FHSU Athletics

AXTELL, Neb. – Fort Hays State Women’s Golf finished 16th at the UNK Spring Invitational, held Saturday and Sunday at Awarii Dunes Golf Course just south of Kearney, Neb.

Hannah Perkins led the way for FHSU by tying for 61st. She shot rounds of 90 and 80. Hannah Karasiuk tied for 65th, shooting rounds of 90 and 81. Hadley Tharp was 81st with rounds of 101 and 85. Quillen Eichhorn tied for 82nd with rounds of 103 and 87. Bailey Jones was consistent, shooting rounds of 98 each day, helping figure into the team scoring on the first day.

Northeastern State won the tournament as a team with a total of 607. Central Oklahoma shot 614 and Arkansas Tech shot 618. The Tigers shot 712 as a team.

FHSU Athletics

EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State got out to a fast start in game one, but had its offense go silent midway through the game and the rest of the afternoon in a pair of losses at Central Oklahoma. The Tigers fell in game one, 5-4, in nine innings before losing by run rule in game two 8-0. FHSU moved to 13-20 overall and 7-9 in the MIAA, while UCO improved to 24-10 overall and 9-3 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Central Oklahoma 5, Fort Hays State 4 (9 innings)
Fort Hays State got out to a great start, but squandered opportunities early to blow the game open early as Central Oklahoma stormed back in the third and fourth to tie the game. The Bronchos threatened several times late and finally cashed in with an Ally Dziadula RBI double in the second extra inning to get a 5-4 comeback win.

Fort Hays State scored three runs in the first inning as Tori Beltz hit a two-run homer and Courtney Dobson had an RBI single, all with just one out. With runners at first and third, the Tigers failed to get any more runs across as the next two batters struck out.

In the second inning, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out, but again could not score any runs lining into an inning-ending double play. In the third, the Tigers got runners to first and third but again could not cash in on a golden opportunity, leaving the score at 3-0.

The missed opportunities were costly as UCO, the top hitting team in the nation, stormed back to tie the game with a sacrifice fly RBI and a two-run homer in the bottom of the third.

The Tigers chased UCO starter Nicole Brady from the game after Rilee Krier led off the fourth with a single. Later in the inning, Samantha Villarreal put FHSU back on top 4-3 with a two-out RBI single. But again, that’s all the Tigers would get with runners left on first and third once again to end the inning. UCO ended that lead in the blink of an eye as Tori Collet hit a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the fourth, tying the game once again.

After getting the last out of the fourth, UCO reliever Abbie Lancaster settled in to hold the Tigers hitless over the final five innings of the game. She retired 13 straight Tigers until an error leading off the ninth allowed Krier to reach base. The Tigers had a great opportunity to get Krier in as she was in scoring position with one out, but a fly out and ground out ended the threat.

Central Oklahoma got its leadoff batter aboard in the ninth and cashed in on its opportunity, plating the runner from second on an Ally Dziadula walk-off double with one out.

Beltz’ home run in the first was her eighth of the season, moving her to second on the all-time home run list at FHSU, now with 27 in her career passing Adriana Wortley. Krier had a team-high three hits in the game. Paxton Duran pitched all 8.1 innings for FHSU, allowing five runs on nine hits and three walks with six strikeouts.

Game 2: Central Oklahoma 8, Fort Hays State 0
Central Oklahoma got out to a 4-0 lead through two innings and eventually pulled away for an 8-0 run rule win in six innings. After struggling at the plate for the final five innings of game one, the Tiger bats remained quiet through the first three innings of game two until Paxton Duran singled with two outs in the fourth.

The Tigers scratched out only four hits against UCO starter Jessi Walker, who threw a complete game for the Bronchos. She walked three and struck out three.

Carrie Clarke pitched the entire game for the Tigers, allowing eight runs on 14 hits and four walks with one strikeout.

Fort Hays State returns to action next weekend on the road again, traveling to Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State for conference doubleheaders.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State hit four home runs and pounded out 16 hits as they rolled past Lincoln 14-6 Saturday afternoon at the LU Baseball Field. The Tigers (13-14, 7-9 MIAA) sweep the three-game series and have won four straight while the Blue Tigers (1-25, 0-16 MIAA) have lost 18 in a row.

