By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Washburn came into their game against Fort Hays State as the worst 3-point and free throw shooting team in the MIAA. Both proved to be the difference in the Ichabods 76-60 win in front of 2,975 at Gross Coliseum.

Washburn (17-5, 11-2 MIAA) went 9-for-20 from beyond the arc including 6-of-11 in the second half and knocked in 23 of their 28 free throw attempts as they remain tied with Northwest Missouri State atop the MIAA standings.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Brady Werth Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Washburn used 22-4 run to go up 16 with 5:35 to play in the first half. The Tigers (13-9, 6-7 MIAA) answered with a 15-2 run to pull within three with 2:25 to play in the half and trailed by five at halftime.

The Ichabods scored the first seven points of the second half to build their lead up to 12 and were up as many as 19 with just over seven minutes to play.

Brady Werth was the only Tiger to reach double-figures with 16 points.

Tyas Martin hit all four of his 3-point shots and led the Ichabods with a career-high 18 points. Javion Blake scored 16, David Salach 13 and Brady Skeens 11 points and 11 rebounds.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In their first outing for the 2018 season, the Fort Hays State softball team went 1-1 in a doubleheader against UC-Colorado Springs on Saturday (Feb. 3). The Tigers rallied late in the first contest, but ultimately fell 8-7, but followed with a late-inning 14-11 win in the second game for the split.

UC-Colorado Springs 8, Fort Hays State 7
The Tigers never held the lead in the first contest as the Mountain Lions took an early lead and barely held on late. UCCS got on the board first in the opening inning, going up 2-0 quickly after two sacrifice flies brought in runners. The Tigers were scoreless until the third inning when Grace Philop doubled down the left field line to bring in Lily Sale for FHSU’s first run of the contest. In the fourth, Sara Breckbill also sent a double down the left field line to score Candace Bollig, tying up the game 2-2.

UC-Colorado Springs took control once again in the bottom of the fourth. Melissa Martinek drew a bases-loaded walk, then Whitney Weber sent a bases-clearing triple to center, giving UCCS a 6-2 lead. The Tigers got one run back in the fifth on another RBI from Philop, this time a single up the middle, scoring Terran Caldwell. The Mountain Lions got the run right back in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run by Kylie Bernard.

The Tigers scored twice in the sixth as Sale singled up the middle to bring in Sydney Harsh and Philop produced her third RBI of the game on a sacrifice fly to send Sara Kay home. UCCS scored its decisive run in the bottom of the sixth when Lexi Belligan singled home a run to make it 8-5.

The Tigers nearly completed a comeback in the seventh when Tess Gray led off the inning with a double. After a Bailey Kennedy walk and the first out of the inning, Breckbill doubled down the left field line to make the score 8-6. Kay followed with an RBI single to right field and made it 8-7. With just one out the Tigers had runners at first and third, but a pop up and a fly out ended the game to cut the rally just short.

Cami Duffy earned her first win of the season for the Mountain Lions, pitching all seven innings. For the Tigers, Hailey Chapman took the loss in four innings pitched, while Carrie Clarke took over the final three innings.

Fort Hays State 14, UC-Colorado Springs 11
The second contest of the day saw the bats continue to thrive as the Tigers ousted the Mountain Lions in a high-scoring, 14-11 affair. Tess Gray got the scoring frenzy started with a three-run homer in the first. The lead lasted until the third after UCCS plated a run in the second on an RBI single and two in the third with a two-run homer.

The fourth inning looked pivotal for the Mountain Lions once again when they scored five to take an 8-3 lead. A three-run home run and a two-RBI single did the damage. However, the Tigers were not denied the comeback victory in this contest when they had an outburst of nine runs in the top of the fifth.

Bailey Kennedy started the comeback with a solo homer to lead off the inning. Lily Sale came around to score on a bunt single by Terran Caldwell. With the bases loaded, Tess Gray knocked home two with a single, making the score 8-7. Then, with the bags juiced again, all three runners scored on an error off the bat of Candace Bollig, swinging the lead in favor of the Tigers 10-8. Another error and a walk loaded the bases for a third time, then Sale produced a sacrifice fly to bring home Bollig. The lead grew to 12-8 on an RBI ground out by Caldwell, capping the nine-run inning for the Tigers.

