Northwest Missouri State University - Handzlik headlines Bearcats' MIAA academic honors

#6 Kevin Handzlik

Northwest Missouri State University - Handzlik headlines Bearcats' MIAA academic honors: The Northwest baseball team placed 18 student athletes on the MIAA's Academic honor roll. Kevin Handzlik was named an MIAA Scholar Athlete.

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Northwest Missouri State University - Five Bearcats earn All-MIAA baseball honors

Photo courtesy of bearcatsports.com - Your source for Bearcat athletics

Northwest Missouri State University - Five Bearcats earn All-MIAA baseball honors: Five members of the Northwest Missouri State University baseball team earned All-MIAA honors from the conference office on Thursday.

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Northwest Missouri State University - Baseball ends season with loss in MIAA third round

Photo courtesy of the Barratt family

Northwest Missouri State University - Baseball ends season with loss in MIAA third round: The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team fell to Missouri Western, 12-3, on Saturday afternoon in the third round of the MIAA Tournament in St. Charles, Mo.

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Play-offs Opposition Research - University of Central Missouri

Play-offs Opposition Research - University of Central Missouri

Maryville, Mo. - The key to the Bearcat baseball team's success against Central Missouri is the one facet of the game they have the most control over - defense. Should the Bearcats play high quality defense and avoid what every other MIAA conference team has done this season (give UCM 1.19 extra runs per game via errors), the Bearcats can win their match-up with the Mules.

UCM offense - The Mules are ranked as the 10th best offense according to the MIAA website with a batting average of .300, and average 7.21 runs per game. The 7.21 runs per game does include unearned runs where the opposing team erred that later resulted in the run scoring. UCM scored 277 earned runs for an average of 6.02 runs per game. As a result, opposing teams have given the Mules 1.19 extra runs in every game played this season.

In comparison, Northwest has averaged 6.18 runs per game.

UCM pitching - The strength of the Mules baseball program is its pitching. The Mules are the #1 ranked pitching squad in the MIAA with a team ERA of 3.88.

In comparison, Northwest has a team ERA of 5.13 which is good for 5th in the MIAA.

UCM fielding - The Mules have the 4th ranked defense in the MIAA with a .967 fielding percentage.

In comparison, Northwest has the 10th ranked defense with a .956 fielding percentage.

Go Cats!!

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Northwest Missouri State University - Baseball earns eighth seed for 2016 MIAA Tournament

Northwest Missouri State University - Baseball earns eighth seed for 2016 MIAA Tournament: The Northwest Missouri State University baseball team has earned the eighth seed in the 2016 MIAA Baseball Championship Tournament.

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FHSU sweeps series

Hays, KS - Fort Hays State defeated Northwest 9-8 in Hays, Kansas, to sweep the series on Saturday, May 7, 2016. The game took 2 hours and 25 minutes to complete. The announced attendance of 125 fans enjoyed the game in beautiful sunny and 80 degree weather. With the loss, Northwest's record fell to 24-26, 19-20 MIAA. With the win, FHSU's record ended at 23-26, 17-21 MIAA. Fort Hays used two innings to do all the damage they needed to win the game when they scored 4 runs in the 4th and 5 runs in the 5th. Northwest would score in 5 different innings but came one run short of tieing the game. All nine Bearcat starters hit at least 1 base hit in the game. The difference in the game was the defense as Northwest was charged with 2 errors that led to 4 unearned runs.

Offense - Jay Hrdlicka was the Bearcat MVP in Game 3. In total, Jay went 3 for 5 (including a home run and a double) with 1 RBI and 2 runs scored as the DH. Ozzie Adams went 3 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a walk as the second baseman. Jake Lewis went 3 for 5 (including a double) with 1 RBI as catcher. Kevin Handzlik went 2 for 5 with 2 RBIs as the first baseman. Nick Gotta went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI, 1 run scored, and 1 walk as short stop. Garrett Fort went 1 for 4 with 2 runs scored and a sacrifice hit as center fielder. James Holler went 1 for 5 with 2 RBIs as the left fielder. Aaron Barratt went 1 for 5 with a run scored as the right fielder. Nick Howard went 1 for 5 with 1 RBI at third base. In total, Northwest scored 8 runs off of 16 hits, 8 RBIs, 2 walks, 1 strike-out, and left 10 runners on base.

Defense - Northwest was charged with 2 errors that led to 4 unearned runs in the game.

