KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State women’s golf team sits in eighth after round one of the 2017 MIAA Championship, played at Swope Memorial Golf Course Monday afternoon (April 24). The Tigers posted a team score of 357, six shots back of sixth place. The teams played the par-72 course at 5,893 yards.

With the help of a 39 on her first nine, Hannah Perkins led the team with an 11-over 83. The sophomore is in 11th place, six shots back of the leaders. Her 3-over was the fourth-best score on the back nine.

Taylor DeBoer and Hannah Karasiuk both signed for a 91, good for a 34th. Kelsey McCarthy is one shot back after carding a 92, with Madison Roether rounding out the scoring with a 95.

Northeastern State leads the way after posting a 321, nine shots in front of Central Oklahoma (330). The scoring average in round one was 89.6.

The Tigers will begin play in round two starting at 9:20 Tuesday morning (April 24), going off hole No. 1.

FHSU Sports Information

SPRING HILL, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s golf team is tied for 10th after a blustery first round of the 2017 MIAA Championship Monday (April 24), held at Sycamore Ridge Golf Club on the south end of the Kansas City metro area. The Tigers posted a 36-over 324 through the first 18 holes of the 54-hole tournament.

“We were in great shape early on, but we just made too many mistakes coming in,” said head coach Seth Kincaid. “All in all it wasn’t our best day. We left a lot of shots out there.”

The Tigers were 5-over as a team through the first six holes, but finished the afternoon 31-over through the final two-thirds of the round.

Colton Bobek led the team with a 6-over 78, good for 22nd in the 55-man field. The freshman took advantage of the five par 3s on the course, finishing at even par with two birdies.

Skyler Tebo sits in 35th after an 8-over 80. The Ellis, Kan. native had 11 pars on the afternoon, 13th-most in the field. Jake Weller shot identical nines of 41 to finish with a 10-over 82, tying for 39th.

Cash Hobson recorded two birdies en route to an 84. After starting 3-over through his first 10 holes, Isaiah Grover struggled to an 86, good for 53rd.

“The wind wasn’t anything worse than what we practice in back home,” said Kincaid. “The course played very fair today, and we weren’t able to take advantage.”

Washburn leads the field after 18 holes with an 11-over 299, with Central Missouri and Central Oklahoma both three shots back at 14-over 302. The Tigers are tied with Lincoln, nine shots back of 9th-place Nebraska-Kearney.

The Tigers go off in the second wave for round two, with tee times beginning at 9:20 a.m. Tuesday (April 25).

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State struggled to get the offense going on Saturday taking its second consecutive loss to Missouri Southern by a score of 3-0 at Larks Park. The Tigers now sit at 9-32 overall and 2-26 in the MIAA, while the Lions are now 23-22 overall and 15-16 in conference play.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Lions struck early plating a run in both the second and third innings, both resulting from miscues by the Tigers. The Lions got on the board after a passed ball put a runner in scoring position, then a base hit through the left side scored the run. They followed that up with a run in the third thanks to an FHSU throwing error, scoring a runner that was on second. The Lions completed the scoring in the fifth on a solo home run off the bat of Max Hogan.

Sean Goostree squelched every scoring opportunity for the Tigers and threw a complete game for Missouri Southern on 113 pitches. He dominated with 12 strikeouts, allowing just five hits and a walk, moving to 3-2 on the season.

Ty Redington led the offense for the Tigers with two hits, while Trevor Hughes, Cody Starkel and Marcus Altman each added one. Hughes drew the only walk of the game for FHSU.

Alex Ruxlow (4-9) picked up the loss for the Tigers, but pitched a very solid game. He went seven strong innings, giving up just one earned run on seven hits and three walks with two strikeouts. Two freshmen, Cole Schumacher and Ryan Ruder, made relief appearances for the Tigers and did an outstanding job shutting down MSSU for two innings. Schumacher went 1.1 innings surrendering just a walk and a hit, while Ruder retired the only two batters he faced, striking out one.