A Tiger error in the sixth led to a three-run inning for the Mountain Lions, but the Tigers escaped into the seventh with a 12-11 lead. After one run scored on an error, a pair of doubles were key to bringing home two more for UCCS.

The Tigers got two of the runs back in the seventh, thanks to a passed ball and an RBI groundout by Sale. Hailey Chapman came on to record the final two outs after starter Sierra Rodriguez went 6.1 innings. Chapman earned her first collegiate save after UCCS had one runner on base when she entered the circle.

For the Cougars, Meghan Waidler notched the loss in relief after giving up first seven (four earned) of nine runs in the fifth. She did not record an out.

The Tigers and Mountain Lions meet in the final game of the series Sunday at 11 am MT / 12 pm CT.

ODESSA, Texas – The Fort Hays State baseball team took care of business for the second straight day with a 6-3 come-from-behind victory over Texas-Permian Basin on Saturday (Feb. 3). The Tigers improved to 2-0 with the win, while UTPB dropped to 0-2 to begin the season.

Cody Rottinghaus (1-0) earned the win, pitching one inning in relief. Sam Capps picked up the save in his first appearance of the season, his second save as a Tiger. The duo combined for three innings of hitless relief, each striking out one batter.

Fort Hays State produced 12 hits and five doubles on the day as Texas-Permian Basin managed to manufacture three runs on nine hits, while making two errors in the field.

Junior Ryan Grasser had a big day at the plate, driving in one run on four hits in five at-bats. The second-baseman picked up two doubles and scored two critical runs for the Tigers in the comeback effort.

UT-Permian Basin scored first with a solo home run in the home half of the third inning before extended the lead to 3-0 in the sixth.

The Tigers started their rally in the seventh inning when Jordan Wilkerson worked a walk to lead off. Grasser delivered a big hit in the next at-bat, doubling to left to score Wilkerson from first base. Addison Kaasch came in to pinch hit and reached base with an infield single to shortstop. Jason Nicholson then reached on a throwing error, scoring Grasser to cut the Falcon lead to one, 3-2. Kaasch scored on a sac fly two batters later when Alex Weiss lifted a fly ball to left, knotting the game at three runs apiece.

The Tigers were not finished, however, as they led off the eighth inning with three-straight hits. Wilkerson clubbed a double to left before heading for third on a bunt single from Grasser. Marcus Altman then continued his sizzling start to the season, dropping a two-RBI double in the gap in left center, plating Grasser and Wilkerson. Altman later scored on a wild pitch to give the Tigers the 6-3 edge that would ultimately give the Tigers the win.

Ryan Ruder began the game on the hill for the Tigers, giving up one run on seven hits in 4.2 innings pitched. Ruder left the game in the fifth inning striking out three batters in his first appearance of the year.

The Tigers continued to showcase strong plate discipline, working seven walks after picking up six on Friday.

The Tigers look for the series sweep on Sunday (Feb. 4) when they battle the Falcons at Roden Field. First pitch is set for noon.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women went on a 29-5 run to close out the first half after falling behind by six late in the first quarter and beat Washburn 66-47 for their sixth straight win in front of 2,613 at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers (18-4, 9-4 MIAA) have now won five straight at home over the Ichabods (14-8, 6-7 MIAA) who have dropped three straight and seven of their last eight after a 12-1 start.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Ichabods came out on fire, hitting five of their first seven shots and led 15-9 with 3:32 to play in the first quarter. The Tiger defense clamped down and held the Ichabods to 3-of-23 shooting the rest of the half, closing the quarter on a 9-2 run to take an 18-17 lead.

The Tigers scored the first 12 points of the second quarter to go up 15 and led by 18 at halftime.

Washburn pulled within 15 midway through the third quarter, but the Tigers responded with a 13 unanswered to push the lead to 28.

Carly Heim hit three 3-pointers and led the Tigers with 20 points and four assists. Emma Stroyan, who scored 11 straight in the first half, added 15 and Taylor Rolfs 13.

Reagan Phelan was the only Ichabod to reach double-figures, scoring 10.

