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Cardinals avoid sweep with 9-3 win over Milwaukee

CardsST. LOUIS (AP) — After failing to hold three-run leads in two straight games, Allen Craig and the St. Louis Cardinals put their series final against Milwaukee out of reach.

Craig homered on a four-hit day that included three RBIs, and Matt Adams hit a three-run homer as the Cardinals beat the Brewers 9-3 Wednesday.

“It’s nice to see some big production that we know is going to come from certain guys” said Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, who slept on his office couch after an 11-inning loss Tuesday night.

Jon Jay had three hits and a walk his first four trips to the plate. The Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep against the team with the best record in the major leagues.

“I’ve been feeling pretty good at the plate for a little while now, hitting some balls hard,” Craig said. “Frustration’s part of it. Things are going to turn around.”

Shelby Miller (3-2) worked around homers to Mark Reynolds and Carlos Gomez, allowing three runs and six hits in six-plus innings.

“Kind of little rough early on,” Miller said. “It’s always nice to have a lot of runs scored for you, but at the same time, you’ve got to act like it’s a close game no matter what.”

Milwaukee is 20-8, a franchise record for wins through the season’s first full first month.

Matt Garza (1-3) joined the lengthy list of injured Brewers when he was removed in the fourth inning because of a bruised right thumb from getting jammed on an at-bat to end the third. He said there was no doubt he’d be ready for his next start.

“I’m going to make sure I’m OK by then,” Garza said. “I’m not here to skip a start, I’m prepared to pitch. I want to get right back out there.”

Ryan Braun (oblique) and Jean Segura (cut on head) didn’t start during the series, and Aramis Ramirez (elbow) was out the last two games for Milwaukee, which batted light-swinging Scooter Gennett third. Segura and Ramirez are expected to return Thursday for the start of a four-game series at Cincinnati, though Braun remains day to day.

Manager Ron Roenicke said Braun will not start Thursday and added, “In a couple days, he needs to be ready to go.”

Segura played the eighth at shortstop and doubled in the ninth.

It was 50 degrees at game time. The sun popped out of the clouds a few times, each time getting a big cheer.

Matt Holliday’s RBI single put the Cardinals in front in the first, Reynolds hit a two-run shot in the second and Adams answered in the third with his second of the season, estimated at 439 feet, for a 4-3 lead.

Craig doubled for the second straight at-bat in the fourth, driving in two runs off Wei-Chung Wang, and RBI doubles by Miller and Jay made it 8-3 in the fifth.

The four-hit game matched Craig’s career best. He had seven hits in the series, including two homers, lifting his average to .220.

Miller allowed three runs and five hits the first three innings, but no runs on one hit and three walks the rest of his outing. He’s given up seven homers.

Garza was charged with five runs and rookie Wei-Chung Wang gave up four runs in three innings. Backup catcher Martin Maldonado pitched the eighth for the Brewers, the 13th reliever needed to cover 16 innings in the series.

Roenicke told Maldonado not to throw too hard.

— Associated Press —

Northwest’s Bartek, Kolen earn All-MIAA women’s tennis honors

riggertMIAANorthwest Missouri State senior Alexis Bartek and freshman Aniek Kolen earned spots on All-MIAA Women’s Tennis team which was released by the conference office on Wednesday afternoon.

Kolen earned second team honors at the No. 4 singles position after going 17-3 in her first year with the Bearcats. She was a perfect 8-0 at the No. 4 position and 9-2 at No. 3. Alexis Bartek earned honorable mention accolades at No. 2 singles after going 15-8 on the year.

The Bearcats finished the season with an 11-15 overall mark and were 6-4 inMIAA play.

2014 ALL-MIAA WOMEN’S TENNIS TEAM

SECOND TEAM
4S: Aniek Kolen, Northwest Missouri

Honorable Mention
#2S: Alexis Bartek, Northwest Missouri

— MWSU Sports Information —

Royals use six-run eighth inning to rally past Toronto

RoyalsKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Salvador Perez homered and drove in four runs and the Kansas City Royals rallied for a 10-7 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday night.

