BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Fort Hays State men’s golf team finished ninth among MIAA teams and 15th overall at the SBU Invitational (April 15-16), hosted at Silo Ridge Country Club a 6,884-yard, par 72 golf course. Freshman Bryce Cowan led the Tigers with identical rounds of 79 in the first two rounds before finishing with a 77 in round three to card a 19-over (235) and tied for 48th individually. Cowan finished the week with four birdies.

Mac McNish posted rounds of 80, 77 and 81 to finish in a tie for 63rd individually. McNish picked up three birdies for the week. Isaiah Grover finished in solo 71st after shooting rounds of 76, 84 and 80. Grover completed the week with a team-high six birdies and one eagle. Connor Schultz fired off rounds of 81, and identical 80’s to finish in a tie with teammate Pete Carney for 72nd, while posting three birdies and one eagle. Carney shot rounds of 81, 83 and 77 for the week, with three birdies.

Central Oklahoma took the team title with an aggregate score of 892. Missouri Western and Central Missouri finished in a tie for second with a score of 896. Fort Hays State finished 15th as a team with a score of 316-319-314 for a total of 949. Patrick McCarthy of Missouri Western claimed the individual title after posting a 1-under (215) for the tournament. This was the second designated MIAA event of the year.

The Tigers will be back on course next week when they compete at the MIAA Championships (April 23-24) at Monkey Island, Okla. The tournament will be hosted at Shangri-La Country Club.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team couldn’t capitalize on a couple of bases-loaded situations and drop their series finale with Washburn 13-2 Sunday afternoon at Larks Park. The Tigers have now lost 10 straight and fall to 3-31 overall and 2-22 in MIAA play. Washburn has won five straight and six of seven and improve to 18-17 on the season and 11-13 in conference action.

Jerod Goodale Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

After Washburn took advantage of two infield hits to score two runs in the top of the first inning, the Tigers came back to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning but managed only one run a Jared Manath sacrifice fly to left field.

Trailing 9-1 in the seventh, the Tigers again loaded the bases but only scored once on Marcus Altman’s bases-loaded walk.

The Ichabods scored four in the second then like they did all series, scored their final seven runs in the final four innings. Washburn scored 27 of their 36 runs on the weekend after the fifth inning.

FHSU produced 10 hits on the day and had three hitters with multi-hit days. Landon Erway, Taylan Mullins-Ohm and Bryce Baumwart each had two hits. Tyler Olson, Ryan Stoecklein, Marcus McDaniel and Caleb Egan (as a pinch hitter) tallied the other four hits for the Tigers.

Starter Tanner Smith (0-4) pitched a season-high 6.0 innings for the Tigers , allowing seven runs on 10 hits with five walks and four strikeouts. Jake Vieira, Wyatt Schumacher and Cody Starkel all pitched an inning of relief with each reliever allowing two runs.

FHSU will begin a six-game road trip next weekend when they make their way to Edmond, Okla. to face the Central Oklahoma Bronchos (April 18-20). The series is ahead one day due to the Easter holiday on Sunday. First pitch on Thursday is scheduled for 7 p.m. inside Wendell Simmons Field.

TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State bounced back from an 11-2 run-rule loss in game one, hanging on for a 6-4 win in game two to split an MIAA doubleheader with Washburn on Saturday. The Tigers moved to 17-18 overall, 10-10 in the MIAA, while the Ichabods are now 22-20 overall, 13-5 in the MIAA. It was a big win for the Tigers, now in a seventh-place tie in the MIAA standings with Lindenwood with two weeks to go in MIAA play.

Game 1: Washburn 11, Fort Hays State 2
For the third straight game on the weekend, Fort Hays State lost after holding an early lead. Fort Hays State took a 2-0 lead in the second inning only to see Washburn score three runs in the fourth and eight in the fifth to abruptly end the game by run rule. The Ichabods capped their 11 unanswered runs with a grand slam to end the game.

