HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team was unable to overcome seven errors in Monday’s series finale with Lindenwood, falling to the Lions 11-5 at Larks Park. The Tigers move to 3-24 overall and 2-16 in MIAA play while the Lions improve to 17-15 on the year and 11-7 in conference action.
Jerod Goodale Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
The Tigers took their first lead of the series in the bottom of the first when Taylan Mullins-Ohm crushed his second home run of the season, sending an 0-1 pitch sailing over the fence in left center. The lead was short-lived, however, as Lindenwood pushed across five runs, including three unearned runs, over the next two frames to take a 5-1 lead through three innings.
Fort Hays State hitters had trouble solving Blake Beckmann (2-3), the Lions starting pitcher. Beckmann struck out 11 Tigers over 6.0 innings of work to earn the win.
The Tigers struck for three more runs in Beckmann’s final frame, but not after Lindenwood added four runs in the top of the sixth. After Landon Erway beat out a bloop single with a headfirst slide into first and Mullins-Ohm worked a walk, the pair came around to score after multiple wild pitches. Tyler Olson pulled the Tigers within 9-4 later in the inning when he belted his first home run as a Tiger to deep left center.
Lindenwood padded the lead to six with a run in the top of the seventh before FHSU tacked on one more in the home half of the eighth. Back-to-back-to-back singles from Erway, Mullins-Ohm and Ryan Grasser loaded up the bases to get the Tigers in business. But Lindenwood’s Michael Cessna, who earned his fourth save, got back in control thanks to a big double play that scored Erway. The reliever escaped the inning without further damage after striking out the next hitter.
Erway finished 3-for-4 out of the leadoff spot while scoring two runs. Mullins-Ohm was 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Catcher Dawson Sramek recorded his third multi-hit game of the season after finishing 2-for-4 with a pair of singles.
Cody Rottinghaus (1-3) took the loss after allowing nine earned runs (six earned) on 11 hits while striking out one over 5.2 innings on the mound. Jake Taylor finished things off out of the pen, giving up a pair of runs on four hits while striking out one over 3.1 innings of work.
The Tigers are schedule to hit the road again next week when they travel to Maryville, Mo. for a three-game set with Northwest Missouri State. The series begins with a 3 p.m. first pitch Friday.
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped a pair of games to Lindenwood Sunday afternoon at Larks Park. The Tigers were overpowered by the Lions pitching in both contests, falling 13-1 in the opener before taking a 16-3 loss in the nightcap. The Tigers (3-23, 2-15 MIAA) and Lions (16-15, 10-7 MIAA) will wrap up the series Monday beginning at 1 p.m.
Game One: Lindenwood 13, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers could only muster five hits in the opener. Landon Erway and Jared Haynes tallied two hits each, while Ryan Grasser earned the other hit and the lone RBI. Ryan Ruder (1-5) started on the mound and allowed eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits, striking out two and walking one in 4.0 innings of work. Chase Werth came on in relief but was tagged for five runs (four earned) in two innings. Jake Vieira tossed a scoreless frame in the seventh, while earning one strikeout.
Game Two: Lindenwood 16, Fort Hays State 3
In the nightcap, Tiger starter Ethan Booe tossed 6.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out one and walking four batters. Ryan Brown was tapped for six runs (five earned) in 0.2 of the seventh frame before Tanner Smith came on in relief to get the final out of the inning. Wyatt Schumacher tossed one inning, while giving up two runs on one hit and one walk.
The Lions built their 9-0 lead heading into the home half of the seventh with a seven-run frame. LWU posted a three-run home run, a two RBI triple, and earned three runs on two Tiger miscues.
The Tiger bats fared better in the second game, as they were able to post eight hits. Tyler Olson picked up his fifth multi-hit bid of the season while Grasser, Haynes, Jared Maneth and Cody Starkel each earned a hit in the contest. Kyler Cox and Taylan Mullins-Ohm produced key pinch-hit singles that led to Haynes finding the center field wall for a two-out 2 RBI double in the eighth inning.