Austin Unrein, Caleb Cherryholmes and Joe Mapes all homered for FHSU. Cherryholmes finished with two hits and four RBIs while Connor Ross added three hits.

Cherryholmes’ three-run shot and Unrein’s solo blast in the second inning put the Tigers up 7-0. After Lincoln answered with four in the bottom of the inning, the Tigers added single runs in the third an fourth then Mapes hit a two-run homer in the sixth to build the lead to 11-4. Unrein highlighted a three-run seventh with a two-run shot to put FHSU up 14-4.

Clayton Basgall (1-0) pitched 3.0 innings of relief for the win. The LaCrosse sophomore gave up on unearned run on three hits while striking out three and walking one.

The Tigers are off until Wednesday when they host Washburn at 4pm at Larks Park. You can hear the game on KAYS (1400-AM).

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Joe Mapes had four hits and four RBIs, Caleb Cherryholmes added three hits and drove in two to lead Fort Hays State to a 12-5 win over Lincoln Friday afternoon at the LU Baseball Field. The Tigers (12-14, 5-9 MIAA) have now won three straight while the Blue Tigers (1-24, 0-15 MIAA) have lost 17 in a row.

Alex Weiss hit a three-run homer in the first inning to give the Tigers the early lead. Mapes three-run shot highlighted a five-run third which put FHSU up 8-2. Austin Unrein added a solo home run in the eighth to make it 12-3.

Kyle Vogt (2-5) allowed two runs on three hits over five innings for the win. Vogt struck out three and walked two. Jackson Rolfs pitched the final four innings.

The Tigers go for the three-game sweep Saturday afternoon.

FHSU Athletics

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Fort Hays State split a pair of conference games decided by one run on Friday afternoon at Northeastern State. Trailing 1-0 heading into the last inning, FHSU rallied for two runs in the seventh and defeated NSU 2-1 in the first game before falling in the second game 4-3 in nine innings. Paxton Duran recorded a career-high 15 strikeouts in the first game to go with her winning effort.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 2, Northeastern State 1
Facing one of the MIAA’s top pitchers in game one, the Tigers found a way to break through in the seventh in order to give Paxton Duran a win for her tremendous effort in the pitching circle.

Duran set the tone early by recording all six outs over the first two innings by strikeout, on her way to a career-high 15 strikeout performance. But the Tigers had to find a way to not let that effort go unrewarded as a solo home run allowed by Duran in the fourth was the difference in the game through six innings.

The Tiger offense stepped up in the seventh as Tori Beltz immediately tied the game with a solo home run of her own. Samantha Villarreal followed with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Duran. A grounder to the right side off the bat of Courtney Dobson pushed the runner to third, then Mackenzie Villarreal stepped up as a pinch hitter with a single to the right side to plate the second run of the inning.

Duran did not allow a baserunner in the seventh and capped the solid effort with her 15^th strikeout, a new career high, to end the game. She allowed just one run on three hits and a walk, moving to 8-10 overall on the season.

Kayce Wooldridge retired 14 consecutive Tiger batters going into the seventh until Beltz broke through with the home run. Wooldridge moved to 12-5 on the season with the loss, allowing two runs on five hits with six strikeouts.

Game 2: Northeastern State 4, Fort Hays State 3 (9 inn.)
After both teams played to a 3-3 tie through three and a half innings, Kayce Wooldridge and Paxton Duran settled into a pitching duel once again, but this time as relievers. Both teams went scoreless for four innings before Northeastern State broke the tie with a walk-off single in the ninth inning.

Wooldridge took over in the fourth for a struggling Delaney Gray, who allowed three runs to the Tigers through 3.2 innings of work. Kylie Strand hit a game-tying double in the fourth and then Rilee Krier had a single to chase Gray from the game. Wooldridge hit a batter to load the bases, but got a ground out to end the inning.