Fort Hays State’s only two hits in the game also produced its only two runs. Sara Breckbill and Allison Jurgensen both hit solo home runs to center field to give FHSU an early 2-0 lead. It was Breckbill’s second homer of the season and Jurgensen’s first.

A triple to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning started the Ichabod rally after Hailey Chapman held them scoreless for three innings. Washburn scored its first two runs of the inning with RBI singles, but benefitted from a Tiger fielding error to set up the third run knocked home in the inning. The Tigers found themselves down by one going to the fifth.

Washburn loaded the bases to open the fifth inning, which ultimately started another big rally. Chapman nearly escaped danger by getting the next two batters out without a run scoring, but the wheels came off when Ashley Ruder drove home two runs with a double. Maddie Stipsits followed that with a two-RBI single. All of the sudden, the Tigers trailed by five. Two more singles loaded the bases once more and then Savannah Moore instantly ended the game with a grand slam.

Chapman took the loss for FHSU, allowing all 11 runs (10 earned) on 13 hits with three walks. She struck out six. Raegen Hamm picked up the win for Washburn, allowing two runs on two hits with two walks and two strikeouts.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 6, Washburn 4
Fort Hays State got out to a lead for the fourth straight game on the weekend, but this time found a way to hang on for its only win of the weekend road trip. Fort Hays State built a 6-0 lead after five and a half innings, but Washburn nearly completed another comeback at the end.

Back-to-back errors by the Washburn shortstop in the second inning turned into the first run of the game for the Tigers. Jeni Mohr reached base by the first error and moved to second on the play. Mohr came into score on another misplay by the shortstop off the bat of Lily Sale.

Elise Capra gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead in the fourth with her team-leading fifth home run of the season, a solo shot to lead off the inning. In the fifth, the Tigers plated two more with an RBI single by Bailey Boxberger and sacrifice fly RBI by Capra. The lead grew to 6-0 in the sixth when Allison Jurgensen delivered a clutch 2-RBI double down the left field line.

Michaelanne Nelson held Washburn scoreless over the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Washburn’s first run of three in the inning came on an RBI single with one out. A throwing error that went into the Tiger dugout allowed Washburn’s second run to score. Washburn drove in the third run on an infield grounder that produced the second out.

Nelson looked poised for a complete game in the seventh, getting the first two batters out. However, the Ichabods had one final push in them. A bloop single followed by a fielding error by the Tigers allowed the tying run to come to the plate in the form of Winter Henry. With two strikes, she laced a well-placed double down the left-field line. All of the sudden, the Ichabods had the game-tying runs in scoring position and a potential winning run at the plate in Taylor Kirk. Adrian Pilkington turned the ball over to Hailey Chapman, who came through in the clutch for the Tigers with a strikeout to end the game.

Nelson moved to 7-9 on the season with the win, while Chapman picked up her third save of the season. Nelson allowed four runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks. She struck out three.

Bailey Zuniga took the loss for Washburn, allowing four runs (two earned) on seven hits with two strikeouts in 4.1 innings of work. Raegen Hamm pitched the final 2.2 innings for Washburn, allowing two runs on three hits and a walk with three strikeouts.

Tiger Notes
-Allison Jurgensen led the Tigers with 3 RBIs for the day. Her 2-RBI hit in Game 2 was the decisive hit in the Tiger win.
-Michaelanne Nelson produced a 1.08 ERA in her two starts for the weekend. She allowed only one earned run in each contest. Five of the seven runs scored against her for the weekend were unearned.
-Fort Hays State and Lindenwood are tied for seventh in the MIAA, both at .500 in conference play. Pittsburg State, Nebraska-Kearney, and Missouri Southern are all just one game back.

Up Next
Fort Hays State has a midweek non-conference doubleheader with Newman at home on Wednesday (Apr. 17) before heading back on the road for MIAA play next weekend at Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team fell victim to another late Washburn comeback Saturday at Larks Park, falling to the Ichabods 16-8. The Tigers dipped to 3-30 on the season and 2-21 in MIAA play, while the Ichabods moved to 17-17 overall and 10-13 in conference action.

