UNK Athletics

Kearney, Neb. – The University of Nebraska at Kearney has hired former Hastings College head coach Carrie Hoffstetter as its head women’s basketball coach, UNK announced today.

UNK will formally introduce Hofstetter as its seventh coach in program history at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The press conference will be hosted on the floor of the Health and Sports Center.

“I am extremely honored and grateful for the opportunity to lead the UNK Women’s Basketball program. Throughout the entire process, it has been evident to me that UNK is committed to success and excellence and I couldn’t be more thrilled to join the Loper family,” said Hofstetter.

She is a native of Edgar, Neb., and graduate of Sandy Creek High School and Hastings College. Whether as a player, assistant coach or head coach, Hofstetter has been a part of not only winning programs but ones that contended for championships on an annual basis.

She has a career coaching record of 68-31 in leading the Broncos program the past three seasons. Hastings won 25 and 28 games, respectively, the past two years, reaching the NAIA Division II Tournament national quarterfinals in 2014 and the semifinals this season.

Hofstetter was the head assistant coach at Hastings for four seasons (2004-08) before holding the same position at Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association-member Fort Hays State from 2008-12.

As a collegiate player, Hofstetter was one of the Broncos all-time best players, powering Hastings to four national tournament appearances and 2002 and 2003 national titles. The point guard set school records for career assists and career steals while earning 2004 first-team All-American honors.

As an assistant at Fort Hays, Hofstetter was part of a program that had just joined the MIAA. The Tigers won 59 games in her time assisting head coach Tony Hobson, including a 20-9 mark during the 2011-12 season. Hofstetter also played and worked for Hobson at Hastings College.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Northeastern State hit  six home runs, three doubles and two triples as they rout the Fort Hays State Tigers 17-1 Sunday afternoon. The RiverHawks win three of the four games in the series and improve to 17-10 and 11-9 in the MIAA. The Tigers, who were outscored 37-3 in the final three games of the series, fall to 6-21 and 5-15 in the MIAA.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

 

Northeastern State jumped ahead early, hitting two home runs in a four-run first inning. They would score in every inning but the fifth.

Fort Hays State’s lone run came on a Kevin Czarnecki solo homer to leadoff off the fourth.

Tiger starter Jusitn Hersch takes the loss, allowing eight runs (six earned) on seven hits over 2 2/3 innings.

Dustin Berrong picks up the win in his first start of the season for Northeastern State, striking out 11 in six innings. Berrong gave up just the one run on three hits and walked just one.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State women’s track and field was victorious in seven events on the way to a winning team effort at the Alex Francis Classic in Hays. Madison Wolf, coming off All-America honors as a true freshman in 2014, uncorked the longest throw (160’3″) of her collegiate career in the javelin to lay claim to a spot in the NCAA Outdoor Championships with an automatic qualifying mark.

Wolf’s effort topped a dominating effort by the Tigers in the women’s javelin with two others also reaching provisional qualifying marks. Estefania Lopez threw 155’4″ to post a very solid provisional mark, ranking her fourth in the nation so far for the outdoor season. Megan Honas also had a provisional mark in the event, throwing 139’0.5″ to rank 12^th nationally so far.

FHSU claimed six other events outside of the javelin, including three on the track and three in the field. As a team, FHSU scored 277 points. Barton Community College had 138 points and Colby Community College had 85.

On the track, Anna Eigruber won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.77 seconds. The 4×100-meter relay team of Casey Freed, Ashli Dryden, Kelly Wycoff and Lexi Riedel won in a time of 48.09 seconds. The 4×400-meter relay team of Mandy Wilson, Mindy Wilson, Riedel, and Wycoff won in a time of 4:14.70.

In the field, Dryden won the long jump with a distance of 18’2.25″, while Eigruber won the triple jump with a distance of 37’9.5″. Rachel Monteil won the hammer throw with a distance of 163’9.5″.

Provisional Mark for Tien
Fort Hays State men’s track and field won eight events on their way to a team win at home. Brady Tien turned in the third-best effort nationally in the pole vault so far this outdoor season with a solid provisional qualifying mark of 16’6″.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Northeastern State scored early and often as they sweep the Fort Hays State Tigers 8-1 and 12-1 Saturday afternoon at Larks Park. The Tigers, who won the series opener 11-10 in 10 innings Friday night, fall to 6-20 on the year and 5-14 in the MIAA. The RiverHawks are now 16-10 and 9-9 in conference play.

Game Highlights

The two close out the series with a single game on Sunday beginning at noon. You can hear the game on KAYS.

Game 1: Northeastern State 8, Fort Hays State 1
RiverHawk starter Ryan Helsey allowed just one hit over five innings, striking out six and walking five for his fifth win of the season. Tiger starter Tyler Patty was roughed up early, giving up seven runs in the first three innings and takes the loss.

NSU scored two in the first, three in the second and two in the third for the 7-0 lead. FHSU’s lone run came in the fourh on a bases loaded walk by Andre Vieyra.

FHSU was held to just three hits and committed three errors in the game.

