FAYETTE, Iowa – The Fort Hays State wrestling team jumped to No. 15 in the fifth edition of the DII National Rankings on Thursday (Feb. 15). The Tigers are tied with conference rival Lindenwood as both teams received 25 votes in the Top 25 Poll. Sophomore Brandon Ball moved up to No. 3 in the 141-pound weight class and Efe Osaghae entered the rankings for the first time in his career to No. 4 in the 149-pound weight class.

FHSU is one of four MIAA teams in the Top 25 as Central Oklahoma dipped one spot to No. 11 and Nebraska-Kearney dropped a spot to No. 13. Lindenwood soared up five spots to No. 15, even with the Tigers.

In the individual rankings, Brandon Ball rose to No. 3 once again at 141 pounds. Ball leads the team with a 31-3 overall record and is 21-2 against Division II opponents. The sophomore is on a 12-match winning streak heading into regionals next weekend (Feb. 23-24). Ball earned the MIAA Championship last weekend (Feb. 11).

Efe Osaghae enters the rankings for the first time as a Tiger at 149 pounds. Osaghae sits at No. 4 after an impressive redshirt-freshman campaign by defeating the defending national champion, Keith Surber of UNK, twice. The most recent time was in overtime of the title bout at the MIAA Championships. Osaghae carries a 26-10 overall record and a 14-5 record in Division II into regionals.

Fort Hays State fell twice on Thursday (Feb. 15) in a pair of games in Claremore, Oklahoma. The Tigers fell to the home team Rogers State by run rule, 10-0, and saw a big lead evaporate late in a 6-5 loss to Oklahoma Baptist in a neutral site contest.

Rogers State 10, Fort Hays State 0

The Tigers fell by run rule in their first contest Thursday, a 10-0 defeat at the hands of Rogers State. Fort Hays State had two runners reach base, one by walk and one by error, but could not scratch out a hit against Rogers State starter Alex Brake in the shortened contest that ended in the fifth.

Each Tiger that reached base also stole a base, Terran Caldwell following a leadoff walk in the first and Bailey Boxberger after reaching on an error in the second.

Tiger starter Hailey Chapman lasted just 1.1 innings and allowed eight runs on four hits and four walks. Carrie Clarke relieved for 0.1 innings, and Sierra Rodriguez pitched the final 2.1 innings. Rodriguez allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits and a walk.

Oklahoma Baptist 6, Fort Hays State 5

Fort Hays State built a 5-0 lead, but saw it evaporate quickly late in a 6-5 loss to Oklahoma Baptist. The Tigers scored twice in the first and three times in the second, but went scoreless the final five innings, while OBU scored six runs over the final two innings.

Tess Gray put the Tigers on top early with a two-run home run in the first inning. Candace Bollig tacked on to the lead in the second with a two-RBI single, followed by another RBI single from Grace Philop.

Hailey Chapman cruised along through five innings before running into trouble in the sixth. Oklahoma Baptist led off the sixth with a home run and proceeded to scratch out three singles over the next four batters to plate another run. With two runners aboard, the biggest blow was a three-run homer allowed to OBU catcher Hailey Seago that tied the game 5-5. Sierra Rodriguez came on in relief following the home run.

Oklahoma Baptist benefitted from a throwing error that allowed the first batter of the seventh inning to reach base. After Rodriguez got one out, OBU took the lead on an RBI single by Bry Flanagan. Rodriguez escaped further damage, stranding runners at first and third.

Grace Philop led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, then moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Gray. However, the Tigers could not find a timely hit to extend the game.

Rodriguez took the loss even though she did not allow an earned run. Chapman threw 5.1 innings and allowed five runs on eight hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Amanda Peterson picked up the win for OBU, throwing the final six innings of the game after relieving for starter Chandler Roberts. All three runs Peterson allowed in the second inning were unearned. She scattered nine hits and allowed one walk.

Fort Hays State, now 2-7, returns to action on Saturday when it hosts the FHSU Crossover Tournament. FHSU will face Harding and Wayne State (Neb.) on Saturday, then Upper Iowa and Rogers State on Sunday. See the Tournament Homepage for a schedule of all the games in Hays over the weekend.