For the second-consecutive game, senior Bryce Baumwart lifted a fly ball over the wall at Larks Park. This time, Baumwart blasted his second home run of the season in the fifth frame with a three-run shot to left field, plating himself, Marcus Altman and Jared Maneth.

FHSU totaled three long balls on the day as Ryan Grasser sent a pitch to the opposite field over the right field wall for a two-run blast in the third inning, scoring Landon Erway and giving the Tigers a 2-1 edge at the time. Tyler Olson joined in on the party with a two-run shot of his own to right field in the fifth frame, plating Erway and pushing the Tigers ahead 4-2 at the time. Baumwart then extended the lead with his long ball, 7-2, after five innings of play.

Tiger starter Jake Taylor tossed 6.0 innings, allowing six runs on four hits, walking two batters and striking out two more. Ryan Brown (1-1) was charged with the loss after relieving Taylor in the seventh inning. Brown threw 1.0 inning, allowing three runs (two earned) on one hit. Cody Rottinghaus finished the game for the Tigers in the final two innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits and walking three batters.

Washburn began their comeback bid after the fifth inning, scoring 14 runs in the final four frames.

Jared Maneth led the Tiger offense with a 3-hit game, while Erway, Grasser and Altman produced multi-hit bids on the afternoon. Baumwart totaled four RBI in the contest, with Grasser and Olson picking up two RBI each.

The series will wrap up on Sunday (April 14) at Larks Park. First pitch is scheduled for noon.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women’s tennis team ended their 2019 regular season with a 5-2 loss at home to Missouri Western. With the loss, the Tigers end with an 0-8 conference mark and 3-10 overall. The Griffons improve to 10-12 overall with a 1-7 MIAA mark after picking up their first conference win today.

In singles play, the Tigers picked up two wins as Natalie Lubbers defeated Mireia Birosta in a 6-1, 6-0 win at the No. 2 position. Macy Moyers claimed her win in the No. 5 position over Erica Dunn with a 3-6, 6-1, 10-8 decision. The Griffons claimed three singles wins over the Tigers to help secure their lead.

In doubles play, the Griffons sealed their win as they claimed two of the three, with the Tigers taking one doubles competition. The Tigers lone win in doubles play came in the No. 2 position as Moyers and Ellea Ediger took a 6-2 win over Erica Dunn and Birosta. For the Griffons, in the No. 1 position Joanna Abreu Roman and Karolina Strom earned a 6-1 win over Lindell and Natalie Lubbers. Rounding out doubles play was a 6-3 decision for the Griffons as Federica Salmaso and Bojana Vuksan claimed a victory over Laura Jimenez-Lendinez and Nicole Lubbers.

EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State fell by one run twice to Emporia State on Friday. The Tigers held leads in both games, but fell by scores of 2-1 and 3-2. FHSU is now 16-17 overall and 9-9 in the MIAA, while Emporia State improved to 18-21 overall and 8-8 in the MIAA. The Tigers fell back into a five-way tie for sixth place in the MIAA standings, with four conference doubleheaders to go.

Game 1: Emporia State 2, Fort Hays State 1
Fort Hays State briefly enjoyed a 1-0 lead following the top of the first inning, but Emporia State tied the game in the bottom half and eventually scored the game-winning run in the fourth inning.

The Tigers struggled to find gaps in the ESU defense as Katie Adler’s single in the first inning was the only hit the Tigers scratched out in the first contest. However, the Tigers did find ways on base, just no runs to show for a couple run-scoring opportunities later in the game. FHSU did draw two walks, got hit by pitches twice, and also had one reach by error.