Perez’s two-run double off Sergio Santos in the Royals’ six-run eighth put the Royals ahead. Perez’s four RBIs matched his career high.

The Royals sent 10 men to the plate in the eighth, which also included Omar Infante driving in two runs, while Nori Aoki and Jarrod Dyson added RBI singles.

Perez, who has three consecutive multi-hit games, homered in the seventh with Alex Gordon aboard to trim the Toronto lead to 5-4.

Aaron Crow (1-1), the third of four Royals pitchers, picked up the victory with a scoreless eighth inning and has not allowed an earned run and only five hits in nine innings this season.

Brett Cecil (0-2) took the loss, retiring only two of the five batters he faced.

The Blue Jays’ bullpen gave up seven runs in two innings after starter Dustin McGowan left the game.

Jose Bautista homered for the Blue Jays and has reached base in all 26 games. Bautista homered in the first off Royals left-hander Jason Vargas.

Melky Cabrera extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a double, triple and drove in two Toronto runs. He tops the majors with 41 hits.

Cabrera’s triple in the fifth scored Jose Reyes, who had doubled. Cabrera, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games, scored on a Vargas wild pitch, putting the Blue Jays up 3-2.

McGowan, who has missed three seasons with injuries, pitched into the seventh inning, holding the Royals to three hits and three runs, two earned.

The Royals took advantage of two walks and a wild pitch, plus a throwing error on catcher Dioner Navarro to score two runs in the second inning.

The Royals won a challenge review in the second, taking away a RBI infield single from Chris Getz.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Men’s Tennis earns top seed in NCAA Central Regional

Northwest2013riggertThe Northwest Missouri State men’s tennis team earned the top seed in the NCAA Division II Central Region as the 2014 championship bracket was released on Tuesday night.

As the top seed, Northwest receives a bye into the round of 16, which will be hosted at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs, Fla., starting on May 14.

The Bearcats will be joined in Florida by the winner of No. 3 Nebraska-Kearney and No. 2 Southwest Baptist. UNK and SBU met in the MIAA semifinals, with Southwest Baptist winning, 5-1.

— Northwest Sports Information —

St. Louis loses to Milwaukee in extra innings again

CardsST. LOUIS (AP) — Lyle Overbay singled in Khris Davis with the tiebreaking run and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the St. Louis Cardinals in extra innings for the second straight night, winning 5-4 in 11 innings Tuesday.

Davis hit a go-ahead triple to help the Brewers win 5-3 in 12 innings Monday night and started the winning rally this time with a leadoff double against Kevin Siegrist (0-1). Milwaukee is a major league-best 20-7, two more victories than the previous franchise best for the opening month, and 11-1 on the road.

The Brewers, missing four starters, managed just enough offense to beat the Cardinals again.

Carlos Gomez homered and pitcher Kyle Lohse had a two-run single for the Brewers, who have won five of six. Tyler Thornburg (3-0) struck out four in two scoreless innings and Francisco Rodriguez finished for his 13th save in 13 chances.

Yadier Molina hit a three-run homer in the first and Allen Craig’s RBI triple tied it in the seventh for the Cardinals, who have lost three of four.

The Brewers are 4-1 in extra innings and the Cardinals are 0-3.

Milwaukee’s lineup featured light-swinging Scooter Gennett batting third. Ryan Braun and Jean Segura didn’t start for the third straight game, Aramis Ramirez had a swollen elbow from getting hit by a pitch, and catcher Jonathan Lucroy got a scheduled day off that manager Ron Roenicke elected not to reschedule.

Molina had been 1 for 13 with runners and scoring position and two outs before depositing a belt-high 1-1 fastball into the first row of seats in left-center.