Pitching - Brad Roberts earned the start for Northwest but a series of bloop doinks and an error led to 4 unearned runs in the game. In total, Brad worked 6.1 innings, allowed 12 hits, 9 runs (5 earned), 1 walk, 4 strike-outs, and hit 1 batter in the game. Jimmy McElwain came into the game in the 7th inning and worked the final 2 outs. In total, Jimmy worked 0.2 of an inning, allowed 1 hit and no runs. In the 8th inning, Carson Smith came into the game and worked a perfect 1.0 inning, allowed no hits, no runs, and no base runners.

Next - The Bearcats earned the 8th seed in the MIAA post-season tournament. This season the MIAA baseball post-season will match-up the top 8 teams in a double-elimination tournament. The winner will be the MIAA Conference Championship. The tournament will be played on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. St. Charles is a western suburb of St. Louis, Missouri. The tournament will start May 12, 2016, and a champion will be crowned no later than Sunday, May 12, 2016. According to the MIAA website, Northwest will play Central Missouri at 4pm on Thursday, May 12, 2016. Should the Bearcats win, they will play the winner of Missouri Southern/Missouri Western on Friday, May 13, 2016, at 7:30pm. Should Northwest lose to Central Missouri, the Bearcats will play the loser of Missouri Southern/Missouri Western on Friday, May 13, 2016, at 12:30pm.

Go Cats!!
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Northwest 1 game away from winning MIAA Conference Record

Northwest 1 game away from winning MIAA Conference Record

Hays, Kansas - Fort Hays State won Game 1 and Game 2 from Northwest to take the series. Fort Hays is not going to make the play-offs so this is the Tigers final series. The Tigers have played with exceptional focus and solid pitching. Despite a meltdown from the Tigers Head Coach in Game 2 where he lost his mind over where he appeared to argue a balk, the Tigers team showed fantastic poise and did an outstanding job of playing defense, smart base running, and timely hitting. Despite the two losses, Northwest is 1 game away from a winning MIAA Conference record. The Bearcats sit at 19-19 Conference record. To win Game 3, Northwest will have to overcome FHSU Senior Day. Stay tuned, its going to be an epic ride...

Game 1

FHSU won 7-3 to take Game 1. NWMSU's had a tough day playing defense and committed 4 errors. The tough defense spoiled an excellent outing by Anthony Caenepeel.

Offense - Kevin Handzlik was the MVP for Game 1. Kevin went 3 for 4 (including a triple) with 1 RBI in the game. Garrett Fort went 1 for 3 (including a double) with 2 RBIs and 1 walk in the game. Jake Lewis went 1 for 3 with 1 run scored and 1 walk in the game. Jay Hrdlicka went 1 for 4 as DH. James Holler went 1 for 4 with 1 run scored in the game. Nick Gotta pick-up a walk in the game. In total, Northwest scored 3 runs off of 7 hits, 3 RBIs, 3 walks, 4 strike-outs, and left 6 runners on base.

Defense - Northwest was charged with 4 errors in the game which led to 3 unearned runs.

Pitching - Anthony Caenepeel got the start and worked 6.0 innings, allowed 13 hits, 6 runs (only 3 earned), 0 walks and 6 strike-outs. Nikko Pablo worked 1.0 inning, allowed 1 hit, 1 earned run, 1 strike-out, 1 wild pitch, and hit 1 batter. Jimmy McElwain worked 1.0 inning, allowed 1 hit and no runs.

Game 2

FHSU won 4-3 to take Game 2. Northwest had the game tieing run at 3B in the 8th inning but a bang-bang play at the play prevented Northwest from scoring that run. Northwest was hitting the ball but seemingly right at the defenders.

Offense - Nick Gotta with the MVP for Game 2. Nick went 4 for 5 with 1 run scored while playing short stop. Kevin Handzlik went 2 for 3 while playing first base. James Holler also had an outstanding day at the plate and went 2 for 4 with 1 run scored in the game. Garrett Fort went 2 for 5 with 1 RBI while playing center field. Jay Hrdlicka went 2 for 4 as the DH. Jake Lewis picked-up a walk in the game. In total, Northwest scored 3 runs off of 12 hits, 2 RBIs, 1 walk, 2 strike-outs, and left 9 runners on base.

Defense - Northwest was not charged with an error in the game. 

Pitching - Joseph Hietpas earned the start in Game 2. In total, Joe worked 6.0 innings, allowed 6.0 innings, allowed 10 hits, 4 runs (all earned), 3 walks, 8 strike-outs, and hit 1 batter. Ross Davis worked 0.2 of an inning and did not allow any hits or runs but hit 1 batter. Nikko Pablo came into the game and worked 1.1 inning, allowed 2 hits but no runs in the game.