Down 2-1 in the fifth, the Tigers loaded the bases with a walk, an error by the Hornets, and a hit batter. However, Emporia State pitcher Montana Mesler got a strikeout on a 3-2 count to end the Tiger threat. Mesler hit Allie Jurgensen to lead off the seventh and FHSU used Megan Feiner as a pinch runner, but Feiner moved no further than second base as Emporia State reliever Kelsey Phillips picked up her second save of the season getting a ground out to end the game. Mesler walked two, hit two, and struck out five in her one-hit performance over 6.0 innings to earn the win.

Hailey Chapman allowed only one earned run to the Hornets in a complete-game effort. An error by the Tigers in the first inning allowed Emporia State to get the game tied on a two-out RBI single by Destiny Ojigoh. Rachel Kauss produced the game’s only earned run in the fourth on a sacrifice bunt RBI to score a runner from third and give the Hornets the one-run edge. Chapman gave up eight hits and two walks, but struck out 10.

Game 2: Emporia State 3, Fort Hays State 2
Runs were hard to come by once again in the second game, though both teams had excellent opportunities early. FHSU and ESU played to a scoreless tie until FHSU broke through in the top of the fifth with two runs. However, the Tigers saw the Hornets come back to steal the second game with a run in the bottom of the fifth and then two in the bottom of the seventh to win in walk-off fashion.

Fort Hays State placed eight runners in scoring position over the first four innings, but had nothing in the run column to show for it. The second inning was particularly a tough pill to swallow for the Tigers, coming up empty handed with runners at second and third with no outs. A strikeout, flyout to center field, and another strikeout ended the threat. Later in the fourth, the Tigers led off with a double but struck out, lined out, and grounded out to end another great opportunity with a runner in scoring position and no outs. Not putting the ball in play right after the runners moved into scoring position came back to bite the Tigers in the end.

Emporia State went through the same troubles in the third inning with runners at second and third with one out. A lineout double play ended that threat.

Katie Adler busted through the scoreless stalemate in the fifth when she laced a triple to right field to score Terran Caldwell from first. Caldwell led off the inning with a single. A fielding error on a ball off the bat of Sara Breckbill brought Adler home from third, giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead. However, the Tigers did not make the Hornets pay any further for the error with back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Errors would wind up haunting the Tigers late in the game. A throwing error in the bottom of the fifth on Kailee Odegard’s stolen base attempt at second base allowed Odegard to move to third. A sacrifice fly brought home Emporia State’s first run, cutting the FHSU lead in half.

Michaelanne Nelson worked out of danger in the sixth by getting a pair of strikeouts to strand the bases loaded and end a major scoring opportunity for the Hornets. However, her good fortune ended immediately in the seventh on a solo home run surrendered to Brittanie Shepherd, tying the game 2-2. Nelson allowed a walk immediately following the home run, and then the situation became more dire when the Tigers added a throwing error on a the back end of an infield single to put runners at first and third with no outs. Nelson got a pop up for the first out of the inning, but the game-winning run came in from third on a fielder’s choice RBI off the bat of Rachel Kauss, who wound up having the game-winning RBIs in each contest.

Due to unfortunate Tiger errors at critical junctures in the game, only one of Nelson’s runs allowed was earned. She allowed eight hits, walked two, and struck out six. It was the fourth complete-game effort for Nelson this season.

Sydney Righi picked up a complete-game win for the Hornets. She allowed nine hits and struck out six, moving to 5-5 on the season.

Tiger Notes
-Allison Jurgensen, Katie Adler, Sara Breckbill, and Grace Philop were the four Tigers with a team-best two hits on the day. Jurgensen was the only Tiger to hit over .300 in the doubleheader, going 2-for-5 at the plate.
-Tiger pitching allowed only two earned runs and struck out 16 batters on the day.
-Five teams are tied for sixth place in the MIAA standings, all with .500 records in MIAA play. FHSU, Nebraska-Kearney, and Pittsburg State are all at 9-9, Lindenwood is at 11-11, and Emporia State is at 8-8.