The series finale between the Tigers and Lions will take place on Monday

(Apr. 24) at Larks Park, with the first pitch scheduled at noon.

KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State closed out the 2017 season on Sunday with a doubleheader sweep of Nebraska-Kearney in non-conference play on the road. The Tigers won by scores of 5-3 and 5-2 to finish the year at 17-39 overall. Nebraska-Kearney finished its year at 10-46 overall.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 5, Nebraska-Kearney 3
A three-run home run by Veronica Knittig in the first inning set the tone, as Fort Hays State never trailed in a 5-3 win. Hailey Chapman reached the 10-win mark for the season by throwing her 25th complete game of the season.

Back-to-back doubles by Collette West and Lily Sale and an RBI single by Kylie Strand in the fourth inning pushed the Tigers to a 3-run lead for the second time in the game after UNK scored its first run in the second.

The Lopers closed the lead to just one at 4-3 in the fourth with a pair of RBI singles. But a delayed double steal executed by Bailey Chapman and Claudia Vazquez in the seventh scored the final run of the game.

Chapman worked around a pair of baserunners in the seventh to close out the game. She allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Sara Sempek took the loss for UNK, lasting just one inning. She allowed the 3-run homer to Knittig in the first inning before handing the ball to Abbey Martin for the final six innings of the game.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 5, Nebraska-Kearney 2
A pair of two-out, two-RBI singles by Tess Gray and Bailey Kennedy provided the majority of the offense in a 5-2 win for FHSU. Gray’s two-RBI single occurred in the first inning to give FHSU a 2-0 lead, and Kennedy’s occurred in the sixth to extend Fort Hays State’s lead to 5-1 at the time. Fort Hays State’s other run happened on a throwing error by UNK in the second inning.

Carrie Clarke picked up her second win over the Lopers in as many days, finishing the season with seven wins in the circle. She allowed 11 hits and struck out four. Meg Housholder took the loss for UNK, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and seven walks. She struck out six.

The Tigers will miss the MIAA Tournament for the first time since joining the conference in 2006-07. The young team made strides late, closing out the season 8-8 in their last 16 games, after going 9-31 prior to that.

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State men’s track and field split up this week and competed at a pair of events this weekend. Some of the Tigers attended the Kansas Relays on Thursday-Saturday, (Apr. 20-22), while others traveled to the Tabor College Invitational on Saturday. For the week, the Tigers claimed six top-three finishes and two provisional marks.

Kansas Relays
Decano Cronin (1:50.30) and Brett Meyer (1:52.34) topped the 800 meters finishing first and second respectively. Cronin’s effort also earned a provisional as he now sits tied for seventh in the nation. Meyer also has a provisional from a previous race this year that has him ranked 21^st in the nation.

Dillando Allotey picked up a second-place finish in the 200 meter dash. Allotey crossed the line in a time of 21.02, which would have been the 11^th fastest time in the nation. However, due to wind calculations being too high, the time does not stand as a quality mark.

Joined by Oscar Carmona, Cronin, Meyer and Allotey teamed up to win the distance medley with a time of 10:11.35.

TJ Dozier also had a provisional mark that came up just an inch shy of his best mark this season. He finished third in the discus with a throw of 172 feet, 2 inches. His best mark this season has him 13^th on the national performance list.

KU Relays Results

Tabor Invitational Results

Tabor College Invitational
Sam Dreiling and Jake Morrow finished first and second respectively in the pole vault for the Tigers. Dreiling led the way with a vault of 15 feet, 5.75 inches and Morrow had a vault of 15 feet.

The Tigers will get back in action next weekend when they partake in separate events once again. Some of the Tigers will head to Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday (Apr. 27) to compete at the Drake Relays, while the rest of the Tigers stay home for the Fort Hays State Open on Friday (Apr. 28).

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State women’s track and field split up this week and competed at a pair of events. Some of the Tigers attended to the Kansas Relays Thursday through Saturday (Apr. 20-22), while other traveled to the Tabor College Invitational on Saturday. For the week, the Tigers claimed five top-three finishes, as well as reaching two provisional marks.

