Sports – Page 829 – St. Joseph Post Archive

Missouri indefinitely suspends WR Green-Beckham

Posted on April 7, 2014April 7, 2014

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham has been suspended indefinitely for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Coach Gary Pinkel announced the suspension Monday, roughly three months after the standout receiver was arrested along with two men after police in his hometown of Springfield found a pound of marijuana in their car. No criminal charges have been filed in that case.

Green-Beckham was also charged in October 2012 with marijuana possession in Columbia and later pleaded guilty to second-degree trespassing. He and two teammates were reportedly smoking pot in a campus parking lot near Memorial Stadium.

Green-Beckham led Missouri with 59 receptions as a sophomore last season and scored 12 touchdowns. Some recruiting services ranked the 6-foot-6, 225-pound receiver as the top prep prospect coming out of Springfield Hillcrest High.

Vargas, Escobar lead Royals to 4-2 win over Tampa Bay

Posted on April 7, 2014April 7, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jason Vargas took a shutout into the ninth inning, Alcides Escobar hit a three-run double and the Kansas City Royals beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-2 Monday night in a game that included two significant injuries.

Rays starter Matt Moore (0-2) came out in the fifth inning with a sore left elbow. The All-Star lefty grimaced after throwing a pitch to Norichika Aoki and was immediately removed by manager Joe Maddon.

Two innings later, Royals second baseman Omar Infante was hit in the face by a pitch from reliever Heath Bell. Infante also left the game, walking off under his own power with Kansas City trainers Nick Kenney and Kyle Turner.

Infante, struck on the left cheek, was spitting blood and had blood on his forehead as trainers held a towel to his face.

Vargas (1-0) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out two in eight-plus innings, lowering his ERA to 1.20 in two starts. He lost his shutout bid when Ben Zobrist homered on his second pitch in the ninth.

Greg Holland replaced Vargas and earned his third save, but not before giving up an RBI single to pinch-hitter Matt Joyce.

Escobar was 1 for 19 before his bases-loaded double off the left field wall on a 2-2 pitch from Bell with two outs in the seventh. Escobar’s three RBIs matched his career high. Alex Gordon, Salvador Perez and Lorenzo Cain singled to load the bases before Escobar’s first extra-base hit of the season.

Eric Hosmer singled home Aoki, who tripled, in the first inning.

Moore, who missed 31 games last season with an elbow injury, threw 78 pitches. He was replaced by Cesar Ramos.

The Rays, who have lost seven straight at Kauffman Stadium, have scored three runs in their four losses this year while going 1 for 32 with runners in scoring position during those defeats.

Evan Longoria had three of the Rays’ six hits.

— Associated Press —

Missouri Western golf teams began play at Henderson State Monday

Posted on April 7, 2014April 7, 2014

The Missouri Western golf teams began play at the First Federal Invitational Monday which is being held by Henderson State at Big Creek Golf and Country Club

The Western women fired a first round 352 putting them in 7th at the First Federal Invitational which is being held by Henderson State at Big Creek Golf and Country Club. Anna Kloeppel leads the Griffons with an 83 (+11) putting her in 22nd. The Griffons trail Sioux Falls by eight strokes while the leaderCentral Oklahoma shot a 303 leading Henderson State by nine strokes.

Madison Romjue sits in 23rd place with a 84 (+12) while Amber Chivington, Callie Wilson and Shelby Stone fired 92 (+20), 93 (+21) and 100 (+28) respectively.

Taylor Neidy of Central Oklahoma carded an opening-round 70 (-2) taking a six-stroke first-round lead in the individual standings.

The Missouri Western men fired a first round 314 at the First Federal Invitational which is being held by Henderson State at Big Creek Golf and Country Club. The Griffons sit in 9th place with James O’Brien leading the way with a 76 (+4) putting him in a tie for 22nd. The Griffons trail Murry State CC by two strokes while the leader Arkansas Tech shot a 293 leading Henderson State, Delta State and Harding by seven strokes.

