KEARNEY, Neb. – Fort Hays State finished fourth for the second-consecutive year at the MIAA Championships held on Sunday in Kearney, Neb. The Tigers scored 56.5 points. Individually the Tigers saw six wrestlers reach the podium with one champion crowned.

Nebraska-Kearney, the second-ranked team in the country, took home first place with 98 points, and was followed closely by seventh-ranked Central Oklahoma with 95 Points. Lindenwood rounded out the top three with 59 points.

At 157 pounds, redshirt-freshman Greg Tooley claimed his first MIAA Championship thanks to a 3-0 day. He started the day with an 18-2 technical fall over Forlanda Parker of Newman to advance to the semifinals, where he cruised to an 8-0 major decision over Bryan Dutton of UCO. In the finals, Tooley squared off with Nebraska-Kearney’s Destin McCauley and claimed the crown with a 3-1 decision.

Brandon Ball, the No. 10 wrestler at 141 pounds went 2-1 on his way to a runner-up finish. Ball started the day with a 9-2 decision over UNK’s Jeff Bizzle, then punched his ticket to the finals with an 8-0 major decision over Chase Kelly of Lindenwood. In the finals, Ball fought hard but dropped a tight 6-5 decision to Central Oklahoma’s Josh Ailey.

At 197 pounds, Jon Inman, ranked No. 2 nationally, also took home second place honors on the day with a 2-1 performance. Inman punched his way to the finals with a pin in the first round over Newman’s Sage Eckman, then a 7-3 decision over Lindenwood’s Dillon Archer. Waiting for Inman in the finals was No. 3 ranked Greg Wilson of Central Oklahoma. The two wrestlers split earlier meetings this year with Inman winning the first and Wilson winning the second last Sunday. With a late takedown awarded to Wilson in the second period the score was tied at 4-4 heading into the third. Wilson then had the choice of position and selected bottom. He earned a quick escape to take the 5-4 lead then held Inman at bay for the rest of the period.

At 174 pounds, Micquille Robinson took home third place honors by going 2-1. After dropping his first match, Robinson needed just one match to claim third place. After a bye in the consolation quarter finals and a medical forfeit by his opponent in the consolation semis, Robinson faced Newman’s Kyle Ryan in the consolation finals. It was a close match but Robinson built up an early lead to hold on and claim a 7-5 decision.

Rakim Dean also finished third place at 184 pounds. After receiving a bye in the first round, Dean dropped his first match to UNK’s Zach Stodden, ranked No. 8 in the nation, by a 6-2 decision. In the consolation bracket he received a bye in the semifinals to advance automatically to the third-place match. There he met Central Oklahoma’s Gage Stallworth, whom he handled with a tight 6-5 decision.

Wrapping up the scoring for the Tigers was heavyweight and ninth-ranked Christian Lance who also claimed third place. Lance started the day with a 12-1 major decision over Lindenwood’s John Kramer. In the semifinal bout Lance went toe-to-toe with fourth-ranked Caleb Cotter of Central Oklahoma. For the third time this season, Cotter got the better of Lance in an 8-3 decision. In the consolation bracket, Lance went on to win his next two matches and claim third place thanks to a 3-2 decision over UCO’s Kyle Factor and a 5-2 decision over Lindenwood’s Jacob Borgmeyer.

Tooley, Ball, Inman, Robinson, Dean, and Lance earned All-MIAA honors for their performances by finishing among the top three.

The Tigers will now use an extended break to rest and prepare for the NCAA Super Regional in Golden, Colo., February 24-25.

FHSU Sports Information

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team completed the sweep of New Mexico Highlands Sunday afternoon inside Larks Park, topping the Cowboys 18-8 in seven innings. The Tigers improved to 3-3 on the year after stringing together 16 hits for the second-consecutive game, while NMHU remains winless at 0-6 this season.

Six Tigers recorded multiple hits in the win, led by Jake Lanferman’s 4-for-4 day at the plate. The sophomore scored three runs while driving in three more, tallying a pair of extra-base hits including his first home run of the season. Dayton Pomeroy homered for the third time in as many days, finishing 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Ty Redington scored four runs, reaching base with two hits, one walk and one hit by pitch.

Fort Hays State never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 2-0 lead two pitches into the bottom of the first. Redington was beaned with the first delivery before Nick Hammeke sent the second pitch soaring over the fence in left. The Tigers added two more runs in the inning after a Lanferman double and a pair of walks loaded the bases for Clayton Basgall. The second baseman delivered a sacrifice fly to right before Pomeroy came in to score on a throwing error on a botched pick-off attempt later in the frame.

The Cowboys got one run back in the second with a solo home run, but FHSU added two more in the bottom half to extend the lead to 6-1. Jared Bogosian led off with a double to the gap in left center before two walks loaded the bases. Lanferman drove in the first run with a single to left before Pomeroy drove home Redington with a sacrifice fly to center.

