ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western softball team extended its winning streak to eight games Friday by defeating Minnesota State and Northern State on the opening day at the Apple Market Classic at the MWSU softball field.
Game 1 – Missouri Western 4, Minnesota State 2
The Griffons jumped out to a 2-0 lead after four with an RBI double from Tiffany Gillaspy in the first and a solo home run from Katie Klosterman in the fourth. Minnesota State knotted the game up at two in the top of the fifth when the Mavericks scored two on an error. Gillaspy put MWSU up 3-2 in the bottom half of the inning when she drove in her second of the game, this time on a sacrifice fly to center. Paige Shifflett hit the Griffons’ second homer of the game in the fifth to give the team an insurance run.
Janie Smith moved to 8-5 with the win, allowing just two unearned runs on 11 hits, while striking out three. Morgan Rathmann went 2-3 with two runs scored. Klosterman was 2-3 with one run scored and one driven in. Gillaspy finished 1-2 with two driven in.
Missouri Western improved to 16-9 on the season and will face Northern State in the second game of the day at 2 p.m.
Game 2 – Minnesota State 3, Northern State 0
MWSU jumped on the board early in the first innings when Morgan Rathmann doubled to left field, stole third and game home on an error by the catcher. The Griffons then added to their one-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning when Tiffany Gallaspy singled to score both Rathmann and Shelbie Atwell.
The Griffons sent Shyanne Saladino to the mound as she earned her ninth victory of the season. Saladino allowed one hit, struck out four batters and pitched all seven innings.
Missouri Western is back in action Saturday as they’ll play Concordia University at 12 pm and Augustana College for game two.
The Northwest Missouri State softball team opened play at the MWSU Apple Market Classic on Friday in St. Joseph, Mo.
The Bearcats outlasted Upper Iowa in the first game, 3-2, while Northwest lost to Minnesota State 10-6 in their season game.
The Bearcats are now 8-10 on the year.
In game one, Sarah Baldwin started in the circle for the Bearcats and finished her sixth complete game of the year, giving up two unearned runs on seven hits while striking out seven.
Rebecca Maher scored two runs on a pair of singles. The freshman also stole her third base on the year, while Stephanie Mark crushed her sixth home run on the year, finishing 1-for-2 with two RBI. Madison Jones finished 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and Jessica Rawie added an RBI for the Bearcats.
In game two, Cassidy Lee tallied three hits at the plate and drove in two runs, while Chantel Adams clubbed her second homer this season, scoring two runs and driving in one. Torri Blythe finished 2-for-4 with a run and Stephanie Mark scored one run and drove in another on a pair of singles.
Kendle Schieber started on the rubber for the Bearcats, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits over 4 2/3 innings.
The Bearcats will return to St. Joseph, Mo. Saturday for another pair of non-conference games. First, Northwest faces off with #14 Winona State at 10 a.m. before a 2 p.m. contest against Wayne State.
Frank Mason led the Jayhawks with 17 points- Univ. of Kan. Athletics
University of Kansas Athletics
OMAHA, Neb. — Jamari Traylor’s breakaway dunk made for a memorable moment, but the biggest statement came from behind the arc. No. 2-seed Kansas unleashed the three-point brigade to defeat No. 15-seed New Mexico State, 75-56, in the NCAA Tournament Second Round Friday morning inside CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Kansas (27-8, 13-5 Big 12) met with a New Mexico (23-11, 13-1 WAC) squad that did not reflect a traditional 15 seed. In fact, it was the lowest seeding for NMSU in school history, the previous low (No. 14) coming in 1999. The Aggies were making their fourth-straight NCAA Tournament appearance after four-straight Western Athletic Conference (WAC) tournament titles. A senior-laden lineup, the Aggies came in on a 13-game winning streak and were completely comfortable in the Big Dance environment.
So, the Jayhawks made them uncomfortable – specifically the sharpshooters. Kansas made a name for itself as the Big 12 Conference’s best three-point shooting team earlier this season, but fell into a lull in recent weeks. On Friday, sophomores Frank Mason III and Brannen Greene and freshmen Kelly Oubre, Jr. and Devonte’ Graham all connected on multiple threes, landing Kansas at 69.2 percent (9-for-13) for the game, the best since Nov. 27, 1996 (71.4 percent vs. Virginia).