Up Next
Fort Hays State faces Washburn on Saturday (Apr. 13) in Topeka, Kan. The doubleheader is set to begin at 1 pm. Washburn enters with a record of 21-19 overall and 12-4 in the MIAA.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped the series opener to Washburn on Friday, 7-6, in a back-and-forth affair. The Tigers dipped to 3-29 overall and 2-20 in the MIAA, while the Ichabods moved to 16-17 on the season and 9-13 in conference play.

Jerod Goodale Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The two squads totaled 22 hits on the afternoon as the Tigers picked up 10 of those base pokes. One monster hit for FHSU was when senior Bryce Baumwart launched a fly ball over the left field wall for a 2-run blast, giving the Tigers the 3-1 lead in the fourth frame. Baumwart earned his first home run of the season in the process.

FHSU was able to even the score in the second inning when Tyler Olson led of the frame with a double to center field and scoring two batters later thanks to an RBI single from Jared Maneth. Landon Erway drew a two-out walk in the fifth and scoring two batters later when Marcus Altman produced an RBI single to second base, giving the Tigers the 5-1 lead after five innings.

Washburn scored six runs in the next three innings to take a 7-5 lead heading into the final inning.

Three Tigers earned multi-hit bids in the contest with Altman, Olson and Maneth picking up two hits on the afternoon. All three hitters finishing the game 2-for-4 from the dish. Olson scored two runs and provided an RBI.

Ethan Booe (0-8) was charged with the loss after giving up the lead for good in the seventh inning. Tiger starter Ryan Ruder tossed 6.0 innings on the mound, allowing four runs on eight hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Ryan Brown came on in the ninth, allowing one hit and striking out one batter.

Game two of the weekend conference series will take place Saturday (April 13) from inside Larks Park beginning at 1 p.m.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped a mid-week non-conference contest against Bethany College on Tuesday 17-6 at Larks Park. The Tigers moved to 3-28 on the season. The Swedes stayed at 12-26 overall as this was an exhibition game for Bethany.

The Tigers produced six runs on 12 hits in the contests. Landon Erway had a successful day at the plate after finishing 3-for-4 from the dish. Erway scored a run and also earned a walk as the No. 3 hitter in the Tiger lineup.

Garrett Francis and Tyler Olsen were the only other Tigers to produce a multi-hit attack at the plate. Francis produced two RBI singles on the evening when he plated Marcus Altman in the fourth frame, cutting the Swede lead to 7-3 at the time.

Tyler Olson put the Tigers on the board in the first after attempting a double steal but getting caught in a rundown. However, Erway cross home plate before the out occurred. The black and gold struck for another run in the second, this time on a successful double steal attempt when Dawson Sramek took second base and Altman stole home.

FHSU tallied three runs in the sixth when Bryce Baumwart started things with a two-out double to center field and advanced to third on a balk call on the Swede pitcher. Francis pushed Baumwart past home plate when he legged out an infield single. Bethany switched pitchers and Grasser took advantage with a single to center field, allowing Francis to challenge the throw home. The throw did beat Francis, but the Swede catcher couldn’t hold on. The Tigers kept the line moving when Taylan Mullins-Ohm plated Grasser with an RBI single up the gut of the defense, again cutting the deficit to 9-6 after six inning of play.

The Tigers were held scoreless the remaining three innings, as the Swedes tacked on two in the seventh, four in the eighth and two in the ninth.

Tiger starter Tanner Smith (1-3) was charged with the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on six hits across 2.2 innings of work, striking out three and walking one batter. The bullpen came on in relief with five pitchers getting work on the mound; Ryan Brown (3.1 IP), Cody Rottinghaus (1.0 IP), Chase Werth (1.0 IP) and Jake Vieira (1.0 IP).

FHSU will resume conference play this weekend when they host Washburn for a three-game set, beginning on Friday (April 12). The series-opening contest is scheduled as Pack the Park for fans of all ages to enjoy some Tiger baseball! First pitch on Friday is slated for 6 p.m.