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s track and field team claimed four individual first place finishes in their lone home meet of the season, the Alex Francis Classic. The event, which was moved up one day due to impending weather, was held in Hays and was the second outdoor meet of the season for the men.
Courtesy FHSU Athletics / Allie Schweizer
On the day, five Tigers finished in the top position in their events. Philip Landrum, who is coming off his indoor nationals appearance, finished in first in the 200-meters with a time of 21.37. In the 800-meters, Brett Meyer earned the top spot with a time of 1:54.24. In three field events the Tigers earned their high finish. Kolt Newell won his second-straight high jump event with a height of 6 feet, 6 ¾ inches. Cameron Fouts rounded out the top finishes for FHSU with his winning javelin throw of 184 feet, 9 inches.
Besides the first place finishes, the Tigers held their own on their home track as many ran away with top-ten finishes. In the 200-meters, Malcom Gardner finishes in the runner up position at 21.51, followed in fourth place by Brayden Soza at 22.25. Shane Finegan claimed ninth in the 400-meters with a time of 52.89, and Alex Barbosa finished in eighth place in the 800-meters at 1:59.91. Barbosa also earned a fifth place finish in the 1,500-meters with his time of 4:10.10.
In the 5,000-meters, Layton Werth ended in third place at 15:14.60, with Reed Rome coming in fourth (15:19.58), Israel Barco in sixth (15:38.35) and Kaleb Crum in ninth place (15:59.05). Sabino Medrano earned a fifth place finish in the 110-meter hurdles at 15.53 and Matthew Pieper finish in the top ten in tenth place at 16.40. In the extended version of the hurdles in the 400-meters, Pieper finished in fourth with a time of 58.23, followed by Medrano in fifth place with his time of 1:01.27.
Robert Loeffler earned a fourth place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with his mark of 10:18.62, as Peter Franklin earned fifth at 10:21.34 and Christopher Nemechek finishing in seventh with a time of 10:51.92. In relay runs, the quad of Soza, Landrum, Gardner and Adrian Soto finished in second place in the 4×100 with a time of 42.72. Four groups finished in the top-ten in the 4×400 version of the relays, including a second place finish by Gardner, Soto, Pieper and Jake Faerber with a time of 3:30.22.
Moving to field events, the Tigers were able to earn strong finishes throughout the remainder of the events. In the high jump, Lucas Broxterman finished in second place with his mark of 6 feet, 2 ¾ inches and Blayne Godshall earned a sixth place finish at 5 feet, 10 ¾ inches. In the pole vault, four Tigers placed well, led by Mark Faber in second at 15 feet, 3 inches. Ryan Stanley came in fourth (14 feet, 9 inches), Jonathan Ball in sixth (14 feet, 3 ¼ inches) and Brandon Ball (13 feet, 9 ¼ inches) all achieved strong marks at home.
Broxterman added a ninth place finish in the long jump to his day after jumping a mark of 21 feet, 9 ½ inches. In the shot put, Gilbert Peters earned fifth place with a throw of 48 feet, 10 ¾ inches and Sam Garrison finished in sixth with his 48 feet, 4 inch performance. Peters added a fifth place finish in the discus with a throw of 149 feet, 10 inches, followed by Jacob Gaughan in seventh with a throw of 146 feet, 5 inches and Sam Garrison in ninth at 135 feet, 11 inches.
Rounding out the day for the Tigers was an eighth place finish in the hammer throw for Hunter DeGarmo with a distance of 152 feet, 2 inches, and a sixth place finish in the javelin by Trey Teeter with a throw of 162 feet, 4 inches.
The Tigers are back in action next Saturday (April 6) as they travel west to compete in the Colorado Invitational in Boulder, Colo.
The Tiger women capture three first place finishes
In their lone home meet of the season, the Fort Hays State women’s track and field team boasted a strong performance at the Alex Francis Classic. The event, which was moved up one day due to impending weather, was the second outdoor meet for the Tigers on the season.
