HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State will be hosting the 23rd annual Alex Francis Classic at the brand new FHSU Track and Field Facility on Friday (Mar. 31). The college meet moved up to Friday from its original scheduled date of Saturday, while the high school portion was canceled earlier in the week.

A final adjustment was made on Thursday to the schedule of field events. The events will be split into three separate venues. The jumping events will be held at noon at the field inside the new facility to kick off the day. The javelin and shot put events were relocated to Hays High School, also starting at noon. Discus will also be held there, starting at 1:30 p.m. The final change made was to the hammer throw, which will take place at the old Fort Hays State Intramural Fields just beyond the Tiger Stadium (softball field) outfield fence, beginning at 3:30 p.m.

The Tigers have several standout athletes competing in the event. Leading the pack are 2017 NCAA Indoor Track and Field All-Americans Dillando Allotey and Brett Meyer, as well as national qualifier Decano Cronin. Allotey will be running in the 100-meter dash on Friday, while Meyer will compete in the 400-meter run. Cronin will be competing in the 800-meter run as well as the 400-meters.

The only outdoor provisional mark for the FHSU men so far belongs to pole vaulter Sam Dreiling. Dreiling hit the qualifying mark at the Tigers’ only outdoor competition so far when he vaulted 15 feet, 11 inches at the ESU Spring Twilight on March 17.

Tiger women to watch on Friday are Kelly Wycoff and Alexcia Deutscher, both with provisional marks on the year, as well as 2016 All-American Estefania Lopez. Wycoff started the outdoor season hitting national qualifying marks in both the 100 meters (11.98) and 200 meters (24.47), while Deutscher hit her mark in the javelin throw with a toss of 145 feet, 1 inch at the ESU Spring Twilight on March 17. Lopez, who has yet to throw this season, is a two-time All-American for FHSU in the javelin and also holds the program record with a throw of 173 feet, 8 inches.

Below is a list of all teams competing:
Fort Hays State
McPherson (Kan.) College
Pratt (Kan.) Community College
Nebraska-Kearney
Northwest Kanas Tech
Dodge City (Kan.) Community College
Colorado College

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – Missouri Southern handed Fort Hays State its first two home losses of the season on Thursday, March 30 at Tiger Stadium. The Lions swept a conference doubleheader by scores of 12-3 and 5-4, moving to 15-24 overall and 4-6 in the MIAA, while the Tigers moved to 9-25 overall and 2-6 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Missouri Southern 12, Fort Hays State 3

Following a scoreless first inning by both teams, Missouri Southern erupted for 11 of its 12 runs over the second and third innings to put the first game away early. Tess Gray had a terrific game at the plate with three RBI, nearly missing a total of five by a couple of feet.

After Missouri Southern scored three runs in the second inning on back-to-back doubles with two outs, the Tigers were just a couple feet from tying the game back up in the bottom half of the inning when Tess Gray drove a ball deep to left field with a pair of runners on. Unfortunately, it hit the top of the wall and turned into just a double in what looked like a potential game-tying home run as it left the bat. The smash double off the wall scored one and left runners at second and third with one out.

That is when Fort Hays State’s recent repetitive struggles at driving in runs with less than two outs returned, unable to get more runs across with a comebacker to the pitching circle and a foul pop up just to the left of home plate. Missouri Southern escaped the second with a 3-1 lead.

Following the missed opportunity, Missouri Southern chased Tiger starting pitcher Carrie Clarke from the game. Clarke was unable to record an out in the the third, facing five batters that all recorded hits (four singles and a double). In the blink of an eye, the Tigers trailed 6-1. Lexie Kimminau relieved Clarke and struggled to find outs as well. She chose to throw home on a sacrifice bunt attempt by the first batter she faced and was too late as another run crossed, making it 7-1. Another single made it 8-1 before the Tigers recorded an out in the inning. Then a pair of wild pitches scored two more runs and then a fielding error was responsible for the eighth run of the inning. When the dust settled, Missouri Southern led 11-1 heading to the bottom half of the third. Another RBI single by MSSU in the fourth made it 12-1.

Gray wound up with all three RBI in the game for FHSU by hitting a two-run home run in the fourth to make it 12-3. If the hit in the second inning were a bit higher, she could have had a two-homer, five-RBI game to that point. Bailey Kennedy also had a pair of hits for FHSU in the game, while Candace Bollig had one. The Tigers had runners at first and second with one out in the fifth, but a double play ended the threat and game as the run-rule went into effect.

