Fort Hays State is ranked No. 1 in the first NCAA II Central Region rankings of the season, released Wednesday. The Tigers are one of five schools represented in the top 10 from the MIAA. Eight teams are selected for the regional of the NCAA Tournament at the end of the regular season.

Fort Hays State and Southeastern Oklahoma State from the Great American Conference are currently the top two teams in the region. Minnesota State-Mankato of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference starts at No. 3 in the rankings, but is only 18-4 against in-region competition.

Central Oklahoma, which currently sits atop the MIAA standings and ranked No. 7 nationally, is fourth followed by Winona State, Augustana, and Minot State, all of the NSIC. The MIAA represents the No. 8 through No. 10 spots with Missouri Western, Emporia State, and Truman. Fort Hays State is 7-0 against teams currently listed in the Top 10 of the region rankings.

Fort Hays State has eight more games remaining on its conference slate before the MIAA Tournament in Overland Park, Kan. Four of those eight games are this weekend on the road with doubleheaders at Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist.

Below are the Central Region rankings for April 17, 2013…

RANK	SCHOOL	OVERALL DII	DII IN-REGION
1	Fort Hays State	35-7	32-4
2	Southeastern Oklahoma	36-7	35-7
3	Minnesota State-Mankato	25-7	18-4
4	Central Oklahoma	33-7	30-6
5	Winona State	20-6	16-5
6	Augustana (S.D.)	22-8	15-6
7	Minot State	21-5	14-4
8	Missouri Western State	29-11	25-9
9	Emporia State	27-12	27-12
10	Truman	21-13	21-13

Fort Hays State softball drops four spots to No. 18 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Wednesday. The Tigers split a pair of conference doubleheaders this past week, dropping from No. 14. This is the sixth straight week Fort Hays State has been ranked after moving into the poll for the first time in school history on March 13.

Central Oklahoma are the only other team from the MIAA in the latest poll. The Bronchos, who leads the MIAA standings, checks in at No. 7 this week up one spot from last week.

Below is the complete Top 25 Poll for April 17, 2013…

Rank	Team	Record	Points	Previous
1	Indianapolis (16)	38-2	400	1
2	Armstrong	35-6-1	370	3
3	Valdosta State	30-8	359	4
4	Southeastern Oklahoma State	36-7	354	5
5	West Texas A&M	34-7	335	2
6	Humboldt State	36-12	314	7
7	Central Oklahoma	33-7	299	8
8	California (Pennsylvania)	23-1	268	10
9	Grand Valley State	27-3	250	12
10	Texas Woman’s University	36-10	243	15
11	North Alabama	36-12	240	11
12	Colorado School of Mines	33-4-1	220	9
13	North Georgia	36-11	193	6
14	Georgia College	34-13	188	21
15	Tampa	25-8	165	16
16	Sonoma State	32-12	163	17
17	Caldwell	31-4	155
18	Fort Hays State	35-7	142	14
19	Midwestern State	34-12	95	22
20	Shippensburg	25-6	79
21	St. Martin’s	30-11	74	23
22	Rollins	39-8	63	18
23	Columbus State	36-16	59	24
24	New Haven	26-8	47
25	Saint Leo	34-14	26

The baseball doubleheader between Fort Hays State and Missouri Western scheduled for Wednesday afternoon in Hays has been cancelled and will not be made up due to bad weather.

The Tigers return to action Saturday and Sunday at Larks Park against Truman. You can hear Sunday’s game beginning around 11:45am with the Fort Hays Auto Sales Pregame Show.

The Fort Hays State men’s golf team shot a 302 on the final day of the Missouri Southern Invitational to finish sixth with a two-round 614, 24 back of first place Central Oklahoma. Travis Kleweno closed with a 74 and tied for ninth with a two-round 150. Trey Herman tied for 15th after shooting a 78 in the final round.