It was the first homer off Lohse since he gave up two in his first start of the season, and Molina’s fourth overall. Lohse followed with five scoreless innings and matched his season best with nine strikeouts, plus a two-run single to cap a three-run fourth against Lance Lynn to tie it.

Gomez homered in the seventh against Tyler Lyons, in his second inning of relief. Lyons had been listed as the starter Friday at Chicago against the Cubs, but the Cardinals have a day off Thursday and could use ace Adam Wainwright on regular rest.

— Associated Press —

Bearcats’ Lowell named All-MIAA second team

NWMSUNorthwest Missouri State senior golfer Cassie Lowell was named to the All-MIAA second team on Tuesday afternoon, in a release from the league office.

This is the fourth league honor for Lowell in her career with the Bearcats. In 2010-11, she was named the MIAA Freshman of the Year. As a sophomore she garnered MIAA Player of the Year honors and last season as a junior, she earned First-Team All-MIAA accolades.

Lowell holds program records for low 18 and low 36 round scores, season rounds played, career rounds played, single season stroke average, career top-10 finishes and individual tournament victories. This year, she has played in 11 events and leads the team with an 81.59 stroke average and six top-10 finishes.

Lowell earned a spot in the NCAA Central Region super regional and will compete at the Tartan Park Golf Course in Lake Elmo, Minn., starting on May 4.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Missouri hires UCM’s Kim Anderson as men’s basketball coach

Screen Shot 2014-04-28 at 3.50.46 PMCOLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri chose a familiar face as its new men’s basketball coach Monday.

Kim Anderson is a former star player and longtime aide to former Missouri coach Norm Stewart. He won a Division II championship at Central Missouri this season and replaces Frank Haith, who left for Tulsa earlier this month. A news conference to introduce Anderson was set for Tuesday morning.

“He’s a man of great character, integrity and respect,” athletic director Mike Alden said. “The fact that he’s a Missouri Tiger at heart is important.”

The 58-year-old Anderson was the NABC national coach of the year this season after going 30-5, molding a roster that had just one returning player who averaged more than 4.7 points per game. He takes over a program that settled for the NIT this season after losing seven of its last eight to end the regular season, and with several key players likely not coming back.

Anderson compared the situation to the one he faced when he was hired at Central Missouri 12 years ago and “the program had lost its identity.”

“I see that same opportunity here at Missouri,” Anderson said. “We have a lot of work ahead of us and that work starts today, but as a Missourian I embrace this challenge and look forward to bringing championship basketball back to Norm Stewart Court and Mizzou Arena.”

Former UCLA coach Ben Howland also had been believed to be a finalist for the job to replace Haith, who departed after three seasons.

Anderson’s top priority will be persuading two prominent recruits, JaKeenan Gant and Namon Wright, to stay put. The 6-foot-8 Gant was Georgia’s Mr. Basketball after averaging 21 points and 10.5. rebounds, and the 6-foot-4 Wright was one of the top players in California, averaging 24.2 points, 9.4 rebounds. 3.0 assists and 1.4 steals.

Guard Kevin Punter, a standout JUCO player at State Fair Community College, also has the option to transfer without sitting out a season due to the coaching change.

The top returning scorer is freshman forward Johnathan Williams III, who averaged 5.8 points. The other returning starter, sophomore forward Ryan Rosburg, averaged 4.8 points and 4.1 rebounds.

The hire was announced not long after the school’s board of curators met for about 1½ hours. School Chancellor Bowen Loftin said Anderson was a “tremendous teacher” with a track record of success and integrity.

Anderson interviewed for the Missouri job in 1999 but the school chose Quin Snyder. Stints by Mike Anderson and Haith followed before he got his shot.

The Tigers were 23-12 last season, lost in the second round of the NIT and might need to replace three starters. Juniors Jabari Brown and Jordan Clarkson have declared for the NBA draft and Earnest Ross was a senior. Louisville transfer Zach Price was kicked off the team after a pair of arrests.