Evan McCarthey sits in 28th place with a 77 (+5) while Derek Hawkins, Scott Sheldon and Tyler Gast fired 80 (+8), 81 (+9) and 87 (+15) respectively. Competing as an individual, Dylan Watts fired an opening round 79 (+7).

Alex Mahlik of Arkansas Tech carded an opening-round 69 (-3) taking a two-stroke first-round lead in the individual standings.

The Griffons will conclude play at the First Federal Bank Invite on Tuesday.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Wacha pitches Cards past Reds 5-3 in home opener

Posted on April 7, 2014

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Home opener hoopla was no distraction at all for Michael Wacha. Neither was the 49-degree chill for the first pitch.

The 22-year-old rookie was definitely excited about the occasion and the opportunity. Just like last fall when he was the breakout pitching star of the postseason, he fed off the atmosphere.

“Huge crowd out there, a lot of energy,” Wacha said after the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cincinnati Reds 5-3 on Monday. “It’s a lot of fun pitching in front of your home crowd, 40,000-plus fans.

“I don’t know who wouldn’t thrive off those kind of situations.”

Wacha outdid Tony Cingrani in a rematch of young power arms, and the Cardinals got a three-run double from Yadier Molina in the first inning.

“I didn’t have my fastball, so what are you going to do? I just tried to battle,” Cingrani said. “One bad pitch and it cleared the bases.”

A standing-room crowd of 47,492, the largest at 9-year-old Busch Stadium, braved daylong rain to greet the National League champions and take a look at the new Ballpark Village. Hundreds milled about the attached complex, which features five sports bars and rooftop seating.

The Cardinals bunched three hits and a walk over the first five hitters to take the early lead against Cingrani (0-1), who allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings against the Cardinals six days earlier in Cincinnati.

The Cards went 1 for 18 before adding RBIs from Matt Holliday and Allen Craig off Trevor Bell in a two-run seventh.

St. Louis ended a three-game losing streak on Opening Day, including a blowout loss to the Reds last year.

Wacha (1-0) hadn’t allowed a run in 21 career innings against the Reds before back-to-back doubles by Brayan Pena and pinch-hitter Roger Bernadina in the fifth cut the Cardinals’ lead to 3-1.

The NL Championship Series MVP benefited from two double-play balls in six stingy innings and has permitted one run in 13 2/3 innings his first two starts.

Wacha threw 82 pitches before getting lifted for a pinch hitter with the Cardinals up by two runs and two on in the sixth. St. Louis manager Mike Matheny wanted to take a shot at putting the Reds away, but thought the right-hander had plenty left.

“That was more of a situation of what’s best for the day, what’s best for that particular game,” Matheny said.

Cingrani needed 31 pitches to get through the first and lasted four innings, striking out five but walking four. Matheny said before the game that his hitters had been a “click off” with timing against the 24-year-old lefty last week and should benefit from another chance so soon.

Pena said he wasn’t trying to make excuses but thought Cingrani was bothered by the elements.

“The baseball was slippery. He couldn’t grab his breaking ball the way he wanted,” Pena said.

Peter Bourjos moved up to second in the order and got his first two hits of the season after an 0-for-13 start. Craig got his third hit and third RBI of the season after entering 2 for 22.

Seeing Wacha once again didn’t do the Reds any good. They’ve totaled 18 runs in seven games.

“Right now, almost collectively, we’ve struggled to do anything with guys in scoring position,” Cincinnati manager Bryan Price said. “But that’ll change. It’s tough to sit through it.”

The start of the game was delayed 12 minutes after the inclement weather combined with pregame ceremonies that featured the traditional grand entrance with players, coaches and Hall of Famers touring Busch Stadium on the back of convertibles and trucks. A team of Clydesdales was kept in the stable due to concerns the field might be damaged.

Billy Hamilton doubled to start the game and the Reds put the leadoff man on base in the first four innings but were undone by two double plays.

Zack Cozart broke an 0-for-22 slump to start the season with a bloop RBI single, and pinch-hitter Neftali Soto had a sacrifice fly for his first career RBI in the ninth against St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal, who gave up his first runs at home since Aug. 15 against Pittsburgh.

