter in the 2013 All-Star game at Citi Field, Harvey hasn’t pitched in a regular-season game since Aug. 24, 2013. The 26-year-old right-hander is recovering from elbow ligament-replacement surgery that Oct. 22.

He walked one and struck out 21 during the exhibition season.

“You hear stories of guys who have trouble with command coming back, and that as something I really worked on,” Harvey said. “Obviously you never know until you start facing hitters and getting into a game, but to know I did that, I’m pleased with that.”

Harvey is scheduled to follow Bartolo Colon and NL Rookie of the Year Jacob DeGrom in the rotation and pitch April 9 at Washington. He returns to Citi Field to start the Mets’ second home game, against Philadelphia on April 14.

Lance Lynn, scheduled to follow Adam Wainwright in the Cardinals’ rotation, allowed three hits in six innings, struck out four and walked none.

“He was great — everything we needed to see,” St. Louis manager Mike Matheny said.

Lynn, who starts at the Chicago Cub on Tuesday, hit Curtis Granderson on a leg with a pitch in the third. Granderson left after the end of the half inning in what Mets manager Terry Collins said was a precaution.

STARTING TIME

Mets: Collins said Harvey will be limited to about 90 pitches against the Nationals. “We’re going to be delicate with him,” Collins said.

Cardinals: John Lackey, Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez will follow Lynn in the rotation.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: 2B Daniel Murphy homered in a minor league camp game on the back fields of New York’s Port St. Lucie complex. Collins hopes Murphy will be ready to play by opening day.

Cardinals: OF Tommy Pham is expected to see a doctor in Texas for a second opinion on his injured quadriceps. Pham had been in contention for the final outfield spot before the injury.

MORE CONCISE

St. Louis reliever Kevin Seigrist struck out three in one scoreless inning. Seigrist spent spring training developing a more compact delivery. “Where there’s extra movement, there’s extra time, which means there’s extra room for things to fall apart,” Matheny said. “He’s simplified it.”

SPRING IRON MAN

Cardinals OF Stephen Piscotty played in every possible game during the Grapefruit League season, missing only a split squad contest. He will begin the season with Triple-A Memphis. “He’s a guy that we enjoyed watching,” Matheny said.

CARDINAL NATION

St. Louis announced a spring attendance of 98,533 for 15 home games at Roger Dean Stadium, an average of 6,569.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Marco Gonzales starts at Triple-A Memphis on Friday.

Mets: DeGrom starts Friday at Texas, when Dillon Gee goes Saturday in New York’s final exhibition game.

— Associated Press —