Yessenia Gonzales captured first place in the 5,000-meters with a time of 18:37.37. Two Tigers claimed first in field events, with Summer Kragel earning the top finish in the high jump at 5 feet, 3 inches and Alexcia Deutscher in the javelin with her provisional and winning throw of 146 feet, 3 inches.
A handful of other Tigers performed strong on the day, finishing in the top-ten in a majority of the events. In the 100-meters, four FHSU athletes placed strong with Lindsay Shupe leading the way in second place at 12.19, Lyric Holman coming in third at 12.49, Bree Hysaw clocking in fourth at 12.54 and Peri Lange crossing the line in sixth place with a time of 12.95. Shupe, Holman and Hysaw also placed in the 200-meters, coming in second (25.50), eighth (26.55) and tenth (27.26).
Lucy Giles finished in eighth place in the 400-meters with a time of 1:04.28, and Grace Buessing placed third in the 800-meters at 2:24.45, followed closely behind by Averi Wilson in sixth with a time of 2:36.28. Wilson also placed in the 1,500-meters coming in fourth at 5:17.03.
Abigail Stewart earned a runner-up finish in the 5,000-meters with her time of 19:25.47, with Tessa Durnell clocking in fourth place at 19:49.87. In the 100-meter hurdles, Haley George captured a seventh place finish with her time of 16.32. In the longer, 400-meter hurdles, Lange finished in the runner-up position with a time of 1:07.51. Courtney Batchman finished the event in eighth place at 1:12.99 followed behind by George in ninth place at 1:18.47.
In the 3,000-meter steeplechase, Rylea Oliver finished in second place at 12:47.26 and Carson Pierce clocked a third place time of 13:01.20. Three 4×400 relay teams finished in the top-five, with the quad of Holman, Hysaw, Abby Burton and Shupe coming in second with a time of 4:17.91.
Moving to field events, Cheyenne Nickelson earned a fourth place finish in the pole vault with a jump of 9 feet, 6 ¼ inches. Haley Jones finished in third place in the high jump at 5 feet, 1 inch, with Robin Ritsema coming in third as well at the same height. In the long jump, Kayla Smith earned fifth place at 18 feet, ¼ inches and Rohey Singhateh finished in seventh with a jump of 17 feet, 9 ¾ inches. Singhateh claimed second in the triple jump, earning a distance of 38 feet, 5 ½ inches. Smith followed Singhateh by coming in fourth with her jump of 37 feet, 1/5 inches.
In the discus, Laurel Haley finished in sixth place at 128 feet, ½ inches and Logan Batchman earned ninth at 110 feet, 11 inches. Julia Wagner earned fifth place in the hammer throw with her attempt of 152 feet, 10 inches. In the javelin, two other Tigers finished behind Deutscher as Kalynn Foster earned second place at 123 feet 9 inches and Kaci Vaughan captured fourth place at 114 feet, 3 inches.
The Tigers are back in action next Saturday (April 6) as they travel west to compete in the Colorado Invitational in Boulder, Colo.
HAYS, Kan. – Tyler Olson had three hits and Marcus Altman drove in three runs to lead the Fort Hays State baseball team’s 14-hit explosion in an 8-4 win over Northwestern Oklahoma State Wednesday afternoon at Larks Park. The Tigers improved to 3-21 overall with the win while the Rangers dropped to 17-13 on the season.
Jerod Goodale Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Olson went 3-for-4 at the plate, scoring two runs and adding his fourth RBI of the season. Altman belted his first home run of the season, scoring two runs and producing three RBI. Dawson Sramek and Ryan Grasser also earned multi-hit bids on the afternoon.
FHSU starter Jake Taylor tossed 5.1 innings, allowing four runs, seven hits and walking two batters. Taylor also stuck out two Ranger hitters. Ryan Brown (1-0) came on in relief and earned the victory with a scoreless 3.2 innings of work, allowing only one hit and striking out three hitters.