Duran took over at the start of the fourth inning for Carrie Clarke, who threw the first three innings and allowed three runs. Duran worked a 1-2-3 fourth, but had to work around base runners in the fifth through eighth innings to keep the RiverHawks off the board. In the ninth, she could not work around a leadoff double as Jessica Boone delivered a walk-off single to end the game.

Samantha Villerreal had two RBI in the game, providing the first two runs for the Tigers in the game. She had an RBI single in the first and a solo home run in the third. She finished 3-for-4 at the plate in the game.

FHSU put runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, and seventh, but could not find a way to push the go-ahead run across. Duran moved to 8-11 with the loss after just one run allowed in 5.1 innings of relief. She allowed seven hits and a walk, while striking out four. Wooldridge allowed just three hits and a walk with six strikeouts, holding the Tigers scoreless in her 5.1 innings of relief.

The Tigers moved to 13-18 overall and 7-7 in the MIAA, while Northeastern State moved to 18-15 overall and 6-6 in the MIAA. FHSU finishes its road swing in Oklahoma with a doubleheader at Central Oklahoma on Saturday at 12 pm.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Freshman Logan Herd threw his first complete game and Trevor Hughes drove in four as the Fort Hays State baseball team defeated Lincoln 11-1 in a seven inning run-rule victory Thursday. Herd (2-2) allowed one run on seven hits while walking three and striking out seven. It’s FHSU’s (11-14, 5-9 MIAA) second straight complete game by a starter after D.J. Carr’s complete game Tuesday against Washburn. Lincoln (1-23, 0-14 MIAA) has now lost 16 in a row.

Hughes led the Tigers 14-hit attack, going 3-for-4 with four RBIs. His two-run homer in the fourth put them up 5-0. Connor Ross also homered in the five-run inning. Fort Hays State then blew the game open scoring five in the sixth.

Alex Weiss and Alex King both drove in two runs as the Tigers win their second straight.

The Tigers and Blue Tigers are back at it again on Friday for game two of the series, which is scheduled to take place at 3 pm.

Former “Voice of the Tigers” and Hays broadcaster Steve Webster is being honored by the Kansas Association of Broadcasters with the Hod Humiston Award. The award is given annually to a Kansas broadcaster who has made significant contributions to the field of sports broadcasting, and is named for Hod Humiston who was the first television sportscaster in Kansas when he did play-by-play coverage of college games for KTVH (now KWCH TV), Wichita.

Webster is a former sports director at KAYS in Hays and was the play-by-play voice of the Fort Hays State Tigers from 1989-2002. In 2002, he was named the Executive Producer for the Mid-America Sports Network and the play-by-play voice for the Kansas State women, a position he would hold until 2005. In 2005, Webster helped launch Sports Radio 1410 KGSO in Wichita and also served as the play-by-play voice of the Wichita Wranglers in 2006 before the team moved to Arkansas. In 2009, he returned to Eagle Communications where he now serves as News Director and sports reporter for Eagle Radio and Hull Broadcasting in Great Bend.

Webster began his broadcast career in 1984 at KWLS in Pratt when we was named the play-by-play voice of the Pratt High Greenbacks and Pratt Beavers. After four years in Pratt, he moved to Great Bend for two years broadcasting the Great Bend Panthers and Barton Cougars before moving on to Hays.

Webster has earned multiple awards from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters for broadcast excellence in news, sports, and special programming.  In 2010, he was inducted into the Fort Hays State University Athletics Hall-of-Fame in the contributor category.

Webster is the fourth broadcaster from KAYS in Hays to receive the Hod Humiston Award joining Bob Davis, Wyatt Thompson and Gerard Wellbrock.

Webster will receive his award during the KAB Sports Seminar in Kansas City April 21.

PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS
1979    Hod Humiston  (d. 12/28/87)
1980    Dev Nelson, KKSU AM, Manhattan
1981    Max Falkenstein, Lawrence
1982    Bob Hilgendorf, Manhattan
1983    Bob Pratt, KGGF/KQQF, Coffeyville
1984    Tom Hedrick KU, KLWN/KLZR, Lawrence
1985    Bob Fromme, KC Royals Radio Network, Kansas City
1986    Ed O’Donnell  WIBW AM/FM, Topeka
1987    Bill Miller, KLEO/KZSN, Wichita
1988    Tad Felts, KKAN/KQMA, Phillipsburg
1989    Fred Conger, KWBW/KHUT, Hutchinson
1990    Kay Melia, KLOE AM, Goodland
1991    Bob Davis, KMBZ Radio, Westwood
1992    Tony Jewell,  KIUL/KWKR, Garden City
1993    Nelson Hartman, KSHSAA (retired)
1994    Ron Paradis, WIBW TV/Radio, Topeka
1995    Mitch Holthus, WIBW Radio, Voice of the K-State Wildcats, Voice of the K.C. Chiefs
1996    Bob Wells, Retired, Harris Co., Garden City now of Lawrence
1997    Dale McCoy, Jr., KKOY Am/FM, Chanute
1998    George Donley, Great Bend (posthumously, d. 1997)
1999     WIBW Radio Sports Department, Topeka
2000    Dewey Terrill, KJCK AM/FM, Junction City
2001     Rich Epp, KLBY TV, Colby
2002    Rocky Downing, KCLY/KFRM, Clay Center
2003    Cliff Shank, KGGG/KSKU/KXKU, Hutchinson
2004    Fred White, Kansas City Royals
2005    Rusty Hilst, KWBW AM, Hutchinson
2006    Gary Bateman, KOFO AM, Ottawa
2007    Bruce Haertl, KWCH TV, Wichita
2008    Randy Goering, KVGB AM-FM, Great Bend
2009    Brock Kappelmann, KSCB AM-FM, Liberal
2010    Mike Manns, KMAJ AM-FM, Topeka
2011    Wyatt Thompson, Voice of the K-State Wildcats, Manhattan
2012    Gerard Wellbrock, KAYS AM, Hays
2013    Eddie Lomshek, KKOW AM, Pittsburg
2014    Mike Kennedy, Voice of the Wichita State Shockers, Wichita
2015    Jenn Bates, KWCH TV, Wichita

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

TOPEKA, Kan. – D.J. Carr allowed one run on eight hits, throwing his second complete game of the season as Fort Hays State ends their seven-game losing streak with an 8-1 win over Washburn Tuesday afternoon at Falley Field. Carr (2-3) gave up a second inning lead off home run to David Gaunt then only allowed three runners to reach scoring position the rest of the way. The Youngstown State transfer struck out four and walked none needing only 91 pitches for his second win of the season.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers (10-14, 4-9 MIAA) scored four in fourth to take the lead for good. They added a run in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the eighth. Alex King’s single to center scored Jace Bowman to tie the game 1-1. Nick Hammeke followed with a double to put FHSU up 2-1. Ty Redington and Caleb Cherryholmes also drove in runs to put the Tigers up 4-1.

Connor Ross had three of the Tigers 15 hits including two doubles. Redington, Cherryholmes, Bowman and King all had two hits.

FHSU Athletics

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State senior Paxton Duran was named MIAA/AstroTurf Softball Co-Pitcher of the Week along with Emmie Robertson of Pittsburg State on Tuesday (Mar. 22) for her efforts this past week. Duran threw in six of eight games last week and made four starts for the Tigers, which included a complete game shutout performance.

Duran posted an ERA of 1.78 for the week in 35.1 innings. She had 29 strikeouts, but went 1-3 for the week taking a pair of losses in one-run games on the road (3-2 and 1-0) and then an 11-inning loss to Lindenwood. In her final start, she tossed a nine-strikeout shutout against Lincoln for her lone win of the week. At the plate, she slugged .800 for the week and hit two home runs in a game against Lindenwood, which tied the FHSU single-game record. She drove home five runs for the week and had three extra-base hits. She recorded a save in the 26-18 win over Lindenwood, a game that saw FHSU set a new school record for runs.