Team Standings (conference points in parenthesis)
1.     Central Oklahoma (11) – 293-297=590
2.     Central Missouri (10) – 301-300=601
3.     Nebraska-Kearney (9) – 306-302=608
4.     Northeastern State (8) – 299-310=609
5.     Washburn (7) – 307-307=614
6.     Fort Hays State (6) – 312-305=617
7.     Missouri Southern (5) – 313-305=618
8.     Missouri Western (4) – 305-315=620
T9.  Lincoln (3) – 309-315=624
T9.  Lindenwood – 312-312=624*
11.  Pittsburg State (2) – 322-315=637
12.  Southwest Baptist (1) – 318-328=646

Individual Standings (conference points in parenthesis)
1.    Trevor Stafford, Central Oklahoma (15) – 74-66=140
2.    Trey Seigel, Washburn (14) – 71-73=144
T3.  Kris Koelzer, Nebraska-Kearney (12.5) – 70-75=145
T3.  Ryan Buerk, Missouri Southern (12.5) – 72-73=145
T5.  Dillon Rust, Central Oklahoma (10.5) – 70-78=148
T5.  Sam Migdal, Central Missouri (10.5) – 74-74=148
T7.  Kyle Fouts, Northeastern State (8.5) – 71-78=149
T7.  Jacob Bartel, Northeastern State (8.5) – 73-76=149
T9.  Cy Moritz, Central Missouri (6.5) – 76-74=150
T9.  Travis Kleweno, Fort Hays (6.5) – 76-74=150
T11.  Travis Mays, Central Missouri (4.0) – 74-77=151
T11.   Eric Kline, Central Oklahoma (4.0) – 74-77=151
T11.   Logan Waresback, Central Oklahoma (4.0) – 75-76=151
14.    Teddy Jones, Central Missouri (2.0) – 77-75=152
T15.  Steven Mallow, Lincoln (.333) – 77-76=153
T15.  Trey Herman, Fort Hays (.333) – 75-78=153
T15.   Wes Apple, Missouri Western (.333) – 75-78=153

For the third straight week and sixth time this season, Fort Hays State’s Maddie Holub has been named the MIAA Pitcher of the Week. Holub threw another perfect game in the Tigers 5-0 win over Missouri Southern this past Friday, her second in consecutive starts and the fourth complete game no-hitter of her career. Holub struck out 14 in the game.

She then backed up the perfect game by throwing a 10 inning shutout in the Tigers 1-0 victory over Pittsburg State the next day. Holub recorded 13 strikeouts and worked around six walks, five hits and three hit batters in becoming the Tigers first 20-game winner in school history, topping her old single-season wins record of 19, set last year.

The Tiger men sit in a tie for eighth after shooting a 312 at the first day of the Missouri Southern Invitational and trail first-place Central Oklahoma by 19 shots. Trey Herman led the way for the Tigers with a 3-over 75 followed by Mark Kleweno who had a 76. Mark Cunningham shot a 79 and Luke Gordon an 82. Final round play is today in Joplin.

FHSU Results…
Trey Herman-75
Mark Kleweno-76
Mark Cunningham-79
Luke Gordon-82

The Fort Hays State women’s golf team finished ninth at the Green and Gold Shootout hosted by Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State. The Tigers shot a 376 in the final round which was held at the Mozingo Lake Golf Course in Maryville and finish with a 738, 109 shots back of first-place Central Oklahoma.

Carmen Thompson shot an 87 in the final round and finished ninth overall with a 170.

FHSU Results…
Carmen Thompson (9th) 83-87-170
Samantha Hobson (33rd) 93-92-185
Megan DeWerff 92-96-188
Natalie Bethal 94-101-195

One game after scoring a season-high 19 runs in a 19-8 win over Northeastern State, the Fort Hays State Tigers give up 18 runs and lose 18-6 to the RiverHawks in a game called after seven innings by run rule. The RiverHawks win the series two games to one, dropping the Tigers to 21-17 overall and 17-16 in the MIAA. Northeastern stays ahead of the Tigers in the MIAA at 21-17 overall and 21-17 in the conference.

The RiverHawks scored three in the first to take a 3-1 lead and never trailed again. They added two in the second, five in the third and eight in the fourth. The Tigers scored single runs in the first, third and fourth then added three in the sixth.

Jesse Hart (3-3) allowed six runs (five earned) on four hits over two innings and takes the loss. Nathan Briar gave up six runs on five hits in one inning of relief. Nathan Zimmerman recorded only one out, giving up three runs on three hits. Kyle Leroy pitched the final 2 2/3 innings allowing three runs on four hits.

