The No. 11 Fort Hays State softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Northeastern State 6-5 in game two of their doubleheader with Northeastern State and gain a split Friday afternoon at Tiger Stadium. The Riverhawks, who had lost 11 of 13 entering the doubleheader, won the first game 2-0 in eight innings. The Tigers are now 23-5 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA. Northeastern stands at 10-16 and 1-4 in the conference.

Game 1: Northeastern State 2, Fort Hays State 0 (8 innings)
Northeastern used a single, sac bunt and hit by pitch to get two base runners in the eighth. They scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a fielding error by Tiger left fielder Bianca Adame following a single off the bat of Madison Reed. They scored the second run when a runner was caught trying to steal.

The Tigers were retired in order in their half of the eighth.

Maddie Holub (12-1) went the distance in the circle for Fort Hays State, suffering her first loss of the season after allowing the two runs on four hits while striking out 11 and walking three.

Game 2: Northeastern State 5, Fort Hays State 2
Trailing 5-2 through six innigs, Kellsi Olsen led off the seventh with a homer. Paxton Duran’s two-out single to right drove in Amanda Vaupel to make it a one-run game. After Courtney Dobson walked, Tori Beltz singled to right driving in Katlyn Kern and Maddie Holub with the game winning runs.

Beltz finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Paxton Duran (8-3) went the distance for the Tigers, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits. She struck out eight and walked two.

Horace Johnson and Sam Thornton both hit three-run homers to lift the Fort Hays State Tigers to a 14-8 win over Pittsburg State Friday afternoon at Larks Park in Hays. The Tigers win the final two games of the three-game series and are now 13-12 overall and 10-11 in the MIAA. Pitt State falls to 12-10 overall and 9-9 in the conference.

The Gorillas grabbed the early lead scoring two in the first, but Johnson’s three-run blast in the second gave the Tigers the lead for good. Thornton’s three-run shot highlighted a four-run seventh that put FHSU up 14-6 after Pitt State had closed the gap to 10-6 with single runs in the fifth and sixth and two in the seventh.

Pitt would add two in eighth for the final margin.

Michael Edlefson allowed four runs, three earned, on seven hits over 6.0 innings of relief for the win. Kyle Leroy recorded the final six outs.

Johnson, Thornton and Shane Wade both had three RBIs. Thornton and Kelton Rule had three of the Tigers 17 hits

Fort Hays State junior forward Dwayne Brunson was named to the NABC Division II All-District Team for the 2012-13 season. Brunson is a second team selection. He was one of 11 players from the Central District selected to the team. Brunson adds this honor to receiving Daktronics All-Central Region Second Team honors and an All-MIAA First Team selection. NABC All-District Teams are selected and voted on by member coaches of the NABC in NCAA Division II.

Brunson, a native Queens, N.Y., led the team in scoring, rebounding, and blocked shots. He averaged 14.9 points, 7.6 rebounds per game, and 2.1 blocks per game. Brunson also shot the ball at a very high rate at 60.3 percent from the field and 84.5 percent from the free-throw line. He had seven double-doubles in points and rebounds and scored in double figures in 22 games. He reached at least 20 points in seven games, including a season high 35 points at Nebraska-Kearney, the most points scored by a player under head coach Mark Johnson. He also reached double figures in rebounds nine times this year.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Below is the entire All-District Team for 2012-13…

Central Region
First Team
Bryton Hobbs, Northeastern State
Cameron McCaffrey, Augustana
Will McNeill, Washburn
Theo Rothstein, St. Cloud State
Clayton Vette, Winona State
Jarvis Williams, Minnesota State-Mankato

Second Team
Dwayne Brunson, Fort Hays State
Dominique Long, Central Missouri
Zach Roddenberry, Harding
Anthony Tucker, Minnesota State-Moorhead
Tucker Wentzien, Upper Iowa

The Fort Hays State Tigers split their doubleheader with Pittsburg State Thursday afternoon at Larks Park. The Gorillas take the opener 5-2 but the Tigers come back  to win game two 6-2 on a complete game from Tayler Davis. FHSU is now 12-12 overall and 9-11 in the MIAA while the Gorillas move to 12-9 and 99-8. The two close out the series with a single game on Friday beginning at one o’clock.

Steve Johnson Postgame

Game 1: Pittsburg State 5, Fort Hays State 2
Both teams scored a run in the first. The Gorillas took the lead with one in the second. Pitt would score in the fifth to go up 3-1. The Tigers got it back in the bottom of the inning on a Clayton Garland single. The Gorillas added single runs in the sixth and seventh for the final margin.

Alex Ellison (2-4) pitched all seven innings allowing five runs, four earned, striking out two and walking none.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 6, Pittsburg State 2
Tayler Davis (3-2) allowed just one earned run in a complete game five-hitter, striking out six and walking two.

