FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State picked up its second-straight conference victory on Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 1) against Emporia State at the FHSU Tennis Courts in Hays. The Tigers edged the Hornets 5-4 to move to 9-7 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA.

Emporia State (8-6, 2-2 MIAA) had only four players on Wednesday as two were unavailable for the dual. The Tigers took advantage, taking one doubles match and one singles match in order to grab the win.

FHSU took a 2-1 lead on the Hornets after doubles play as the teams split the two contested matches. The No. 3 team of  Jessica Johnson and Michelle Miller picked up the forfeit win. At No. 2 doubles, Brittney Ricci and Katie Harp defeated Fugit and Khounsombath 8-5. The No. 1 team of Camille Caron-Bedard and Rienette Strydom had a close match, but fell 8-6 to Griffey and Smith.

FHSU immediately took a 4-1 lead in the match at the start of singles play with the No. 5 and No. 6 positions open for ESU. Ricci had a hand in both wins that were contested for FHSU. She went on to defeat Amy Fugit at No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-3 to clinch the match for the Tigers.

Caron-Bedard had a great battle with Tawni Griffey at No. 1 singles. Caron-Bedard took a big first-set lead and held on 6-4, but Griffey pulled out the second set by a score of 7-5. The third set came down to a win-by-two situation, but Griffey was able to pick up the final two points to escape with an 11-9 win over Caron-Bedard.

At No. 3 singles, Taylor Smith of ESU defeated Miller 6-0, 6-2, while at No. 4 singles, Tiffany Khounsombath of ESU defeated Hipp 6-2, 6-3.

The Tigers host Washburn in conference action on Friday (Apr. 3) at 2 pm.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State Women’s Basketball was picked eighth in the final version of the 2014-15 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today Top 25 poll, released this week by the organization.

California University of Pennsylvania was the top-ranked squad after winning the NCAA Championship last month, and runner-up California Baptist was picked second. From there, semifinalists Limestone College and Emporia State were slotted third and fourth while Lewis University closed out the Top 5.

FHSU and ESU were joined in the final poll by Pittsburg State (No. 16) from the MIAA, while Central Region opponents Wayne State College (No. 18), Arkansas Tech (receiving 16 votes), Harding (receiving 16 votes), Northern State (receiving 15 votes) and Minnesota State (receiving nine votes) were also mentioned in the rankings.

The Tigers finished the season at 30-4 overall, winning the MIAA Regular Season Championship and reaching the 30-win margin for the second time in program history. FHSU closed out its campaign in the NCAA Tournament Central Region final. The squad was ranked as high as second in the nation this season and strung together a 21-game win streak between November and February.

The final WBCA Top 25 is below…

Rank	Institution – First Place Votes	Previous Rank	Record	Total Points
1	California University of Pennsylvania (Pa.) – 27	14	32-4	728
2	California Baptist University	NR	29-7	653
3	Limestone College (S.C.) – 2	2	34-2	629
4	Emporia State University (Kan.)	9	29-5	619
5	Lewis University (Ill.)	4	31-3	558
6	West Texas A&M University	5	30-3	541
7	Nova Southeastern University (Fla.)	18	27-6	514
8	Fort Hays State University (Kan.)	6	30-4	465
9	University of New Haven (Conn.)	23	26-6	462
10	Union University (Tenn.)	12	28-4	434
11	Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania	15	26-5	417
12	Stonehill College (Mass.)	13	24-5	379
13	University of Alaska – Anchorage – 1	1	29-2	332
14	Columbus State University (Ga.)	3	31-2	309
15	Michigan Technological University	8	28-3	288
16	Pittsburg State University (Kan.)	16	27-7	260
17	Drury University (Mo.)	7	26-4	205
18	Wayne State College (Neb.)	19	28-6	197
19	Adelphi University (N.Y.)	10	28-4	189
20	California State Polytechnic University – Pomona	NR	21-9	186
21	Wayne State University (Mich.)	19	23-6	156
22	Ashland University (Ohio)	NR	25-9	136
23	Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Pa.)	11	25-4	134
24	Anderson University (S.C.)	NR	27-5	119
25	University of Colorado – Colorado Springs	NR	26-7	111

Dropped Out: Seattle Pacific University (Wash.); Cedarville University (Ohio); University of District of Columbia; Humboldt State University (Calif.); Hawaii Pacific University.