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The Fort Hays State wrestling team defeated Central Missouri in dominant fashion on Friday (Feb. 2) with a 37-15 drubbing of the Mules on their home mat. The Tigers improved to 5-4 overall in duals and 1-2 against conference opponents. The Mules dipped to 3-14 overall and 1-4 in MIAA duals.

The Tigers took a 6-0 lead right out of the gates when Conrad Cole received a forfeit victory as the Mules left the 125-pound bout open. In the 133-pound match, Dy’Juan Carney pinned Daide Agnew in the first period (1:14) giving him his eighth fall of the season, tying him with Cole for the second-most falls on the squad.

The 141-pound bout was a carbon copy of what Carney completed as No. 8 Brandon Ball pinned Dakota Thevel in the first period (1:58) after leading 7-0 in the match. Ball earned his second fall of the season, while improving his overall record to 26-3.

Efe Osaghae joined in on the scoring frenzy and defeated Zach Schridde in the 149-pound weight class by way of a first period fall (2:48). Osaghae earned two 4-point nearfalls in the bout before ultimately earning his second fall and 23rd victory of the year.

The Tigers took a 24-6 lead after leaving the 157-pound weight class open, giving the Mules their first points of the dual. The five initial bouts were completed in the first eight minutes of the dual.

Redshirt-freshman Marty Verhaeghe battled against Shea Conley in the 165-pound bout until the end of the third period, but was unable to outscore Conley in a 5-3 decision defeat. UCM cut into the FHSU lead to make it 24-9 with four matches remaining in the dual.

Fort Hays State was able to run away with the dual the rest of the way, winning three of the final four bouts. The run started with a 2-0 decision from Micquille Robinson over Tyler Selemaea in the 174-pound bout. In the ensuing bout, Micah Felton fell to Zach Benner in the 184-pound weight class in the first period. The Tigers then held a 27-15 advantage.

Senior Rakim Dean earned a 16-2 major decision over Dominique Hampton in the 197-pound match. The major decision was Dean’s fifth of the season, tying Osaghae for second-most on the team.

The Tigers wrapped up the dual with Dakota Gulley earning a fall over Chase Miller in the first period (2:42) of the 285-pound weight class, moving the Tigers over .500 in duals on the season.

FHSU is back in action on Sunday (Feb. 4) as they make their way to St. Charles, Mo. to battle the 20th-ranked Lindenwood Lions. The dual is set to commence at 2 p.m.

ODESSA, Texas – The Fort Hays State baseball team opened the season with an impressive 6-0 victory over Texas-Permian Basin Friday afternoon (Feb. 2) at Roden Field. The pitching duo of Tanner Smith and Austin Weiser befuddled the Falcons all afternoon, striking out 13 while allowing just four batters to reach base (two hits, one HBP, one error). It was just the second shutout for the Tigers since 2013 (5-0 vs NWOSU, 3/22/17).

The Tigers accumulated six hits and made one error on the day while the Falcons scraped together only two hits and made four errors in the field.

Smith (1-0) made the most of his first start in a Tiger uniform, striking out nine batters and allowing just one hit over six innings of work, issuing zero walks. The righty allowed just one Falcon to reach third base. Smith’s nine strikeouts are tied for the most in a single game for a Tiger since 2015 (Ben Ramberg and Sam Capps last season).

Sophomore Marcus Altman carried the team on offense, driving in four RBI while finishing 2-for-3 at the dish. The outfielder nearly matched his RBI total from last season in one game (five RBI in 2017).

The Tigers got off to a quick start after Jason Nicholson worked a walk to lead things off. After the catcher swiped second, Nicholson scored from second when Alex Weiss singled to third and forced a throwing error.

Fort Hays State doubled its lead in the top of the second when Bryce Whitchurch led off by working a walk. Ryan Grasser followed with a single into the gap in right center in his first at bat as a Tiger, advancing Whitchurch to third. Altman picked up the first RBI of the year for a Tiger in the next at bat when he punched a single to right, scoring Whitchurch.

Altman added another RBI in the top of the sixth when he lifted a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded, plating Jordan Wilkerson.