Fort Hays scored three in the seventh to break open a 2-1 game. Shane Wade homered and Sam Thornton drove in three as the Tigers end a five-game losing streak.

Nebraska-Kearney erased an early 2-0 deficit two beat Fort Hays State 10-5 in game one then used a walk-off home run in the ninth to take game two 8-7 Wednesday afternoon at Memorial Field in Kearney. FHSU has now lost four-straight and falls to 11-11 overall and 8-10 in the MIAA. The Lopers improve to 11-9 and 11-7 in the conference. The Tigers are back at home Thursday for a doubleheader with Pittsburg State beginning at two o’clock.

Steve Johnson Post Game Interview

Game 1: Nebraska-Kearney 10, Fort Hays State 5
The Tigers struck first, scoring two in the first, but the Lopers respond with five in the second, two in the third, one in the fifth and two in the sixth.

Trailing 8-2, Casey Sedbrook hit a two-out bases loaded single to cut the margin to 8-4. The Lopers got them back on an Eric Ringblom two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to push the lead back to six.

The Tigers got one in the seventh on a Kelton Rule sac fly.

Jesse Hart took the loss (3-1), allowing all 10 runs (7 earned) on 12 hits, walking one and striking out none.

Game 1 Highlights

 

Game 2: Nebraska-Kearney 8, Fort Hays State 7
Anthony Pocheco hit a two-out walkoff homer off off Kyle Leroy with one out in the ninth to lift the Lopers to the come-from-behind win.

The Tigers scored two in the third and three in the fifth in building a 5-2.

The Lopers scored two in the eighth to tie the game 6-6. Fort Hays State came back with a leadoff single from Sam Thornton who moved to second on a wild pitch then on to third an a sac bunt from Clayton Garland then scored on Kenton Rule’s two-out single, putting the Tigers up 7-6.

The home run from Pacheco in the bottom of the inning was the first given up this season by Leroy who drops to 1-1.

Game 2 Highlights

 

The 11th-ranked Tiger softball team split their doubleheader at Metro State in Denver Wednesday. The Tigers won the opener 8-1 to push their win streak to a school record nine straight. They dropped game two 6-4. FHSU is now 22-4 on the season.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 8, Metro State 1
The Tigers scored two in the second to build a 2-0 lead. A solo home run pulled the Roadrunners within a run, but Amy Dunn hit a solo homer helping FHSU build a 3-1.

The Tigers put the game away with five in the fifth. Amanda Vaupel and Paxton Duran hit back-to-back doubles for the first run. Kellsi Olsen and Courtney Dobson both added two-run singles.

Paxton Duran allowed just one run on one hit over 5.0 innings in the circle, striking out four and walking three to move to 8-3.

Game 2: Metro State 6, Fort Hays State 4
Maddie Holub hit a two-run homer in the first giving the Tigers the early lead. Metro got a solo homer in the fourth.

Metro State scored five in the fifth, taking advantage of a pair of Tiger errors. Four of the five runs were unearned.

Danie Brinkmann hit a two-run homer in the sixth. They would get a pair of base runners in the seventh but Maddie Holub flied out to right field to end the game.

Paxton Duran (8-4) allowed four runs (two earned) on six hits over 4.1 innings and takes the loss.

The Fort Hays State softball team moved up 10 spots in the most recent NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Wednesday, March 20. After jumping into the national rankings for the first time in school history last week at No. 21, the Tigers soar up the poll after going 6-0 on the road last week.

Fort Hays State pushed its win streak on the road to eight straight games on Tuesday with a doubleheader sweep at Colorado Christian. The Tigers moved to 21-3 overall with the wins. Fort Hays State is now the highest ranked team from the MIAA in the poll, jumping Central Oklahoma. The Bronchos were No. 8 last week, but dropped to No. 16 this week with a 17-5 record when the poll was voted on.

Fort Hays State plays a doubleheader at Metro State on Wednesday then is scheduled to play Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State this weekend in Hays.

-FHSU Sports Information-

The 21st-ranked Fort Hays State softball team ran their win streak to eight games with a doubleheader sweep at Colorado Christian Monday in Lakewood, Colo. The Tigers scored five in the first then then held on for a 6-5 win in game one. They had to rally in the second contest, winning 8-5. They are now 21-3 on the year and play another doubleheader Tuesday at Metro State. 

Game 1: No. 21 Fort Hays State 6, Colorado Christian 5
The Tigers struck for five runs in the first inning, scoring on an Amanda Vaupel two-run single, a bases loaded walk and a two-run single from Callie Wright.

Central Christian scored two in the first, two in the fifth and one in the seventh but never led.

Maddie Holub (11-0) started and pitched four innings and was the winner, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. She also tripled and had two hits.

Game 2: No. 21 Fort Hays State 8, Colorado Christian 5
Colorado Christian scored five in the second to take a 5-1 lead, but the Tigers answered with three in the third then scored a run in the fifth to tie and one in the sixth to take the lead then added two insurance runs in the seventh on a Kellsi Olsen two-run homer.

