FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State split with Northwest Missouri State to close out its 10-game homestand on Saturday (April 4).  The Tigers finished the weekend with a 7-1 loss in game one to NWMSU before claiming a 5-1 win in game two.

FHSU (21-16, 12-8 MIAA) hits the road to begin a 10-game stretch of games away from Tiger Stadium, beginning with a doubleheader on Friday at Emporia State.

Northwest Missouri State 7, Fort Hays State 1
Fort Hays State hung tough, but a late push by Northwest Missouri State dealt the Tigers a 7-1 loss in game one.

Paxton Duran (10-8) was tagged for the loss, giving up seven runs (five earned) over 5.1 innings pitched.  Duran struck out five and walked eight before Sarah Cochran entered to throw the final 1.2 innings.  Cochran finished with one hit allowed and two strikeouts.

Rilee Krier was a perfect 3-for-3 in the game with a stolen base, while Mackenzie Villarreal had two hits and a walk. Amanda Vaupel had the Tigers’ only RBI with a seventh inning single.

Early runs hurt the Tigers, as NWMSU loaded the bases in the first two innings and had runs come home on walks, putting the score at 2-0.

From there, both teams threatened on the offensive end, including bases loaded situations for the Tigers in the second and fourth innings, before the Bearcats tacked on five more runs in the sixth.

Down to its last chance, FHSU rallied with two outs to get on the board, but could muster just one run in the final innings.  After Tori Beltz singled to right and was replaced by Gabrielle Sandoval as a pinch runner, Samantha Villarreal singled to move Sandoval to second.  Vaupel followed with a line drive single to right center, scoring Sandoval.

Fort Hays State 5, Northwest Missouri State 1
Down early, the Tigers used a four-run fifth inning to rally past Northwest Missouri State and claim a 5-1 win for the split.

Kelsey Kimminau (9-7) threw all seven innings, giving up just one run with two strikeouts in the win.

Kylie Strand, Samantha Villarreal, Mackenzie Villarreal and Krier each had two hits for FHSU, including doubles from Strand and Villarreal.  Vaupel’s lone hit of the game was her sixth home run of the season

NWMSU again took an early 1-0 lead, using an RBI double in the second from Kendle Schieber to score Baylee Scarbrough.

FHSU tied it in the fourth behind Mackenzie Villarreal’s RBI single. Samantha Villarrreal led off the inning with a double down the right field line prior to Madision Putman replacing her as a pinch runner.  With one out, Mackenzie Villarreal drove a 3-2 pitch on the ground into left field, where it skipped past NWMSU’s Lea Crouse and allowed Putman to score.

The Tigers took the lead in the fifth, stringing together six hits for four runs in the inning.  After Erin Elmore reached on a fielder’s choice and Beltz singled to left with two outs, Samantha Villarreal came through with an RBI single up the middle, plating Elmore.  With two Tigers on base for Vaupel, the senior took the first pitch she saw over the fence in left center for three more runs, making it 5-1.

The Bearcats threated in the seventh, loading the bases thanks to three FHSU errors in the inning, but the Tigers regrouped and hung on for the win.

The Hays High girls soccer team closed out play at the McPherson Invitational with a 2-0 win over Augusta in the seventh place match Saturday afternoon. Tressa Becker scored the Indians first goal with 7:31 to play in the first half. Talyn Kleweno scored the second on an assist from Brooke Russell with 21:42 to play in the second half.

The Indians outshot Augusta 11-0 as they improve to 1-3 on the season.

Talyn Kleweno was named to the all-tournament team.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

The Fort Hays State Tigers score 27 runs on 26 hits as they pick a pair of walkoff wins over Missouri Western Friday at Larks Park. The Tigers have won three in-a-row for the first time this season and improve to 9-21 and 7-15 in yhe MIAA.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interiew

 

Game 1: Fort Hays State 10, Missouri Western 9
Austin Unrein hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game then Andre Vieyra’s sacrifice fly to right scored pinch runner Jake Lanferman. Nick Hammeke opened the inning with a single to center followed by Connor Ross’ double to straight away center. Cooper Langley also doubled in the inning.

Game Highlights

 

Giles Fox (1-2) picks up the win in relief, allowing one run on five hits, striking out four and walking none over 3 1/3 innings.

The Griffons scored three in the first to take the early lead. FHSU used two bunt singles to score five in the second. Missouri Western hit three home runs to score four in the fourth to take the lead back.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 17, Missouri Western 16
Nick Hammeke singled to center with two outs, driving in Cooper Langley with the game-winning run.