The Cardinals opened the first with singles by Matt Carpenter and Bourjos, and Holliday walked to load the bases with none out. Craig struck out before Molina cleared the bases with a drive to left-center on a 1-2 pitch.

— Associated Press —

Griffons dominate Lincoln to complete four-game sweep

Posted on April 6, 2014

Missouri Western’s offense proved to be too much for the Lincoln baseball team on Sunday as the Griffons won both games of a double header to sweep the season series. Missouri Western took the first game, 11-1, and shut out Lincoln in the second, 19-0. Both contests lasted seven innings. The Griffons had 36 hits in the two contests with Ryan Degner tallying seven hits and Jake Schrader getting five. The Griffons imrove to 19-14 on the season and 15-11 in MIAA play.

Missouri Western (19-14, 15-11 MIAA) scored five runs in the top of the first in game one, added two in the second and plated four more in the fifth en route to the win. Lincoln used three pitchers in the game, with Joe Jungmeyer starting and tossing two strikeouts. Gus Goodnight came in as the reliever and allowed just one earned run through two frames. Joshua Register was the closer, giving up just one hit and no runs in the final inning.

The Griffons were led by Dylan Koch and Degner with each getting three hits in the contest. Trevor LaHonta and Mitch Thorman each had two while Degner and Schrader each had three RBI. Koch scored three runs while LaHonta and Degner each had two. On the bump Jake Jones improved to 4-2 with in five innings of work. He went five innings allowing three hits with five strikeouts. Defensively Hunter Weiss had five putouts while Cody Childs ha four assists.

Gatlin Wiggans had two of Lincoln’s four hits, with the others coming from Ben Stewart and Zach Roberts. Defensively, LU was led by Kaleb Davis and Wiggans, as each player contributed four putouts. Christian Bunch and Roberts each added three putouts and Nick Lovell, Logan Smith and Stewart were all responsible for two putouts apiece. Stewart and Josh Kennedy tied for the team-lead with two assists.

The second game featured plenty of offensive fireworks by the Griffons, who totaled 22 hits, including six homeruns and five doubles. Missouri Western scored three runs each in the second, third, fourth and six frames, and in the fifth inning put five runs across the board. Lincoln opened the game well, allowing just one run in the first frame after the Griffons loaded the bases, but timely power hitting allowed MWSU to quickly take control of the contest.

Lincoln had two good opportunities to get on the board, starting in the fifth inning. After the first two LU batters grounded out, Roberts hit a single into right field. A throwing error allowed Wiggans to safely reach, continuing the inning, and Stewart followed with a base hit to load the bases. The next batter struck out, however, keeping Lincoln off the board. Later, in the seventh inning, Steve Benton picked up his first hit as a Blue Tiger with a blast into right centerfield that came just short of crossing over the fence. Benton settled for a double, but was unable to score as MWSU ended the game with the shutout win.

In the game two Schrader and Degner each had four hits while Lahonta tallied three. Koch, David Chew, Weiss and Thorman each had two. Degner had five RBI and scored four runs while Schrader had four RBI. Schrader and Degner each hit two home runs in the game. Mark Spreckels picked up the victory in game two for the Griffons going four innings allowing just one hit. He improves to 2-0 with the victory. Tyler Tuepker went two innings with two hits and two strikeouts while Banks Born went one inning allowing just one hit and two strikeouts.

The Blue Tigers’ four hits in the second game were accounted for by Roberts, Stewart, Benton and Kennedy. Davis led the defense with six putouts and Martin Gulley recorded five while Bunch again finished with three. Kennedy had two assists while Lovell tallied one. Starting pitcher John Bisges struck out three batters while Dalton Goings and Register each fanned one. Goodnight also appeared on the mound in the second game.The Tigers fall to 1-27 on the year and 0-24 in MIAA play.

The Griffons return to MIAA play next weekend when they host the Pittsburg State Gorillas in a four game series in St. Joseph. The two teams will play the first game on Friday, April 11 with a single nine inning game starting at 6 p.m.