Northwestern Oklahoma State grabbed a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning after poking an RBI double and a 2-run blast to left field. The Tigers were able to get a run back in the home half when Marcus McDaniel ripped an RBI single through the right side of the infield, scoring Olson from second base.
The Tigers scored three runs with two outs in the third to take a 4-3 lead. Ryan Grasser started the rally with a two-out walk. Jared Haynes pushed Grasser to second with a single to left. Altman followed with a two-run double to center field. Altman then scored when Olson placed a ball through the left side of the infield.
NWOSU tied the game 4-4 with a run in the top of the sixth only to see the Tigers answer with two in the bottom of the inning. Altman homered to left field wall for his first home run of the season. Jordan Wilkerson reached on an error which scored Marcus McDaniel who reached on an infield single
The Tigers added two insurance runs in the eighth after Wilkerson earned an RBI single through the left side and Grasser was beaned by pitch with the bases loaded.
FHSU will be back in action this weekend when they take on Lindenwood for the first MIAA series in Hays. The Tigers and Lions will play single games Saturday, Sunday and Monday at Larks Park all starting at 1 p.m.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After taking home the individual title at the Rockhurst Invitational, Senior Hannah Perkins has been named MIAA Women’s Golf Co-Athlete of the Week, sharing the award with Missouri Western’s Shi Qing Ong. It is the fifth time in her career that Perkins has earned the honor.
The senior won her third tournament of her career at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kan. Perkins fired identical rounds of 78 to finish with a six-stroke margin of victory for a total of 156. It is her fourth top-5 finish of the season and third top-3 finish of her senior campaign. A native of Wichita, Perkins helped the Tigers to a runner-up finish in the event.
WICHITA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s golf team completed the Rockhurst Invitational (March 25-26) with a third-place finish at the par-72, 6,810-yard course at Crestview Country Club in Wichita, Kan. The Tigers shot rounds of 318 and 308 to finish 50-over par (626) for the tournament.
Senior Mac McNish led the Tigers after shooting rounds of 77 and 74 (151) and finishing in a tie for third for the tournament.
Isaiah Grover fired off rounds of 78 and 77 on his way to solo eighth-place individually. Connor Schultz shot rounds of 77 and 79 to finish in a tie for ninth. Jake Weller finished solo 17th with rounds of 88 and 78. Bryce Cowan carded rounds of 86 and 90.
Northwestern Oklahoma State took home the team title with rounds of 313 and 307 for a 44-over par score (620) as a team. Rockhurst (624) finished runner-up for the week, while Fort Hays State finished two strokes behind runner-up with an aggregate score of 626.
The Tigers will be back in action in 11 days when they make their way to Newton, Kan. for the Bethel College Spring Invitational (April 6-7). First round action is held at Hesston Golf Club, while the final round will be played at Sand Creek Station Golf Course.
Due to forecasted weather for the Hays area on Friday and Saturday, the MIAA doubleheaders scheduled for Fort Hays State Softball against Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma have been pushed to Sunday and Monday (Mar. 31 and Apr. 1). The start time of each doubleheader is 1 pm. FHSU faces NSU on Sunday, and then UCO on Monday.
Fort Hays State is 5-3 in MIAA play so far this season and 12-11 overall. Northeastern State is 7-1 so far in MIAA action and enters Sunday’s doubleheader at 19-12 overall. Central Oklahoma enters the weekend 26-2 overall and 8-0 in the MIAA, ranked No. 2 in the nation as of last week. The Bronchos will play at Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday before taking on FHSU in Hays on Monday.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Yessenia Gonzales of Fort Hays State track and field has been named the MIAA’s Track Athlete of the Week. Gonzales is the first Tiger female to earn an athlete of the week honor this season.
Gonzales captured the mention after winning the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Emporia State Spring Invite over the weekend. She boasted a first-place winning time of 11:44.86 to defeat the rest of the field. This time sits Gonzales at No. 26 in NCAA DII.
Gonzales and the rest of the Fort Hays State Tigers look ahead to this Thursday (March 28) as they host their lone home meet of the season in the Alex Francis Classic. Field events are slated to start at noon, with running events commencing at 2 p.m.