Chris Santoscoy went 3-for-3 with an RBI. Clayton Garland had two hits and drove in two, extend his hitting streak to 23 games. Horace Johnson hit a solo home run.

The Fort Hays State baseball team hit four home runs and scored a season-high 19 runs in a 19-8 win over Northeastern State in game two of their doubleheader Saturday in Tahlequah, Oklahoma to salvage a split in their MIAA doubleheader. The RiverHawks took the opener 9-4. The Tigers are now 21-16 overall and 17-15 in the MIAA. The RiverHawks are 20-17 both overall and in MIAA play. The Tigers go for the series win Sunday afternoon.

Game 1: Northeastern State 9, Fort Hays State 4
The Tigers scored two in the top of the fourth to tie the game 4-4 but the RiverHawks answered with five in the bottom of the inning.

Both teams scored two in the first. The Tigers got their runs on a Ryan Busboom groundout and a Horace Johnson single up the middle. They then tied the game three innings later on Jordan Miller’s two out single, scoring Jay Sanders and Chris Sontoscoy.

Alex Ellison (2-6) takes the loss, allowing all nine runs (seven earned) on 10 hits over 3 2/3 innings. Drew Martineau pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings to close the game.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 19, Northeastern State 8
Fort Hays State broke a 5-5 tie with five in the fifth and four in the sixth. They added three more runs in the eighth and two in the ninth.

Clayton Garland, Kelton Rule and Ryan Busboom all had four hits. Rule and Busboom both drove in five.

Jay Sanders hit a solo home run in the top of the second to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead. They made it 5-1 with three in the third on a Garland RBI double and a Rule two-run homer.

The RiverHawks came back with four in the fourth to tie, but the Tigers took the lead back for good and half-inning later. Rule, Nathan Miller, Sanders and Chris Santoscoy all drove in runs. Ryan Busboom hit a three-run homer and Horace Johnson a solo shot in the sixth.

Busboom and Johnson both had RBIs in the Tigers three-run eighth. Rule and Busboom both knocked in runs in the ninth.

Tayler Davis (6-2) allowed eight runs on 10 hits over 7.0 innings and picks up the win. Kyle Leroy struck out three over the final two innings.

Cody Robinson, who leads Division II in home runs, hit his 15th for the RiverHawks.

The Fort Hays State softball team broke a scoreless tie with a run in the 10th inning to win game one of their doubleheader with Pittsburg State 1-0 Saturday afternoon at Tiger Stadium. The Gorillas scored nine runs on 10 hits in the second game and won 9-6 for the split. The 14th-ranked Tigers are now 35-7 and 15-3 in the MIAA where they have dropped out of first place.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 1, Pittsburg State 0 (10 inn.)
Tori Beltz sacrifice fly to left field scored Amanda Vaupel in the bottom of the 10th inning to lift the Tigers to the victory. Vaupel was placed on second with international tiebreaker and moved to third Paxton Duran’s sacrifice bunt.

The Tigers caught a break in the top of the inning when a ball headed up the middle off the bat of Kayla Sears hit the runner going from second to third for the final out of the inning.

Senior Maddie Holub (20-1), coming off back-to-back perfect games, picks up the complete game victory, stretching her string of scoreless innings to 28. She gave up five hits while striking out 13 and walking six.

Holub had her streak of not allowing a base runner end at 17 innings when the Tigers committed an error in the top of the first. Her string of hitless innings ended at 21 when she allowed a fourth inning single.

Game 2: Pittsburg State 9, Fort Hays State 6
The Gorillas used a four-run third inning to take a 6-2 lead and never trailed again. Fort Hays State scored two in the bottom of the third and two more in the fourth after Pitt scored a run in the top of the inning to pull within a run at 7-6. The Gorillas tacked on two more in the sixth for the final margin.

The Tigers threatened in the seventh, putting two on with one out but Pitt State got a force out at third on a grounder then Courtney Dobson popped up to the catcher to end the game.

Biana Adame had three hits and Danie Brinkmann added two and drove in three to lead the Tiger offense.

Paxton Duran takes the loss, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits over six innings. Jordan Jones pitched an inning and gave up a run and Maddie Holub allowed two over the final three innings.