Next - Game 3 is Saturday in Hays, Kansas, at 1pm.

Go Cats!!

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Opposition Research - Fort Hays State

OPPOSITION RESEARCH - FORT HAYS STATE

Maryville, Mo. - Your Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat baseball team concludes its 2016 NCAA regular season today when they travel to Hays, Kansas, to play the Tigers of Ft. Hays State in an extremely important 3-game series. Game 1 is Thursday, May 5, 2016, at 7pm. Game 2 is Friday, May 6, 2016, at 5pm. Game 3 is Saturday, May 7, 2016, at 1pm. Northwest's 2016 record stands at 24-23, 19-17 MIAA, and 7th place in the MIAA baseball standings. Fort Hays State is 20-26, 14-21 MIAA, and 12th in the MIAA baseball standings. The Tigers are mathematically eliminated from the MIAA post-season tournament. 

It will be senior weekend for Fort Hays as they say goodbye to 10 seniors. 

Offense - Fort Hays is led by Alex Weiss with his .362 batting, .465 slugging, and .420 on-base percentage. As a team, Fort Hays is hitting .309, slugging .452, on-base .391.

Defense - Fort Hays is fielding .958.

Pitching - As a team, Fort Hays is pitching 7.28 ERA.

NWMSU Offense - As a team, Northwest is hitting .277, slugging .374, on-base .380.

NWMSU Fielding - As a team, Northwest is fielding .957.

NWMSU Pitching - As a team, Northwest is pitching 5.09 ERA.

Team by Team comparison -

FHSU batting - .309
NWMSU batting - .277

FHSU slugging - .452
NWMSU slugging - .374

FHSU on-base - .391
NWMSU on-base - .380

FHSU fielding - .958
NWMSU fielding - .957

FHSU Pitching - 7.28 ERA
NWMSU Pitching - 5.09 ERA

Go Cats!!
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Northwest falls to Quincy, 11-8

Maryville, Mo. - Quincy University defeated Northwest Missouri State University 11-8 on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, in Maryville. The 9-inning game took 2 hours and 50 minutes to complete and was played in beautiful 70 degree sunny weather in front of a crowd of 45 people. Northwest threw a lot of guys from the bullpen against a formidable offense. Quincy was a very impressive team  and hit 4 home runs in the game. To the Bearcats credit, they hung in there allowing so many runs. Both teams played solid defense. Quincy scored 7 runs in the top of the 7th inning to inflict most of the damage. In the end, Northwest could not add any runs in the 9th and Quincy escapes Maryville with a 3-run victory.

Offense - Several Bearcats contributed equally to score Northwest's 8 runs in this game. Nick Gotta earned 2 walks, scored 2 runs, and stole 1 base in the game. Jay Hrdlicka picked-up 1 hit, scored 1 run, and stole 1 base in the game. Ozzie Adams went 1 for 4 with 1 walk and scored 2 runs in the game. Jame Holler went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, 1 stolen base, got hit by a pitch, and 2 runs scored in the game.  Kevin Handzlik went 1 for 3 with 3 RBIs in the game. Jake Lewis went 1 for 3 (a home run) with 3 RBIs, got hit by a pitch, and scored 1 run in the game. Aaron Barratt picked-up a walk in the game. Garrett Fort hit a double in the game. Kolby Greenslade picked-up 2 walks in 2 times at the plate. Austin Wulff went 1 for 2 as a late game pinch hitter and defensive substitution. In total, Northwest scored 8 runs off of 7, 8 RBIs, 6 walks, 7 strike-outs, and left 5 runners on base.

Defense - Northwest was not charged with an error in the game.

Pitching - Nikko Pablo earned the start and worked 3.0 innings, allowed 2 hits, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, and 5 strike-outs in the game. Jimmy McElwain came into the game in the 4th inning and had another outstanding outing. In total, Jimmy worked 1.2 inning, allowed 1 hit, 0 runs, 0 walks, hit 1 batter, and struck-out 2 batters. Ross Davis came into the game in the 5th inning and worked 1.1 inning, allowed 1 hit, 2 earned runs, 1 walk, 2 strike-outs, and 1 wild pitch in the game. Jacob Wagner came into the game and record 1 out. In total, Jacob worked 0.1 of an inning, allowed 4 hits, 5 earned runs, and hit 1 batter in the game. Bryce Shea came into the game in the 7th and worked 1.2 inning, allowed 3 hits, 2 earned runs, and struck-out 2 batters in the game. Carson Smith came into the game in the 9th inning and achieved a "Carson Hat Trick." In total, Carson worked 1.0 inning, allowed 1 hit, 0 runs, 1 walk, 2 strike-outs, and 1 wild pitch. For those keeping score at home, a "Carson Hat Trick" consists of 2 strike-outs and 1 wild pitch.