The Tigers added a trio of insurance runs in the top of the eighth when Whitchurch reached on an error to open things off. Grasser worked a walk in the next at bat, bringing Altman to the plate with two on and one out. The sophomore continued his torrid afternoon, clubbing a double to left to plate a pair of runs. Altman later scored when Clayton Basgall grounded into a double play, putting the Tigers in front 6-0.

Weiser came on in relief in the seventh inning, earning the save after tossing three scoreless innings. The senior struck out four batters and allowed only one hit, retiring the first seven batters he faced before giving up a one-out double in the ninth. Weiser remained calm under pressure, striking out the final two batters with a runner in scoring position to secure the win.

The Tigers showed plenty of plate discipline, working eight walks in the victory. FHSU is now 4-4 on Opening Day under head coach Steve Johnson.

The teams will face off in game two of the series at 2 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 3).

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State closed on an 11-3 run after Emporia State tied the game at 47 with 4:38 to play and beat the Hornets 58-50 at Gross Coliseum to end their three-game losing streak. Trey O’Neil scored five straight points including a corner 3-pointer to push the lead to five. Grant Holmes hit four straight free throws and Brady Werth knocked down two from the charity line.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Grant Holmes Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Werth, who missed the last four games because of mononucleosis, led the Tigers (13-8, 6-6 MIAA) with 15 points. Grant Holmes added 10 points and five boards.

Hadley Gillum, who leads the Tigers in scoring at over 17 points per game, was held to four but pulled down a team-high six rebounds.

Hassan Thomas led Emporia State (8-13, 3-9 MIAA) with 12 points and nine rebounds. Stephaun Limuel added 11.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State women scored 17 unanswered points to close out the second quarter as they rallied from a 15-point first half deficit to beat rival Emporia State 90-63 in front of 2,187 at Gross Coliseum. It’s the Tigers (17-4, 8-4 MIAA) fifth straight win and third straight at home over the Hornets (13-6, 8-4 MIAA).

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

ESU hit 16 of their first 21 shots and used a stifling zone defense to go up 15 with 4:25 to play in the second quarter, but FHSU would score the next 19 points to take the lead back for good.

After the Hornets tied the game at 46 early in the third, Fort Hays State answered with a 19-3 run to take control.

Emma Stroyan and Tatyana Legette both scored 21 points as the Tigers tie their season high for points. Stroyan was 10-of-12 from the floor and blocked a career-high six shots. Legette also grabbed 10 rebounds and dished out four assists.

Carly Heim added 16 points and Whitney Clampitt 10. Clampitt scored seven in the second quarter including a 3-pointer at the horn to give the Tigers a 42-40 lead.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – With the spring season right around the corner, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association released the 2018 Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll on Wednesday (Jan. 31). The Fort Hays State Tigers were picked to finish 13th according to the coaches around the league.

The Tigers finished 13th in the conference standings in 2017, turning in a 10-39 record overall and a 3-33 mark in conference play. Fort Hays State looks to return to postseason play for the first time since 2013 this year with the help of 22 experienced returners and 12 talented newcomers.

Eleven Tigers make up this year’s senior class, including eight players that have been regular starters for FHSU over the last two years. For an in-depth preview of this year’s club, click the window below.

Fort Hays State kicks off the season this weekend with a three-game set against Texas-Permian Basin. The Tigers open things up against the Falcons on Friday, Feb. 2 at 2 p.m. in Odessa, Texas. FHSU will make its home debut one week later (Feb. 9) when it hosts Newman at Larks Park.

2017 MIAA Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Emporia State (11) – 143 points
2. Central Missouri (1) – 120 points
3. Central Oklahoma – 118 points
4. Lindenwood – 114 points
5. Missouri Western (1) – 104 points
6. Pittsburg State – 94 points
7. Missouri Southern – 81 points
8. Southwest Baptist – 57 points
T9. Northwest Missouri – 47 points
T9. Washburn – 47 points
11. Northeastern State – 42 points
12. Nebraska Kearney – 31 points
13. Fort Hays State – 16 points

Fort Hays State Softball starts up its 2018 campaign on Saturday (Feb. 3) at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in a three-game weekend series. On Tuesday (Jan. 30), the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association released its preseason poll selected by head coaches of each school. The Tigers are picked 12th, the same place they finished to end the 2017 season.