Clarke finished with eight runs allowed on 10 hits in two innings of work. Kimminau allowed four runs (three earned) in an inning of work. Hailey Chapman recorded the final six outs of the game, holding the Lions scoreless.

Sydney Koch went the distance for Missouri Southern, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks. She struck out two.

Game 2: Missouri Southern 5, Fort Hays State 4

Missouri Southern led twice before coming back a third and final time with a run in the sixth to break a 4-4 tie. Abi Corbett’s two-out RBI single was the difference in a sweep for the Lions.

Missouri Southern took a 1-0 lead in the first on an unearned run, but Fort Hays State responded with doubles by Bailey Kennedy and Veronica Knittig in the bottom half of the inning to even the score.

The Lions scored twice in the second inning, but the Tigers finally received clutch two-out hitting from Bailey Boxberger and Candace Bollig. Boxberger had a double off the left field wall to score one run, then Bollig dropped a two-RBI single down the right field line to push the Tigers in front 4-3.

Kylie Wesbrooks of MSSU knotted the score for the second time in the game with an RBI double in the fourth.

The Tigers had chances to pull ahead again with runners in scoring position in both the fourth and fifth innings with less than two outs. The missed chances were costly when Corbett laced the game-winning RBI single through the left side in the sixth. Veronica Knittig had a one-out double in the seventh, but a strikeout looking and comebacker to the mound ended the game.

Sydney Koch, who won the first game for MSSU, picked up the save in the nightcap by getting the final two outs of the game. Starter Taurean Guzman picked up the win in 6.1 innings of work. She allowed 10 hits and a walk, while striking out two.

Hailey Chapman took the loss for FHSU, despite throwing a complete game. She allowed five runs (four earned) on 11 hits and four walks. She struck out four.

The Tigers host Pittsburg State in a conference doubleheader on Friday. The doubleheader will serve as the annual “Jam Pack Tiger Stadium” game. An enhanced concession lineup will be available with burgers, brats and chips.

FHSU Sports Information

KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State fell to Nebraska-Kearney on Wednesday afternoon (Mar. 29) at the Buffalo County Fairgrounds by a score of 9-0. The Lopers improved to 8-7 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA, while the Tigers moved to 9-8 overall and 1-6 in the MIAA.

Laura Jimenez-Lendinez and Macy Moyers provided the most resistance in doubles play, falling at the No. 2 position 8-4. The No. 1 team of Natalie Lubbers and Lauren Lindell scored three points in a loss.

The Tigers struggled to win games in singles play. The closest match occurred at the No. 6 position, where Jessica Johnson lost 7-5, 6-1 to her opponent. All other Tigers did not generate more than two points in a set.

The Tigers get back to action on Friday, April 7 at Bethany College in a non-conference match.

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State Softball has altered its weekend schedule of home conference doubleheaders against Missouri Southern and Pittsburg State. Due to weather forecasted for the week, the games have been moved up a date on the calendar.

Fort Hays State will now host Missouri Southern on Thursday starting at 3 pm. The doubleheader with Pittsburg State on Friday will begin at 2 pm.

The annual “Jam Pack Tiger Stadium” event will be on Friday. Admission to all games this weekend is FREE, just like all other FHSU softball home regular season contests. There will be enhanced food options from the concession stand as hamburgers, brats, and bags of chips will be available. Hamburgers are $3.50, brats are $2.50, and bags of chips are 50 cents.

HAYS, Kan. – The high school segment of the Alex Francis Classic track and field meet on Thursday, March 30 has been canceled due to present conditions in the Hays area and forecasted weather. The college meet has now been moved up to Friday (Mar. 31) due to poor forecasted weather for Saturday.

The schedule of start times for the events remains the same. COLLEGE MEET SCHEDULE

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team was unable to hold on to an early lead Tuesday afternoon (March 28) against Washburn, falling to the Ichabods 10-5. The Tigers picked up eight hits in the contest, including four base knocks in a three-run fourth inning. But WU rallied for seven runs over the next three frames to take back control.

Fort Hays State dips to 8-19 this season and 1-13 in the MIAA, while the Ichabods improve to 17-11 overall and 9-8 in the league. The teams will wrap up their season series next Tuesday (April 4) inside Larks Park.