ATLANTA — The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association announced Monday the eight 2019 United States Marine Corps/WBCA NCAA Division II Region Coaches of the Year, along with the United States Marine Corps/WBCA NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year. Tony Hobson of Fort Hays State is the WBCA Central Region Coach of the Year for the 2018-19 season. All eight Region Coaches of the Year were finalists for National Coach of the Year, which goes to Molly Miller of Drury University this year.
Hobson guided Fort Hays State to its second Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Regular Season Championship and the program’s first-ever MIAA Tournament championship in 2018-19. Hobson led the Tigers to a 30-1 record entering the NCAA Championship Tournament, the fewest losses in the regular season in program history. The Tigers made their fifth appearance in the NCAA Tournament (fourth under Hobson) and earned the No. 1 seed in the Central Regional for a second time in Hobson’s tenure. FHSU finished the year 32-2 overall, the best overall record produced in the program’s NCAA Division II history. Hobson has guided the Tigers to eight consecutive seasons of 20-plus wins going back to the 2011-12 season.
Hobson now has 16 “Coach of the Year” honors in his 27-year history as a women’s college basketball coach. Hobson was also the MIAA Coach of the Year this season. He has guided three different colleges to at least 30 wins in a season in his career (FHSU for the second time this year, Hastings College five times, and Barton (Kan.) Community College once). He now has an overall record of 650-200 as a college coach, a .765 win percentage.
Fort Hays State women’s basketball senior Tatyana Legette was named a WBCA All-America Honorable Mention selection on Monday evening. Legette is the fourth All-America selection in the program’s history and first since Kate Lehman in 2015. Legette adds this honor to her great list of accomplishments this year after being named the MIAA Player of the Year, MIAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, and a D2CCA All-Region First Team selection.
Legette led Fort Hays State in points, rebounds, and assists, helping the Tigers to a stellar 32-2 overall record and advance to the NCAA Central Regional Final. She averaged 13.4 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game, while ranking second on the team in blocks per game (1.5) and third in steals per game (1.4). She scored in double figures 24 times, compiling 10 double-doubles in the process. Legette was named MIAA Athlete of the Week three times this year.
For her career, the Topeka, Kan. native has amassed 1,256 points, ranking 11th on the all-time list at FHSU, and 865 rebounds, good for fourth in program history. She ranks fifth in program history for blocked shots (126) and free throws made (352), sixth in free-throw attempts (487), and 10th in field goal percentage (50.3 percent).
Legette helped lead the Tigers to a 30-1 record entering the NCAA Championship Tournament, the fewest losses in the regular season in program history. She helped FHSU capture both the MIAA regular season and MIAA tournament championships, becoming the first team to do so since 2012. The Tigers earned an automatic bid into the 2019 NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Championship, their fifth trip to the big dance. The Tigers were the No. 1 seed in the Central Regional of the tournament.
2019 WBCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team
Seairra Barrett California University of Pennsylvania
Marissa Brown West Liberty University
Hailey Diestelkamp Drury University
Camille Giardina Florida Southern College
Lexy Hightower West Texas A&M University
Jessica Kelliher Lewis University
Alexy Mollenhauer Anderson University
Hailey Tucker Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Dana Watts American International College
Mikayla Williams University of California – San Diego
Honorable Mention All-America
Michaela Barnes Edinboro University
Daejah Bernard Drury University
Ay’Anna Bey Benedict College
Cassidy Boensch Grand Valley State University
Toni Brewer University of West Florida
Addy Clift Oklahoma Christian University
Marquita Daniels Angelo State University
Natalie Diaz Dominican University
Jaylyn Duran Colorado Mesa University
Raziyah Farrington University of Charleston
Anja Fuchs-Robetin Florida Southern College
Savanna Hanson Azusa Pacific University
Jessica Harris Lander University
Felecity Havens University of Mount Olive
Jodi Johnson Ashland University
Tyra Jones Emporia State University
Tatyana Legette Fort Hays State University
Ellie Logan Northwest Nazarene University
Kylie Lorenzen Southern New Hampshire University
Shareka McNeill Virginia Union University
Halee Nieman University of West Florida
Haris Price Carson-Newman University
Hayden Priddy Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Paige Redmond University of Central Missouri
McKayla Roberts Le Moyne College
Olivia Robertson Lubbock Christian University
Alex Thomas University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
Hannah Wandersee University of Alaska – Anchorage
Kianna Wynn Barton College
Irisa Ye University of the Sciences in Philadelphia
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women’s tennis team suffered a 7-0 MIAA loss to visiting Northeastern State on Monday. With the loss, the Tigers fall to 3-6 overall with an 0-4 conference mark. The RiverHawks improve to 4-6 while boasting 2-1 MIAA record.
