Sports – Page 650 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Cardinals’ Wacha throws well again in win over Washington

Posted on March 30, 2015March 30, 2015

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Washington Nationals closer Drew Storen exited early because of a blister on his right big toe Monday in a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.

Storen issued a two-out walk to Kolten Wong, then left the mound in the sixth inning.

“You start sweating, it gets hot, you start having friction down there and he developed a blister and then the next pitch it ripped,” Washington manager Matt Williams said.

The setback is the second of the spring for the right-handed Storen, who missed time after undergoing surgery to remove part of a bone in his left hand.

“We’ll re-evaluate him tomorrow and see how he is, but no need to push it at this point,” Williams said.

The lack of time table for Storen’s return is made more troublesome by the news that an MRI exam of reliever Casey Janssen’s shoulder showed rotator cuff tendinitis. Janssen is expected to be Washington’s primary setup man.

“He’s a question mark for opening day,” Williams said.

The injury report from Washington’s position players isn’t any more encouraging. Anthony Rendon was scheduled to see Dr. James Andrews for an exam on his ailing left knee.

St. Louis pitcher Michael Wacha pronounced himself ready for the season after allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits while striking out three in five innings.

Wacha, who missed much of last season with a stress fracture in his scapula, is pleased with how his arm performed this spring.

“I was real happy with the way it’s been bouncing back after each start and the way it feels throughout the game as well,” Wacha said.

STARTING TIME

Nationals: Washington sent minor leaguer Taylor Jordan south to face the Cardinals, keeping Max Scherzer, whose turn it would have been in the rotation, in Viera. Scherzer is expected to throw in a minor league game at the Nationals’ spring training complex on Tuesday as he prepares to be Washington’s opening-day starter.

Cardinals: Matheny said Carlos Martinez will get Wednesday’s start when St. Louis travels to face the New York Mets. John Lackey will throw in a minor league game that day. Lance Lynn gets the start in the Cardinals’ Grapefruit League finale on Thursday against the Mets.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: Outfielder Jayson Werth hit in a minor league game for the first time since undergoing offseason shoulder surgery.

MORE OUTFIELD HELP

After the game, the Nationals announced on their Twitter account that they had signed outfielder Reed Johnson to a minor league deal that included a spring training invitation. The Marlins released Johnson earlier in the day.

UP NEXT

Nationals: Gio Gonzalez starts Tuesday against the New York Mets.

Cardinals: Ace Adam Wainwright will get his final start of the spring on Tuesday when the Cardinals play fellow Roger Dean Stadium tenant Miami.

— Associated Press —

Nebraska’s Pitchford to forgo senior season of basketball

Posted on March 30, 2015March 30, 2015

Lincoln, Neb. – University of Nebraska forward Walter Pitchford announced Monday that he is giving up his final season of eligibility with the Husker basketball program. Pitchford will remain at the University of Nebraska and finish his undergraduate degree in ethnic studies.

“I thank Coach Miles for giving me the opportunity when I transferred from Florida,” Pitchford said. “I have learned a lot about myself in the three years I’ve been at Nebraska and it is not an easy decision to give up playing basketball. I believe it is in the best interest of both the team and myself that I devote my time to completing my degree at Nebraska and eventually go into a career in business.

“I appreciate all the support I have received from the coaching staff, my teammates and the fans during my time at Nebraska and it has become home for me,” Pitchford said. “I know my teammates support me on this difficult decision, and I will be there to support them.”

“I completely support Walter in his decision,” Nebraska basketball coach Tim Miles said. “It shows a great deal of courage for a young man to see his career path and pursue it. I know leaving behind basketball is not easy for Walter or his family, but I also believe this is the best thing for Walt because it targets what he wants to do.”

As a junior, he played in 30 games, including 26 starts, and averaged 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game to rank third on the team in both scoring and rebounding. Pitchford reached double figures nine times in 2014-15, including a career-high 19 points against Tennessee-Martin and at No. 16 Maryland.

He averaged 9.3 points and 4.7 rebounds as a sophomore in 2013-14, helping the Huskers to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 1998. That season, he ranked among the Big Ten leaders in both field goal percentage (.473, 10th) and 3-point percentage (.410, seventh).

Pitchford began his career at the University of Florida in 2011-12, helping the Gators to an appearance in the Elite Eight.