Others receiving votes: Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) 108; Rollins College (Fla.) 92; Cedarville University (Ohio) 59; West Liberty University (W.Va.) 59; University of District of Columbia 52; University of West Florida 42; Humboldt State University (Calif.) 37; Hawaii Pacific University 35; Holy Family University (Pa.) 30; Franklin Pierce University (N.H.) 28; Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) 25; Shepherd University (W.Va.) 24; Arkansas Tech University 16; California State University – Dominguez Hills 16; Harding University (Ark.) 16; Northern State University (S.D.) 15; Gannon University (Pa.) 13; Benedict College (S.C.) 11; Eckerd College (Fla.) 11; Minnesota State University – Mankato 9; Colorado Mesa University 8; Kentucky State University 6; University of Southern Indiana 5; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 4; Wingate University (N.C.) 4; Midwestern State University (Texas) 2; University of Arkansas – Fort Smith 1.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State women’s golfer Samantha Hobson was named the MIAA Women’s Golf Athlete of the Week on Wednesday (Apr. 1). Hobson tied for fourth at the UNK Spring Invitational, held March 30-31 at Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell, Neb.

Hobson tied the lowest round shot in the tournament, carding a 75 in her second round to vault up the leaderboard. She nearly chased down the second-place finishers in the tournament, just one stroke back with a total of 159. She was seven strokes back of the tournament winner. The 75 was Hobson’s lowest round of the year, with 79 as the previous low.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State women’s golf finished seventh as a team at the Nebraska-Kearney Spring Invite, held March 30-31 at Awarii Dunes Golf Course in Axtell, Neb. The Tigers were led by a fourth-place finish by Samantha Hobson, who tied the lowest round of the tournament with a 3-over par 75 on Tuesday.

Hobson shot rounds of 84 and 75 for a total of 159. She was seven strokes off the winning pace of 152 by Samantha Crawford of Nebraska-Kearney, who shot two rounds of 76. Hobson was only one stroke back of second place.

Abby Schmidtberger tied for 35th with rounds of 94 and 84. Megan DeWerff and Quillen Eichhorn tied for 37th. DeWerff shot rounds of 93 and 91, while Eichhorn shot rounds of 98 and 86. Hadley Tharp figured into the team scoring on day one with a 97, and then shot 96 on day two.

FHSU shot 704 as a team. Nebraska-Kearney won its home tournament with a total of 633, nine strokes ahead of Missouri Western at 642.

The FHSU women return to action on April 6-7 at the Virginia McCoy Intercollegiate, hosted by Park University in Parkville, Mo. The tournament will be held at The Deuce at The National.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State defeated McPherson College for the second time in as many weeks with a 12-4 win on Tuesday night at Larks Park in Hays. After dropping their last three contests with just a total of three runs, the bats came alive as the Tigers churned out 16 hits in the non-conference win.

FHSU did the majority of its damage in the first five innings, jumping out to an 11-1 advantage. FHSU scored three times in the first, second, and third to build a 9-1 lead, then added single runs in the fourth and fifth. FHSU added its final run in the eighth to push its lead back to eight at 12-4 after the Bulldogs scored once in the seventh and two in the eighth.

Eight of the nine players in the starting lineup recorded hits in the game. Kevin Czarnecki, Cooper Langley, Connor Ross and Alex King all had two in the game. Clayton Basgall also recorded two hits after entering the game in the fifth. Langley had the only home run for FHSU, a two-run shot in the first, while Ross had two of five doubles for the team.