The RiverHawks claimed all singles matches over the Tigers, starting with Tatjana Stoll claiming a 6-1, 6-1 win over Laura Jimenez-Lendinez in the No. 1 spot. At No. 2, Mayra Jovic defeated Lauren Lindell in a 6-1, 6-3 contest, while Betka Gombarova defeated Ellea Ediger 6-2, 6-0 at No. 3. Kristela Vidnere earned a 6-0, 6-2 win over Haley Weidemann with Karla Tomaic defeating Nicole Lubbers 6-0, 6-0 and Melissa Vera winning against Kimberly Stone, 6-1, 6-1.
Doubles play also went to the RiverHawks, with the 1-3 positions in favor of Northeastern State. The RiverHawk duo of Stoll and Jovic took down Lindell and Natalie Lubbers 6-1, with Betka Gombarova and Kristela VIdnere defeating FHSU’s No. 2 doubles of Nicole Lubbers and Jimenez-Lendinez, 2-6. In the final doubles contest of the day, NSU’s Emma Warnock and Tomaic defeated FHSU’s Ediger and Weidemann, 6-2.
The Tigers look ahead to two contests this upcoming weekend, starting with a Friday (March 29) match at Southwest Baptist with the first serve set for 3 p.m. On Saturday (March 30), Fort Hays State continues its Missouri road trip in St. Charles as they take on Lindenwood at 11 a.m.
HAYS, Kan. – In their first home match of the spring season, the Fort Hays State women’s tennis suffered a 6-1 loss at the hands of No. 4 Central Oklahoma in Hays. The Tigers drop to 3-5 on the season and 0-3 in MIAA play, while the Bronchos improve to 8-2 overall and a perfect 3-0 in conference battles.
In singles play, the Tigers picked up one win as Ellea Ediger claimed a 2-6, 6-4, 10-8 win over Nikki Boyer. However, Fort Hays State faltered in its other singles bouts. Laura Jimenez-Lendinez fell in a 4-6, 2-6 contest to Isabella Dunlap, while UCO’s Kirtana Bhat claimed a 1-6, 1-6 win over Lauren Lindell. Natalie Lubbers fell 3-6, 2-6 to Paola Landin. Haley Weidemann slipped in a 2-6, 0-6 loss to Alix Williams. Nicole Lubbers rounded out the singles play for FHSU as she suffered a 3-6, 2-6 loss to Jessica Le.
Doubles play went to the Bronchos as they took all three contests. The duo of Natalie Lubbers and Lindell were shutout 0-6 by Adel-Byanu Abidullina and Bhat. Nicole Lubbers and Jimenez-Lendinez were bounded 2-6 by Sarah Van Eeckhoudt and Boyar, while Ediger and Weidemann were defeated 2-6 by the Bronchos duo of Williams and Le.
The Tigers are back in action at home on Monday (March 25) at 10 am as they play host to Northeastern State.
ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Fort Hays State fell in both contests at Lindenwood University on Saturday. Defensive miscues plagued the Tigers throughout the doubleheader as Lindenwood won by scores of 4-2 and 1-0, moving to 14-10 overall and 5-7 in the MIAA. FHSU moved to 12-11 overall and 5-3 in the MIAA with the losses.
Game 1: Lindenwood 4, Fort Hays State 2
Poor defensive execution led to three Lindenwood runs in a 4-2 loss to open the afternoon. Lindenwood plated three runs in the first inning, but mental mistakes aided in the last two of three to score.
Lindenwood started its half of the first inning with a triple and double to score a run, but the Tigers helped the Lions out the remainder of the inning. With one out and a runner on third, pitcher Michaelanne Nelson came home with a throw that had the runner caught in a pickle. However, while Sara Breckbill chased the Lindenwood runner back toward third, she missed the runner on a diving tag, allowing the runner to retreat safely to third. During the next at bat, Breckbill threw down to second on a steal attempt and the ball went into center field allowing the runner from third to score. The Lions went on to plate another run on a single, opening the game with a 3-0 lead.
The Tigers struggled to get baserunners into scoring position throughout the first six innings of the game. A Lily Sale single in the third was the first hit of the game for FHSU against Lindenwood starter Marina Esparza, who did not face much resistance until the seventh inning. A Katie Adler home run to open the fourth inning produced the Tigers’ first run of the game, cutting the Lindenwood lead to 3-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Lions pushed their lead back to three on another poor defensive decision by the Tigers. With runners at first and third with two outs, Breckbill opted to throw down to second on a steal attempt. The throw was well late at second base and the runner from third cruised home to easily score a run on the double steal. The batter then flew out to end the inning.
Despite the defensive miscues, the Tigers still had a shot to tie or take the lead in the seventh. Bailey Boxberger led off the inning with a home run, cutting the Lindenwood lead down to 4-2 with a tape-measure blast over the elevated center field wall. With two outs, Grace Philop and Jeni Mohr came up with timely singles and then advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Pinch hitter Allison Jurgensen drew a walk to load the bases, but Esparza ended her brief patch of wildness by striking out Sale on three pitches to end the game.
Nelson threw a complete game for the Tigers, allowing four runs on 10 hits and a walk. She struck out two Lions and moved to 4-6 overall on the season. Esparza also went the distance for Lindenwood, moving to 2-2 on the season.
Game 2: Lindenwood 1, Fort Hays State 0
Game two of the doubleheader boiled down to a pair of Tiger errors in the third inning as Hailey Chapman took a tough-luck loss in the pitching circle.
Lindenwood pitcher Stormee Galka was a thorn in the Tigers’ side as she accounted for two of the Lions’ three hits against Chapman. She scored the game’s only run, while also throwing a complete-game shutout with 11 strikeouts and three hits allowed. Galka had a bloop single in the third inning that Tiger left fielder Megan Feiner misplayed and she motored an extra two bases on the miscue. Chapman made the pitch she needed with two outs, inducing a ground ball to shortstop Lily Sale, but Sale’s throw to first was low and Bailey Boxberger could not dig it out. Galka crossed the plate and that’s all she needed as she dominated the Tiger lineup in the circle.
Katie Adler and Boxberger were the only Tigers to find hits off Galka. Adler went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Boxberger picked up her lone hit of the game to lead off the seventh. The Tigers had runners reach first and second with one out after Galka’s only walk allowed, but Galka got a weak pop up and a ground out to end the game.
Chapman matched Galka in the hits allowed column, while striking out three. The game’s lone run was unearned. Chapman threw her sixth complete game of the season and moved to 7-5 overall.
Tiger Notes
-Katie Adler and Bailey Boxberger were the only Tigers with more than one hit in the doubleheader, Adler finishing with three and Boxberger with two.
-Besides the pair of solo home runs in the first game, FHSU had only three baserunners reach scoring position all day over 14 innings played. All three of those were in the 7th inning when the Tigers were down to their last at bat.
-Fort Hays State has been shut out in six of its 11 losses this season. The Tigers are 0-4 this year in games decided by a score of 1-0.
Up Next
Fort Hays State is back at home on Friday, March 29 when it plays host to Northeastern State in another MIAA doubleheader. First pitch is slated for 2 pm.
