By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – The Fort Hays State women went on a 29-8 run over a 10 minute stretch of the first and second quarters as they won their fourth straight, 64-44 over Northeastern State Thursday evening at the NSU Event Center.

Down by seven, Jill Faxon hit a 3-pointer to trigger a 5-0 run to close the first quarter. The Tigers (19-6, 10-6 MIAA) would go on the score 15 unanswered in the second quarter to push the lead to 14 and led by as many as 26 in the fourth.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Tatyana Legette led the Tigers with 14 points and 13 rebounds for her second straight double-double. Faxon added 11 points and nine boards.

FHSU shot 39-percent from the floor and outrebounded the RiverHawks (6-18, 2-14 MIAA) by 14.

NSU, who has lost 11 straight, was led by Rylie Torrey who scored 15.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State junior Decano Cronin has been named the MIAA Men’s Co-Track Athlete of the Week on Tuesday (Feb. 14). He shares the honor this week with distance runner Vincent Kiprop from Missouri Southern.

Cronin set a new FHSU record in the 800 meters by running a time of 1:50.27 at the Concordia Invitational in Seward, Neb. Due to the track size, the time was converted down to 1:48.72 giving him an automatic qualifying mark and the second-fastest time in the nation. He won the event, but teammate Brett Meyer was right on his heels, who also ran an automatic qualifying time. That gives FHSU two of the three runners nationally to post automatic qualifying times in the 800 this season. Cronin already has set four new individual records at FHSU for the indoor season in the mid-distances after transferring to FHSU at the beginning of the spring semester.

At Pittsburg State, Vincent Kiprop broke his own 3000-meter record by more than 13 seconds as he placed second with a time of 8:04.04. That mark ranks second nationally, and tops in the MIAA.

Bryan Burns of Missouri Southern earned the Field Athlete of the Week award for his efforts in the shot put and weight throw this past week.

FHSU Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State freshman Jeni Mohr has been named the MIAA Softball Hitter of the Week for her efforts at the WT Invitational last weekend in Canyon, Texas.

Over five games, Mohr batted .500 and posted a slugging percentage of .800. She scored seven runs and drove in six, which included a three-run home run. Two of her six RBI came in the 16-14 eight-inning win over Fort Lewis. FHSU finished 1-4 overall in the five games.

Mohr earns the weekly honor along with Pitcher of the Week Kacey Ayers from Southwest Baptist. Ayers posted a 1.17 ERA with 16 strikeouts over 18 innings.

KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State finished fourth for the second-consecutive year at the MIAA Championships held on Sunday in Kearney, Neb. The Tigers scored 56.5 points. Individually the Tigers saw six wrestlers reach the podium with one champion crowned.

Nebraska-Kearney, the second-ranked team in the country, took home first place with 98 points, and was followed closely by seventh-ranked Central Oklahoma with 95 Points. Lindenwood rounded out the top three with 59 points.

At 157 pounds, redshirt-freshman Greg Tooley claimed his first MIAA Championship thanks to a 3-0 day. He started the day with an 18-2 technical fall over Forlanda Parker of Newman to advance to the semifinals, where he cruised to an 8-0 major decision over Bryan Dutton of UCO. In the finals, Tooley squared off with Nebraska-Kearney’s Destin McCauley and claimed the crown with a 3-1 decision.

Brandon Ball, the No. 10 wrestler at 141 pounds went 2-1 on his way to a runner-up finish. Ball started the day with a 9-2 decision over UNK’s Jeff Bizzle, then punched his ticket to the finals with an 8-0 major decision over Chase Kelly of Lindenwood. In the finals, Ball fought hard but dropped a tight 6-5 decision to Central Oklahoma’s Josh Ailey.