Kansas picked apart the Aggie zone. When attacking the basket caused the defense to close in, the Jayhawks kicked the ball out for long jump shots instead. The combination was lethal. The Jayhawks put together numerous scoring runs on the offensive end and forced scoring droughts on the defensive side to finish shooting 54.0 percent (27-of-50) compared to NMSU’s 35.7 percent (20-of-56). In KU’s 26-year streak of NCAA Tournament appearances, that marks the 17th time the Jayhawks have shot 50 percent or better in its opening-round contest.
Making their first NCAA Tournament starts, Mason led the floor with 17 points while sophomore forward Landen Lucas pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Junior forward Perry Ellis hung up nine points, while the three-point patrol – Greene, Graham and Oubre – each tallied eight points. Together, Graham and Mason’s eight combined assists totaled the assist output of the Aggies. Traylor completed his well-rounded performance with eight points, five rebounds, two assists, a block and a steal.
Seniors led the charge for the veteran Aggies. DK Eldridge led the team with 11 points, while fellow seniors Remi Barry and Tshilidzi Nephawe posted 10 points apiece in their last game together. WAC Freshman of the Year Pascal Siakam recorded eight points, eight rebounds and a game-high two blocks.
NMSU’s size played a role early. Ellis chalked up KU’s first bucket, but the Aggie big men pestered the Jayhawks down low. They altered close-range attempts, forcing Ellis and Lucas to miss under the basket. Lucas took the cue, moved a few steps back and drained a jumper to spark a 7-0 run. Just five minutes in, Kansas climbed to an 11-4 edge.
New Mexico State’s zone provided several opportunities of the like. Mason and Oubre each connected from behind the arc to build the lead. With the tone set, the Jayhawks returned to working the ball inside. Ellis and sophomore guard Wayne Selden, Jr. were game, finishing lobs from Traylor and Graham for back-to-back dunks. A three from Ellis put Kansas up by double-figures, 22-12, a trend the Jayhawks would stick with for the remainder of the day.
Graham used the zone defense as a dare, just asking him to test his three-point shot. He accepted. The first was a result of a broken play, which Lucas’ offensive rebound kept alive. The second, Graham just flat-out nailed from the top of the key. While New Mexico State suffered through seven-straight misses, Kansas piled on for its largest lead of the half, 34-16. Though another three from Barry snapped NMSU’s drought, the Jayhawks took a 36-23 margin to halftime.
Winners of 13-straight, New Mexico State wasn’t ready for its season to end. Both sides turned up the intensity: the Aggies on the press and the Jayhawks on the attack. Selden’s dunk got it started, but Traylor’s crowd-pleasing slam brought back the KU’s edge.
When NMSU drew in to protect the lane, Mason found his shooters. Selden knocked down and long two and Oubre pulled up for his second three-pointer of the game. Desperate to stop momentum, New Mexico State called a timeout down, 49-32.
When looking for an answer, a seven-footer is a good place to start. Freshman Tanveer Bhullar, a 7-3 center, checked in for four quick points to help his team chip away at the deficit. Yet, Lucas continued to step up in big spots, this time with an offensive board and the put back to reignite KU’s point production.
It worked.
Mason sank a jump shot and Greene caught fire. The sophomore shooting specialist delivered all of his eight points in a four-minute window, including a pair of three-pointers to put his team up 20, 63-43. As the five-minute mark neared, Mason let another three fly to lock up the game.
WAC Coach of the Year Marvin Menzies checked his seniors and starters out of the game one-by-one, hugging each. On the other bench, AP Big 12 Coach of the Year Bill Self subbed in his walk-off reserves, leading to the first-career points for freshman Josh Pollard and KU’s last of the game. Kansas advanced with the 75-56 win.
The University of Missouri and University of Idaho football programs have agreed to a single game between the two schools on Oct. 21, 2017. The game will be played in Columbia, Mo., and be the final non-league game of the season, following earlier games that against Missouri State (Sept. 2), Purdue (Sept. 16) and a road game at UConn (Sept. 23).
Dates for Mizzou’s SEC portion of the 2017 season have not been set, but the Tigers will have conference home games that season against Auburn, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, and will face road games at Arkansas, at Georgia, at Kentucky and at Vanderbilt.
“Our thanks to the Idaho administration and staff, we’re very pleased to work together to get this game scheduled,” said Executive Associate Athletic Director Bryan Maggard, who oversees scheduling for Mizzou Football. “We appreciate their efforts and are glad to be able to close out the schedule for the 2017 season,” he said.