Joe Mapes picked up the win for FHSU, going a predetermined 4.0 innings in the start. He allowed just one run on five hits. Mapes is now 1-0 on the season. Steven Federau relieved for two innings, retiring all six batters he faced with three strikeouts. Will Amen pitched 1.1 innnings, allowing three runs, while Ty Thomas finished the game with 1.2 innings of work, retiring all four batters he faced (including a double play to end the eighth).

The Tigers moved to 7-21 overall on the year with the win. FHSU hosts Missouri Western in a four-game conference series this Friday and Saturday (Apr. 3-4) in Hays.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Fort Hays State sweeps a doubleheader from Newman by scores of 9-3 and 5-0 Tuesday afternoon at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers have now won eight of their last 10 and improve to 19-14. The Jets have a four-game win streak snapped and fall to 10-26.

Adrian Mohr Postgame Interview

 

Game 1: Fort Hays State 9, Newman 3
Tori Beltz led the Tigers 13-hit attack by tying a school record with three doubles. Beltz drove in three and scored a run. Kylie Strand added two home runs, a solo shot in the fourth and three-run blast in the fifth.

Game Highlights

FHSU scored two in the first, second and fourth. After Newman rallied with three in the top of the fifth, the Tigers answered with three in the bottom of the inning, highlighted by Stand’s two-run shot to left field.

Paxton Duran struck out eight and walked just one in the complete game victory. Duran allowed three runs on seven hits and improves to 10-6 on the season.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 5, Newman 0
Kelsie Kimminau scattered five singles over seven innings for her eighth win of the season. Kimminau struck out five and walked only one.

Game Highlights

Samantha Villarreal put FHSU up 1-0 in the first with a one-out single. Her younger sister Mackenzie hit her first career home run to lead off the fourth inning and push the lead to 2-0.

The Tigers score three with two outs in the bottom to blow the game open. Rilee Krier started the rally with a triple down the right field line. Veronica Knittig and Courtney Dobson both followed with doubles.

UNK Athletics

Kearney, Neb. – The University of Nebraska at Kearney has hired former Hastings College head coach Carrie Hoffstetter as its head women’s basketball coach, UNK announced today.

UNK will formally introduce Hofstetter as its seventh coach in program history at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The press conference will be hosted on the floor of the Health and Sports Center.

“I am extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the UNK Women’s Basketball program. Throughout the entire process, it has been evident to me that UNK is committed to success and excellence and I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the Loper family,” said Hofstetter.

She is a native of Edgar, Neb., and graduate of Sandy Creek High School and Hastings College. Whether as a player, assistant coach or head coach, Hofstetter has been a part of not only winning programs but ones that contended for championships on an annual basis.

She has a career coaching record of 68-31 in leading the Broncos program the past three seasons. Hastings won 25 and 28 games, respectively, the past two years, reaching the NAIA Division II Tournament national quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals this season.

Hofstetter was the head assistant coach at Hastings for four seasons (2004-08) before holding the same position at Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association-member Fort Hays State from 2008-12.

As a collegiate player, Hofstetter was one of the Broncos all-time best players, powering Hastings to four national tournament appearances and 2002 and 2003 national titles. The point guard set school records for career assists and career steals while earning 2004 first-team All-American honors.

As an assistant at Fort Hays, Hofstetter was part of a program that had just joined the MIAA. The Tigers won 59 games in her time assisting head coach Tony Hobson, including a 20-9 mark during the 2011-12 season. Hofstetter also played and worked for Hobson at Hastings College.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Northeastern State hit  six home runs, three doubles and two triples as they rout the Fort Hays State Tigers 17-1 Sunday afternoon. The RiverHawks win three of the four games in the series and improve to 17-10 and 11-9 in the MIAA. The Tigers, who were outscored 37-3 in the final three games of the series, fall to 6-21 and 5-15 in the MIAA.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

 

Northeastern State jumped ahead early, hitting two home runs in a four-run first inning. They would score in every inning but the fifth.

Fort Hays State’s lone run came on a Kevin Czarnecki solo homer to leadoff off the fourth.