At 197 pounds, Jon Inman, ranked No. 2 nationally, also took home second place honors on the day with a 2-1 performance. Inman punched his way to the finals with a pin in the first round over Newman’s Sage Eckman, then a 7-3 decision over Lindenwood’s Dillon Archer. Waiting for Inman in the finals was No. 3 ranked Greg Wilson of Central Oklahoma. The two wrestlers split earlier meetings this year with Inman winning the first and Wilson winning the second last Sunday. With a late takedown awarded to Wilson in the second period the score was tied at 4-4 heading into the third. Wilson then had the choice of position and selected bottom. He earned a quick escape to take the 5-4 lead then held Inman at bay for the rest of the period.

At 174 pounds, Micquille Robinson took home third place honors by going 2-1. After dropping his first match, Robinson needed just one match to claim third place. After a bye in the consolation quarter finals and a medical forfeit by his opponent in the consolation semis, Robinson faced Newman’s Kyle Ryan in the consolation finals. It was a close match but Robinson built up an early lead to hold on and claim a 7-5 decision.

Rakim Dean also finished third place at 184 pounds. After receiving a bye in the first round, Dean dropped his first match to UNK’s Zach Stodden, ranked No. 8 in the nation, by a 6-2 decision. In the consolation bracket he received a bye in the semifinals to advance automatically to the third-place match. There he met Central Oklahoma’s Gage Stallworth, whom he handled with a tight 6-5 decision.

Wrapping up the scoring for the Tigers was heavyweight and ninth-ranked Christian Lance who also claimed third place. Lance started the day with a 12-1 major decision over Lindenwood’s John Kramer. In the semifinal bout Lance went toe-to-toe with fourth-ranked Caleb Cotter of Central Oklahoma. For the third time this season, Cotter got the better of Lance in an 8-3 decision. In the consolation bracket, Lance went on to win his next two matches and claim third place thanks to a 3-2 decision over UCO’s Kyle Factor and a 5-2 decision over Lindenwood’s Jacob Borgmeyer.

Tooley, Ball, Inman, Robinson, Dean, and Lance earned All-MIAA honors for their performances by finishing among the top three.

The Tigers will now use an extended break to rest and prepare for the NCAA Super Regional in Golden, Colo., February 24-25.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team completed the sweep of New Mexico Highlands Sunday afternoon inside Larks Park, topping the Cowboys 18-8 in seven innings. The Tigers improved to 3-3 on the year after stringing together 16 hits for the second-consecutive game, while NMHU remains winless at 0-6 this season.

Six Tigers recorded multiple hits in the win, led by Jake Lanferman’s 4-for-4 day at the plate. The sophomore scored three runs while driving in three more, tallying a pair of extra-base hits including his first home run of the season. Dayton Pomeroy homered for the third time in as many days, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Ty Redington scored four runs, reaching base with two hits, one walk and one hit by pitch.

Fort Hays State never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead two pitches into the bottom of the first. Redington was beaned with the first delivery before Nick Hammeke sent the second pitch soaring over the fence in left. The Tigers added two more runs in the inning after a Lanferman double and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Clayton Basgall. The second baseman delivered a sacrifice fly to right before Pomeroy came in to score on a throwing error on a botched pick-off attempt later in the frame.

The Cowboys got one run back in the second with a solo home run, but FHSU added two more in the bottom half to extend the lead to 6-1. Jared Bogosian led off with a double to the gap in left center before two walks loaded the bases. Lanferman drove in the first run with a single to left before Pomeroy drove home Redington with a sacrifice fly to center.

After Highlands closed within 6-5 with three runs in the third and another in the fourth, Lanferman drove a one-out home run to straightaway center to put the Tigers in front by two.

The Cowboys tied things up in the top of the fifth with a two-run home run, but the Tigers responded by scoring seven runs and sending 11 to the plate in the home half of the inning. NMHU committed three errors in the inning and gave up five Tiger hits. Bryce Witchurch reached on an error to open the frame, followed by four-straight singles from Ryan Imber, Bogosian, Redington and Hammeke. Cody Starkel delivered a double to center to score another run before Basgall drove one in with an RBI groundout.