— MWSU Sports Information —

Bearcats split doubleheader with Missouri Southern

Posted on April 6, 2014April 6, 2014

The Northwest Missouri State baseball team split a Sunday doubleheader with Missouri Southern at Bearcat Field, winning the first game, 4-1, but falling in 11 innings in the second game, 4-3. Northwest moves to 19-14 on the season and 14-11 in MIAA play. Missouri Southern is now 20-15 and an even 14-14 in MIAA play.

Game One

Austin Warren tossed a complete seven-inning game for the Bearcats, allowing only one unearned run on seven hits and two strikeouts. He did not walk a batter on the day. The Bearcats outhit the Lions, 8-7.

Northwest fell behind in the first but immediately rebounded with a run in the bottom of the first as Eric McGlauflin grounded out to score Paul Johnson, who was hit by a pitch with one out. In the fifth, Blake Hardegree scored on a Johnson single, after starting the inning with a single. In the sixth, Northwest added a pair of insurance runs as Steven Garber doubled in Jon Pomatto and Zack Ferreira singled to score Garber.

Game Two

Northwest jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but fell behind after allowing a run in the fifth and two in the sixth. The Bearcats tied it up in the bottom of the sixth, 3-3, and neither team was able to score until the 11th when the Lions plated the winning run in the top of the inning.

The Bearcats opened the scoring in the second as Ferreira drew a bases loaded walk to score McGlauflin who opened the inning with a single. In the third, Ryan Abernathy scored after Garber reached on an error. Northwest scored again in the sixth with a two-out rally as Johnson was hit by a pitch, scoring Garrett Fort, who pinch ran for Derek Meyer after Meyer singled with two outs.

Hondo Pearcy went 6.0 strong innings for the Bearcats, allowing just two earned runs while striking out two. Rex Raetz pitched two scoreless innings in relief.

Northwest will host Central Missouri State for a four game series starting on Friday, April 11 at 2 p.m. at Bearcat Field.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Kansas City loses series finale against White Sox

Posted on April 6, 2014

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Chris Sale knew he had to pitch his best Sunday with James Shields starting for the Kansas City Royals.

“Indubitably, yes,” Sale said. “You know what you’re getting with a starter like James. You have to bear down and do it.”

Sale gave up four singles in eight scoreless innings as the Chicago White Sox defeated the Royals 5-1 in a pitching duel between top starters.

Alexei Ramirez and Tyler Flowers each drove in a pair of runs as the White Sox won the series finale after dropping the first two games.

Sale (2-0) struck out six and walked one. In his previous four starts against the Royals, the White Sox had backed him with one run, enough to beat Shields 1-0 in the 2012 opener.

“There was an energy to Chris coming off the mound,” White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. “Big pitchers do that when you face up against a guy like Shields. He knows we’ve lost three in a row and he’s going up against Shields and he wanted to go out and shut them down.”

Shields (0-1) took the loss in this one, too, giving up a run on five hits, striking out six, walking none and hitting two batters in seven innings.

“What we saw out there today was two No. 1 starters that were at the top of their game,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Both of them had their A-game on the mound. That’s as good of stuff as I’ve seen James Shields have. He had everything working, his fastball at 94-95, a great cutter, a great change, a great curveball.

“Sale was right there with him. He has everything going. Both starters just pitched a great game, both of them.”

Ramirez drove in the game’s first run in the seventh when Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar knocked down his grounder but had no play for Conor Gillaspie at home.

Sale allowed a runner past second only in the third inning, when Lorenzo Cain and Omar Infante singled and Ramirez committed a throwing error. Sale wiggled out of trouble by retiring Danny Valencia on a pop up. Cain had two of the hits off Sale.

The White Sox scored four runs in the ninth off Royals left-handed relievers Tim Collins and Francisley Bueno. The inning included a Flowers two-run single and an RBI double by Ramirez.

Alex Gordon singled home Eric Hosmer in the ninth off Matt Lindstrom for the only Kansas City run.

The Royals won their first replay challenge of the season when Marcus Semien was ruled safe at first, but it was overturned on a review that took 68 seconds. Ventura challenged that Hosmer was out at first to complete a double play in the sixth, but replays indicated he was safe.