Next - Northwest travels to Hays, Kansas to play the final MIAA Conference series of the 2016 NCAA regular season this weekend. The Bearcats and Fort Hays Tigers will play a 3-game series. Presently, Game 1 is set for Friday.

NWMSU's magic number to make MIAA post-season tournament - 1.

Go Cats!!
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Northwest Missouri State University - Pablo repeats as MIAA/AstroTurf Pitcher of the Week

Northwest Missouri State University - Pablo repeats as MIAA/AstroTurf Pitcher of the Week: For the second straight week, Northwest Missouri State University junior Nikko Pablo was named the MIAA/AstroTurf's Pitcher of the Week.

Go Cats!!
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Opposition Research - Quincy University

Opposition Research - Quincy University

Maryville, Mo. - Your Northwest Missouri State University Bearcat baseball team will play its final non-conference game on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, versus Quincy University at Bearcat baseball field. First pitch is set for 3pm. Quincy University is having an outstanding 2016 season. This game is very important in the regional rankings due to the quality Quincy University baseball program. Quincy's 2016 record stands at 33-11, 17-7 Conference, good for an over-all winning percentage of .750. Quincy is 16-6 in road contests this season. Quincy has won 18 of their past 24 games. Quincy University comes into the game with a triple threat baseball team including a potent offense, solid defense, and outstanding pitching staff. The Bearcats primary task will be to keep the baseball in the park against the Hawks, and, the defense will have to turn every play to avoid extra at bats to win the day.

Offense - Quincy is led by Senior right fielder Ryan Snyder who is batting .468 with 60 runs scored, 74 hits, 16 doubles, 2 triples, 18 home runs, .937 slugging percentage, 26 walks, 5 hit by pitches, 21 strike-outs, only 2 times hit into a double play, .541 on-base percentage, 7 stolen bases in 12 attempts, and has only committed 4 errors this season. Snyder recently broke the Quincy University school record for home runs in a single season. Quincy's offense has two other batters that have double-digit home runs this season for a murderer's row 3-4-5 line-up. David Jacob is batting .414 with 10 home runs, .671 slugging percentage, and .500 on-base percentage. Jake Walters is batting .351 with 10 home runs, .643 slugging percentage, and .424 on-base percentage. As a team, Quincy is batting .338, slugging .553, and on-base .416 percent.

Defensive - Quincy is fielding at .956 and averages 1.54 errors per game.

Pitching - Its hard to predict who will be the starting pitcher for a mid-week non-conference game for Quincy as the Hawks need 4 starters for their weekend conference games. There are 5 pitchers that have started the most games for Quincy this season. Presuming 4 are your normal weekend starters, the 5th came into the Sunday game to throw 4.0 innings. There are two other pitchers with 2 starts each named Cole Crawford and Dalton Overstreet. If the B2R were to guess, I suspect either Crawford, Overstreet, or Shull will get the starting nod against the Bearcats on Tuesday. As a team, Quincy's ERA is 4.25 and opponents are batting .269 off of them.

Entering the 2016 season, Quincy was pre-season pick #1 in their respective division of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (West Division) with 1 vote more than second place Drury University. Quincy was ranked #12 in the nation by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association entering the season. Quincy was also ranked #22 by College Baseball newspaper heading into the 2016 season.

Quincy is coming off a terrific season in 2015 having advanced all the way to the NCAA Midwest Regional. Quincy earned their fourth 40-win season in their history in 2015 and finished with a record of 40-17. Quincy finished second in the GLVC Championship Tournament in 2015. 

Quincy Head Coach Josh Rabe - Josh Rabe is entering his sixth season as head coach of Quincy University's baseball program. Rabe was named the GLVC Coach of the Year after the 2015 season. Rabe was a two-time All American at Quincy University and played between 1998-2000.