The Tigers extended the lead to 17-7 in the sixth after a leadoff walk and a double from Redington put runners in scoring position for Lanferman. The center fielder legged out an infield single deep in the hole at short, scoring Trevor Hughes. Pomeroy extended the lead to double figures with a two-run bomb to left field.

After the Cowboys put together one run to extend the game in the top of the seventh, Basgall helped the Tigers walk off in the bottom half with an opposite-field home run to right, tallying his third RBI of the day.

Easton Palmer (1-0) earned the win in his first collegiate pitching appearance, striking out two and walking two while giving up an unearned run in 1.1 innings of work. Redshirt-senior Justin Hersch started on the bump for the Tigers, tossing 2.2 innings and giving up four runs while striking out one.

The Tigers will return to the diamond Wednesday (Feb. 15) to face off with Oklahoma-Panhandle State at 2 p.m.

FHSU Sports Information

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State raced out to a 20-point first half lead then held on as Central Oklahoma pulled within four with just over four minutes to play. The Tigers hit nine of their final 10 free throws and won 72-62 Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum four their fourth straight win.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Kyler Kinnamon Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers (15-8, 9-6 MIAA) held Central Oklahoma to 17-percent shooting in the first half and led 37-17 late in the first half. UCO (14-9, 9-6 MIAA) hit 11 of their first 13 shots in the second half including all three of their 3-point attempts to get back in the game.

Rob Davis led the Tigers with 25 points. Kyler Kinnamon added 13.

Central Oklahoma was led by Marquis Johnson who had 16 and Jake Hammond who scored 15 and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team picked up its second-consecutive win Saturday afternoon (Feb. 11) with a 12-10 shootout victory over New Mexico Highlands. By picking up the win, the Tigers improve to 2-3 on the season while the Cowboys drop to 0-5.

Every Tiger that went to the plate picked up a hit. Trevor Hughtes had a career day with the stick, going 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Junior transfer Dayton Pomeroy also turned in a solid performance, recording three hits of his own including his second home run in as many games.

Trailing 3-0 early, the Tigers rallied to tie the score with three runs in the bottom of the second. Pomeroy blasted a one-out home run to left center to start the scoring before an RBI single off the bat of Ryan Imber plated Clayton. An RBI double by Jared Bogosian plated Imber evened the score.

The Cowboys struck in the ensuing half inning, regaining the lead with a two-run frame. The Tigers put up a second-consecutive three spot in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for the first time in the game. With runners on first and second, Basgall delivered an RBI single before a wild pitch plated another run. Basgall then came around to score on an RBI ground out off of the bat of Imber.

Two more runs for the Cowboys in the fourth gave them the lead for the third and final time of the game. Right on cue the Tigers responded in the home half to regain the lead. With runners on second and third, Hughes roped a single up the middle that plated Nick Hammeke. Then another wild pitch allowed Jake Lanferman to score, giving the Tigers 8-7 lead.

A pair of scoreless innings from Ryan Ruder led to the Tigers expanding their lead to 10-7 in the bottom half. Another RBI single by Hughes started the frame for FHSU before Basgall executed a suicide squeeze to perfection to push Hughes across the plate.

The Cowboys closed within one run after plating a pair in the seventh. The Tigers once again responded like they had all afternoon, scoring two runs of their own after the seventh inning stretch. With two outs, Ty Redington singled before Hammeke and Lanferman both walked to load the bases with Hughes coming to the dish. He delivered for the Tigers with his third single of the day, scoring Redington and Hammeke.

The Cowboys wrangled together one more run in the eighth, but the deficit was too much to overcome as Zac Rothert came on to record the final five outs without further damage. The sophomore earned the save in his first appearance of the season, giving up just one hit and inducing a pair of double plays.

Ruder (1-0) picked up the win in relief for FHSU, tossing 3.1 innings while giving up three hits and two unearned runs to go with a pair of strikeouts. He came out of the pen after starter Ben Ramberg lasted 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs, five earned, on eight hits and one walk while recording four strikeouts.