Plate umpire Greg Gibson issued a warning to both benches in the sixth when Infante had to jump out of the way of Sale’s pitch way inside after Shields had hit two batters, including Jose Abreu in the top of the inning.

“I’m not trying to hit Abreu right there, there’s no doubt about it,” Shields said. “We’ve got a zero-zero ball game. I’m not trying to put a runner on base. There was definitely no intent. I understand they are trying to protect their players over there, but in that situation I’m not trying to hit him. I don’t think there’s any reason for any retaliation at all.”

— Associated Press —

Cardinals come up short against Pittsburgh Sunday, 2-1

Posted on April 6, 2014

PITTSBURGH (AP) — For his first start with the Pirates, Edinson Volquez beat Adam Wainwright. That’ll do nicely as an early return on that offseason contract he signed with the Pirates.

Tony Sanchez hit a tiebreaking RBI double in the seventh inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-1 on Sunday.

Singed to a one-year, $5 million contract as a free agent in December, Volquez was sharp in his first start for the Pirates as he gave up one run and three hits in 5 2/3 innings with one walk and four strikeouts. That came after Volquez pitched two scoreless innings of relief Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.

“What you saw was fastball command with downhill angle, big-time spin and tilt on the breaking ball, a good changeup and getting ahead with good pitches,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He pitched a gem.”

Volquez got a standing ovation when he walked off the mound.

“I think I did a great job and the fans appreciated what I did,” Volquez said. “I just wanted to keep making another good pitch, keep the ball down and get them to hit the ball on the ground. All my pitches were there.”

Sanchez’s double to deep center field with two outs came off Wainwright (1-1) and snapped a 1-1 tie.

“I’m still nervous playing up here,” Sanchez said. “My heart is racing. My head is spinning. It feels like the game is going 1,000 mph. So, it’s nice to be able to get some big hits.”

The hit by the rookie reserve catcher scored Pedro Alvarez, who led off the inning with a walk, and was Sanchez’s second winning hit of the week as he singled home the winning run in the 16th inning of Wednesday night’s victory over the Chicago Cubs.

“I can’t let what happen in the seventh inning happen, especially in a close game, a rivalry game like this,” Wainwright said. “I walked the leadoff man then left a ball out over the plate with two outs and Sanchez took a good swing at it. You can’t do that.”

Tony Watson (1-0) retired all four batters he faced, striking out three, and ran his string of consecutive scoreless innings to 24, dating to last season. Jason Grilli pitched a scoreless ninth to convert his first save.

St. Louis managed just three hits.

Volquez’s 5.71 ERA last season with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers was the highest among the 81 pitchers who qualified for the ERA title. He also allowed 15 runs in 13 innings in exhibition games this spring.

Wainwright went seven innings and allowed two runs and five hits after pitching seven scoreless innings in his first start of the season at Cincinnati in Monday’s opener. He struck out seven and walked two.

The Pirates opened the scoring in the fourth inning when Andrew McCutchen doubled with one out and scored on Neil Walker’s two-out double.

An RBI triple by the Cardinals’ Jon Jay in the sixth tied the score at 1-1 and chased Volquez.

— Associated Press —

Northwest softball goes 1-1 against Nebraska-Kearney

Posted on April 6, 2014April 6, 2014

For the second day in a row the Northwest Missouri State Bearcat softball team split a double header as they lost in game one, 11-0, before taking game two, 4-3, against Nebraska-Kearney Sunday.

The Bearcat offense was silence by UNK in game one as they managed five hits in the five inning affair.

The Lopers got their bats going early scoring three in the first then one in the third and then added three runs in the fourth. UNK grabbed the run rule victory when they plated four runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Jordan Ereth was 2 for 3 in the game while Chantel Adams, Cassidy Lee and Jill Henry had one hit a piece.

Vitosh was the starting pitcher in game one and was tagged with the loss.

UNK got on the board early in game two as they put up three runs in the top of the first inning. Sarah Baldwin then shut the Lopers down the rest of the game.