Tiger starter Jusitn Hersch takes the loss, allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Dustin Berrong picks up the win in his first start of the season for Northeastern State, striking out 11 in six innings. Berrong gave up just the one run on three hits and walked just one.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State women’s track and field was victorious in seven events on the way to a winning team effort at the Alex Francis Classic in Hays. Madison Wolf, coming off All-America honors as a true freshman in 2014, uncorked the longest throw (160’3″) of her collegiate career in the javelin to lay claim to a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships with an automatic qualifying mark.

Wolf’s effort topped a dominating effort by the Tigers in the women’s javelin with two others also reaching provisional qualifying marks. Estefania Lopez threw 155’4″ to post a very solid provisional mark, ranking her fourth in the nation so far for the outdoor season. Megan Honas also had a provisional mark in the event, throwing 139’0.5″ to rank 12^th nationally so far.

FHSU claimed six other events outside of the javelin, including three on the track and three in the field. As a team, FHSU scored 277 points. Barton Community College had 138 points and Colby Community College had 85.

On the track, Anna Eigruber won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.77 seconds. The 4×100-meter relay team of Casey Freed, Ashli Dryden, Kelly Wycoff and Lexi Riedel won in a time of 48.09 seconds. The 4×400-meter relay team of Mandy Wilson, Mindy Wilson, Riedel, and Wycoff won in a time of 4:14.70.

In the field, Dryden won the long jump with a distance of 18’2.25″, while Eigruber won the triple jump with a distance of 37’9.5″. Rachel Monteil won the hammer throw with a distance of 163’9.5″.

Provisional Mark for Tien
Fort Hays State men’s track and field won eight events on their way to a team win at home. Brady Tien turned in the third-best effort nationally in the pole vault so far this outdoor season with a solid provisional qualifying mark of 16’6″.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Northeastern State scored early and often as they sweep the Fort Hays State Tigers 8-1 and 12-1 Saturday afternoon at Larks Park. The Tigers, who won the series opener 11-10 in 10 innings Friday night, fall to 6-20 on the year and 5-14 in the MIAA. The RiverHawks are now 16-10 and 9-9 in conference play.

Game Highlights

The two close out the series with a single game on Sunday beginning at noon. You can hear the game on KAYS.

Game 1: Northeastern State 8, Fort Hays State 1
RiverHawk starter Ryan Helsey allowed just one hit over five innings, striking out six and walking five for his fifth win of the season. Tiger starter Tyler Patty was roughed up early, giving up seven runs in the first three innings and takes the loss.

NSU scored two in the first, three in the second and two in the third for the 7-0 lead. FHSU’s lone run came in the fourh on a bases loaded walk by Andre Vieyra.

FHSU was held to just three hits and committed three errors in the game.

Game 2: Northeastern State 12, Fort Hays State 1
Gabe Coldwell throws the RiverHawks first complete game of the season, limiting the Tigers to a Cooper Langley sixth inning home run. Coldwell allowed just the one run on five its, striking out one and walking three.

Tiger starter Chase Newman lasts just two innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on seven hits.

NSU scored in every inning but the seventh. They blow the game open with five in the second, the final three coming with two outs.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State closed out the weekend with a doubleheader split against No. 19 Central Oklahoma.  FHSU won the first game in extra innings, 3-2, before falling in game two, 4-1.

The Tigers (17-13, 10-6 MIAA) are in the midst of a 10-game homestand and return to action on Tuesday (March 31) against Newman.  Game time from Tiger Stadium is 4 p.m.

Complete results for Saturday’s games are below…

Fort Hays State 3, Central Oklahoma 2 (Eight innings)
Fort Hays State used a two-run eighth inning in a 3-2 comeback, walk-off win against Central Oklahoma in game one.

Paxton Duran (9-6) threw all eighth innings, not walking a batter with six strikeouts on the day.  Duran gave up six hits and two runs in the complete game victory.  Nicole Brady (8-5) took the loss for the Bronchos, allowed three runs on eight hits with five walks allowed.