Kansas Relays
Alexcia Deutscher had a big showing for the Tigers, claiming first place and improving her national provisional mark in the javelin throw. Deutscher launched a throw of 156 feet, 11 inches and now sits third on the national performance list after the effort.

Kelly Wycoff picked up a second-place finish in the 400 meters and claimed a provisional mark placing her 20th in the nation with a time of 55.48 seconds. The time also broke her FHSU record of 55.97 seconds, which she set the day before in the prelims. She also hit another provisional mark with a fourth-place finish in the 200 meters at 24.24 seconds. However, the time was not as fast as her prior mark of 24.09, which has her 15^th in the country.

Also picking up second-place finishes were Shea Bonine in the 1500 meters with a time of 4:39.22 and the combination of Wycoff, Bonine, Micki Krzesinski and Lauren Roberts in the distance medley, combining for a time of 12:21.75.

KU Relays Results

Tabor Invitational Results

Tabor College Invitational
Mariah Hammersmith was the lone Tiger to place in the top three at the Tabor College Invitational, doing so in the triple jump. She turned in a second-place finish with a jump of 36 feet, 1.25 inches.

The Tigers will get back in action next weekend when they compete in separate events once again. Some of the Tigers will be heading to Des Moines, Iowa on Thursday (Apr. 27) to compete at the Drake Relays, while the rest of the Tigers will stay home for the Fort Hays State Open on Friday (Apr. 28).

HAYS, Kan. – Down to their last strike, Fort Hays State avoided a doubleheader sweep from Nebraska-Kearney when Candace Bollig launched a two-run homer to center field, lifting the Tigers to a 5-4 win. It gave the Tigers a split of the conference doubleheader after the Lopers took game one 2-1.

Bollig drove in four runs in the game two win, all on a pair of two-run homers. It was her first two home runs of the season.

Game 1: Nebraska-Kearney 2, Fort Hays State 1
Fort Hays State fell behind 1-0 after UNK plated an unearned run in the top of the second, but tied the game in the bottom of the fifth on a bases loaded RBI single from Claudia Vazquez. Unfortunately, Hailey Chapman allowed her only earned run of the game in the sixth by allowing a double then an RBI single to open up the inning.

The Tigers did not threaten after the Lopers took the lead back as UNK pitcher Meg Housholder retired the final six batters of the game in order. Housholder picked up her fifth win of the season, allowing three hits and three walks, with two strikeouts. Chapman took the loss for FHSU with six hits allowed and three strikeouts.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 5, Nebraska-Kearney 4
Candace Bollig was the difference maker for Fort Hays State in a comeback 5-4 win to split the final conference doubleheader of the season. She also helped FHSU to finish ahead of UNK in the conference standings.

After UNK took a 1-0 lead in the first inning, FHSU tied the game in the bottom of the second benefitting from two UNK errors. Bollig then pushed the Tigers into the lead in the third with the first of her two, two-run home runs, driving a ball over the wall in right center field.

UNK pulled within a run in the fifth, scoring on a two-out wild pitch. Down to their last two outs, the Lopers rallied in the seventh and scored a pair of runs on a single, walk, then two more singles, jumping into the lead 4-3.

With a runner at second and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Bollig worked a 3-2 count then drove a pitch right in the heart of the plate for a home run, lifting the Tigers to a 5-4 win.

Carrie Clarke picked up her sixth win of the season in the pitching circle. She allowed four runs on 10 hits and two walks, while striking out three. Abbey Martin, who entered in relief after Bollig’s first homer of the game, moved to 0-8 on the season with the loss. She pitched 4.2 innings in relief of Sara Sempek. Both Martin and Sempek allowed two earned runs.

Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney will close out the season tomorrow (Sunday, Apr. 23) in Kearney with a non-conference doubleheader that starts at 1 pm.