The Tigers jumped out early, scoring in the first inning after Ty Redington led things off with a single to left. Nick Hammeke worked a walk in the next at bat before the pair pulled off a double steal, putting runners in scoring position for Dayton Pomeroy. The DH came through with an RBI groundout, giving the Tigers a quick 1-0 lead.

Washburn responded by manufacturing a run of their own in the bottom of the first before starting pitchers Alex Ruxlow and Quentin McGrath traded scoreless frames through the third inning.

The Black and Gold broke through again in the top of the fourth, rattling off four-straight hits and taking a 4-1 lead. Jake Lanferman singled past the second baseman with one out before moving to third on a single from catcher Trevor Hughes. Bryce Witchurch followed with his first of three hits, doubling home Lanferman for the first run of the inning. Jace Bowman kept things rolling with a single to left, plating Hughes. Witchurch came in to score the final run of the inning on a fielder’s choice groundout off the bat of Redington.

The Ichabods got one run back in the bottom of the fourth before plating four in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth and eighth, taking the lead for good.

Witchurch led off the top of the ninth with a home run to right to lead off the top of the ninth inning, wrapping up a strong day at the plate. It was the junior’s third long ball of the season and his second against WU.

Witchurch picked up the only two extra base hits for the Tigers, finishing 3-for-4 and a triple shy of the cycle. Redington added a pair of hits, with Lanferman, Hughes and Bowman contributing the other three. Ruxlow (3-5) took the loss after giving up five runs in four-plus innings of work. Ryan Ruder came on to throw 1.2 innings out of the pen, surrendering three runs on four hits with one strikeout. Sam Capps finished things off, tossing the final 2.1 innings and giving up two runs while striking out three Ichabod batters.

The Tigers will stay out on the road this weekend, traveling to Tahlequah, Okla. to take on Northeastern State in a three-game set (March 31-April 2). First pitch Friday is tentatively set for 2 p.m.

AXTELL, Neb. – Fort Hays State Women’s Golf finished 11th at the UNK Spring Invitational, held at Awarii Dunes Golf Course just south of Kearney, Neb. The Tigers shot their lowest round as a team this year on day two, finishing at 317 after a first-round 334.

Hannah Perkins was the top finisher for the Tigers, shooting both of her rounds in the 70s. She shot 79 in the first round and 76 in the second round to finish in a tie for 19th. Her 155 total was 11 strokes behind tournament medalist Shi Qing Ong of Missouri Western, who carded rounds of 70 and 74.

Madison Roether also dipped into the 70s on day two with a 79. That followed an opening round 86. She tied teammate Hannah Karasiuk for 41st, each at a total of 165. Karasiuk shot rounds of 84 and 81. Taylor DeBoer was just one stroke back in a tie for 44th after rounds of 85 and 81. Kelsey McCarthy also competed and shot rounds of 91 and 84.

Augustana won the tournament as a team with a total of 602. Missouri Western was second at 610 and Central Missouri was third at 618. The Tigers shot 651 overall.

The next tournament for the FHSU women will be April 10-11 in Springfield, Mo.

FHSU Sports Information

BOLIVAR, Mo. – Fort Hays State’s road woes this season continued in a pair of conference losses at Southwest Baptist on Sunday. The Bearcats swept the doubleheader by scores of 9-6 and 6-0 to move to 21-7 overall and 5-1 in the MIAA, while the Tigers fell to 9-23 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA. It pushed Fort Hays State’s losing streak to 10 games, all in contests away from home.

Game 1: Southwest Baptist 9, Fort Hays State 6
Fort Hays State took an early 2-0 lead on Southwest Baptist in the top of the second inning, only to see it slip away immediately in the bottom half of the inning. SBU knotted the score 2-2 and then added a run in the third to take a 3-2 lead. The Bearcats would hold the lead the remainder of the game.

A six-run outburst by the Bearcats in the fourth inning proved to be the undoing for Fort Hays State. The Tigers found success against one of the top pitchers in the MIAA, Kacey Ayers, but nine runs was too much to overcome.

A big turning point in the game occurred in the top of the fourth. The Tigers got runners to second and third with just one out, down just 3-2 at the time. However, FHSU stranded the potential tying and go-ahead runs on base with back-to-back strikeouts. SBU then went on its six-run outburst in the bottom half of the inning to expand its lead to 9-2.