In the classroom, Pitchford is a two-time Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll member.

— NU Sports Information —

Griffons drop series finale to No. 17 Missouri Southern 20-16

Posted on March 29, 2015

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Despite what the scoreboard said, the Missouri Western and Missouri Southern football teams did not play a spring game at the Griffon Baseball Field. Instead it was a 20-16 win for No. 17 Missouri Southern baseball over Missouri Western that clinched the series for the Lions, three games to one.

The teams combined for 36 runs, 36 hits, 11 doubles, five home runs and four errors in a game that seemed to be headed for a run-rule in favor of Missouri Southern. Five runs from the Griffons in the fifth and five more in the seventh prolonged the game that lasted three hours. Missouri Southern jumped out to a 7-0 lead after four in the second and three in the top of the third. The Griffs added one in the bottom of the third, but two more from Southern in the fourth started a run of multi-run innings.

Griffon starter Grant Woods was chased after the second. He allowed four runs on four hits, striking out two and walking two. In the game, Missouri Western pitchers walked 13 Lion batters and hit two. Down 15-2 going into the bottom of fifth, MWSU scored five to pull within eight. Mitch Thorman got the scoring going in the inning with an RBI single that bought Trevor LaHonta home. Cosimo Cannella drove in two with a single through the left side and David Glaude put the fourth and fifth runs of the inning on the board with a two-run home run down the right field line.

The Griffons pulled within four at 16-12 in the seventh on an RBI double by Cannella and back-to-back home runs from Matt Russell and Corbin Duffy. The Griffons added one more in the eighth and three in the ninth but it was too little to late as Missouri Southern had built a 20-13 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.

Glaude finished 3-4 with two RBIs and three runs scored. LaHonta was 3-5 with two RBIs and a runs scored. Woods took the loss as the first of seven pitchers used by the Griffons. The loss dropped MWSU to 18-12 on the year and 12-8 in the MIAA. The team plays next at Fort Hays, playing a pair of doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Northwest Missouri State splits four-game series with Pitt State

Posted on March 29, 2015

Pittsburg, Kan. – The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Pittsburg State, 8-6, on Sunday in MIAA action.

Northwest falls to 15-15 overall and 11-9 in MIAA play. Pitt State improves to 9-18 and 5-11 in conference action.

With the loss, the Gorillas earned a series split after winning one game on Saturday. The Bearcats won on Friday and in game two of yesterday’s doubleheader.

Northwest Missouri State scored six runs on eight hits and did not committ an error. Northwest got single runs in the fourth and fifth innings before putting together a four-run seventh inning.

Pitt State scored eight runs on 13 hits but kept the door open by committing four errors. The Gorillas scored two in the second, one in the third, four in the fifth and one in the sixth.

Nikko Pablo got the loss, going 4.1 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits. He walked two batters and struck out one.

Paul Johnson was 3-for-5 on the day with a triple and an RBI.

Nick Gotta and Austin Wulff each picked up a pair of hits. Both recorded doubles, had an RBI and scored a run.

Catcher Derek Meyer was 1-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

The Bearcats will return home for five straight games beginning on Tuesday, March 31, with a non-conference nine-inning game against Peru State. MIAA play continues on Thursday, April 2, with Lindenwood.

— Northwest Sports Information —

No. 23 Tigers lose final game of three-game series at No. 1 Texas A&M

Posted on March 29, 2015March 29, 2015

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 23 Mizzou baseball dropped the series finale against top-ranked Texas A&M, 14-6, on Sunday afternoon at Blue Bell Park.

Junior starter Peter Fairbanks (St. Louis, Mo.) allowed four runs and two home runs over the first three innings and the Tigers hit into three double plays in the middle innings to quell rallies before A&M broke the game open late. The loss drops the Tigers to 20-9 and 6-3 in the SEC. Texas A&M improves to 27-2 and 7-2 in the SEC.

The 14 runs allowed by the Tigers are a season-high as are the 17 hits by the Aggies on Sunday. The Aggies broke the game open in the sixth, sending 13 batters to the plate while scoring nine runs on seven hits. Mizzou rallied with five runs in the top of the seventh, but it was too little, too late for the Tigers.