Robertson went 2-1 on the week with wins over Wayne State, 13-0 (5), and Augustana, 3-0. Her one loss was to Sioux Falls. Robertson pitched two shut outs in her three appearances and gave up only three total earned runs on the week. In 19.0 innings of work, Robertson struck out 25 batters, including 12 in the loss to Sioux Falls. Of the 11 hits she gave up on the week, only three were for extra bases. Robertson finished the week with a 1.11 ERA and held opponents to a .164 batting average.

FHSU Athletics

EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State fell to 9-14 overall and 3-9 in the MIAA when it dropped the series finale to 19th ranked Emporia State on Sunday by a score of 7-4. The Hornets swept the three-game series and improved to 18-5 overall, 10-2 in the MIAA.

Emporia State jumped out to an early three-run lead in in the bottom of the first and remained in the lead the rest of the day. The Tigers gave up three more runs in the bottom of the fifth, another in the sixth, and saw themselves looking at a 7-0 deficit with just three innings to go.

The Tiger offense took a chunk out of the lead in the seventh inning when they pushed four runs across the plate. With a runner on first, Jace Bowman singled up the middle.  Nick Hammeke then got hit by a pitch to load the bases. After a pitching change, Ty Redington brought home the first run of the day for the Tigers when he walked. After an error and a wild pitch plated two more runs, Austin Unrein made the score 7-4 with a groundout RBI.

Even with the momentum shifted in favor of FHSU, Hornet reliever Shane Davies got the final six outs of the game to earn a save. He allowed just one hit and a walk, while striking out two. Jordan Plank picked up the win, going 6.1 innings in his start with three runs (two earned) allowed on five hits and two walks. Plank struck out four.

Kyle Vogt suffered the loss for the Tigers and now sits at 2-5 on the season. He lasted 4 1/3 innings and allowed six runs on eight hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

The Tigers, who have lost seven straight, get one day off before they are at it again. They travel to Topeka to take on Washburn for a single game on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 4 pm. You can hear the game on KAYS (1400-AM) beginning with the Auto World Pregame Show at 3:45 pm.

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State swept Lincoln University in a conference doubleheader on Sunday at Tiger Stadium. FHSU shutout Lincoln in game one 5-0 before taking the second contest 9-4. FHSU moved to 12-17 overall and 6-6 in the MIAA, while Lincoln dropped to 2-27 overall and 1-11 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 5, Lincoln 0
Paxton Duran threw her second shutout of the season and struck out nine to help FHSU to a 5-0 victory. She scattered four hits and hit one batter, but did not allow any walks. She improved to 7-10 on the season with the win.

Veronica Knittig opened the scoring for the Tigers in the third with a solo homer to left field. Erin Elmore followed with a double and then Rilee Krier  singled before Tori Beltz drove both of them home on a smash single up the middle. FHSU added a run in the fifth on a Duran RBI single and a Lincoln fielding error led to a run in the sixth.

Macie Kinsey took the loss for Lincoln. She pitched 3.0 innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits. Madison Ragar also pitched three innings and allowed one run.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 9, Lincoln 4
Fort Hays State took an early 1-0 lead in game two on a Kylie Strand RBI single in the first, but a pair of errors by the Tigers in the second led to three Lincoln runs. FHSU trailed Lincoln 3-1 through three innings before breaking through in the fourth.

The Tigers scored six runs in the fourth on five hits and a Lincoln error led to two unearned runs in the inning. FHSU plated the first run on a wild pitch, then Rilee Krier delivered a game tying RBI single. Tori Beltz nearly in a grand slam as her blast hit high off the wall in left center, resulting in a two-RBI double to give FHSU a 5-3 lead. Strand later had an RBI groundout and Chermayne Yago also drove home a run with a single.

FHSU tacked on two more runs in the sixth on a Beltz two-run homer. Lincoln plated one run in the seventh, but it was too little, too late. Beltz went 3-for-4 at the plate in the game with four RBI.

Carrie Clarke went the distance for FHSU in the pitching circle, allowing four runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks. She struck out a season-high five batters.

Lauren Stamp took the loss for Lincoln, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits and a walk. Sarah Westhoff threw five innings for Lincoln and gave up just two runs.

The Tigers now head on the road for a couple of weeks. FHSU will have conference doubleheaders at Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma next week before heading to Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State the following week.