The Tigers overcame early deficits of 5-1 and 12-7 to win their third straight for the first time this season.

Game Highlights

 

Austin Unrein picks up the win in relief, allowing two runs on three hits over the final two innings. Unrein also had had two hits and drove in five.

The Tigers hit four home in the game. Andre Vieyra, Austin Unrein and Cooper Langley all hit two-run shots and Caleb Cherryholmes added a solo blast.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Fort Hays State Softball used a seven-run burst in the early innings of game two to split its doubleheader against No. 14 Missouri Western on Friday (April 3) at Tiger Stadium.  FHSU saw its comeback efforts fall short in a 7-5 game one loss, but the offensive rally carried over into the early parts of game two for an 8-7 win.

FHSU (20-15, 11-7 MIAA) closes out a 10-game homestand on Saturday with a Noon doubleheader against Northwest Missouri State.

No. 14 Missouri Western 7, Fort Hays State 5
Fort Hays State rallied late but couldn’t complete the comeback in game one, falling to the ranked Griffons, 7-5, to start the day.  The Tigers outscored MWSU, 5-3, after the first, but an early 3-0 deficit proved too much for FHSU.

Paxton Duran (10-7) took the loss, allowing four runs on six hits in four innings pitched.  Duran struck out one and walked two before Sarah Cochran entered to throw the final three innings in shutout fashion with four strikeouts.

Amanda Vaupel had the Tigers’ only base hit (a double) but six other Tigers recorded hits in the game.  Vaupel finished 1-for-3 with two RBI and Tori Beltz was 1-for-4 with two RBI.

MWSU used a three-run home run in the top of the first to jump out to an early lead, later adding to it with one run in the top of the fourth.  From there, the lead stretched to 7-0 in the top of the sixth before the Tigers woke up to score five over the final two innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, Courtney Dobson led off the inning with a single to right before Kylie Strand reached on a fielder’s choice. With one on and one out, Erin Elmore singled to right before both Elmore and Strand moved up on a wild pitch.  From there, Samantha Villarreal singled to drive home Strand and Vaupel drove a pitch into right for a two-RBI double, cutting the lead to four (7-4)

The Tigers again struck in the seventh, but it was too late as MWSU held on for the win.  After Dobson walked and strand again reached on a fielder’s choice (though an error allowed Dobson to reach second safely), Beltz came through with a one-out single to score the two baserunners.

Fort Hays State 8, No. 14 Missouri Western 7
A 7-0 lead in the first two innings propelled the Tigers to an 8-7 win to close the doubleheader with Missouri Western.

Kelsey Kimminau (9-7) picked up the win after throwing five innings, striking out four with five runs allowed. Sarah Cochran threw an inning with two runs allowed while Savannah Price closed out the game for her first save of the season.

Vaupel was 3-for-4 in the game and was one of four Tigers to have multiple hit games.  Vaupel (three RBI) and Strand (two RBI) each had a home run and a double, Veronica Knittig (2-for-3) had a home run and Erin Elmore had two hits. Beltz had the Tigers’ other extra base hit – a double.

Strand started the game with a double, moving to third on Elmore’s ground out.  With two outs, Samantha Villarreal drew a walk and Vaupel followed by taking an 0-1 pitch on a line over the right field fence.

In the second, FHSU extended its lead with four more runs – starting with Knittig’s solo shot.  From there, Dobson walked and Strand hit a two-run blast for her sixth round-tripper of the season.  Elmore then singled as the fourth straight Tiger to reach base, and came around to score when Beltz doubed to left field.  The Tigers put runners on second and third, but couldn’t plate any more runs.

After MWSU got two back in the third and fourth, a two out single from Rilee Krier in the bottom of the fourth to score Villarreal, making it 8-2.

MWSU continued to push over the next two innings, cutting the deficit to one with three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth, but the Tigers buckled down and held on for the win, working past a leadoff walk in the seventh to keep the Griffons at bay.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State’s Kate Lehman added one more honor to her 2014-15 accomplishments this week, being named to the Women’s Division II Bulletin All-America First Team.

The recognition is the third All-American award for Lehman this season, who was also named a First Team honoree by the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association and the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. The senior finished her career last month as a member of the Tigers’ NCAA Division II Sweet 16 squad that won 30 games for the second time in program history. Lehman is also the only Division II women’s basketball player to earn All-America First Team honors on the court and Academic All-America First Team honors in the classroom.