Game 2: Northeastern State 12, Fort Hays State 1
Gabe Coldwell throws the RiverHawks first complete game of the season, limiting the Tigers to a Cooper Langley sixth inning home run. Coldwell allowed just the one run on five its, striking out one and walking three.

Tiger starter Chase Newman lasts just two innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on seven hits.

NSU scored in every inning but the seventh. They blow the game open with five in the second, the final three coming with two outs.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State closed out the weekend with a doubleheader split against No. 19 Central Oklahoma.  FHSU won the first game in extra innings, 3-2, before falling in game two, 4-1.

The Tigers (17-13, 10-6 MIAA) are in the midst of a 10-game homestand and return to action on Tuesday (March 31) against Newman.  Game time from Tiger Stadium is 4 p.m.

Complete results for Saturday’s games are below…

Fort Hays State 3, Central Oklahoma 2 (Eight innings)
Fort Hays State used a two-run eighth inning in a 3-2 comeback, walk-off win against Central Oklahoma in game one.

Paxton Duran (9-6) threw all eighth innings, not walking a batter with six strikeouts on the day.  Duran gave up six hits and two runs in the complete game victory.  Nicole Brady (8-5) took the loss for the Bronchos, allowed three runs on eight hits with five walks allowed.

Rilee Krier was 2-for-4 in the game and had one of two doubles for the Tigers.  Amanda Vaupel (1-for-3) had the other double and an RBI on the day.  Mackenzie Villarreal and Courtney Dobson also had hits and each drove in the game tying and winning runs, respectively.

FHSU took an early lead in the first off Vaupel’s sacrifice fly to deep right, scoring Erin Elmore from third.

That lead held until the seventh when Brooke Zukerman led off the top half with a triple to right field, eventually scoring on a one-out squeeze play from Ashleigh Tramel.

In the bottom of the seventh, FHSU had runners on the corners with two outs but couldn’t come up with a game-winner as the teams headed for extras.

UCO scored again in the top of the eighth to take a 2-1 lead off Zukerman’s sacrifice fly that scored Kaylee Brunson.  The Tigers, however, strung together three hits and scored two runs – including a walk-off RBI single from Dobson.

Tori Beltz led off the inning with a full-count walk, and with one out Vaupel doubled to left center to put Gabrielle Sandoval(who pinch ran for Beltz) on third.  Mackenzie Villarreal‘s first hit of the day followed, as the freshman took a 2-2 pitch up the middle to score Sandoval and tie it, 2-2.  Duran was intentionally walked to load the bases before the Bronchos got a fielder’s choice at home for the second out of the inning as Krier reached first.  Dobson came through in the clutch for the Tigers, taking a 2-0 pitch back up the middle into center field for the game-winning RBI, scoring Mackenzie Villarreal.

It was the Tigers’ eighth extra-inning game this season and FHSU now holds a 4-4 record in those contests.

Central Oklahoma 4, Fort Hays State 1
Fort Hays State was held hitless through the first 4.1 innings and couldn’t string together a late rally, falling 4-1 in the finale versus Central Oklahoma.

Kelsey Kimminau (7-7) threw five innings with four strikeouts, giving up four runs on eight hits in the loss.  Savannah Pricetossed the final two innings and gave up two hits with a strikeout and a walk allowed.  UCO’s Kelsey Berlin (7-6) struck out seven in a complete game performance, giving up one unearned run and five walks.

Beltz had a double and two walks for the day while Dobson and Samantha Villarreal had the Tigers’ only hits on the day.

UCO led 1-0 in the second after a solo home run from Ashleigh Tramel, and extended that lead to two in the fourth behind Shelby Carel’s RBI triple.  Another two runs were tacked on in the fifth when Tramel doubled down the left line, but FHSU struck back with on in the bottom of the sixth to get on the board.

Beltz led off the sixth with a double to right center, scoring on the next at-bat when Samantha Villarreal singled into center.  On that play, UCO’s Kaylee Brunson mishandled the ball in center and allowed Beltz to score on the error.

That was it for the Tigers, however, as UCO hung on for the win and sealed the doubleheader split.

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Andre Vieyra hit a one-out single to right field, scoring Kevin Czarnecki with the game-winning run as the Fort Hays State Tigers take the series opener with Northeastern State 11-10 in 10 innings in front of 475 Friday night at Larks Park. The Tigers, who have won three of their last five and improve to 6-18 overall and 5-12 in the MIAA. The RiverHawks have lost six of their last nine and are now 14-10 and 8-9 in the MIAA.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

 

Game Highlights

The Tigers, who trailed 5-1 and 7-2 at one point, rally for seven runs in the sixth inning to go up 10-7. The RiverHawks score two unearned runs in the eighth to tie the game before Vieyra’s heroics win it.

Cooper Langely hit a three-run homer in the sixth to give the Tigers an 8-7 lead and goes 3-for-6. Vieyra also hit a two-run homer in the sixth and finished 2-for-4 with three hits and two runs scored. Kevin Czarnecki went 2-for-3 with a solo homer and leadoff double in the 10th.

Austin Unrein picks up the win in relief allowing one unearned run on one hit over three innings. Jake Kern, who leads the MIAA in saves, suffers the loss.