Fairbanks took the loss, his third of the season. Sophomore Jake Ring (Ingleside, Ill.) tallied his third three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Freshmen Brett Bond (St. Louis, Mo.) and Trey Harris (Powder Springs, Ga.) each tallied multi-hit games as well. Brett Peel (St. Charles, Mo.) reached base safely for the 26th consecutive game.

Fairbanks struggled through three innings, allowing a pair of homers as Texas A&M opened a 4-0 lead after three innings. Mizzou threatened to score in the third and fourth innings, putting a pair of runners on with one outs and nobody out, respectively. But A&M starter Matt Kent induced a couple of double plays to escape jams in both of those innings.

Fairbanks issued a four-pitch walk to open the fourth inning and that ended his day in favor of senior reliever Andrew Schwaab (St. Charles, Mo.), who retired the side on eight pitches in the fourth. Schwaab then got into some trouble in the fifth inning, allowing back-to-back, one-out singles. J.B. Moss then hit a two-out single through the left side to give A&M a 5-0 lead.

The Tigers again threatened in the top of the sixth as three consecutive singles loaded the bases for the middle of the order and cleanup hitter Josh Lester (Columbus, Ga.). He struck out swinging on a 3-2 fastball and Ryan Howard (St. Charles, Mo.) bounced into a 5-4-3 double play to end the threat as the Tigers came up empty.

A&M then made the Tigers pay for missing that chance, plating nine runs in the bottom of the frame, four coming on a grand slam by Logan Taylor. Mizzou rallied in the seventh for five runs in the top of the seventh, but the damage had been done as the Tigers tacked on another run in the ninth.

Mizzou will be back in action, facing a nationally-ranked Illinois team Tuesday at GCS Ballpark in Sauget, Ill., at 6:35 p.m.

— MU Sports Information —

Royals get three-hit by Cubs in 7-0 loss

Posted on March 29, 2015March 29, 2015

SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — Edwin Jackson arrived at the ballpark in time for a solid spring start with the Chicago Cubs.

Jackson allowed one hit in 4 2/3 innings, and the Cubs hit three homers in a 7-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Jackson struck out three and walked one. He was hit hard in his previous outing after he had trouble finding Oakland’s spring ballpark.

Jackson is competing for the last spot in the Cubs’ rotation after going 6-15 with a 6.33 ERA last season.

“It’s not going to be judged off one start,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s something I don’t worry about. Like I’ve been saying from the beginning, just go out and be myself and at the end of the day, whatever is going to happen is going to happen. No need to worry about it, just go out pitch your game and let the pieces fall into place.”

Miguel Montero, Matt Szczur and Junior Lake homered for Chicago, and Tommy La Stella went 3 for 3 and scored a run.

Royals right-hander Edinson Volquez struck out eight in five-plus innings. He was charged with two runs and six hits.

“I think this is the best one of all of whole spring training,” Volquez said.

Montero went deep in the first. Lake connected in the eighth against Wade Davis, who did not surrender a home run in 72 innings last season. Szczur hit his fourth spring homer in Chicago’s four-run ninth off Royals closer Greg Holland.

BRYANT PLAYS LEFT

Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, one of the top prospects in the majors, made his second spring training start in left field. The team wants its young players to be able to play more than one position.

“You never know the need will arise,” manager Joe Maddon said. “All of a sudden, you could have a need here, and he hasn’t played there.”

Bryant went 0 for 3 at the plate, striking out twice. His spring batting average dropped to .425.

STARTING TIME

Cubs: Jackson entered with a 7.59 ERA in 10 2/3 spring innings.

“Just a better job of making adjustments,” Jackson said. “Miggy (Montero) did a great job of controlling the game behind the plate, mixing up pitches. We also had some great defensive plays. It was a little bit of everything working in my favor today.”

Royals: Volquez said he is close to being where he wants to be to start the season.

“I don’t want to say 100 percent,” Volquez said. “I’m think I’m probably 90 percent.”

OUT AT HOME

Cubs second baseman Javier Baez threw out Jarrod Dyson and Alex Gordon at the plate in the third inning. Gordon tried to score from first on Kendrys Morales’ double.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: OF Chris Denorfia has not played since March 17 because of a hamstring injury.

Royals: RF Alex Rios returned to the lineup after missing three games with a right thumb issue.

