FHSU Athletics

After sweeping a doubleheader against Central Missouri on Thursday, Fort Hays State was swept by Central Missouri on Friday (Feb. 20) in Hays, having to settle for a four-game split in its first conference series of the season. The Tigers are now 2-4 overall, 2-2 in the MIAA, while the Mules are 6-5 overall, 2-2 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Central Missouri 5, Fort Hays State 2
Fort Hays State had a golden scoring opportunity slip through its hands in the first inning and struggled to find offensive rhythm the remainder of the seven-inning contest on Friday. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, but Kevin Czarnecki lined out to second base and Austin Unrein grounded into a double play to end the threat.

Central Missouri starting pitcher Jake Heissler settled in from that point to hold the Tigers scoreless over four innings. That was long enough for UCM to build a 5-0 lead, scoring two in the second and three in the third, all charged to FHSU starter Gabe Cook, who lasted 2.1 innings. Cook surrendered seven hits and a walk, while striking out one.

FHSU finally got to Heissler in the fifth as Gus Strunk had a RBI double and Alex King had a sacrifice fly RBI, but runners were left at second and third to end the inning. Grant Gavin of UCM picked up the final two outs of the fifth in relief, then went on to retire the side in the sixth and seventh for his first save of the year. Heissler got the win, moving to 2-0.

Joe Mapes and Chase Newman threw in relief for the Tigers. Mapes allowed three hits and struck out two in 2.1 innings of work, then Newman pitched a spotless 1.1 innings of work. Connor Ross  went 2-for-2 at the plate in the game.

Game 2: Central Missouri 7, Fort Hays State 5
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the top of the first, but UCM matched the output in the bottom half and then went on to lead the remainder of the game after a run in the third in the nine-inning contest.

UCM built a 6-2 lead after three runs in the fourth, but FHSU would mount a rally in the seventh with three runs to cut the lead back to one. The rally ended with a bases loaded fielder’s choice on a grounder. That was as close as the Tigers would get as UCM added an insurance run in the bottom half of the seventh on a FHSU error, making it 7-5.

That was plenty for UCM reliever Trevor Ezell, who recorded his fourth save of the season in 2.1 scoreless innings of work. Ezell did not allow a hit and struck out two. UCM starter Ricky Rivera went 6.2 innings to earn the win, allowing five runs on eight hits with four walks and five strikeouts.

FHSU starter Brad Spires was charged with six runs over 3.1 innings of work, allowing four hits and five walks. He struck out five batters, but took the loss moving to 0-2 on the year. Ty Thomas  entered from the pen to face one batter, then Will Amen, Justin Hersch and Giles Fox combined to pitch the final 4.2 innings and not allow an earned run.

Andre Vieyra and Caleb Cherryholmes each drove in two runs in the game, while Austin Unrein drove in one. Kevin Czarnecki and Gus Strunk each had two hits in the game.

Fort Hays State returns to MIAA play next weekend (Feb. 27-28, March 1) against Washburn University. The four-game conference series is set to begin on Friday in Hays at 2 pm.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State used a balanced attack of eight hits and strong pitching to knock off Concordia-St. Paul, 9-2, on Friday (Feb. 20) at the Kelly Laas MIAA/NSIC Memorial Softball Invite, held at the Husky Dome.

Paxton Duran (1-2) picked up her first win of the season in a complete game performance, striking out 13 with four walks allowed in seven innings.  Duran kept CU’s bats silent until the fifth, when a single broke up her no-hitter.

Tori Beltz led the Tigers with a 2-for-2 effort at the plate, racking up a home run, two walks and three RBI on the day.  Additionally, Amanda Vaupel (2-for-4) had a home run and two RBI, while Erin Elmore went 2-for-4 with a double.

With one out in the first, Vaupel singled up the middle before moving to third on Elmore’s double.  From there, Beltz drove a 2-2 pitch over the center field fence to give FHSU a 3-0 lead.

After a scoreless second, the Tigers added two more runs in the third off four hits, though they left two on base.  Vaupel led off the inning with a solo shot to right center and was followed by two straight singles from Elmore and Beltz.  After Kylie Strand reached on a fielder’s choice (moving Elmore to third), Samantha Villarreal  singled up the middle to drive Elmore home at give the Tigers a 5-0 advantage.

FHSU added one run in both the fourth and fifth innings to lead 7-0 and put the game on the verge of a run-rule contest. Rilee Krier reached on an error to lead off the fourth, and after stealing second, moved to third on a ground out.  From there, Vaupel hit a deep fly ball to right brought Krier home on the sacrifice.  In the fifth, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out, eventually seeing Villarreal come home as Krier drew a walk.

Leading by seven headed into the seventh, FHSU used a one-out pinch hit single from Jenna Lang to score two.  Madison Putman led off the inning with a walk and after stealing second, saw Gabrielle Sandoval earn a free pass as well.  During Lang’s at-bat, the Tigers put a double steal in motion and moved both runners up a base before Lang drove both runners home on a 2-1 pitch.

Though CU got two runs back in its half of the seventh, FHSU’s lead was too much for the Golden Bears and the Tigers took the win, 9-2.

FHSU returns to the Husky Dome for two more games on Saturday (Feb. 21.  The Tigers are scheduled to take on St. Cloud State at 5 p.m., and Minnesota State-Mankato at 7 p.m.