Amanda Vaupel highlighted the three-run third with a two-run triple. Tori Beltz RBI single in the fifth tied the game. Bianca Adame scored the go-ahead run on a Danie Brinkmann ground-rule double down the right field line.

Maddie Holub pitched three scoreless innings of relief for her 12th win of the season.

Fort Hays State senior Maddie Holub was named the MIAA Softball Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season after her efforts this past week against Newman, Emporia State, and Washburn. She also earned the honor this year on February 12 and this past week on March 12. She was also the MIAA Hitter of the Week on March 12, giving her four conference player of the week honors so far this season.

Holub went 3-0 last week in the pitching circle, moving to 10-0 overall for the season. For the week, she had a 0.69 ERA and .076 batting average allowed to opponents in 20.1 innings pitched, making five appearances. She recorded her second save of the season to help FHSU post the first doubleheader sweep of Emporia State by any opponent in Emporia since 2002. Holub averaged 12.1 strikeouts per seven innings for the week. She had a complete game at Emporia State, striking out 10 and allowing just two hits in a 7-1 win.

In the second game against ESU, FHSU held a 4-3 lead when she entered in the sixth with runners at second and third with one out. She got a pop up and strike out to end the threat and then went on to strike out two more in the seventh for her second save of the season.

At Washburn, she pitched just six innings in her start when she was replaced with FHSU leading big going into the bottom of the seventh. She allowed just one hit to Washburn and struck out 13, averaging just over two per inning.

Earlier in the week at Newman, she pitched the final 3.2 innings of the first contest to earn a win in relief, striking out seven and allowing just one hit in a 5-4, 8-inning win. She started the second game at Newman going 2.0 innings with no hits and two strikeouts, but was replaced for rest once FHSU took a sizable advantage early.

-FHSU Sports Information-

The No. 21 ranked Tiger softball team swept a doubleheader at Washburn on Saturday in Topeka, Kan. by scores of 7-2 and 14-1 to improve to 19-3 overall, 4-0 in the MIAA. Washburn dropped to 5-13 overall, 1-3 in the MIAA. Fort Hays State plays non-conference doubleheaders in Colorado next week, a pair at Colorado Christian on Tuesday and a pair at Metro State on Wednesday.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Washburn 2
Washburn held a 1-0 lead through three innings, thanks to a solo home run by Deidra Jones off FHSU starter Maddie Holub the second. Holub was lights out from that point, allowing just one more base runner by walk in her 6.0 innings pitched. She struck out 13 batters and allowed just the one hit, moving to 10-0 on the season.

The Tigers took advantage of a Washburn error in the fourth to plate two runs and take the lead. Danie Brinkmann had a sacrifice fly to tie the game and Amanda Vaupel had a two-out RBI single.

In the sixth, Courtney Dobson and Maddie Holub hit back-to-back solo home runs to make it 4-1. It was Dobson’s first collegiate homer. In the seventh, Calee Eaton had a pinch-hit RBI single and Dobson drove home two more later in the inning with a single.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 14, Washburn 1
Fort Hays State scored twice in the first inning with a RBI by Maddie Holub and Danie Brinkmann scored on a wild pitch. From that point, the Tigers hit five home runs on their way to a 14-1 route.

Holub added a pair of two-run homers in the game, her ninth and 10th of the season. Kellsi Olsen and Tori Beltz each had two-run home runs and Jenna Land hit a solo home run. Holub finished with five RBI in the game and Beltz had four. Paxton Duran also had a RBI on a double.

Duran moved to 7-3 on the season in the pitching circle, throwing a complete game. She allowed just one run on four hits and struck out one.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Lindenwood used a 12-run fourth inning to blow open a one-run game and defeats the Fort Hays State Tigers 20-4 in the series finale Saturday afternoon at the Lou Brock Sports Complex in St. Charles, Missouri. The loss drops the Tigers to 11-9 overall and 8-8 in the MIAA. The Lions are now 8-11.

The Tigers rallied from an early 4-run deficit with a three-run third. Sam Thornton doubled, driving in Jordan Miller. Chris Sontoscoy grounded into a double play to knock in the second run. Kelton Rule’s solo homer tied the game at four.

The Lions scored a run in the bottom of the inning to put Lindenwood up 5-4. They then scored 12 runs on nine hits in the fourth, sending 19 to the plate.

Nathan Zimmerman allowed six runs, five earned, on four hits over two innings of relief and takes the loss. Jordan Miller had two of the Tigers eight hits. The Lions had 23 hits in the game.

The Tigers travel to Nebraska-Kearney Wednesday for a 2pm doubleheader which you can hear on KAYS (1400-AM) beginning at 1:45pm with the Fort Hays Auto Sales Pregame Show.