Go Cats!!
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ESU sweeps series; NW's magic number is 1

ESU sweeps series; NW's magic number is 1

Maryville, Mo. - Finals week, graduation, Senior Day, and the Emporia State Hornets all compounded on the Bearcats this weekend and resulted in ESU sweeping the 3-game series in Maryville. Emporia State is an outstanding baseball team with the B2R's opinion is one of the great coaches in baseball, Bob Fornelli. Judging by the errors, it appeared to the B2R that the guys were just mentally out of gas especially in Game 3. The silver-lining of this however is since the games got moved up to Thursday and Friday, the team can reload, regenerate, and refocus for the last regular season series in the 2016 NCAA season. The Bearcats have a non-conference mid-week game on Tuesday that hopefully can get some playing time for reserves and then the Bearcats travel to Hays, Kansas, where Northwest needs 1 more MIAA Conference win to secure a spot in the MIAA post-season baseball tournament in St. Louis.

Despite the series result, this season's Bearcat baseball team is a special group of guys from all walks of life spanning the country to further their education at Northwest Missouri State University. Essentially forgotten by the other MIAA coaches in the pre-season poll, these Bearcats have scratched and clawed their way to 7th place in the Conference standings. In every essence this team embodies what is great about America and our Country's beginning. America began from hard working families, driven by faith, that overcame every imaginable adversity. The elements were against them, they faced opposition with more resources than they had, yet the Americans hung in there, survived, and prospered. Now apply that to a rag-tag bunch of Bearcats that others scoffed at and dismissed. What those other MIAA coaches found out was their bricks and mortar were a long way from the heart. These Bearcats have heart and a can do attitude to lay it on the line when the game starts. These Bearcats know a NCAA baseball game is not a test you take in a class, or a game decided on paper, but one where passion has a funny way of trumping the odds. In this election year, many will attempt to define America in a way that likely benefits them. At its core, America is great because we, the people, are great, comprised of heart, faith, and hard work, to make our mark with the time our good Lord will give us. As America prospers because of the working woman and man with love in their hearts, faith in their soul, and a work ethic to do good, so has been the reason for the Bearcat baseball team's success. With this ornery bunch of Bearcats embodying the values of America, they are in result the embodiment of America's team.

1 more Conference win.

Game 2

Emporia State defeated Northwest 7-1 in Game 2 of the series.

Offensively, Kolby Greenslade was Northwest's MVP in Game 2 as he went 2 for 4 at the plate. Kevin Handzlik went 1 for 4 with 1 RBI in the game. Garrett Fort went 1 for 2 with 1 walk and 1 run scored in the game. Aaron Barratt picked-up 2 walks in the game. In total, Northwest scored 1 run off of 4 hits, 1 RBI, 3 walks, 8 strike-outs, and left 8 runners on base.

Defensively, Northwest was charged with 3 errors which allowed 3 unearned runs in the game.

Pitching, Joseph Hietpas earned the start but picked-up the loss despite a quality start against the Hornets. Joe's 2016 record fell to 4-3. In total, Hietpas worked 7.0 innings pitched, 6 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 2 walks, 6 strike-outs in the game. Jacob Wagner came into the game in the 8th inning. In total, Jacob worked 0.2 of an inning, allowed 2 hits, 3 runs (only 1 earned though), 0 walks, 0 strike-outs, and 1 wild pitch in the game. Bryce Shea came into the 8th and worked 1.1 inning, allowed 3 hits, 1 unearned run, 0 walks, and 3 strike-outs.

Game 3

Emporia State defeated Northwest 7-2 in Game 3 of the series. 

Offensively, Garrett Fort was Northwest's MVP in Game 3. Fort went 1 for 3 with 1 RBI in the game. Kolby Greenslade went 1 for 3 with 1 walk and 1 run scored in the game. Aaron Barratt and Jake Lewis both went 1 for 4 in the game. Ozzie Adams went 1 for 3 with a walk. In total, Northwest scored 2 runs off of 5 hits, 2 RBIs, 2 walks, 6 strike-outs, and 7 runners left on base.

Defensively, Northwest was charged with 5 errors which led to 3 unearned runs in the game. 

Pitching, Brad Roberts earned the start but picked-up the loss to see his 2016 record fall to 4-3. In total, Brad worked 5.0 innings, allowed 9 hits, 7 runs (4 earned), 3 walks, and 6 strike-outs. In the 6th, Jimmy McElwain came into the game and did an outstanding job. Jimmy worked 2.1 innings and did not allow a hit or a run. Jimmy did not walk anyone either. In the 8th inning, Carson Smith came into the game and worked 1.2 inning, allowed 0 hits, 0 runs, and 0 walks. Carson has perfected a new term the B2R will use on occasion, "the Carson hat trick." Carson accomplished a "Carson hat trick" in Game 3 with 2 strike-outs and 1 wild pitch.

Next - Northwest plays its final home contest of the 2016 season on Tuesday, May 3, 2016, at 3pm, on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University.

Go Cats!!

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