By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – They were forced inside due to the much welcomed rain, but the Fort Hays State football team was able to complete spring practices with a scrimmage Saturday afternoon in the Schmidt-Bickle Indoor Training Facility.

The two hour workout, in front of a good gathering of Tiger fans, saw limited contact as several players recover from injuries suffered during the 2015 season.

Coach Chris Brown discusses Saturday’s spring scrimmage…

Redshirt sophomore Jacob Mezera appears ready to take over for senior Treveon Albert at quarterback…

Fort Hays State is coming off an 8-4 season which saw them play in the Mineral Water Bowl. They open the 2016 season on September 1st at home against Missouri Southern.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – For the second time this season the Fort Hays State baseball team was swept in a three-game series at Larks Park. Missouri Western scored nine runs in the final three innings of their 13-2 win in the first game. They took the second game of the doubleheader 2-1. The Griffons (28-11, 20-8 MIAA) have won six straight and improve to 21-3 on the road. The Tigers (17-22, 11-17) have lost five straight and seven of their last eight.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

 

MWSU scored three in the second to take the early lead in the opener. Caleb Cherryholmes two-out single in the bottom of the inning scored Connor Ross to cut the lead to one. Nick Hammeke’s RBI single in the fifth closed the gap to 4-2 but Brandon Downs hit a three-run homer over the right field wall to stretch the Griffons lead to 7-2. They added a run in the seventh and five in the eighth for the eight inning run-rule win.

Freshman Logan Herd (2-4) allowed eight runs on 11 hits over 6 2/3 innings and suffered the loss.

Game 1 Highlights

 

The Tigers took the only lead of the series in the first inning of the second game. After two errors and a hit batter loaded the bases, Connor Ross hit into a double play which scored Caleb Cherryholmes. Alex Heuring hit a two-out home run in the third to tie the game 1-1 then Nick Gawley’s single scored David Gloade in the sixth to give the Griffons the lead for good.

D.J. Carr (3-6) allowed both runs on five hits over six innings and takes the loss. MWSU starter Evan Jones overcame a shaky start to pick up the win allowing one run on three hits over seven innings.

Game 2 Highlights

HAYS, Kan. – Missouri Western raced out to an early 6-0 lead then held on the rest of the night as they defeat the Fort Hays State Tigers 16-7 Thursday night in the opening game of their three game series at Larks Park. The Griffons, who average over nine runs per game, used three, four-run innings to move to 19-3 on the road and 26-11 overall. The Tigers have now dropped five of their last six and are 17-20 overall and 11-15 in the MIAA.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

 

Kyle Vogt (4-6) allowed 11 runs on 13 hits over 5 1/3 innings and takes the loss. Vogt, who struck out two and walked none, stuggled to get out of innigs, allowing three early runs with two outs.

Griffon starter Weston Caindel allowed five runs, two earned, on seven hits over 7 1/3 innings for his second straight win.

Alex Weiss had three hits and drove in three while Connor Ross had two hits including a home run and also knocked in three.

The series resumes Friday with a doubleheader beginning at 3 pm. You can hear both games on Tiger Radio Mix-103.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Mitchell Robinson held Fort Hays State to three runs on 11 hits in his first career complete game and Nebraska-Kearney beat the Tigers 11-3 Wednesday night at Larks Park. The sophomore struck out five and walked two as the Lopers (14-20, 11-14 MIAA) move into a 10th place tie with the Tigers (17-19, 11-14 MIAA) in the MIAA.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

Dallas Schramm hit a hit a three-run homer in the first inning off starter D.J. Carr (3-5) to give the Lopers the lead for good. Carr gave up seven runs, five earned, on five hits over 3 2/3 innings.

The Lopers took advantage of four walks and seven hit batters for their 11th win on the 13 games with the Tigers.

Connor Ross led Fort Hays State’s 11 hit attack with a double and home run and scored all three of the Tigers runs. Nick Hammeke and Austin Unrein both had two hits.

FHSU continues their four-game homestand Thursday at 7 pm against Missouri Western. The Tigers and Griffons will play two nine inning games on Wednesday beginning at 3 pm. You can hear all three on Tiger Radio Mix-103.

FHSU Athletics

OKLAHOMA CITY – Fort Hays State saw its road woes continue on Tuesday (Apr. 12), falling twice to Oklahoma Christian in non-conference action. The Tigers fell by scores of 1-0 and 5-2, seeing their road losing streak grow to 11 games. FHSU is now 17-28 overall. Oklahoma Christian improved to 21-23.

Game 1: Oklahoma Christian 1, Fort Hays State 0
The Tigers suffered their eighth walk-off loss in their last 11 road games by failing to get a runner past second base in a 1-0 loss. Pitcher Paxton Duran held Oklahoma Christian scoreless through the first six innings, but could not extend the game in the seventh when OCU loaded the bases with no outs and pushed the winning run across with a one-out single.

The Tigers had just four hits and a pair of walks off Oklahoma Christian’s Madison Hagood. The bottom of the Tiger lineup (batters No. 6 through 9 in the order) struggled going 0-for-10 at the plate in the game. Hagood struck out three Tiger batters.

Duran allowed six hits and a walk, while striking out eight in the tough-luck loss.

Game 2: Oklahoma Christian 5, Fort Hays State 2
Fort Hays State enjoyed a 2-1 lead for three innings before Oklahoma Christian rallied past in the fifth. The Tigers benefitted from a pair of Oklahoma Christian errors in the second to plate their only runs of the day.

Oklahoma Christian took the lead early with a run in the first, but the Tigers rallied with two outs in the second. With two outs, Mackenzie Villarreal hit a double and then an error by the Oklahoma Christian right fielder off the bat of Madeline LaPolla plated Villarreal to tie the game at 1-1. Then Erin Elmore reached on an error by the shortstop that allowed LaPolla to come around to score from second to give FHSU its first lead.

After benefitting errors to take the lead, FHSU committed an error in the fifth that gave the lead back to Oklahoma Christian. Carrie Clarke surrendered a two-out RBI single that tied the game, but then a fielding miscue off the bat of Haley Squier allowed the go ahead run to come all the way around from first to score. Oklahoma Christian tacked on a two-run home run in the sixth to go on and win 5-2.

Clarke gave up five runs (three earned) on eight hits and a walk. She struck out one batter. Kaylie Upton picked up the win for Oklahoma Christian, throwing a complete game with just five hits and a walk allowed.

Fort Hays State now turns its focus to its final MIAA doubleheader of the season against Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday, April 23 in Kearney. Currently sitting in seventh place, Fort Hays State will look to earn a berth into the MIAA Tournament in Oklahoma City. The top eight teams in the conference standings qualify. The Tigers will likely need to end their current road skid to do so, but several other conference games will shape the picture of the conference standings in the next 10 days. FHSU will have a better idea of what it needs to do to get in late next week.