The Tigers look for the weekend sweep on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 pm.

FHSU Sports Information

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Tatyana Legette scored 18 points and pulled down 13 rebounds to lead the Fort Hays State women to a 57-44 win over No. 9 Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum. It’s the Tigers (18-6, 9-6 MIAA) second win over a top-10 team this season and the 800th in program history. UCO (20-4, 11-3 MIAA) has now three straight and still has yet to beat FHSU at the Coliseum.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

FHSU used went on a 10-2 run in the second quarter to build and eight point lead, then after the Bronchos pulled within one with 2:33 to play in the half, went on a 20-4 run over the next eight minutes to go up 17.

UCO closed the gap to eight with 6:47 to play, but Sarah Pimentel hit a layup off an in-bounds pass with one on the shot clock and Carly Heim it a jumper to push the lead back to double-figures.

The Tigers, who played without Emma Stroyan due to illness, held the Bronchos to 26-percent shooting including 4-for-24 from beyond the arc. The Tigers outrebounded the much taller Bronchos by six and scored 19 points off of 17 offensive rebounds.

UCO was led by 6-5 junior Jesheon Cooper who scored 10 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

CANYON, Texas – Fort Hays State Softball opened its 2017 season on Friday at the WT Invitational. The Tiger bats struggled in the season opener against Chadron State, falling 1-0, but came alive in a 14-12 comeback win in eight innings against Fort Lewis.

Chadron State 1, Fort Hays State 0
Fort Hays State’s bats struggled in the season opener against Chadron State. Veronica Knittig was the only Tiger to scratch out a hit against Jessica Jarecki, who threw a complete game shutout for the Eagles. Jarecki moved to 2-1 on the season.

The Tigers did put several balls in play, since Jarecki struck out only three batters, but their only real threat occurred in the sixth. Knittig broke up a no-hit bid that lasted 5 1/3 innings with a single, then Candace Bollig was hit by a pitch. The runners moved to second and third, but a groundout ended the threat.

In her first collegiate appearance, Hailey Chapman took a tough loss as she also went the distance in the pitching circle. She struck out five, while allowing four hits and four walks. Two of the walks were costly in the second inning as it set up a bases-loaded situation with one out. Chadron State got the run across with a sacrifice fly.

Fort Hays State 14, Fort Lewis 12 (8 inn.)
The Tigers erased a six-run deficit after four innings and picked up a big come-from-behind 14-12 win over Fort Lewis in eight innings to earn a split on opening day. The Tigers scored four in the seventh to force extra innings, then plated two more in the eighth with the international tiebreaker in effect.

Fort Lewis struck first in the high scoring affair with a three-run home run in the first inning. But the Tigers responded by tying the game in the top of the second courtesy of a two-out rally. Ashley Beavers had an RBI double followed by a Jeni Mohr RBI single. A Bailey Kennedy RBI triple capped the rally for the inning.

But the Skyhawks promptly took their lead back with five runs in the bottom of the second. They chased FHSU starter Carrie Clark from the game, who lasted just an inning and a third. Three of the six runs she allowed were earned.

The Tigers put two runs up in the third on back-to-back bases loaded walks by Mohr and Kennedy, but the Skyhawks kept adding runs with three more in the fourth to take an 11-5 lead. Two of the five runs Lexie Kimminau surrendered in 2 2/3 innings of work were earned.

The Tigers slashed into the Skyhawk lead once more in the fifth when Vernica Knittig cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double. But a pair of Tiger errors in sixth gave a run back to the Skyhawks, leaving the score at 12-8 entering the seventh.

Kennedy sparked a Tiger rally in the seventh with a lead-off single. Knittig was hit by a pitch, then a throwing error off a ball put in play by Candace Bailey plated the first run of the inning. With one out and runners at first and third, Kylie Strand roped an RBI double down the left field line setting the table for Tess Gray. The freshman catcher doubled home two runs and tied the game, which proved to force extra innings as Hailey Chapman was holding the Skyhawks at bay in the pitching circle.