FHSU Athletics

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State earned a split in a wild doubleheader at Tiger Stadium on Saturday. After dropping the first game 10-8 in 11 innings, the Tigers outlasted Lindenwood in game two setting a school record for runs in a 26-18 win. FHSU is now 10-7 overall and 4-6 in the MIAA, while Lindenwood moved to 7-21 overall and 4-8 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Lindenwood 10, Fort Hays State 8 (11 innings)
Fort Hays State was just one strike away from taking game one with a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh, but Caitlyn Touchette of Lindenwood extended the game with a two-out RBI single. Another single led to two more runs and the Lions had a 6-4 lead heading to the bottom of the seventh.

With a runner on second, FHSU was down to its last out when pitcher Paxton Duran tied the game 6-6 with a two-run homer to left center field. It was Duran’s second homer of the game after hitting a solo shot in the fourth. The two home runs in a game tied the school record held by several other Tigers.

Each team scored a run in the ninth to push the game to the international tiebreaker in the 10^th. Duran extended the game one more time for FHSU with an RBI triple, giving her four RBI for the game.

Both teams were able to plate the runner from second in the 10th, but Lindenwood put up two runs in the 11^th. The Tigers had the heart of their lineup at the plate in the 11th, but went 1-2-3 with a pair of flyouts and a groundout to end the game.

Duran went all 11 innings in the pitcher’s circle for FHSU allowing six earned runs. She allowed 15 hits and three walks, while striking out seven. Morgan Colvis also went the distance for Lindenwood in the circle, allowing four earned runs. She gave up 11 hits and four walks, while striking out nine.

Kylie Strand drove home three runs in the contest as her two-run homer in the fourth gave FHSU the 4-3 lead it held going into the seventh.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 26, Lindenwood 18
Both teams set the tone for a wild offensive contest in game two as the Lions plated three runs and the Tigers plated six in the first inning. Lindenwood took the lead back with a nine spot in the second inning, but it was short lived as the Tigers scored seven in the second to take a 13-12 lead. Lindenwood scored three more in the third, but the Tigers put up six once again and held a 19-15 lead going to the fourth. The 19 runs had already tied a school record for runs in a game after just three innings.

Both teams went scoreless in the fourth, but the run scoring commenced again in the fifth as Lindenwood got three to pull within one at 19-18, but the Tigers countered with five to make it 24-18. With FHSU able to hold the Lions scoreless once again in the sixth, FHSU ended the game by run-rule in the sixth with two more runs, making the final of 26-18. The 26 runs shattered the school record by seven, but came up just one short of the MIAA record of 27.

Working the scoreless fourth for FHSU was Rilee Krier, making the first pitching appearance of her career as a Tiger. By entering in relief at the start of the fourth, she earned the win, even though she still gave up three runs in the fifth before handing the ball to Paxton Duran. Duran was able to get the final two outs of the fifth and closed out the game, earning her first save of the season. Carrie Clarke pitched the first three innings for the Tigers.

Lindenwood went through four pitchers in the game and its third of the game, Brooke Miller took the loss. Miller surrendered 13 of the runs in 3.1 innings of relief. The first two pitchers of the game lasted just a combined inning, giving up 11 runs together.

Despite the loss, Lindenwood set a new MIAA single game record for hits with 26 as a team in the game. FHSU was not far behind with 21. The Tigers set a new school record for RBI in a game, recording 22 as a team to break the old record of 18. Courtney Dobson tied the school record for runs in a game with five and Kylie Strand set a new single game record for walks with four.

Erin Elmore led the Tigers in RBI with five, while Claudia Vazquez and Tori Beltz each had four. Beltz had the only homer in the game for FHSU, a two-run shot. Clarke, despite a tough game in the pitching circle, went 2-for-2 at the plate with two RBI in her first-ever collegiate at bats.

Four Lindenwood players recorded a four-hit game and Maria Tippit led the Lions in RBI for the game with six.

The Tigers return to Tiger Stadium on Sunday (Mar. 20) for a doubleheader with Lincoln University starting at 1 pm.