HAYS, Kan. – With forecasted weather altering the schedule this week, Fort Hays State Softball will now host a seven-team crossover tournament in Hays, Friday through Sunday (Feb. 16-18). Fort Hays State will play its games this weekend on Saturday and Sunday. Teams participating in the tournament include Fort Hays State, Harding, Nebraska-Kearney, Rogers State, Upper Iowa, Washburn, and Wayne State (Neb.).

The majority of games will take place on Saturday and Sunday. All of Saturday’s games will be at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex, located just to the west of campus on the Highway 183 Bypass. On Sunday, one field will be utilized at the Bickle-Schmidt Sports Complex for four games, while three games will take place at Tiger Stadium (Home of FHSU Softball). Both of Fort Hays State’s games on Sunday will be at Tiger Stadium.

Below is the schedule of games for the weekend.

All six of Fort Hays State’s softball games scheduled for this weekend in Bentonville, Arkansas have been canceled due to weather forecasted for that area. The Tigers will now go on the road Thursday to Rogers State (Okla.) University to play a pair of games, facing Rogers State and Oklahoma Baptist. Game times will be 12 pm and 2 pm in Claremore, Oklahoma.

For Saturday and Sunday (Feb. 17-18) this weekend, Fort Hays State will be hosting a seven-team tournament in Hays. Details of the tournament (schedule, sites, etc.) will be posted on fhsuathletics.com soon.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team jumped in front early before holding on to defeat Newman Tuesday afternoon (Feb. 13), 9-6. The Tigers are now 5-2 on the year, while the Jets fall to 1-2 overall.

After Roger Kruse (1-0) worked out of a jam in the first inning, stranding a pair of runners, the Tigers batted around in the home half of the frame to accumulate five runs. After Addison Kaasch reached on an error to lead things off, singles from Ryan Grasser and Alex Weiss quickly loaded the bases. Jordan Wilkerson worked a walk two batters later, giving FHSU the first run of the game. Grasser made the score 2-0 when he scored on a wild pitch before Marcus Altman drove in a run with a single to left center. Bryce Whitchurch tacked on two more runs when he crushed a double to left center, scoring Altman and Wilkerson.

The Tigers added to their lead in the bottom of the third when Wilkerson was hit by a pitch in the first plate appearance of the frame. After swiping second, the junior came around to score when designated hitter Jonathan Mariani sent a single back up the middle.

Fort Hays State quickly loaded the bases once again in the fourth inning when Kaasch reached on another error, a pitch hit Grasser and Weiss singled to right center. Pomeroy drove in a run by drawing a four-pitch walk before Altman added his second RBI of the afternoon with a single through the right side, giving the Tigers an impressive 8-0 lead.

Kruse tamed the Jet offense over the first five innings, earning the win after not allowing a run. The junior struck out four batters while giving up two hits and five walks. The Jets tried to battle back against the FHSU bullpen, scoring two runs in the sixth, seventh and ninth innings, but Sam Capps stranded the would-be game-tying run at the plate when he struck out the final batter looking.

The Tigers added their ninth and final run in the sixth inning when Pomeroy demolished a leadoff home run over the fence in left center.

Cody Rottinghaus held Newman at bay out of the bullpen, retiring all four batters he faced.

Pomeroy, Altman and Whitchurch all drove in a pair of runs for FHSU, while five different Tigers collected a pair of hits.

The Tigers will be back in action over the weekend when they travel to Las Vegas, N.M. to take on New Mexico Highlands in a three-game series. Game one will commence at 2 p.m. (1 p.m. MT) on Friday (Feb. 16).

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State sophomore pitcher Hailey Chapman earned MIAA Pitcher of the Week honors on Tuesday (Feb. 13) for her efforts at the St. Mary’s Softball Classic in San Antonio, Texas last weekend.

Chapman struck out 20 batters in 16.1 innings pitched, starting two games and closing one over Fort Hays State’s four games on the weekend. She threw two complete games but took tough luck losses in both. In a 3-2, eight-inning loss to Cameron, she struck out a career-high 12 batters and allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits. In a 2-0 loss to Eastern New Mexico, she finished with seven strikeouts, while allowing two runs on four hits. Chapman relieved for the final two innings of a 5-3 win over St. Edward’s, recording her second save of the season.