Joining Lehman on the First Team is Shaunteva Ashley (Augustana), Jada Blackwell (Cal Poly Pomona), Shareta Brown (Wayne State [MI]) and Chontiquah White (West Texas A&M). Brown was named the Division II Bulletin Player of the Year, and joins Lehman as a finalist for the WBCA National Player of the Year award that is announced on April 6.

The Newton, Kan., native finished the season with a near double-double average of 19.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Lehman finished the season with over 300 rebounds for the second consecutive season and posted 141 blocks (her second highest career total). She became the first player in NCAA Division II history to record at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds and 1,000 blocked shots in her career and finished as the top rebounder and shot blocker in FHSU history. Her 515 career blocks ranks as the highest in MIAA history, second most in NCAA Division II and fourth highest all-time at any level of NCAA (Division I, II or III) play.

Complete Division II Bulletin All-America

Below are the Record Lists that feature Lehman …

FHSU Career Records
1st all-time in Rebounds (1,109)
1st all-time in Blocks (515)
1st all-time in Free Throws Made (523)
1st all-time in Free Throw Attempts (787)
1st all-time in Double-Doubles (55)*
2nd all-time in Scoring (1,917)
2nd all-time in Field Goals Made (697)
Tied 2nd all-time in Scoring Average (15.8)
3rd all-time in Field Goal Percentage (.543)
6th all-time in Field Goal Attempts (1,283)

FHSU Season Records (Highest career total only)
1st in Free Throws Made (167 in 2014-15)
1st in Free Throws Attempts (256 in 2014-15)
1st in Rebounding Average (11.2 in 2013-14)
1st in Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
1st in Double-Doubles (20 in 2013-14)*
2nd in Rebounds (337 in 2014-15)
2nd in Scoring (655 in 2014-15)
Tied 4th in Scoring Average (19.3 in 2014-15)
4th in Field Goals Made (244 in 2014-15)
10th in Field Goal Attempts (422 in 2014-15)

FHSU Game Records (Highest career total only)
1st in Blocks (11, Kansas Wesleyan, 12/16/14)
1st in Free Throws Attempted (20, vs Central Missouri, 3/7/15)
Tied 8th in Field Goals Made (14, Missouri Southern, 1/3/15)
Tied 8th in Free Throws Made (12, last vs Central Missouri, 3/7/15)
Tied 10th in Rebounds (17, last vs Northeastern State, 2/28/14)

Unofficial MIAA Records (as of April 2, 2015)
1st all-time in Career Free-Throw Attempts (787)
1st all-time in Career Blocks (515)
1st in Single-Season Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
Tied for 1st in Single-Game Blocked Shots (11, Kansas Wesleyan, 12/16/14)

Unofficial NCAA Division II Records (as of April 2, 2015)
2nd all-time in Career Blocks (515)
Tied for 3rd all-time in Career Triple Doubles (Three)
Tied for 4th in Season Triple Doubles (Two)
Tied for 5th in Season Blocks Average (5.3 in 2013-14)
6th all-time in Career Double-Doubles (55)
7th in Single-Season Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
Tied for 17th all-time in Consecutive Double-Doubles (Nine in 2013-14)
Tied for 18th all-time in Single-Season Double-Doubles (20 in 2013-14)
Only Player in NCAA Division II history to record at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, 500 blocked shots

* NCAA Division II Era Only

Gregg Marshall will remain Wichita State’s head basketball coach. Sources say he’s verbally agreed to a new seven-year contract that will pay him nearly $3-million per season.

Marshall interviewed with Alabama on Monday but their athletic director Bill Battle released a statement Wednesday night saying they are moving on with their search.

Marshall has 204 wins in his eight years at Wichita State and has led the Shockers to four straight NCAA tournament appearances including the 2013 Final Four.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State picked up its second-straight conference victory on Wednesday afternoon (Apr. 1) against Emporia State at the FHSU Tennis Courts in Hays. The Tigers edged the Hornets 5-4 to move to 9-7 overall and 2-5 in the MIAA.

Emporia State (8-6, 2-2 MIAA) had only four players on Wednesday as two were unavailable for the dual. The Tigers took advantage, taking one doubles match and one singles match in order to grab the win.

FHSU took a 2-1 lead on the Hornets after doubles play as the teams split the two contested matches. The No. 3 team of  Jessica Johnson and Michelle Miller picked up the forfeit win. At No. 2 doubles, Brittney Ricci and Katie Harp defeated Fugit and Khounsombath 8-5. The No. 1 team of Camille Caron-Bedard and Rienette Strydom had a close match, but fell 8-6 to Griffey and Smith.

