Falcons fall in opener

IBERIA - The Blair Oaks Falcons were shut out 5-0 by Iberia in their season opener Thursday.

Cody Baumgardner tossed a three-hitter for the Rangers, who scored two runs in the third inning and three more in the fourth.

Jacob Koelling took the loss, allowing five runs on six hits in four innings. He struck out six and walked two.

Austin Kempker had a double for the Falcons, while Daniel Castillo and Kyler Maxy each had one hit.

In the JV game, Beau Distler picked up the win for the Falcons in a 10-0 rout.

Blair Oaks is back in action today at Eldon.

Russellville 7, Crocker 6

RUSSELLVILLE - Clayton Harrison came up with the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Russellville Indians to a 7-6 win in their season opener on Thursday.

Harrison went 2-for-4 and drove in three runs.

Clayton Meyer picked up the win in relief.

Luke Thompson had three hits for the Indians, while Matt Morrow had two.

The Indians trailed 4-0 before scoring three runs in the fifth and three in the sixth. Crocker scored two runs in the seventh to tie the game.

Russellville opens the South Callaway Tournament at 11:30 a.m. Saturday against Paris.

Hickman 5, So. Boone 4

ASHLAND - The Southern Boone Eagles dropped a 5-4 decision in eight innings Thursday to Hickman.

Colby Branch drove in a pair of runs on one hit for the Eagles, who fell to 0-2. Austin Pounds, Ryan Anderson and Dyllon Harper each had one hit.

Miller Bowles took the loss in relief. He allowed one run on three hits while striking out two and hitting one batter.

The Eagles are back in action Tuesday at home against South Callaway.

Boys Golf

Jays take second

FORT LEONARD WOOD - The Jefferson City Jays opened the season Thursday with a second-place finish in a triangular at Piney Valley Golf Course.

The Jays finished with a 179, while Waynesville won the triangular with a 171. Dixon posted a 209.

Tanner Gill led the Jays with a 42. Sam Turner fired a 43, while Jamison Moore carded a 46. Ryan Harris posted a 48.

The Jays won the JV match with a 209.

Jefferson City returns to action today in a dual with California at the Oak Hills Golf Center.

Women's Basketball

Backes earns honor

Rachel Backes of Westminster College received All-American honorable mention honors from Division III News.

Backes (Tipton High School) led the Blue Jays this year in scoring with 14.4 points per game.

The three-year team captain also led the team and conference in 3-point field goal percentage (.448) and assists (4.3 per game).

She led the team to a school best 20-6 record and the school's first-ever St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference title.

Backes, a junior, also was named the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

Backes has helped the Blue Jays go 45-30 over the past three seasons.

She is seventh on the school's career-scoring list with 881 points, sixth in assists at 222 and 18th in rebounding with 283.

Men's Golf

Miller honored

Matt Miller of the University of Central Missouri recently was named the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Golfer of the Week.

Miller (Eldon High School) won the NKU Spring Classic by three shots with a two-day total of 140 (four under), helping Central Missouri to its fifth tournament win this year. It was the fourth time this year Miller has won a tournament.

College Softball

Cougars win

LEBANON, Ill. - The Columbia College Cougars split a doubleheader Thursday with McKendree University.

The Cougars (13-6) dropped the first game 7-3 before winning the second game 11-1.

Kacey Rehagen (St. Elizabeth High School) tossed a five-hitter to pick up the win in the second game.

Kristin Eiken (Blair Oaks High School) had two doubles and drove in a pair of runs. Tori Gehlert (Belle) had two hits, including a homerun, two RBI and scored twice.

In the first game, Marli Hayes (Jefferson City High School) drove in a run on one hit. Gehlert also had a two-run triple.

Owls drop two

ST. LOUIS - The William Woods Owls dropped a pair of game to Missouri Baptist on Thursday.

The Owls (12-9) were shut out in the first 3-0, while falling 10-2 in the nightcap.

Chelsea Loethen (St. Elizabeth High School) had one of the Owls' two hits in the first game.

In the nightcap, Kelsey Schulte (Eugene High School) drove in a pair of runs on one hit but took the loss on the mound. Schulte allowed 10 runs off 10 hits while striking out four and walking four.

Lindsey LeCuru (Helias High School) had one hit and scored a run, while Loethen had one hit.

LU shifts schedule

With wet weather in the forecast, the Lincoln softball team changed this weekend's schedule.

The Blue Tigers were to host Missouri Southern today, but that doubleheader has now been moved to 2 p.m. on April 13.

Lincoln will return to action, weather permitting, at 1 p.m. Sunday against Pittsburg State at Lincoln Field.