Chapman joined Danielle Sprinkle of Emporia State (Hitter of the Week) for weekly honors from the conference.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With his third-consecutive provisional mark now under his belt, Sam Dreiling of the FHSU men’s track and field team has been named co-field athlete of the week for the MIAA. This is the second-straight week a Tiger pole-vaulter has been named to the honor, as Jake Morrow took the award last week.

Over the weekend, Dreiling competed at the Concordia Indoor Invite in Seward, Neb., where he posted his third-straight provisional mark after hitting a height of 16 feet, 8 ¾ inches and taking first in the event. This mark was also his personal best in a Tiger uniform. This height puts Dreiling at No. 5 on the national performance list, while topping the MIAA performance list.

This is Dreiling’s first-ever MIAA athlete of the week honor of his Tiger career.

NEW ORLEANS – The Fort Hays State men’s track and field team remains in the USTFCCCA national rankings as they come in at No. 22 in the latest installment released Tuesday (Feb. 13). The Tigers are coming off a performance at the Concordia Indoor Invite over the weekend that saw two provisional marks met.

FHSU reaches the No. 22 spot after calculating 32.91 points from the computer-based system within the poll. The Tigers were one of five MIAA programs to earn a mention in the rankings alongside No. 7 Pittsburg State, No. 13 Missouri Southern, No. 14 Emporia State and No. 23 Central Missouri.

Sam Dreling leads the Tigers after claiming his third-straight provisional with a personal best of 16 feet, 8 ¾ inches in the pole vault at the Concordia Indoor Invite. Kolt Newell also captured a provisional with a high jump of 6 feet, 9 inches which now ranks him 26th in the nation. Other first-place finishes over the weekend include Matthew Pieper taking the 400-meters at 51.47, Oscar Carmona winning the 3,000-meters at 8:47.25 and Blayne Godshall in at No. 1 in the long jump with a distance of 22 feet, 8 ½ inches.

The Tigers will next be on the road to the Nebraska Tune-Up in Lincoln, Neb., their last meet before the MIAA Championships hosted at Pittsburg State the following weekend.

Below are the latest rankings for Division II Men.

Rank Institution Points
1 Colorado Mines 166.43
2 Tiffin 162.48
3 Adams State 154.98
4 Grand Valley State 131.61
5 Texas A&M-Commerce 122.70
6 Ashland 117.42
7 Pittsburg State 113.96
8 CSU-Pueblo 86.82
9 Findlay 76.71
10 Texas A&M-Kingsville 72.61
11 Academy of Art 70.66
12 Western Oregon 67.60
13 Missouri Southen 67.39
14 Emporia State 60.36
15 Minnesota State 59.52
16 West Texas A&M 51.65
17 American International 48.27
18 Saint Augustine’s 45.14
19 Colorado Mesa 42.20
20 Colorado Christian 38.47
21 Wingate 36.46
22 Fort Hays State 32.91
23 Central Missouri 32.14
24 U-Mary 29.68
25 Rogers State 27.86

WICHITA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State wrestling team finished runner-up at the MIAA Championships, scoring 74.5 team points. This is the highest FHSU has ever placed at the MIAA Tournament since it began in 2012-13. Three Tigers took home individual titles, Brandon Ball (141 lbs), Efe Osaghae (149 lbs) and Rakim Dean (197 lbs). Micquille Robinson earned a runner-up finish, while Conrad Cole, Dylan Wiesner and Micah Felton took home third place finishes. Nebraska-Kearney won the event with 110 team points.

Eighth-ranked Brandon Ball earned his first MIAA Championship of his career in the 141-pound weight class. Ball defeated Jonathan Killingsworth of Nebraska-Kearney with a 4-2 decision in the first round. The sophomore pinned Derek Heil of Lindenwood in the semifinals in 4:58 and narrowly beat out Tevin Briscoe of UNK with a 3-2 decision in the title bout.

Redshirt-freshman Efe Osaghae earned his first conference championship as a Tiger in the 149-pound weight class. Osaghae received a bye in the first round. He then went on to defeat Will Steltzlen of Central Oklahoma with a 3-2 decision in the semifinals. In the title match, Osaghae used a takedown in overtime to defeat defending national champion, Keith Surber of UNK, for the second time this season with a 3-1 sudden victory this time around.