Fort Hays State missed the MIAA Tournament for the first time in 2017, but had one pitcher and five position players starting regularly last year that were freshmen. With all six of those players returning this year as sophomores with plenty of experience from their first year, alongside three very experienced seniors, the Tigers look to improve on a season that saw several get their first taste of softball at the collegiate level.

A 19-game skid from March 18 through April 7 last year was the biggest contributor to a 17-39 season overall and 7-19 mark in MIAA play. The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 start in conference play before taking 13 consecutive losses in the midst of the 19-game losing streak. Once out of the slump, the Tigers finished their final 11 conference games 5-6 and 8-7 over their final 15 games overall.

Candace Bollig, senior infielder, and Tess Gray, sophomore catcher, were the only Tigers to receive All-MIAA honors last year. Bollig batted a team-best .304 with 14 extra-base hits (eight doubles, four triples, two home runs) and 28 runs driven in. Gray was second best on the team in batting average at .295 in her first year of collegiate ball, finishing with five doubles, four home runs, and 27 runs batted in. She also caught 23 runners attempting to steal.

Fort Hays State’s starting duo from last year returns to the circle in sophomore Hailey Chapman and senior Carrie Clarke. Chapman finished 2017 with a 4.14 ERA, while Clarke was just a bit higher at 4.26. The two combined for 38 complete games last year, Chapman claiming 10 wins and Clarke claiming seven. Chapman struck out 116 batters in 194.2 innings pitched, while Clarke struck out 43 in 143 innings pitched. Pushing both for time in the circle this year are freshmen Sierra Rodriguez and Megan Jamison, who give the team depth and added options in the pitching circle. As a team, FHSU ranked ninth in the MIAA in strikeouts and 12th in earned runs allowed and opponent batting average among the 14 teams in the conference.

Veronica Knittig is the third Tiger senior besides Bollig and Gray. She started all 56 games last year and finished with a solid .288 batting average and a team-best 15 extra-base hits (11 doubles, four home runs). She drove in 26 walks, and drew a team-high 21 walks. Bailey Kennedy, Lily Sale, Bailey Boxberger, and Jeni Mohr all started at least 50 games in their freshmen campaign last year. The four combined for 69 RBI and 92 runs scored. Boxberger led the team in home runs with five and Kennedy led the team in runs scored with 28. Offensively as a team, FHSU looks to up its production at the plate where it finished 10th in the MIAA in batting average and runs scored and ninth in total bases.

Head coach Adrian Pilkington enters her fourth year guiding the Tigers. She has coached the team to 64 wins over her first three seasons. The team remains youthful this year with the addition of six freshmen, along with one sophomore and one junior that transferred in from community colleges. Thirteen of the 17 players on the squad this year are underclassmen.

Below is the 2018 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll…

1. Central Oklahoma (13) 169 points
2. Missouri Western 140 points
3. Northwest Missouri (1) 135 points
4. Central Missouri 133 points
5. Southwest Baptist 114 points
T6. Emporia State 101 points
T6. Missouri Southern 101 points
8. Pittsburg State 95 points
9. Northeastern State 73 points
10. Washburn 71 points
11. Lindenwood 53 points
12. Fort Hays State 43 points
13. Nebraska Kearney 30 points
14. Lincoln 16 points

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

ST. CHARLES, Mo. – Lindenwood outscored Fort Hays State 39-13 over an 18 minute stretch of the first and second halves then held off a late Tiger rally for a 69-63 win at Hyland Arena. The Tigers (12-8, 5-6 MIAA), who fall to 0-4 all time in St. Charles, led by nine with 4:27 to play in the first half, trailed by as many as 17 in the second half before barrage of threes late.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Trey O’Neil hit five 3-pointers and led the Tigers with a career-high 23 points. Hadley Gillum added 14 and Kyler Kinnamon 13.

Lindenwood was led by Chandler Diekvoss who scored 18. Jackson Price came off the bench to score 15 with Adam Pohlman adding 14 and Dominique Dobbs 10.