Maddie Holub threw her second straight perfect game and hit a two-run homer in No. 14 Fort Hays State’s 5-0 win over Missouri Southern in game one of their doubleheader Friday afternoon at Tiger Stadium. The Lions held off a Tiger rally to win game two 9-8. Fort Hays State is 34-6 and 14-2 in the MIAA.

Erin Kinberger Postgame Interview

Game 1: No. 14 Fort Hays State 5, Missouri Southern 0
Just six days after throwing Fort Hays State’s first perfect game in program history against Northwest Missouri State, Holub throws her second in consecutive starts moving to 19-1.

Katelyn Kern made a diving catch in right center field robbing a double from Brooke Swadley for the second out of the game. It was the Lions best chance of the hit.

Holub struck out two batters in each of the first four innings and again in the sixth. She fanned her 14th batter for the final out of the game.

Biance Adame tripled to lead off the fourth and scored on Danie Brinkmann bases loaded walk. The game would remain 1-0 until the sixth when the Tigers hit three home runs and scored four runs. Holub hit a two-run shot to push the lead to 3-0. Brinkmann and Tori Beltz added solo shots.

Holub is now tied for fourth for the most perfect games thrown in NCAA Division II history, one away from the record held by three players. It was also the fourth complete game no-hitter of her career.

Game 1 Highlights

Game 2: Missouri Southern 9, Fort Hays State 8
The Tigers nearly erased a couple of four-run deficits but fall short, ending their school-record 12-game win streak. The Lions scored three in the second and one in the third in building a 4-0 lead.

The Tigers would get five in the fourth, taking the lead on a Bianca Adama two-run single. Amanda Vaupel, Paxton Duran and Tori Beltz also drove in the runs in the inning.

The Lions would respond with four in the fifth and one in the sixth for a 9-8 lead.

Fort Hays State rallied again, scoring three in the bottom of the third. Maddie Holub knocked in the first two runs with a single to right. She advanced to second on an error, moved to third on a bunt and scored on a wild pitch to pull the Tigers within a run.

The Tigers loaded the bases with one out in the seventh with two singles and a walk but Adame lined out to left field and Courtney Dobson struck out on a controversial called strike three.

Paxton Duran (13-5) took the loss, allowing all nine runs (eight earned) on 13 hits.

Game 2 Highlights

The Fort Hays State Tigers scored 18 runs on 19 hits to salvage the final game of their doubleheader with Washburn 18-14 Thursday in Topeka. The Ichabods took game one 7-4. The Tigers are now 20-15 overall and 16-14 in the MIAA.

Steve Johnson Postgame

Game 1: Washburn 7, Fort Hays State 4
Washburn took advantage of two Tiger errors by shortstop Sam Thornton, scoring five runs (two earned) with two outs to take a 5-0 lead. They would add two more an inning later and were up 7-0.

The Tigers got on the board in the fifth when Shane Wade scored on a wild pitch. They would add two more in the sixth on a Horace Johnson two-run homer.

Kelton Rule’s two-out RBI single in the ninth drove in the Tigers final run. The Tigers had the tying run at the plate but Shane  Wade lined to short to end the game.

Starter Jesse hart (3-2) takes the loss allowing seven runs (four earned) striking out three and walking one.

Game 1 Highlights

Game 2: Fort Hays State 18, Washburn 14
The Tigers and Ichabods combine for 32 runs and 36 hits in the second game. Washburn scored three in the second to take a 3-2 lead but the Tigers answered with five in the top of the third and never trailed again. Kelton Rules’s second homer of the game, a three-run shot with two outs was the big blow in the inning.

Rule finished 3-for-6 with 5 RBI and four runs scored. Jordan Miller also homored and went 3-for-4 and Ryan Busboom added three hits.

Jay Sanders led the Tigers 19 hit attack going 4-for-5 with six RBIs and two runs scored. He becomes the first Tiger to hit for the cycle since Nash Smith in 2011 when the tripled tripled to left center field with the bases loaded in Fort Hays State’s four-run eighth. Sanders singled in the second, hit a two-run homer in the fifth and a doubled in the sixth.

Game 2 Highlights