Anderson was 274-94 at Central Missouri, a .743 winning percentage, and is among the top 10 in career winning percentage in Division II. He had the first three 30-win seasons in school history, won six Mid-American Intercollege Athletics Association titles and went to three Division II Final Fours.

Anderson was a graduate assistant at Missouri from 1982-85 and was Stewart’s top assistant from 1991-99. Anderson helped Missouri win the Big Eight in 1976 and was conference player of the year in 1977, averaging 18.3 points and 7.9 rebounds as a senior. He was a second round NBA draft pick of the Portland Trailblazers and played briefly in the NBA, along with professional stints in Italy and France.

Anderson was inducted into the University of Missouri Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in Springfield in 2005 as a player, and in 2012 as a coach. In 2006, he was named to Missouri’s all-century team in a fan vote.

One of Anderson’s two sons, Brett, will graduate from Missouri next month.

— Associated Press —

Northwest Missouri State’s Lowell qualifes for NCAA Regional

NWMSUNorthwest Missouri State senior Cassie Lowell has earned a spot in the Central region super regional for a chance to qualify for the 2014 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf championship. The super regional will be held May 4-6 at the Tartan Park Golf Course in Lake Elmo, Minn. Concordia University, St. Paul, will serve as the host.

This is the first time Lowell has qualified for the super regionals. Last season, Steph Charteris qualified and placed 28th in the super regional for the Bearcats.

The top three teams along with the top three individuals not with a team from each super regional will advance to the championships. The 2014 NCAA Division II Women’s Golf Championships will be held May 14-17, at Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, North Carolina.

Central Region Teams:

1. Arkansas Tech
2. Central Oklahoma
3. Augustana (South Dakota)
4. Northeastern State
5. Southwestern Oklahoma State
6. Henderson State
7. Concordia-St. Paul
8. Minnesota State Mankato
9. Lindenwood (Missouri)

Central Region Individuals:

1. Brittany Marquez, Harding
2. Tavia Rutherford, Sioux Falls
3. Christy Nelson, Upper Iowa
4. Cassie Lowell, Northwest Missouri State

— Northwest Sports Information —

Griffons to host SBU as they get No. 4 seed in MIAA Tournament

riggertMissouriWesternThe Missouri Western baseball team earned a first round home series in the MIAA Tournament being the 4th seed. The Griffons will take on the 5th seed Southwest Baptist Bearcats in a three game series starting on Thursday, May 1 at 6 pm at the MWSU Baseball Field in St. Joseph, Mo. The Griffons ended the regular season 28-17 and have not played the Southwest Baptist Bearcats this year who ended with a 28-22 overall record.

The two teams will play the second game of the series on Friday, May 2 at 6 pm and will play the if necessary game on Saturday, May 3 at 1 pm.

Central Missouri claimed the MIAA baseball regular season championship and earned the top seed the tournament.

The Mules will open up the best of three opening round series on their home field against eighth seeded Northeastern State. Emporia State used a late 15-game winning streak to earn the second seed and will host rival Washburn, who earns the tournaments seventh seed.

Central Oklahoma will be the third seed in the tournament and will host sixth seed Nebraska-Kearney in a best of three series.

The best of three series are scheduled to kick off on Thursday, May 1 with official games times to be released early next week. The winner of those four series will then travel to Hammons Field in Springfield, Mo. on May 8-10 to determine the MIAA Tourney champion.

May 1-3, 2014 (at Higher Seed)
#8 Northeastern State at #1 Central Missouri (best of three)
#7 Washburn at #2 Emporia State (best of three)
#6 Nebraska-Kearney at #3 Central Oklahoma (best of three)
#5 Southwest Baptist at #4 Missouri Western (best of three)

May 8, 2014 (Hammons Field, Springfield, Mo.)
Game 1: Winner #1/#8 vs. Winner #4/#5        11 a.m.
Game 2: Winner #3/#6 vs. Winner #2/#7        2:30 p.m.
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2        6 p.m.