In the eighth, Mohr started the inning on second base with the international tiebreak in effect. Kennedy put the pressure on by forcing a throwing error off her sacrifice bunt, scoring Mohr and swapping spots with her on second. Bailey Boxberger delivered a big insurance run by plating Kennedy on an RBI double.

Chapman was stellar in relief for the Tigers after going the distance in the first game of the day. She tossed the final four innings, striking out eight with no hits allowed. The one run she allowed in the sixth was unearned. After allowing a walk in the eighth, she mowed down the side with three straight strikeouts to close out the game. She moved to 1-1 on the season and posted an 0.64 ERA for the day.

The Tigers will play three games on Saturday (Feb. 11) as they take on Cameron, Missouri Southern, and West Texas A&M.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – After typical February weather last weekend in Oklahoma, the temperature warmed up Friday in Hays and so did the Tiger bats. The Fort Hays State baseball team picked up its first win of the season in its home opener, knocking off New Mexico Highlands 7-3 in game one of a three-game set. The Tigers improve to 1-3 on the year, while the Cowboys dip to 0-4 this season. FHSU picked up a dozen hits on the day after recording just 12 hits in three games combined last weekend.

Alex Ruxlow (1-1) picked up the win for Fort Hays State, tossing 6 1/3 innings while giving up seven hits and striking out five. Ty Redington posted the first five-hit game for a Tiger since 2013 (Horace Johnson), connecting with five singles to drive in three runs. The senior also scored one run and swiped a pair of bases. Clayton Basgall came on to finish things off with the tying run on deck, walking one batter before stranding the bases loaded with a pair of fly ball outs to earn the save.

Both teams left runners on the corners in the first inning before FHSU opened the scoring on the first pitch of the second inning with a deep drive over the left field fence from Dayton Pomeroy, his first home run of the season. Highlands stranded runners in scoring position in the top of the second, a reoccurring theme for the Cowboys. NMHU left 14 runners on base throughout the game, including leaving the bases juiced three times.

The Tigers tacked on another run in the second after Redington led off with a sharp single to left. After the speedy senior swiped second and advanced to third on a throwing error, Nick Hammeke drove him in with a single past the shortstop.

FHSU padded its lead in the fifth inning with a pair of unearned runs. Hammeke reached on an error and headed for second when Jake Lanferman reached on a fielder’s choice. Trevor Hughes drove a single to right center to plate Hammeke. Designated hitter Jason Nicholson drove in Lanferman with an RBI groundout that would have been the final out of the inning.

Hitting out of the nine hole, Basgall started a two-out rally in the sixth with an infield single to third. After moving to second on a passed ball, the junior came around to score on another single from Redington, this time an opposite-field knock to right to put the Tigers in front 5-0.

Highlands finally got took advantage with runners in scoring position in the seventh, driving a pair of singles to center after a leadoff walk to close the gap to 5-1. Ruxlow struck out the next batter swinging before skipper Steve Johnson made the call to the bullpen. Sam Capps cleaned things up with a pair of strikeouts bookending a walk to leave the bases loaded.

The Tigers scored on another two-out rally in the eighth, this time started by a single up the gut from Jace Bowman. Basgall followed it up by dropping a double just inside the right field foul line, putting runners at second and third for the top of the lineup. Redington then continued what he had done all afternoon, ripping a single to center to score both runs.

It took three different pitchers, but the Tigers finally escaped the ninth inning with the 7-3 victory. The Cowboys batted around in the inning, leaving the tying run at the plate. Austin Weiser came on to get one out while giving up a pair of singles, forcing Johnson to call on Basgall. After walking the first batter, Basgall sealed the deal with a fly ball to shallow left and a pop up to short.

The teams will face off again Saturday (Feb. 11), with first pitch set for 2 p.m.

FHSU Sports Information