BAD OVERALL DAY

The Royals managed just three hits, and key relievers Davis and Holland allowed a total of five runs and six hits in a combined 1 2/3 innings.

“My fantasy NACAR team did as bad as we did today,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “It was a bad day all the way around. My A driver is Jimmy Johnson, who normally runs good at Martinsville, but he finished 35th today.”

UP NEXT

Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks starts Monday against the Giants.

Royals: LHP Jason Vargas starts Monday against Texas.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western women’s tennis earns two wins Sunday

Posted on March 29, 2015March 29, 2015

OTTAWA, Kan. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team traveled to Ottawa, Kansas on Sunday for their third away match in four day. MWSU earned two victories by defeating College of Saint Mary 9-0 and Ottawa University 8-1.

The Griffons controlled the match from the start against Saint Mary, winning all three doubles matches. Ceara Boldridge and Sofia Aguilera earned a 8-1 victory while Denise Chiao and Kayla Dysart claimed an 8-1 win as well. In the No. 3 doubles match Meara Smith and Lindsay Beger won 8-0.

In singles matches, Missouri Western continued to show their dominance with Sarah Giraldo, Mera Smith and Lindsay Begar all earning 6-0, 6-0 victories. Kayla Dysart won her match in the No. 2 spot, 6-1, 6-1. In the No. 3 position Yasmine El Ghazi won her match 6-1, 6-1 and in the final singles position Denise Chiao won 6-1, 6-0.

MWSU was able to control the tempo in their match against Ottawa, winning all three doubles matches. Sarah Giraldo and El Ghazi won their match by the score of 8-3 and Aguilera and Boldridge won 8-4 in the No. 2 position.

Kayla Dysart won her match in the No. 1 spot 5-7, 7-5 (10-4). El Ghazi, Chiao, and Smith all earned victories in their singles matches as well.

The Griffons moved their record to 8-5 overall and will return to action on April 7 at home against William Jewell starting at 2:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —

St. Louis loses to Mets in spring training action Sunday

Posted on March 29, 2015March 29, 2015

JUPITER, Fla. (AP) — Dillon Gee allowed singles to four of his first five batters, then settled in to pitch seven innings Sunday in the New York Mets’ 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

Matt Carpenter and Jason Heyward opened the first with singles, but left fielder Michael Cuddyer threw out Carpenter at third. Matt Holliday singled, and the Cardinals pulled off a double steal, and shortstop Ruben Tejada turned Matt Adams’ liner into an unassisted double play.

Jhonny Peralta singled leading off the second, and Yadier Molina grounded into a 1-6-3 double play. Gee wound up allowing two runs and seven hits. Heyward hit an RBI triple in the third and scored on Holliday’s sacrifice fly.

“I definitely started executing a lot better as the game went on,” Gee said. “Early, I had trouble finding everything. Luckily, today I think the cutter allowed me to stay in the game long enough to figure it out.”

Lucas Duda had three hits, and Curtis Granderson had two hits and a walk.

Cardinals starter Marco Gonzales, pitching because Jaime Garcia’s shoulder is ailing, gave up one run, three hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings.

Gonzales could start the season in the rotation, in the bullpen or in the rotation of Triple-A Memphis.

“I think those are three viable options,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said.

STARTING TIME

Mets: Collins wasn’t ready to say Gee will be in his starting rotation. “We’re going to wait a while,” Collins said. “We’ve got (Rafael Montero) tomorrow so we are excited to see that and we’ll make a decision as we go.”

Cardinals: Sunday’s start was the final in the Grapefruit League for Gonzales but he’ll likely get the ball on Friday when the Cardinals play an exhibition game at Memphis.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Mets: Closer Bobby Parnell, returning from Tommy John surgery last April, threw 16 pitches in a minor league game and is on pace to make his 2015 debut in May. Second baseman Daniel Murphy took at-bats in a minor league game again on Sunday but can’t run because of a sore hamstring.

Cardinals: Garcia is expected to meet with team doctors in the coming days. The club doesn’t have a time table for Garcia’s return to the mound.

SITUATIONAL PLAY

Cardinals manager Mike Matheny will try to use his bench players as frequently as possible in situations they’ll encounter in the regular season during the final week of spring training. That will mean bringing left-handed reliever Randy Choate into games to face left-handed hitters. Choate allowed a double to Granderson and, following an intentional walk, an RBI single to Duda.