The Bearcats big inning came in the bottom half of the fourth when Lee and Torri Blythe both hit back to back singles to start the inning. Adams then hit a three run home run to dead center field to tie the game up at 3-3.

Baylee Scarbrough singled to right field moving Kristin Uthe to second who had reached on a walk. Henry then hit a single up the middle to score Uthe from second for the eventual game winning RBI.

With her pinch hit single in game one, Henry finished the day 3 for 4 with one RBI.

Baldwin was able to finish off the game in the seventh as she picked up the complete game win in the 4-3 victory. The sophomore allowed no earned runs while walking one and striking out seven.

Northwest, now 16-20, 9-9, will host Missouri Western in non-conference action Tuesday. First pitch in game one is scheduled for 3 p.m.

— Northwest Sports Information —

Griffons take first two games of series at Lincoln

Posted on April 5, 2014

The Missouri Western baseball team picked up two important wins behind solid pitching on Saturday afternoon against the Lincoln Blue Tigers. The Griffons won game one 6-3 and held on in game two with a 4-3 victory. Griffon pitching struckout 15 Blue Tigers and gave up just four earned runs. The Griffons improve to 17-14 overall and 13-11 in MIAA play.

Game 1
MWSU 6
LU 3
In game one the Griffons got solid pitching from Grant Woods and Tyler Sanders as they combined for the 6-3 victory. Woods went 3.2 innings giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out five while Sanders went 3.1 innings giving up three hits and one earned run with two strikeouts. Sanders picked up the victory improving to 3-2 on the season.

In game one the Griffons got on the board first in the second inning when Jake Schrader doubled to right field and scored on a fielding error by the left fielder off a Hunter Weiss single. The score stayed 1-0 until the bottom of the 3rd when the Blue Tigers used two hits and an error plating one.

The Griffons responded in the 4th with three hits and two runs. David Chew and Schrader led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Chew scored on a single up the middle by Jeremy Monty and Schrader scored on a wild pitch giving the Griffons the 3-1 lead. The Blue Tigers scored one in the 5th but in the seventh a two RBI double by Schrader helped the Griffons to a 6-2 lead going into the bottom of the 7th.

Lincoln got one run on two hits but that would be all for the Tigers falling in the game. LU had eight hits with James Earlywine leading the way going 3-for-4 with an RBI. Ryan Simpson got the loss going four innings giing up five hist and two earned runs with four strikeouts.

Scharder went 3-for-4 with two RBI and three runs scored while Trevor LaHonta went 2-for-4 in the contest.

Game 2
MWSU 4
LU 3
In game two the Griffons got a solid outing from Josh Lansangan picking up his first win of the season. He went 6.2 innings giving up five hits and one earned run while striking out a career best eight. Mason Queen got his first save of the season going 1.2 innings giving up one hits and walking two.

Once again the Griffons got on the board first as Schrader blasted his ninth homer of the season giving the Griffons the 1-0 lead. Once again the Blue Tigers responded taking their first lead of the day in teh second on one hit. Kaleb Davis hit an RBI double and then scored later in the inning on a throwing error by Cody Childs giving LU the 2-1 lead after two innings.

The Griffons tied the score at two in the 4th as Ryan Degner singles to right field and stole his ninth base of the season. He then scored on a single by Schrader tying the score.

In the 7th the Griffons regained the lead on back-to-back doubles by Will Carter and Hunter Weiss. The second run of the inning came on a sac fly by Childs giving MWSU the 4-2 lead after seven innings. In the 8th the Blue Tigers got three straight singles plating a run before Davis hit into a inning ending double play.

After getting the first two outs in the 9th Queen gave up a single and two walks before getting a bases loaded groundout by LU ending the game.

The Griffons had seven hits with Degner and Schrader each getting two. The Blue Tigers had nine hits with Zach Roberts and Josh Kennedy each getting two. Nathan Lueckenhoff got the loss going six innings. He gave up six hits and four earned runs falling to 0-6 on the season. LU falls to 1-25 overall and 0-22 in MIAA play.

The two teams will play the final two games of the series tomorrow in Jefferson City, Mo. Game time is set for 12:00 pm.

— MWSU Sports Information —