Senior Rakim Dean extended his bout winning streak to double digits (ten) and improved from last season’s third place finish by winning the 197-pound weight class title for the first time in his career. Dean defeated John Kramer of Lindenwood in the first round with a 16-1 technical fall. He then defeated Chance Bila of UNK in the semifinals with a 3-1 decision. Dean earned the championship after a medical forfeit.

In the 174-pound weight class, Micquille Robinson delivered a runner-up finish for the Tigers. Robinson defeated Nata Panagakis of Newman with a 3-2 decision in the first round, advanced past the semifinals via medical forfeit before dropping the title bout to Zach Stodden of Nebraska-Kearney by decision (3-2).

Conrad Cole was the first Tiger to earn a third place finish after receiving a bye in the first round of the 125-pound weight class. He then was defeated by eventual champion Elijah Hale of UCO in the semifinals. The sophomore pinned Tyler Lawley for the second time within a week to move on to the consolation championship where he won via medical forfeit.

Senior Dylan Wiesner earned a third place finish in the 174-pound weight class after defeating Reid Rodich twice. The first victory was in the first round by a 10-6 decision as the second was to claim the consolation championship over Rodich via 7-0 decision.

Micah Felton claimed third place in the 184-pound weight class for the Tigers. Felton pinned Zach Benner of Central Missouri in the first round in 2:44. He was then defeated by Noel Torres of Newman in the semifinals via a 2-1 decision. The junior advanced to the third place match by medical forfeit and defeated Isaac Deaton of UNK with an 11-6 for the consolation title.

The Tigers will have two weeks to prepare for the NCAA Division II Regionals in Las Vegas, N.M. (Feb. 23-24).

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Fort Hays State was just one out away from a shutout win in its first game Friday (Feb. 9), but a two-out rally led to an extra-inning loss against Cameron University before falling by run-rule to Tarleton State in game two. FHSU fell in eight innings to Cameron, 3-2, then in five innings to Tarleton State, 16-3. The Tigers moved to 1-4 overall on the season.

Cameron 3, Fort Hays State 2 (8 inn.)
Hailey Chapman was throwing a gem against Cameron through 20 outs in the first contest Friday. However, in a stunning turn of events, she and the Tigers could not find the 21st before Cameron rallied for a pair of runs in the blink of an eye. In just two batters, the Aggies used a pair of timely hits to turn a 2-hit, 12-strikeout shutout for Chapman into a tie game. With the international tiebreaker incorporated right away in the eighth, the Tigers could not score before the Aggies pushed across a run in the bottom half of the inning to steal away the game.

Chapman was nearly unhittable through the first 6.1 innings, racking up 12 strikeouts with just one hit allowed. A first inning single was all that interrupted what could have been a no-hit bid at that point as Chapman sat down 13 consecutive batters from the third inning all the way to one out in the seventh. The only other blemish besides the hit was a batter hit by pitch to start the third. Annie Combs disrupted Chapman’s dominance in the seventh with a one-out double.

The double did not rattle Chapman as she induced an infield pop out of a pinch hitter. All she needed was the final out, but a stroke of luck for pinch hitter Raley Long triggered an instant two-run rally. Long managed to hit a dribbler right in front of the plate and was able to beat the ball to first base. All the while, Combs wheeled around third on the play and scored. Lauren Mason re-entered the game to run at first base for Combs, stole second, then came in to tie the game on a single to left center field by another pinch hitter, Madyson Marvulli. Chapman finally got another infield pop up to end the inning, but not before the Aggies found a way to force extra innings.

The game went to the international tiebreaker right away. Terran Caldwell started on second base to open up the top of the eighth, but could not get to third right away as Grace Philop was ruled out on batter’s interference. Two groundouts later, Caldwell was stranded at third leaving the Aggies with a chance to win the game in the bottom half of the inning. Following a walk to the first batter to set up a force at second and third, the Aggies executed classic international tiebreaker procedure by getting a sacrifice bunt down to move the runners up to third and second with one out. Then Kaylyn Smith hit a ball to second that Veronica Knittig mishandled and the winning run came across to score for Cameron.

Chapman took a tough luck loss in 7.1 innings pitched, while Rylee Wilmon benefitted from her team’s late rally to get a complete-game win. Wilmon moved to 2-1 on the year by allowing two runs on six hits, while striking out six. The Aggies moved to 5-2 overall on the year with the win.