After Highlands closed within 6-5 with three runs in the third and another in the fourth, Lanferman drove a one-out home run to straightaway center to put the Tigers in front by two.

The Cowboys tied things up in the top of the fifth with a two-run home run, but the Tigers responded by scoring seven runs and sending 11 to the plate in the home half of the inning. NMHU committed three errors in the inning and gave up five Tiger hits. Bryce Witchurch reached on an error to open the frame, followed by four-straight singles from Ryan Imber, Bogosian, Redington and Hammeke. Cody Starkel delivered a double to center to score another run before Basgall drove one in with an RBI groundout.

The Tigers extended the lead to 17-7 in the sixth after a leadoff walk and a double from Redington put runners in scoring position for Lanferman. The center fielder legged out an infield single deep in the hole at short, scoring Trevor Hughes. Pomeroy extended the lead to double figures with a two-run bomb to left field.

After the Cowboys put together one run to extend the game in the top of the seventh, Basgall helped the Tigers walk off in the bottom half with an opposite-field home run to right, tallying his third RBI of the day.

Easton Palmer (1-0) earned the win in his first collegiate pitching appearance, striking out two and walking two while giving up an unearned run in 1.1 innings of work. Redshirt-senior Justin Hersch started on the bump for the Tigers, tossing 2.2 innings and giving up four runs while striking out one.

The Tigers will return to the diamond Wednesday (Feb. 15) to face off with Oklahoma-Panhandle State at 2 p.m.

FHSU Sports Information

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State raced out to a 20-point first half lead then held on as Central Oklahoma pulled within four with just over four minutes to play. The Tigers hit nine of their final 10 free throws and won 72-62 Saturday afternoon at Gross Coliseum four their fourth straight win.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Kyler Kinnamon Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers (15-8, 9-6 MIAA) held Central Oklahoma to 17-percent shooting in the first half and led 37-17 late in the first half. UCO (14-9, 9-6 MIAA) hit 11 of their first 13 shots in the second half including all three of their 3-point attempts to get back in the game.

Rob Davis led the Tigers with 25 points. Kyler Kinnamon added 13.

Central Oklahoma was led by Marquis Johnson who had 16 and Jake Hammond who scored 15 and pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds.

HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team picked up its second-consecutive win Saturday afternoon (Feb. 11) with a 12-10 shootout victory over New Mexico Highlands. By picking up the win, the Tigers improve to 2-3 on the season while the Cowboys drop to 0-5.

Every Tiger that went to the plate picked up a hit. Trevor Hughtes had a career day with the stick, going 3-for-4 with four RBI, two runs scored and a walk. Junior transfer Dayton Pomeroy also turned in a solid performance, recording three hits of his own including his second home run in as many games.

Trailing 3-0 early, the Tigers rallied to tie the score with three runs in the bottom of the second. Pomeroy blasted a one-out home run to left center to start the scoring before an RBI single off the bat of Ryan Imber plated Clayton. An RBI double by Jared Bogosian plated Imber evened the score.

The Cowboys struck in the ensuing half inning, regaining the lead with a two-run frame. The Tigers put up a second-consecutive three spot in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead for the first time in the game. With runners on first and second, Basgall delivered an RBI single before a wild pitch plated another run. Basgall then came around to score on an RBI ground out off of the bat of Imber.

Two more runs for the Cowboys in the fourth gave them the lead for the third and final time of the game. Right on cue the Tigers responded in the home half to regain the lead. With runners on second and third, Hughes roped a single up the middle that plated Nick Hammeke. Then another wild pitch allowed Jake Lanferman to score, giving the Tigers 8-7 lead.

A pair of scoreless innings from Ryan Ruder led to the Tigers expanding their lead to 10-7 in the bottom half. Another RBI single by Hughes started the frame for FHSU before Basgall executed a suicide squeeze to perfection to push Hughes across the plate.

The Cowboys closed within one run after plating a pair in the seventh. The Tigers once again responded like they had all afternoon, scoring two runs of their own after the seventh inning stretch. With two outs, Ty Redington singled before Hammeke and Lanferman both walked to load the bases with Hughes coming to the dish. He delivered for the Tigers with his third single of the day, scoring Redington and Hammeke.

The Cowboys wrangled together one more run in the eighth, but the deficit was too much to overcome as Zac Rothert came on to record the final five outs without further damage. The sophomore earned the save in his first appearance of the season, giving up just one hit and inducing a pair of double plays.

Ruder (1-0) picked up the win in relief for FHSU, tossing 3.1 innings while giving up three hits and two unearned runs to go with a pair of strikeouts. He came out of the pen after starter Ben Ramberg lasted 3.2 innings, allowing seven runs, five earned, on eight hits and one walk while recording four strikeouts.

The Tigers look for the weekend sweep on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 pm.

FHSU Sports Information