The two teams play a dougleheader beginning at one o’clock Saturday before closing out the series with a noon game on Sunday. You can hear Saturday’s second game as well as Sunday’s series finale on KAYS.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State returned to Tiger Stadium with a doubleheader split against Northeastern State on Friday. The Tigers fell in extra innings in game one, 5-4, before rallying for a 13-4 run-rule victory in six innings for game two.

FHSU (16-13, 9-5 MIAA) continued to swing the bat well, racking up 30 hits over the two games.  FHSU has had at least 25 hits in the previous three doubleheaders and has scored 52 runs over the previous six games, breaking out of an early season slump that hampered the team early.

The Tigers continue their 10-game homestand on Saturday with a Noon doubleheader against No. 19 Central Oklahoma.

Game 1: Northeastern State 5, Fort Hays State 4 (8 innings)
FHSU rallied with three runs in the seventh inning to force extras, but a solo home run in the top of the eighth proved to be the winning run as Northeastern State took game one, 5-4.

Paxton Duran (8-6) saw her four-game winning streak snapped in the circle.  Duran threw all eight innings, striking out four with five runs allowed on nine hits.  For NSU, Kayce Woolridge (7-6) also threw a complete game, giving up 10 hits with one strikeout.

Rilee Krier was 3-for-4 at the plate while Kylie Strand had two hits and an RBI, including her fifth double of the season.

Scoreless through the first 4.5 innings of play, FHSU took a 1-0 lead in the fifth off Courtney Dobson’s RBI single.  FHSU had runners on first and second with no outs in the inning, but a line drive out and double play followed to end the Tigers’ threat.

NSU rebounded in the sixth with four runs on five hits, taking advantage of back-to-back doubles from Alyssa Aguilar and Ryan Martin in the inning.

Down to its final chance in the bottom of the seventh, the Tigers scrapped together four hits and took advantage of an NSU error to tie the game up.  Krier led off the inning with an infield single before Mackenzie Villarreal walked and Dobson reached on a fielder’s choice.  With one out, Strand doubled through the left side to score Knittig (who re-entered for Villarreal) and a single from Elmore followed to push Dobson home.  With two outs, the Tigers loaded the bases when Samantha Villarreal reached on a two-out error to send Amanda Vaupel to the plate.  Vaupel singled up the middle on the first pitch she saw to score Strand and tie the game, but the Tigers couldn’t push the game winner home and went to extras.

In the top of the eighth, Paige Gann’s eighth home run of the season was the go-ahead run and eventual game winner as FHSU couldn’t score in its half of the eighth and fell, 5-4.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 13, Northeastern State 4 (6 innings)
Fort Hays State strung together 20 hits, including five extra base hits while cruising to a 13-4 run-rule win in the doubleheader finale.

Kelsey Kimminau (7-6) earned the win, tossing six innings with 10 hits allowed and seven strikeouts.  Kimminau allowed four runs in the first two innings but settled down over the final four frames.  The RiverHawks’ Laura Fleck started the game, throwing two innings before Krissy Crow (1-3) entered.  Crow took the loss after allowing four runs in 1.1 innings pitched before Alex Files threw the final 1.2 innings to close the game.

Strand had a team-high four hits while Vaupel, Mackenzie Villarreal and Krier all finished 3-for-4.  Vaupel had a three-run home run and Elmore, Tori Beltz, Knittig and Mackenzie Villarreal had doubles.  Dobson had four RBI in the game off of two hits.

NSU struck with three runs in the first behind Aguilar’s three-run home run, but the Tigers responded with a four-spot in the bottom half to take a 4-3 lead.

Strand singled and Elmore doubled to start the inning before both scored on Beltz’s two-RBI single into center field.  From there, Samantha Villarrel was hit by a pitch and Mackenzie Villarreal had a one-out single through the left side that scored Beltz.  Later in the inning with bases loaded, Knittig hit a sacrifice fly deep enough to center and plated Samantha Villarreal.

The RiverHawks tied the game, 4-4, in the second after an FHSU error allowed runners on second and third with no outs.  Jessica Boone’s single scored Bailey Applegate, but the Tigers limited the damage and held the RiverHawks to just one run.

FHSU tacked on five more runs in the fourth to retake the lead, 9-4.  Elmore singled to start the inning and Beltz walked, and with one out Vaupel drove the first pitch she saw over the left field wall. Mackenzie Villarreal followed with a double to restart the offensive threat and after a Rilee Krier single (and a stolen base), Dobson took a 2-1 pitch back up the middle to score both Tigers.

The Tigers had four straight hits to start the inning and all six Tigers who went to the plate reached base as FHSU scored four runs and run-ruled the RiverHawks in the sixth.  Krier again reached base to lead off the sixth with a single through the right side, moving to third on Knittig’s double.  Dobson added to her RBI total with a single through the right side that scored both Krier and Knittig, and the Tigers loaded the bases off when Strand singled and Elmore reached on an error. Beltz  then doubled on a 1-0 pitch to score Dobson and Strand while clinching the win.