Bailey Kennedy drove in the first two runs of the game for FHSU on a two-out single down the left field line in the second. Tess Gray finally made Ayers pay for shaky command in the sixth with a grand slam over the left field wall, giving the Tigers life by instantly making the score 9-6. Again, the Tigers could have done more damage but stranded runners at second and third base to end the inning. They went quietly in order in the last inning, seeing a potential comeback effort fall short.

Carrie Clarke took the loss, lasting just 3.2 innings. She allowed eight runs on nine hits and two walks. Kylie Strand tossed a third of an inning and allowed an unearned run, but notched a strikeout for her only out in the circle.  Lexie Kimminau tossed two scoreless innings in relief with three walks and a strikeout.

Ayers moved to 12-3 on the season for SBU. Three of the six runs she allowed were earned. She allowed eight hits and three walks, but struck out eight.

Game 2: Southwest Baptist 6, Fort Hays State 0
Fort Hays State squandered opportunities to score runs early and Southwest Baptist pulled away late in the nightcap. The Tigers stranded six baserunners over the first three innings, as they were unable to find timely hits to put pressure on the Bearcats.

In the first inning, the Tigers loaded the bases with two outs but a ground out ended the threat. In the second inning, the Tigers got a runner to third with two outs and a strikeout ended the threat. In the third inning, runners were on first and second but a pop out ended that threat.

Meanwhile, the Bearcats’ leadoff hitter Jaidyn Mawhinney’s heads up baserunning in the first inning gave SBU a 1-0 lead. SBU extended that lead to 3-0 in the fourth by stringing a double and two singles together. Darien Robinson put the game away for SBU in the sixth with a three-run home run.

Overall, Fort Hays State left nine baserunners on against SBU pitcher Claire Miller, who allowed just three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts. She hit four batters in the game. Miller moved to 6-2 on the season.

Hailey Chapman took the loss for FHSU, allowing six runs (five earned) on eight hits and two walks. She struck out two.

The Tigers are now 1-11 in true road games and 4-12 in neutral site games this year, despite owning a 4-0 record at home.

The Tigers return to action on Friday, March 31 against Missouri Southern at home. The doubleheader is set to begin at 3 pm at Tiger Stadium.

FHSU Sports Information

WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Fort Hays State dropped both games of a doubleheader against Central Missouri on Saturday. The doubleheader started four and a half hours earlier than scheduled due to inclement weather that was forecast for the area. UCM won by scores of 5-1 and 2-0.

Game 1: Central Missouri 5, Fort Hays State 1
Central Missouri strung together four hits in the second inning to produce three runs and Fort Hays State provided little resistance in the first game of the doubleheader. FHSU had just three hits in the game with a Veronica Knittig solo home run producing the only run. The other two were singles from Bailey Boxberger and Lily Sale as Knittig was the only Tiger runner to advance past first base in the game.

Three straight singles and a walk to open the UCM half of the second inning primed a three-run rally. Knittig’s homer in the fourth cut the UCM lead to 3-1, but two runs in the UCM half of the fourth produced the final spread of 5-1.

Alexa Bradley was rock-solid for UCM in the pitching circle, allowing just the one run on three hits with no walks. She struck out four to move to 6-8 on the season. Carrie Clarke took the loss for FHSU, allowing five runs (four earned) on eight hits and three walks.

Game 2: Central Missouri 2, Fort Hays State 0
Central Missouri picked up both of its runs in the first inning and that was enough in a shutout of FHSU in game two. The Tigers had five hits in the game, but three came with two outs in an inning.

The biggest threat for FHSU occurred in the fourth inning when Lily Sale led off with a single. With two outs, Kylie Strand walked to put runners at first and second, but a strikeout ended the threat.

Katie Giacone threw a solid game for UCM, allowing just five hits and a walk for a complete game shutout. She moved to 6-5 on the year. Hailey Chapman also had a good performance for FHSU, allowing just two runs (one earned) on four hits and three walks with two strikeouts. She moved to 5-12 on the season.

Now 9-21 overall and 2-2 in the MIAA, the Tigers play at Southwest Baptist on Sunday (Mar. 26). Game time is scheduled for 2 pm.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – A masterful pitching performance, solid defense and timely hitting helped the Fort Hays State baseball team defeat Northwestern Oklahoma State Wednesday afternoon (March 22) at Larks Park, 5-0. It was the first shutout for FHSU in over four years (3/15/13, 2-0 at Lindenwood).

The Tigers move to 8-18 this season after breaking up an eight-game losing skid, with the Rangers dipping to 8-19 on the year.