Mizzou and Idaho have played two times previously, with both games taking place in Columbia. Mizzou won both contests, claiming a 14-10 win in 1958 which marked the first-ever win at MU for legendary Head Coach Dan Devine. The Vandals would return to Columbia in 1963, where Devine’s Tigers rolled to a 24-0 victory.
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Western women’s tennis team fell 7-2 in a tough fought match against Nebraska-Kearney on Thursday afternoon. The Griffons claimed two singles matches on the day but couldn’t find another victory throughout the day.
Missouri Westerns’ two singles victories came from Sarah Giraldo and Yasmine El Ghazi in the No. 1 and No. 4 spots, respectively. Giraldo won her by scores of 6-1, 6-2 while El Ghazi tallied a 6-1, 7-5 win in her match.
Nebraska-Kearney got the early edge when they claimed all three doubles matches from the Griffons. Ceara Boldridge and Sofia Aguilera fell by the score of 9-8 (7-1) in their No. 2 doubles match.
The Griffons are back in action on Saturday at home against Fort Hays State starting at 11 a.m.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – Mizzou wrestling saw three grapplers advance to Friday morning’s quarterfinals round, as redshirt senior Alan Waters, redshirt senior Drake Houdashelt and sophomore J’den Cox all remain in hunt for an individual national championship.
Waters shut out Conor Youtsey (Michigan) to advance at 125 pounds, Houdashelt claimed an 8-0 major decision shutout over Brandon Nelson (Purdue) at 149 pounds, and Cox tallied a 6-2 decision against Jeff Koepke (Illinois) at 197 pounds.
After claiming wins in Session No. 1, four Tigers dropped their Session No. 2 matches and fell to their respective weight classes’ wrestlebacks brackets.
Sophomore Joey Lavallee rebounded nicely after dropping his first match today, and defeated Steven Hernandez (Boise State) by 9-0 major decision. Lavallee continues 157 pound wrestlebacks action tomorrow morning.
Redshirt senior Johnny Eblen ended Mizzou’s day on a positive note with another Tiger bonus points victory, as he defeated No. 13 Tanner Weatherman by 8-0 major decision.
Nine of ten Mizzou grapplers remain alive following Thursday’s opening day, as redshirt sophomore Zach Synon was the only Tiger to see his season come to an end. Synon’s excellent 2014-15 season concludes with a 31-13 record and a 133 pound MAC Championship to his name.
2015 NCAA Wrestling Championships third session begins at 10 a.m. (CT) Friday morning. Session No. 4 is set for a 7 p.m. (CT) start time.
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State all-purpose All-American Tyler Lockett has been named the winner of the 2014 Johnny “Jet” Rodgers National College Football Return Specialist Award, the award’s committee announced Thursday
Known as “The Jet Award,” the honor was established in 2011 to recognize the best return specialist in NCAA Division I. The award is named in honor of Johnny Rodgers, a wide receiver and return specialist for the University of Nebraska who won the Heisman Trophy in 1972 and is a member of the National College Football hall of Fame.
A product of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Lockett led the nation in 2014 with a 19.1-yard punt return average, while he ranked third nationally in total receiving yards (1,515) and all-purpose yards per game (176.6). He led the Big 12 in all three categories, including the latter by more than 25 yards per game.
Lockett’s 2,296 all-purpose yards in 2014 ranked second in school history to Darren Sproles (2003), while he also finished second to Sproles with 6,586 in his 47-game career. The school’s career record holder for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, Lockett finished second in school history to Jordy Nelson in single-season catches (106) and receiving yards.
Lockett was named a 2014 Consensus All-American as a kick returner/all-purpose player, while he is the school’s first four-time All-American.
To be considered for the Jet Award, players must be a primary kick or punt returner for their team and be among the national leaders in return categories. They must also show leadership, courage, desire and respect for authority and discipline.
A selection committee consisting of Rodgers and football writers and broadcasters from around the country selected the 2014 winner. Previous winners are Ty Montgomery of Stanford (2013), Tavon Austin of West Virginia (2012) and inaugural winner Joe Adams of Arkansas (2011).
An awards ceremony for the 2014 Jet Award will take place April 2, in Omaha, Nebraska. Two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin of Ohio State will be the keynote speaker.