May 9, 2014 (Hammons Field, Springfield, Mo.)
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2      11 a.m.
Game 5: Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4       2:30 p.m.

May 10, 2014 (Hammons Field, Springfield, Mo.)
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5      11 a.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6 (If Necessary)*
If necessary game will be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of game six

— MWSU Sports Information —

Infante ties career high with 6 RBI as Royals rout O’s

RoyalsBALTIMORE (AP) — There won’t be too many games in which James Shields throws seven innings of three-hit ball and is upstaged by a teammate.

This was one of them.

Omar Infante homered and tied a career high with six RBIs to carry the Kansas City Royals over the Baltimore Orioles 9-3 on Sunday.

Shields (3-2) allowed two runs, struck out six and walked two in winning his third straight start. The right-hander gave up only an infield hit in the first five innings and improved to 10-7 lifetime against Baltimore, including 7-2 at Camden Yards.

Shields was more impressed with Infante’s performance, which included a fine defensive play at second base against Baltimore leadoff hitter Jemile Weeks.

“Omar, definitely the player of the game,” Shields said. “It all started with that first play he made barehanded. He had a great day today. Definitely carried our team.”

Infante hit a run-scoring groundout in the first inning, a sacrifice fly in the third, a two-run double in the fifth and a two-run shot in the seventh. He entered with one home run and 11 RBIs in 21 games.

“It was a great day for me,” Infante said. “I’m happy because that has not happened too many times for a player. It was a great day for the team. I’ve been working hard in the cage. The last couple of days I hit a lot of fly balls. I don’t like that; I want to drive the ball.”

The last time Infante had six RBIs was last Sept. 13 with the Tigers against Kansas City. The starter for the Royals that day was …. James Shields.

“I’m glad he’s on my team now,” Shields said.

Nori Aoki scored three runs for the Royals, who took two of three from Baltimore to conclude a 3-4 road trip that began in Cleveland. Kansas City is 12-0 when scoring at least four runs and 0-12 when scoring three runs or fewer.

“I take it we need to score four runs. We’re trying to do it more,” manager Ned Yost said. “It’s just a testament to how good our pitching is, how good our bullpen is. How good our starting pitchers are, how consistent they are that we could have that kind of record.”

Nelson Cruz hit his seventh homer for the Orioles, who finished with five hits. Before the game, Baltimore put slugger Chris Davis on the 15-day disabled list with a left oblique strain.

Miguel Gonzalez (1-2) gave up four runs, three earned, and six hits in six innings.

“Deserved a better fate,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said.

The Orioles quickly got a hint of what kind of day it was going to be when Aoki, leading off the first, hit a fly to center that popped out Adam Jones’ glove for a three-base error. Infante followed with a grounder to shortstop that put the Royals ahead for good.

“Missed it,” Jones acknowledged.

It wasn’t the Orioles’ only mistake.

“We made a couple of good decisions with pitchouts (but) we weren’t able to execute that,” Showalter said. “Those are two free outs. Then obviously, Adam’s one of the best center fielders in the game. So I’m not going to lament that at all. He’s been a rock for us out there. You spot them, give them those type of things that they don’t earn, with Shields on the mound, that’s not a good combination.”

Baltimore fell to 0-7 in games it makes an error. The Orioles are 12-5 without committing an error.

After Jarrod Dyson singled and scored in the third, singles by Alcides Escobar and Aoki preceded Infante’s double in the fifth.

Baltimore closed to 4-2 in the sixth when Jemile Weeks singled and Cruz homered to center, but Kansas City’s four-run seventh against reliever Evan Meek turned the game into a blowout. After Infante connected, Alex Gordon doubled in two runs for an 8-2 lead.

“The flood gates opened,” Yost said. “That broke the game open at that point.”

Mike Moustakas doubled in a run off Ryan Webb in the ninth, and the Orioles scored in the bottom half on a wild pitch.

— Associated Press —

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