NO CONCERN FOR WONG

Cardinals second baseman Kolten Wong, who is hitting .147, was given a day off. “He’s doing a lot of little things right,” Matheny said. “He’s not had a lot of results.”

CARDS MOVES

St. Louis optioned catcher Ed Easley, infielder Dean Anna and Xavier Scruggs to Memphis. The Cardinals also reassigned infielder Jacob Wilson to minor league camp.

UP NEXT

Michael Wacha is to make his final spring training start Monday against Washington and Taylor Jordan. The Mets play Miami and Dan Haren.

— Associated Press —

Griffons split doubleheader with No. 17 Missouri Southern

Posted on March 28, 2015

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western baseball team split with No. 17 Missouri Southern Saturday at the Griffon Spring Sports Complex.

The Griffons forced extra innings in game one on a bases loaded walk and took game two thanks, in large part, to a passed ball and an error.

GAME 1: #17 MSSU 2, MWSU 1 (8 innings)

The Griffons tied the game at one in the bottom of the seventh but gave up what proved to be the game-winning home run in the eighth to drop their third straight, 2-1.

Zach Taylor’s walk in the bottom of the seventh pushed Ryan Degner home to tie the game at one. With the bases still loaded, Dylon Koch’s bunt was fielded by the Missouri Southern catcher, who promptly stepped on the plate for the force out and to send the game to extra innings. A two-out, solo home run won it for the Lions in the eighth with a double play ending the game. After Orencio Fisher flied out to lead-off the eighth, Trevor LaHonta singled to center. Degner ended the game by hitting into the double play.

Mike Calimeno took the loss for the Griffons. He pitched two and a third in relief of Banks Born. Born went the first five and two thirds, giving up one run on six hits.

GAME 2: MWSU 2, #17 MSSU 0

The Griffons took advantage of some Missouri Southern miscues in the sixth to score the game’s first and only runs in a 2-0 win over the No. 17 Lions.

Trevor LaHonta scored the first run on an RBI single down the left field line by Cody Childs. LaHonta and Dylon Koch had both moved up a base before Childs’ single on a passed ball. One batter later, Orencio Fisher hit into a fielder’s choice in a pinch hit at bat for Cosimo Cannella that allowed Koch to score. Fisher’s hit looked like a possible double play that would have ended the inning but the short stop didn’t step on second, allowing Childs to advance to second and Fisher beat out the throw down to first.

It was enough for the Griffons who had just four hits in the game. A.J. Martinez went all seven innings, giving up just three hits for his first complete game shutout of the season. He moved to 4-0 on the year with the win and Missouri Western improved to 18-11 and 12-7 in the MIAA. The two teams wrap up the series Sunday with a single game scheduled for 1 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcats go 1-1 against Pittsburg State Saturday

Posted on March 28, 2015March 28, 2015

The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team split a Saturday doubleheader with Pittsburg State at Al Ortolani Field in Pittsburg, Kan.

The Bearcats fell in game one, 5-3, but rebounded for a 9-3 win in the second game. Both games were seven inning contests.

Northwest is now 15-14 overall and 11-8 in MIAA play. The Gorillas are 8-18 overall and 4-11 in conference action.

In game one, Joseph Hietpas started for Northwest, going 4.2 innings. He struck out five batters, walking just one. He allowed eight hits and five runs.

Garrett Fort went 2-for-3 and scored two runs, while Derek Meyer had a pair of RBI, going 1-for-4 in the game. Paul Johnson was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored, and Nick Gotta, Steven Garber and Luke Wilkinson all had one hit.

In game two, Brad Roberts went 5.1 innings, allowing just one earned run with a pair of strikeouts. He walked just one batter and allowed only four hits.

Carson Smith worked finished the sixth and worked a scoreless seventh. He struck out two and did not issue a walk.

Meyer and Garber each collected a pair of hits and a pair of RBI on the day. Meyer scored a run and also had a stolen base.

Wulff was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI and a walk. Luke Wilkinson hit a two-run homerun in the second inning, while Gotta, Johnson and Fort all had base hits for the Bearcats.

The Bearcats and the Gorillas conclude the four-game series Sunday afternoon with a nine-inning contest scheduled for 1 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —