HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State split its final doubleheader of the season on Monday at Tiger Stadium against Nebraska-Kearney on Senior Day. The Tigers took the first contest by a score of 4-3 before falling by run rule in the second game, 10-0. The Tigers finish their season at 13-37 overall, while the Lopers finish at 16-29 overall.

Adrian Pilkington Postgame Interview

Game 1: Fort Hays State 4, Nebraska-Kearney 3
After both teams scored a run in the first inning, FHSU added two in the second and one in the third to build a 4-1 lead. The Tigers had to hang on in the end after UNK scored one in the fifth and one in the seventh, but Hailey Chapman entered with the bases loaded in the seventh to get a one-out save. She struck out Calli Wiseman to end the game.

Game 1 Highlights

In the first inning, Candace Bollig reached on an error leading off the inning. She stole second and then scored on an RBI single by Terran Caldwell. In the second inning, Tess Gray gave the Tigers a 2-1 lead with a double to the right center gap, scoring Veronica Knittig. Gray eventually came in to score on another RBI single by Caldwell, making it 3-1. In the fourth, Carrie Clarke helped her own cause by notching an RBI single up the middle, scoring Bailey Kennedy.

Clarke threw 5.0 innings for the Tigers in the final start of her career in the pitching circle. She allowed two runs on seven hits and two walks, while striking out three. It was enough to earn the win. Megan Jamison mowed through the Lopers in the sixth inning with three straight strikeouts, but ran into trouble with two outs in the seventh when the Tigers committed a pair of errors that aided in loading the bases and scoring a run. Chapman came in to get the final out for her fifth save of the season.

Mallory Stoner took the loss for Nebraska-Kearney, throwing 3.0 innings before handing the ball over to Meg Housholder. Stoner allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and a walk. Housholder held the Tigers to just two hits and struck out four over 3.0 innings of relief.

Game 2: Nebraska-Kearney 10, Fort Hays State 0
The Lopers ran away with the season finale, aided by a first-inning three-run homer by Sara Sempek that put them up 4-0 early in the game. Hailey Chapman struggled against the Lopers, allowing nine runs on 13 hits over 5.0 innings, just a day after she shut them out in Kearney on just three hits with 10 strikeouts. She had just three strikeouts in this contest.

Game 2 Highlights

The Lopers tacked on two runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth to put the run rule in effect. The Tigers had only five hits, which included three against starter Abbey Martin who lasted 4.0 innings in the circle. Martin earned just her second win of the season. Erin Hallman pitched a scoreless fifth and Sarah Handrahan did the same in the sixth.

Sara Breckbill and Bailey Kennedy had two hits each in the game, accounting for 80 percent of the team’s hit production in the game. Tess Gray had a pinch hit single.

Fort Hays State came up short of qualifying for the MIAA Tournament, finishing in a tie for 12th at 8-18. Despite struggling to just three wins away from Hays this year, the Tigers still finished with a winning record at home, where they went 10-9.

Seniors Candace Bollig, Carrie Clarke, and Veronica Knittig were honored between the contests. The Tigers had a young squad in 2018 as 13 of the 17 players were either freshmen or sophomores.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – After finishing in a near-school record time in the 1,500-meters over the weekend, Fort Hays State’s Brett Meyer has been named the latest MIAA Track Athlete of the week, announced Monday (April 23).

Meyer’s impressive time of 3:43.64 in the event was just 0.6 seconds short of the school record set in 1968 by 14-time All-American, John Mason. This time gave Meyer the fourth automatic time in Division II this year. This mark was hit at the Brian Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif., over the weekend.

In just the fourth time Meyer had run the 1,500-meters for Fort Hays State, he finished as the No. 2 Division II runner in the field. This mark out-paced Meyer’s previous time in the event by 12.9 seconds. Meyer now ranks No. 3 in the nation in this event.

This was not the only impressive mark Meyer had on the weekend, as he improved his provisional mark in the 800-meters with his third place finish at the Long Beach State Invitational with a time of 1:50.15. This time places him at No. 12 on the national performance list for that event.

This honor was Meyer’s first outdoor mention of the season. He previously was named Indoor Track Athlete of the Week on Jan. 23. Fort Hays State has had three other mentions for the outdoor season so far, as Malcom Gardner has claimed MIAA Track Athlete twice, and Sam Dreiling earning the Field Athlete honor once.

KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State split its final MIAA doubleheader of the season by shutting out Nebraska-Kearney in Sunday’s (Apr. 22) nightcap. The Tigers took the second game 2-0 after falling 7-5 in the first contest of the day. The Tigers and Lopers wrap up the season Monday in Hays in a pair of non-conference games at Tiger Stadium, starting at 1 pm.

Game 1: Nebraska-Kearney 7, Fort Hays State 5
Nebraska-Kearney jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the first game of the day before late rallies by the Tigers in the sixth and seventh innings came up short. The Tigers broke through with four runs in the sixth to close the gap to just one run, but UNK got two runs back in the bottom of the inning to lead 7-4. FHSU loaded the bases in the seventh with no outs, but could only push across one run on a two-out RBI single.

Trailing 5-0 in the sixth, the Tigers loaded up the bases with three consecutive singles from Bailey Boxberger, Grace Philop, and Sara Breckbill. Bailey Kennedy and Lily Sale kept the streak going, each driving in a run with the fourth and fifth consecutive singles to open the inning. Veronica Knittig followed with an RBI on a fielder’s choice. Terran Caldwell kept the rally alive with another RBI single, cutting the UNK lead to just one run.

In the seventh inning, Boxberger, Philop and Breckbill repeated their feat of the sixth inning with three consecutive singles to open the inning. However, a strikeout and pop up quickly turned the golden opportunity into a tough challenge with two outs. Knittig extended the game with an RBI single up the middle, but Candace Bollig’s flare to right field could not get down before the Loper second baseman gloved it for the final out of the game.

The Lopers did the majority of their damage against FHSU starting pitcher Sierra Rodriguez, who allowed five runs over just 2.0 innings of work. A solo homer in the third chased her from the game. Megan Jamison entered in relief, going 4.0 innings with two runs allowed on five hits with two strikeouts.

Meg Housholder of UNK did enough for the win, allowing the first four runs to the Tigers over 5.0 innings of work. She surrendered 10 hits to the Tigers. Abbey Martin relieved for an inning and allowed one run on four hits. Sarah Handrahan earned a save by getting the final three outs of the game.

Several Tigers had a great game at the plate as Philop, Breckbill, and Knittig went 3-for-4 at the plate. The Tigers had a total of 15 hits, yet left 11 runners on base compared to just four by UNK.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 2, Nebraska-Kearney 0
The Tigers put an end to their 23-game losing streak away from Hays in the second game of the doubleheader, riding a complete game shutout by Hailey Chapman in a 2-0 win. Chapman struck out 10 Lopers, while allowing just three hits and two walks to earn her fifth win of the season.

Chapman retired eight consecutive batters from the second out in the first inning to the final out of the third. After a leadoff single by UNK in the fourth, she buckled down to retire 10 straight up to the first out of the seventh. She then allowed a couple of singles and a two-out walk to load the bases, but picked up the final out on a grounder to second base. It was Chapman’s first shutout of the season.

The Tigers benefitted from a throwing error by the Lopers in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead. The margin remained the same up until the top of the fifth inning when Terran Caldwell recorded the only RBI of the game with an infield single to shortstop, plating pinch runner Sydney Harsh who ran for Tess Gray. A double with one out by Gray led to the two-out single by Caldwell. The Tigers had six hits in the contest, led by two from Caldwell.

Sunday marked the first win for the Tigers outside of Hays since February 10 and prevented them from going winless in MIAA play on the road this year.

Fort Hays State will host Nebraska-Kearney for Senior Day in a pair of non-conference games on Monday (Apr. 23) at 1 pm from Tiger Stadium in Hays. The Tigers enter the final day of the season 12-36 overall, while the Lopers enter at 15-28 overall.

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped game three of the series with Lindenwood on Sunday, 10-5, thanks to a five-run eighth inning from the Lions. The Tigers dipped to 13-30 overall and 5-24 in MIAA play, while the Lions moved to 22-20 on the season and 14-16 in conference play.

In a back-and-forth game between the two teams, there were three ties and six lead changes.

The Tigers struck first when Cody Starkel reached base on a fielder’s choice, plating Alex Weiss in the second inning. The Lions evened things up in the home half. Weiss continued his hot streak with an RBI single to left center, bring around Ryan Grasser to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead in the third. Lindenwood matched that in the bottom of the inning with a run of their own.

Lindenwood picked up another run, changing the lead for the third time in the contest, taking a 3-2 lead after four innings of play. Weiss obliterated a baseball over the left center wall for a two-run home run and his eighth long ball of the season.

The Lions grabbed the next two runs in the fifth frame and picked up the lead once more, this time 5-4 over the Tigers. FHSU tied the game up in the sixth after Starkel crossed home on a wild pitch, knotting the score at 5-5. Lindenwood blew the game wide open in the eighth with a five-spot and solidified the lead for good.

Ryan Ruder drew the no decision after giving up four runs on eight hits in 4.0 innings of work. Tanner Smith was charged with the loss after giving up six runs (one earned) in 3.2 innings. Weiss went 3-for-4 from the plate with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Grasser also picked up two hits on the day, going 2-for-4 in the contest.

The Tigers are back in action Wednesday (April 25) as they host Nebraska-Kearney for the final time in the series history. First pitch from Larks Park is slated for 6 p.m.

LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women’s track and field team was stretched in two states over the weekend to compete. With some members traveling to compete in the Beach Invitational hosted by Long Beach State, and the others settling down at the 91st KU Relays in Lawrence, the Tigers were well represented.

Madison Wolf continued her streak of finishing first in every meet this season, as she won the javelin with a throw of 155 feet, 3 inches. Teammate Alexcia Deutscher came in at the runner-up position at 152 feet, 4 inches at the KU Relays. The notable performance in California was Lindsay Roberts’ new school record in the 1,500-meters with her time of 4:35.61. This time was also a new personal record for Roberts, a time good enough to lead her to the top place in her heat.

Also at the KU Relays were other notable finishes for the women. Yessenia Gonzales claimed a sixth place finish in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 11:29.03, while Summer Kragel placed fifth in the high jump with her height of 5 feet, 3 inches. Laurel Haley rounds out the top-ten finishes as she placed 10th in the hammer throw with a mark of 151 feet, 1 inch.

The Tigers will next compete at the Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa April 26-28 next week in their last meet before the MIAA Championships.

LAWRENCE, Kan. – With the Fort Hays State men’s track and field team being represented in both California and Kansas, the success of the program was wide-spread. The Tigers competed in both the Beach Invitational hosted by Long Beach State, while also competing in the 91st KU Relays by the University of Kansas.

Brett Meyer claimed an automatic qualifying mark in California as he finished as the second-best Division II runner in the 1,500-meters, earning a time of 3:43.6 to earn his qualification. Decano Cronin once again broke the school record with a time of 1:48.47 in the 800-meter. Meyer finished in third place in the same event as he earned a provisional with a time of 1:50.15.

Back at the KU relays, the Tigers dominated the field side of things. Kolt Newell took first in the high jump with his height of 6 feet, 8 ¾ inches. TJ Dozier also was named champion in his event of the hammer throw, completing a personal record of 189 feet to finish in the top spot. In pole vault, Jake Morrow finished in the runner-up position as he jumped for a mark of 16 feet, 4 3/4 inches. Sam Dreiling finished right behind his teammate at 15 feet, 11 inches. Layton Werth accounted for a 31:25.96 time in the men’s 10k in Lawrence, good enough for a personal record.

Other notable finishes for the Tigers over the weekend include a fourth place finish for Dozier in the discus at 162 feet, 3 inches. Alongside that finish was a seventh place mark for Christian Delaney in the shot put who threw for 51 feet, 1 3/4 inches. In the high jump, Lucas Broxterman earned a ninth place finish at KU with his height of 6 feet, 4 3/4 inches.

The Tigers will next travel to Des Moines, Iowa for the Drake Relays. The meet is scheduled for April 26-28 next week, their last chance to prepare for the MIA Championships.

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team jumped out to an early lead thanks to three doubles in the first three innings Saturday afternoon (April 21), but Lindenwood came from behind to take game two of the series, 12-5. The Tigers are now 13-29 on the year and 5-23 in MIAA play while the Lions move to 21-20 overall and 13-16 in league action.

The Tigers collected their five runs on six hits and two Lion defensive miscues, while LU pushed across 12 runs on 18 hits and no FHSU errors.

Lindenwood grabbed an early 2-0 lead in the first, but the Tigers responded with a pair of runs in both the second and third innings to go in front 4-2. After the first five FHSU batters were retired, a pitch hit Cody Starkel to trigger a two-out rally in the second. Walks to Dayton Pomeroy and Bryce Whitchurch loaded the bases for the nine-spot in the order. Dawson Sramek came through with the first base hit of the game for the Tigers, roping a double to right that bounced over the fence, driving in a pair to tie things up at 2-2.

After starter Alex Ruxlow retired the side in order in the bottom of the second, Fort Hays State kept things rolling in the third frame. Ryan Grasser and Addison Kaasch clubbed back-to-back doubles to open the frame, the latter of which gave the Tigers the lead. Kaasch later came around to score on a double steal attempt, doubling the FHSU advantage.

The Lions scored four runs over the next two innings to retake the lead, but FHSU got one of the runs back in the fifth to close within one, 6-5. Clayton Basgall reached on an error to start the inning before coming around to score on Alex Weiss’ two-out base hit up the middle. Lindenwood pulled away down the stretch, pushing across six more runs over their final four at-bats.

Six different Tigers picked up a base hit Saturday, with Sramek serving as the only player to drive in multiple RBI. Alex Ruxlow (0-4) took the loss after allowing six runs on eight hits over 3.2 innings of work. Zach Rothert struck out five out in 2.2 innings out of the bullpen, allowing four runs.

The teams will face off once more on Sunday afternoon (April 22) with the series finale set to begin at 1 p.m.

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Timely hits eluded the Fort Hays State baseball team Friday evening (April 20) against Lindenwood, with the Lions coming away with a 9-0 win in game one of the weekend series. The Tigers are now 13-28 overall and 5-22 in MIAA play, while Lindenwood is now 20-20 on the year and 12-16 in league action.

The Tigers saw 10 players reach base on the day, occupying the base paths in all but two innings. All five base hits came from two batters, including three base knocks from Cody Starkel and two from Alex Weiss.

Lindenwood took control with five runs in the third inning, batting around thanks to six hits and two walks. Lions starter Blake Beckmann took over from there, tossing seven scoreless innings while striking out five and allowing just four hits.

Fort Hays State had its best chance to score in the top of the first when it had a pair of runners in scoring position, but a strikeout ended the scoring threat.

Ben Ramberg (2-5) took the loss after allowing five runs over 4.2 innings of work. Austin Weiser tossed 2.1 innings of relief, allowing just two hits and one run.

The Tigers will look to level the series on Saturday when game two kicks off at 3 p.m. from the Lou Brock Sports Complex.

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney have agreed to play a non-conference doubleheader on Monday (Apr. 23) at 1 pm in Hays after the weather forecast pushed the conference doubleheader in Kearney to Sunday (Apr. 22). The non-conference doubleheader between the teams in Hays was originally scheduled for Sunday.

Weather permitting, the plan is for the teams to play at 1 pm in Kearney on Sunday and then 1 pm on Monday in Hays. The doubleheader in Kearney is required for MIAA play. UNK is still alive for the conference tournament. Should the teams be able to get the games played Sunday in Kearney, Monday will serve as Senior Day at Tiger Stadium for Fort Hays State.

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State will hold its annual Spring Football Scrimmage on Saturday (Apr. 21) at Lewis Field Stadium in Hays. The event is set to begin at 2 pm. If inclement weather prevails on Saturday, the scrimmage will move indoors to the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility. The Spring Scrimmage is part of the Spring Kickoff festivities hosted by Tigers4Ever (student alumni association), which begin at 10 am.

**Keep an eye on Facebook and Twitter accounts of Fort Hays State University Athletics on Saturday in the hours leading up to the event for notice if the scrimmage will be moving indoors.**

**TAILGATING ENCOURAGED**
Tiger fans will have the opportunity to tailgate in the lot north of Lewis Field Stadium beginning at 10 am. Typically reserved during the season, parking spots will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so be sure to arrive early to get an ideal location!

**PURCHASE A 2018 SPRING KICKOFF T-SHIRT**
Tigers4Ever will be selling 2018 Spring Kickoff T-Shirts at the event for $10. Purchases are CASH ONLY. Adult sizes Small through 2XL are available. Pre-purchased shirts (shirts that were purchased prior to April 1) are ONLY available for pick up the day of the event beginning 1:30 p.m. at the main entrance (east side) to Lewis Field Stadium.

**YOUTH FOOTBALL CAMP**
FHSU Football will host a youth football camp for 1Ike Eguae at [email protected] or call (785) 639-1001. Youth Camp Brochure

**FAN INTERACTION**
Select fans will have a chance to show off their skills with the team at the scrimmage, participating in drills alongside players. Fans can enter for a chance to participate at tables set up near the main entrance on the east side of the stadium. Drills include kicking a field goal, catching and throwing a pass, fielding a punt, and more!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
10 am-12 pm – FHSU Youth Football Camps (1st-6th grade)
10 am-2 pm – Tailgate
1:30 pm – Lewis Field Gates Open
2 pm – Scrimmage (2, 30-Minute running clock halves)
Halftime – Punt, Pass & Kick Competition
Fan Interaction throughout the scrimmage (sign up for a chance to interact with the team on the field)

SPONSORED BY…
Tigers4Ever: Student Alumni Association
FHSU Athletics
Eagle Communications

For more information, visit the Spring Kick Off Homepage.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State baseball player Alex Weiss has been named MIAA Baseball Hitter of the Week, announced Tuesday (April 17) by the league office.

Weiss had a big week at the plate for FHSU, despite the team going 0-4 in MIAA play. He finished with a .579 batting average and slugged 1.263 for the week. He went 11-for-19 at the plate, belting four home runs along with a double and six singles. He also had a sacrifice fly to his credit. Weiss had a total of 10 RBI for the week and crossed the dish eight times. His biggest offensive performance was a 4-for-6 effort at Nebraska-Kearney in a 26-17 loss, hitting two of his four home runs for the week and driving in five runs.

The baseball team is back in action Tuesday afternoon as it heads to Topeka, Kan. to take on the Washburn Ichabods.

EDMOND, Okla. – The Fort Hays State men’s golf team completed the MIAA Broncho Stampede (April 16-17) and finished the week tenth overall and seventh among conference opponents. The tournament was hosted by Central Oklahoma at the Rose Creek golf course, a 7,048-yard, par-72 course.

Senior Skyler Tebo and junior Mac McNish both finished in a tie for 27th individually. Tebo fired rounds of 79, 70 and 77 while McNish posted rounds of 78, 76 and 72. Both players finished the week with six birdies each and a cumulative score of 10-over par (226).

Connor Schultz shot an 81 in the first round before shooting identical scores of 75 in the final two rounds around the course to finish solo 42nd. Schultz finished the week with six birdies. Lane Pauls finished solo 53rd place after shooting rounds of 77, 79 and 80. Pauls carded three birdies and the lone eagle from a Tiger. Seve Sites posted rounds of 82, 76 and 82. Sites led the squad with seven birdies for the tournament.

Missouri Western took home the team title with an aggregate score of 865. Central Missouri placed second after finishing with a total score of 879. Lindenwood and Central Oklahoma finished in a tie for third with an 882. Fort Hays State posted team scores of 315, 297 and 304 on their way to a total of 916. Patrick McCarthy of Missouri Western captured the individual title with a 3-under par (213) score for the tournament.

The Tigers will begin postseason play next week when they travel to Kansas City, Kan. to compete in the MIAA Championships, hosted at Sycamore Ridge golf course (April 23-25).