Seniors Kylie Strand, Claudia Vazquez and Ashey Beavers were honored for Senior Day between games on Saturday.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team fell behind early and was unable to recover Saturday evening against Missouri Southern, falling 24-3 in seven innings. The Lions sent 21 batters to the plate in the third inning, scoring 15 runs in the frame to take a commanding 23-0 lead.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers dip to 9-31 overall and 2-25 in the MIAA with the loss, while MSSU moves to 22-22 this season and 14-16 in league play.

Missouri Southern jumped out to a 3-0 lead after a three-run home run in the top of the first. The Tigers had a chance to answer back in the bottom of the inning after Ty Redington worked a walk to lead things off. Clayton Basgall followed with a single through the right side before Trevor Hughes drew a walk two batters later. With the bases loaded and one out, the next two batters struck out to end the threat.

The Lions then added five in the second before their 15-run eruption in the third. The Tigers put together a three-run inning in the bottom of the third when Redington led off with a single. Nick Hammeke crushed a home run to left center two batters later to get FHSU on the board. Cody Starkel added a home run of his own later in the frame, lifting a ball over the fence in right.

Sam Capps (2-5) took the loss after allowing nine runs on eight hits over two-plus innings of work. Tyler Renninson came in to record the final out of the third inning, limiting the potent Lion offense to one run on four hits over 4.1 innings. Basgall collected two of the five Tiger hits, including his fifth double of the season.

The teams will face off in game two of the series Sunday at 3 p.m. from Larks Park.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State split a doubleheader at home with Newman University on Wednesday. The Tigers rallied in the final inning to take game one, 4-3, before falling in game two, 9-5. FHSU is now 14-38 overall, while Newman moved to 14-32 overall.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 4, Newman 3
Fort Hays State could not solve Newman pitcher Jensen Cromer through the first six innings of the game, but put together a furious rally in the final inning to turn a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 walk-off win.

Newman put together single runs in the second, third, and seventh innings to build its 3-0 lead in the game. The final run in the seventh came in courtesy of a Tiger error.

In the bottom of the seventh, Veronica Knittig triggered the Tiger rally with a single to open the inning. Collette West walked, then the game-turning play occurred with Claudia Vazquez at the dish with one out. Vazquez laid down a well-placed bunt for a single, but the pitcher’s late throw to first base sailed down the right field line allowing Knittig and West to score. Vazquez motored all the way to third. Bailey Kennedy tied the game with another well-placed bunt for a single and Vazquez dashed home to get around a potential tag from the catcher to tie the game.

Jeni Mohr added an infield single to set the stage for Candace Bollig to deliver the walk-off heroics. She drove a ball into the right-center field gap for a double, plating Kennedy from second.

Hailey Chapman benefitted from the late rally for the win in the pitching circle. She earned her ninth win with a complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits and a walk. She struck out six.

Game 2: Newman 9, Fort Hays State 5
Five Tiger errors led to seven unearned Newman runs, making a difference that the Tigers could not overcome.

The game saw eight runs scored between the teams in the first inning. Two of the Newman runs in the first frame were unearned, but the Tigers rallied for five in the bottom half of the inning to take a 5-3 lead. FHSU had six hits in the inning. Candace Bollig started the run-scoring parade with an RBI triple. Bailey Boxberger knocked her home with a single. Veronica Knittig notched an RBI double and later Kylie Strand brought two home with a single.

A throwing error by the Tigers in the second led to Newman taking the lead back for good at 6-5. Two more runs were unearned in that frame. The final three runs of the game for Newman were unearned, picking up two in the third and one in the fifth.

Carrie Clark took the loss, allowing nine runs (two earned) on 11 hits and three walks. She struck out three. Newman pitcher Kate Smith settled in after a rough first inning, holding the Tigers scoreless the rest of the way. She allowed 12 hits (half of that total in the first inning) with two walks and two strikeouts.

Fort Hays State will host Nebraska-Kearney in the final MIAA doubleheader of the season on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. The doubleheader, which will serve as Senior Day, starts at 2 pm.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State men’s golf team wrapped up competition at the 2017 Tiger Classic Wednesday afternoon (April 19) at Smoky Hill Country Club. The players battled blustery winds all day, leading to a tournament scoring average nearly three strokes higher than Tuesday (Round 3 – 78.52, Rounds 1 & 2 combined – 76.0).