Tarleton State 16, Fort Hays State 3
Fort Hays State held an early 2-0 lead in its second contest of the day, but undefeated Tarleton State put up bunches of runs in the second, third, and fourth innings to down FHSU 16-3 by run rule. Tarleton State (7-0) produced at least seven runs for the sixth time in seven games this season

Bailey Kennedy put the Tigers on top with a two-out, two-RBI single in the bottom of the first, but starting pitcher Carrie Clarke ran into control issues that triggered an eight-run second inning for the TexAnns.

Clarke issued a pair of walks before Marisa Flores doubled down the right field line to plate two runs and tie the game. Clarke got the second out of the inning on a fielder’s choice, leaving just a runner at first. A full-count walk issued to Maddie Quintanar began more struggles for Clarke. She issued two more walks in a row, one on five pitches and the next on four to force in the go-ahead run. A hit parade for the TexAnns broke out immediately after. An infield single plated the fourth run of the inning and a double plated two more before Clarke turned the ball over to reliever Sierra Rodriguez, who struggled as well. Rodriguez gave up a two-run single to the first batter she faced and allowed a walk before getting a fly out to end the rally. All eight runs in the inning were the responsibility of Clarke.

Rodriguez went on to allow eight runs of her own on eight hits over the next two innings as Clarke re-entered the pitching circle with one out in the fourth. Clarke got a line-out double play to end a five-run fourth for Tarleton State.

A pinch-hit single in the fifth inning by Jeni Mohr would help the Tigers get their final run of the game. Moving up to second on a Terran Caldwell walk, Mohr came in to score from second on a two-out RBI single by Grace Philop. Tarleton State picked up the final out immediately following to invoke the run rule after five innings. Clarke took her first loss of the season in the pitching circle.

Haley Freyman of Tarleton State picked up the win, allowing two runs on four hits over four innings of work. TSU reliever Julia Wernet pitched the fifth inning, allowing one run on two hits and a walk to the Tigers.

Fort Hays State looks to get back in the win column on Saturday when it faces Eastern New Mexico at 10 am and St. Edward’s at 4:45 pm.

WICHITA, Kan. – Defensive miscues and timely hitting allowed the Newman Jets to rally in the late innings and defeat the Fort Hays State baseball team on a chilly Friday afternoon at McCarthy Field (Feb. 9), 10-3. The Tigers dip to 4-2 on the year, while the Jets move to 1-1 after evening things out in their first series of the year. The teams are scheduled to return to Larks Park on Monday (Feb. 12) for the rubber game of the series. First pitch is set for 3 p.m.

Fort Hays State limited Newman to just two runs over the first five innings of the game, but the home team erupted for eight runs over its final three at bats to pull away.

The Tigers committed five errors in the loss, nearly as many as the team made in its first five games combined (eight).

Newman jumped in front with a pair of runs in the second inning before the Tigers finally broke through in the top of the fourth. Addison Kaasch pulled a 2-2 pitch down the left field line, legging out the first triple of the year for a Tiger. The junior sprinted home in the next at bat when Jordan Wilkerson tapped an RBI groundout to short, cutting the Jet lead in half.

Alex Ruxlow came out of the bullpen to get the Tigers out of trouble in the bottom of the third, getting a strikeout to leave the bases loaded. The senior silenced the Jet bats for the next two innings, giving the FHSU offense a chance to rally back.

Wilkerson opened a two-out rally in the top of the sixth with an infield single before swiping second. A walk to Colton Helm loaded the bases after Bryce Whitchurch was hit by a pitch, forcing Newman to go to the bullpen. Cody Starkel stepped into the box as a pinch hitter and came through with a big base knock, putting the Tigers in front 3-2 with a two-RBI single to left center.

Newman went back in front for good in the sixth with four unearned runs on three errors before tacking on four more insurance runs in the eighth. FHSU was unable to capitalize on a pair of hits over the final three frames, twice leaving runners in scoring position.

Jason Nicholson and Kaasch each collected a pair of hits, accounting for four of FHSU’s eight base knocks on the day.

Ruxlow (0-1) was charged with the loss despite giving up just two unearned runs on five hits over three innings of work while striking out a pair. All five pitchers to toe the rubber were charged with two runs.