FHSU immediately took a 4-1 lead in the match at the start of singles play with the No. 5 and No. 6 positions open for ESU. Ricci had a hand in both wins that were contested for FHSU. She went on to defeat Amy Fugit at No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-3 to clinch the match for the Tigers.

Caron-Bedard had a great battle with Tawni Griffey at No. 1 singles. Caron-Bedard took a big first-set lead and held on 6-4, but Griffey pulled out the second set by a score of 7-5. The third set came down to a win-by-two situation, but Griffey was able to pick up the final two points to escape with an 11-9 win over Caron-Bedard.

At No. 3 singles, Taylor Smith of ESU defeated Miller 6-0, 6-2, while at No. 4 singles, Tiffany Khounsombath of ESU defeated Hipp 6-2, 6-3.

The Tigers host Washburn in conference action on Friday (Apr. 3) at 2 pm.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State Women’s Basketball was picked eighth in the final version of the 2014-15 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA)/USA Today Top 25 poll, released this week by the organization.

California University of Pennsylvania was the top-ranked squad after winning the NCAA Championship last month, and runner-up California Baptist was picked second. From there, semifinalists Limestone College and Emporia State were slotted third and fourth while Lewis University closed out the Top 5.

FHSU and ESU were joined in the final poll by Pittsburg State (No. 16) from the MIAA, while Central Region opponents Wayne State College (No. 18), Arkansas Tech (receiving 16 votes), Harding (receiving 16 votes), Northern State (receiving 15 votes) and Minnesota State (receiving nine votes) were also mentioned in the rankings.

The Tigers finished the season at 30-4 overall, winning the MIAA Regular Season Championship and reaching the 30-win margin for the second time in program history. FHSU closed out its campaign in the NCAA Tournament Central Region final. The squad was ranked as high as second in the nation this season and strung together a 21-game win streak between November and February.

The final WBCA Top 25 is below…

Rank	Institution – First Place Votes	Previous Rank	Record	Total Points
1	California University of Pennsylvania (Pa.) – 27	14	32-4	728
2	California Baptist University	NR	29-7	653
3	Limestone College (S.C.) – 2	2	34-2	629
4	Emporia State University (Kan.)	9	29-5	619
5	Lewis University (Ill.)	4	31-3	558
6	West Texas A&M University	5	30-3	541
7	Nova Southeastern University (Fla.)	18	27-6	514
8	Fort Hays State University (Kan.)	6	30-4	465
9	University of New Haven (Conn.)	23	26-6	462
10	Union University (Tenn.)	12	28-4	434
11	Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania	15	26-5	417
12	Stonehill College (Mass.)	13	24-5	379
13	University of Alaska – Anchorage – 1	1	29-2	332
14	Columbus State University (Ga.)	3	31-2	309
15	Michigan Technological University	8	28-3	288
16	Pittsburg State University (Kan.)	16	27-7	260
17	Drury University (Mo.)	7	26-4	205
18	Wayne State College (Neb.)	19	28-6	197
19	Adelphi University (N.Y.)	10	28-4	189
20	California State Polytechnic University – Pomona	NR	21-9	186
21	Wayne State University (Mich.)	19	23-6	156
22	Ashland University (Ohio)	NR	25-9	136
23	Indiana University of Pennsylvania (Pa.)	11	25-4	134
24	Anderson University (S.C.)	NR	27-5	119
25	University of Colorado – Colorado Springs	NR	26-7	111

Dropped Out: Seattle Pacific University (Wash.); Cedarville University (Ohio); University of District of Columbia; Humboldt State University (Calif.); Hawaii Pacific University.

Others receiving votes: Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) 108; Rollins College (Fla.) 92; Cedarville University (Ohio) 59; West Liberty University (W.Va.) 59; University of District of Columbia 52; University of West Florida 42; Humboldt State University (Calif.) 37; Hawaii Pacific University 35; Holy Family University (Pa.) 30; Franklin Pierce University (N.H.) 28; Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) 25; Shepherd University (W.Va.) 24; Arkansas Tech University 16; California State University – Dominguez Hills 16; Harding University (Ark.) 16; Northern State University (S.D.) 15; Gannon University (Pa.) 13; Benedict College (S.C.) 11; Eckerd College (Fla.) 11; Minnesota State University – Mankato 9; Colorado Mesa University 8; Kentucky State University 6; University of Southern Indiana 5; West Chester University of Pennsylvania 4; Wingate University (N.C.) 4; Midwestern State University (Texas) 2; University of Arkansas – Fort Smith 1.