The Tigers placed ninth in the home event, dropping two spots from seventh after day one. FHSU posted a 325 in the final round, bringing its three-round total to 927. Individually, Skyler Tebo finished in a tie for 11th after posting a 7-over 77 on day two and finishing 11-over 221 for the tournament.

Isaiah Grover signed for an 82 in round three, finishing 36th with a 231. Colton Bobek matched Isaiah’s round of 82, placing 50th with a 236. Cash Hobson shot 84 to place 53rd (239) with Dalton Ayres rounding out the scoring with an 86, finishing 65th (252).

Competing as an individual, Marcus Willey posted the second-best round for a Tiger Wednesday, carding a 10-over 80 to finish 59th (241). Marshal Hutchins recorded a third round score of 81, rounding out the week with a 248 (63rd). Jake Weller finished round three with an 82 to shoot 239 for the week (53rd).

Central Missouri took the team title, finishing 12-over 852 through three rounds, 29 strokes better than second place Lindenwood (881). UCM had individuals finish first, second and tied for third, including individual champion Alex Springer (2-under 208).

The Tigers will regroup and head to Spring Hill, Kan. next week for the MIAA Championship (April 24-26). The team will play a single round each day, Monday through Wednesday, at Sycamore Ridge Golf Club.

Fort Hays State baseball has altered its weekend schedule. With the weather forecast calling for a high probability of rain in Hays Friday, the three-game series with Missouri Southern will now be played Saturday through Monday. Saturday’s game starts at 6 pm. Sunday will begin at 3 pm and Monday’s series finale will start at noon.

Pack the Park activities scheduled for Friday are being moved back at week and will take place on April 28 when the Tigers host Pittsburg State at 7 pm.

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Men’s Golf sits in seventh place out of 11 teams after two rounds at the MIAA mandated Tiger Classic, held at Smoky Hill Country Club. FHSU shot rounds of 305 and 297 as a team.

Individually, Skyler Tebo is tied for seventh after rounds of 73 and 71 and sits 4-over par. Tebo, along with Isaiah Grover (73, 76) and Colton Bobek (79, 75), were the three Tigers to shoot under 80 in both rounds. Cash Hobson improved five strokes in the second round with a 75 after opening with an 80.

Central Missouri gained major separation from the field after shooting 7-under as a team in the second round. The Mules are at even par overall with a two-round team score of 560. Lindenwood is 20 strokes back in second at 580 as a team.

Alex Springer of Central Missouri had a huge turnaround after a first-round 76. Springer set a new Smoky Hill Country Club course record in the second round by shooting 61 (9-under par). He is now 3-under par overall for the tournament, leading by four strokes. After an even-par 70 was the best score in the first round, five players in the field shot under par in the second round.

The tournament concludes on Wednesday with the final round starting at 8:30 am.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – Nebraska-Kearney hit back-to-back home runs in a four-run third inning and beat Fort Hays State baseball 9-2 Tuesday evening at Larks Park. Dallas Schramm hit a three-run blast followed by a solo shot from Josh Estrada to go up 5-0.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Bryce Witchurch got the Tigers (9-30, 2-24 MIAA) got the Tigers on the board with a solo homer to lead off the bottom of the third. He drove in their other run on a sixth inning ground out.

Alex Ruxlow (4-8) took the loss for the Tigers lasting two-plus innings. He surrendered five runs (four earned), while giving up six hits. Ben Ramburg threw three strong innings of relief, giving up a run on two hits with a walk and two strikeouts. Cole Schumacher allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings. Ryan Ruder and Jackson Rolfs blanked UNK (13-26, 6-20 MIAA).

The Tiger homestand continues this weekend when they welcome Missouri Southern State to town. The first pitch of the three-game series will take place at 7 pm on Friday and can be heard on KJLS (103.3-FM).