The NCAA is going all in on high-def video reviews during March Madness.
For the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments that begin this week, the NCAA for the first time will use a replay system that captures live high-definition video from multiple angles for immediate review. That means officials will be able to see much more quickly some of the same replays everyone is seeing on TV — and just maybe some of those delays to get a call right won’t be so long.
Kim Jackson is director of basketball operations for DVSport, the system’s developer. He says the goal is to avoid changing the momentum of the game.
With the DVSport system already used by several leagues during the season, game officials generally have instant access to the main TV feed and three other angles.
The Benedictine men’s basketball team had its season come to an end Wednesday night in the first round of the NAIA National Tournament at Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City. The No. 16 Ravens lost their opener to 19th-ranked Montana Western 80-77 to end their season 24-9.
Benedictine raced out to a big lead as they used a 13-0 run and led 27-13 halfway through the first half. BC and Montana Western traded baskets and then the Bulldogs went on an 18-2 run to take the lead and were ahead at halftime 43-39.
The Ravens took an early lead in the second half, 46-45, but then Montana Western used a 10-2 run to take the lead and they never gave it back.
BC fell behind by as many as ten points before battling back and they pulled to within one point, three different times but could never take the lead.
John Harris, Jr. led Benedictine with 17 points, while Connor Flemming added 13 points.
Montana Western’s Stephen McCall had a big night with 36 points as the Bulldogs improve to 23-9 and they advance to play No. 1 seed Hope International at 6:15 p.m. Friday night in the second round of the NAIA National Tournament.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo. – No. 4 seed Benedictine (Kan.) punches its ticket into the second round of the 2015 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball, presented by Susan G. Komen Greater Kansas City, with an 83-76 win against No. 5 seed Wiley (Texas) Monday evening at the Independence Events Center.
Benedictine, which is now scheduled to play at 12:30 p.m. CDT on Friday, awaits the winner of overall No. 1 seed Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) and No. 8 Cal State San Marcos. The Ravens are now 5-2 all-time in women’s basketball national championship first round action, including three wins while a member of Division II.
The two teams traded baskets over the course of the opening 10 minutes until Benedictine rattled off a 13-2 run to take a 36-26 lead with 4:15 left in the frame. The run was capped by a layup and free throw by Kristen Murphy – three of her seven points off the bench.
However, the lead would be short lived, as Wiley answered with a matching 13-2 run to take a 39-38 lead into the break. The deficit was the first time Benedictine had trailed at the half since falling behind Heart of America Athletic Conference rival MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) on Feb. 14.
In the second half, Benedictine stretched its lead to as many as 10 points four times in the second half, however each time the run was answered by Wiley.
A corner 3-pointer by the Raven’s Ali Taff – her only long range make in the game – appeared to be the dagger, giving Benedictine a 79-73 lead with 26 second remaining in regulation. However, Kayla Brown for Wiley banked in a 3-pointer of her own the pull the contest back within three and led the Wildcats to foul to attempt to keep the game alive. The Ravens were ready and converted all four free throw attempts to close the game.
Point in the paint were key for both teams, as the two sides combined for 112 points in the paint with 62 by Wiley and 50 from Benedictine.
As a team, Benedictine shot 50 percent (31-of-62) from the field for the game, including 57.7 percent (15-for-26) in the second half.
Chayla Rutledge led Benedictine with 17 points, 11 coming in the second half. She has now been in double figures in 16 of her last 17 games. Other notable scorers for the Ravens were Jackie Ziesel and Jayde Reid, who both finished with 14 points.
Wiley was dominant on the glass in the game, outrebounding Benedictine 45-36, including 21 offensive boards.
Four different Wildcats ended the game in double figures.
Wiley, which reached the semifinals a season ago, ends the year with a 22-5 record and falls to 4-4 all-time at the national championship
Every game of the 2015 NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championship is available live on the NAIA Network. For packages and pricing visit www.NAIANetwork.com.
GAME NOTES
Benedictine’s Chayla Rutledge has scored in double-digits in 16 of her last 17 games …Win improves the Ravens to 4-7 this season while trailing at the half … Since the start of the 2011-12 season – the beginning of head coach Courtney Garrett-Pruitt’s tenure – the Wildcats are 20-2 coming off a loss … There were a combined 112 points scored in the paint, including 62 from Wiley and 50 by Benedictine