Sam Capps (2-2) tossed a complete game shutout for the Tigers, allowing just six baserunners all afternoon. The junior struck out nine Ranger batters, including six strikeouts looking. Capps did not allow a runner to reach third base, with just two Rangers reaching scoring position. NWOSU managed four singles, including a pair of bunt singles, to go along with two walks, but finished just 1-for-10 with runners on base. The righty lowered his ERA more than a full point from 4.82 to 3.65.

The Tigers flashed the leather all afternoon, making several highlight-reel plays and finishing without an error for the first time in nearly a month (Feb. 24). Jace Bowman made a pair of impressive plays at third in the first few innings, with Nick Hammeke adding a sliding stop to start a 6-4-3 double play to end the fourth inning. The gusting wind affected everything in the air, but the outfield trio of Ty Redington, Jake Lanferman and Colton Helm made it look easy with multiple running grabs.

Fort Hays State took the lead in the third inning when Redington reached on a two-out infield single deep in the hole at short. Hammeke then sent a 1-2 pitch to deep center, fooling the center fielder into taking his first step in. That split second made all the difference, with the ball falling just out of the reach of the Ranger defender for a triple to score Redington.

Redington started another rally in the bottom of the sixth when he reached on another infield single. After Hammeke reached on a fielder’s choice, the shortstop moved up 90 feet on a throwing error on the pitcher. Walks to Trevor Hughes and Lanferman loaded the bases for Dayton Pomeroy, forcing a Ranger pitching change. The reliever beaned Pomeroy on his eighth pitch of the at bat, allowing Hammeke to score and make the score 2-0.

The Tigers added another run in the seventh after Helm singled up the middle with one out. Redington followed with a bunt single with the third baseman playing back before a double steal put them both in scoring position. Helm scampered home later in the inning on a passed ball, stretching the advantage to 3-0.

Fort Hays State added a pair of insurance runs in the home half of the eighth when Bryce Witchurch drew a pinch-hit walk. With two outs, Bowman was hit by a pitch to bring up Jared Bogosian. The junior catcher came through with a single into the left field corner, driving in both runs.

The Tigers are off this weekend and will return to the diamond next Wednesday (March 29) when they travel to Topeka, Kan. to face off with Washburn.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State tennis team came up short in its fifth-straight match Wednesday afternoon (March 22), falling to Northwest Missouri State, the No. 9 ranked team in the region, 9-0. The Tigers dip to 8-7 overall and 0-5 in MIAA play, while the Bearcats are now 2-8 this season and 1-1 in the league.

The Tigers kept things close in two of the three doubles matches, with Natalie Lubbers and Lauren Lindell falling at No. 1 doubles 9-7 while Nicole Lubbers and Jessica Johnson took the No. 3 doubles match into a tiebreak. The Bearcat duo of Margaux Jacquet and Tess Lovig came out on top 8-6 to win 9-8 and give NWMSU a 3-0 lead.

The Bearcats swept their way through singles play, winning all six matches in two sets. Laura Jimenez-Lendinez fell at the No. 1 spot 6-4, 6-4, winning the most games for the Tigers.

Fort Hays State will return to the court Friday (March 24) when they face off with Missouri Western. First serve is set for 1:30 p.m. from the FHSU Tennis Courts.

FHSU Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State sophomore Hannah Perkins earned MIAA Women’s Co-Golfer of the Week honors on Wednesday (Mar. 22) for her efforts at the Holiday Inn Express Classic, hosted by Missouri Western in St. Joseph, Mo. She shares the honor with Maggie Bryant of Lindenwood.

Perkins was the top MIAA finisher at the Holiday Inn Express Classic, hosted by Missouri Western. She tied for fourth individually, shooting rounds of 77 and 80 to total 157. Her round of 77 was the lowest by an MIAA player in the tournament. Her 78.5 stroke averaged matched Maggie Bryant’s of Lindenwood, who played two tournaments in Arizona.

Bryant won the Lindenwood Spring Thaw in Cave Creek, Ariz. She helped guide the Lady Lions to a tournament championship at the event, and finished the tournament with a two-round total score of 152. Later in the week, Bryant tied for 29th place at the Augustana Spring Fling in California. Bryant finished the week with eight birdies and averaged 78.5 strokes per round over her four rounds of play.

This is the second MIAA Player of the Week honor for Perkins in her career at FHSU.

FHSU Sports Information