Rilee Krier was 2-for-4 in the game and had one of two doubles for the Tigers.  Amanda Vaupel (1-for-3) had the other double and an RBI on the day.  Mackenzie Villarreal and Courtney Dobson also had hits and each drove in the game tying and winning runs, respectively.

FHSU took an early lead in the first off Vaupel’s sacrifice fly to deep right, scoring Erin Elmore from third.

That lead held until the seventh when Brooke Zukerman led off the top half with a triple to right field, eventually scoring on a one-out squeeze play from Ashleigh Tramel.

In the bottom of the seventh, FHSU had runners on the corners with two outs but couldn’t come up with a game-winner as the teams headed for extras.

UCO scored again in the top of the eighth to take a 2-1 lead off Zukerman’s sacrifice fly that scored Kaylee Brunson.  The Tigers, however, strung together three hits and scored two runs – including a walk-off RBI single from Dobson.

Tori Beltz led off the inning with a full-count walk, and with one out Vaupel doubled to left center to put Gabrielle Sandoval(who pinch ran for Beltz) on third.  Mackenzie Villarreal‘s first hit of the day followed, as the freshman took a 2-2 pitch up the middle to score Sandoval and tie it, 2-2.  Duran was intentionally walked to load the bases before the Bronchos got a fielder’s choice at home for the second out of the inning as Krier reached first.  Dobson came through in the clutch for the Tigers, taking a 2-0 pitch back up the middle into center field for the game-winning RBI, scoring Mackenzie Villarreal.

It was the Tigers’ eighth extra-inning game this season and FHSU now holds a 4-4 record in those contests.

Central Oklahoma 4, Fort Hays State 1
Fort Hays State was held hitless through the first 4.1 innings and couldn’t string together a late rally, falling 4-1 in the finale versus Central Oklahoma.

Kelsey Kimminau (7-7) threw five innings with four strikeouts, giving up four runs on eight hits in the loss.  Savannah Pricetossed the final two innings and gave up two hits with a strikeout and a walk allowed.  UCO’s Kelsey Berlin (7-6) struck out seven in a complete game performance, giving up one unearned run and five walks.

Beltz had a double and two walks for the day while Dobson and Samantha Villarreal had the Tigers’ only hits on the day.

UCO led 1-0 in the second after a solo home run from Ashleigh Tramel, and extended that lead to two in the fourth behind Shelby Carel’s RBI triple.  Another two runs were tacked on in the fifth when Tramel doubled down the left line, but FHSU struck back with on in the bottom of the sixth to get on the board.

Beltz led off the sixth with a double to right center, scoring on the next at-bat when Samantha Villarreal singled into center.  On that play, UCO’s Kaylee Brunson mishandled the ball in center and allowed Beltz to score on the error.

That was it for the Tigers, however, as UCO hung on for the win and sealed the doubleheader split.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Andre Vieyra hit a one-out single to right field, scoring Kevin Czarnecki with the game-winning run as the Fort Hays State Tigers take the series opener with Northeastern State 11-10 in 10 innings in front of 475 Friday night at Larks Park. The Tigers, who have won three of their last five and improve to 6-18 overall and 5-12 in the MIAA. The RiverHawks have lost six of their last nine and are now 14-10 and 8-9 in the MIAA.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

 

Game Highlights

The Tigers, who trailed 5-1 and 7-2 at one point, rally for seven runs in the sixth inning to go up 10-7. The RiverHawks score two unearned runs in the eighth to tie the game before Vieyra’s heroics win it.

Cooper Langely hit a three-run homer in the sixth to give the Tigers an 8-7 lead and goes 3-for-6. Vieyra also hit a two-run homer in the sixth and finished 2-for-4 with three hits and two runs scored. Kevin Czarnecki went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and leadoff double in the 10th.

Austin Unrein picks up the win in relief allowing one unearned run on one hit over three innings. Jake Kern, who leads the MIAA in saves, suffers the loss.

The two teams play a dougleheader beginning at one o’clock Saturday before closing out the series with a noon game on Sunday. You can hear Saturday’s second game as well as Sunday’s series finale on KAYS.