FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State’s Kate Lehman was named a finalist for the 2015 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II Player of the Year Award and was selected to the 2015 WBCA Division II Coaches’ All-America Team, announced Monday by the organization.

The recognition is the latest award for Lehman, who finished a historic career earlier this month as a member of the Tigers’ NCAA Division II Sweet 16 team that finished 30-4 (best record in the program’s NCAA Division II history).

Lehman was also named to the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America First Team earlier today, so this is her second All-America First Team selection for the season.

Lehman is among four finalists for the WBCA Player of the Year. The WBCA presents the player of the year award annually to the top player in five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school). The winner will be announced during the Fifth Annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 6, in Tampa, Fla. This event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA® Women’s Final Four®.

The finalists are:

• Shareta Brown, 6’1″, Senior, Center, Wayne State University (Mich.)
• Aquillin Hayes, 5,8″, Senior, Guard, University of New Haven
• Kate Lehman, 6’4″, Senior, Center, Fort Hays State University
• Amy Philamlee, 5’5″, Senior, Guard, Union University

“Congratulations to each of these fine student-athletes on being named finalists for the 2015 WBCA Division II Player of the Year award,” said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. “Each student-athlete has played an integral role in guiding their respective team to an exceptional season, and is very deserving of this distinguished honor.  The WBCA celebrates each of these finalists for their contributions to the game during the 2014-15 season.”

Lehman adds this to the list of post-season honors she has received this year. Below are the honors she has already collected…
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association All-America First Team
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association Central Region Most Outstanding Player
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association All-Central Region First Team
-MIAA Player of the Year
-MIAA Defensive Player of the Year (3^rd straight year)
-All-MIAA First Team (3^rd straight year)
-MIAA All-Defensive Team (3^rd straight year)
-All-MIAA Tournament Team
-NCAA Central Regional All-Tournament Team
-CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-America First Team

Maybe most impressive of the accomplishments is that Lehman was the only women’s player in Division II this year to earn All-America First Team honors for her accomplishments on the court and Academic All-America First Team honors for her efforts in the classroom.

Lehman finished the season with a near double-double average of 19.3 points and 9.9 rebounds per game, posting her best single-season scoring average as a Tiger. She finished with 655 points, 337 rebounds, and 141 blocked shots for the season, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field.

At the MIAA Tournament in early March, Lehman became the first women’s basketball player in Division II history to reach at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots in a career. But the point and rebound marks didn’t just scrape by. She nearly had 2,000 career points, finishing with 1,917, and pulled down 1,109 career rebounds. She recorded 515 career blocks (second most in NCAA Division II history) and is now the school record holder in career rebounds and blocked shots. She finished second all-time in scoring. She finished fourth all-time at any level of NCAA (Division I, II, or III) in blocked shots.

Lehman finished with 55 double-doubles and three triple-doubles in her career at FHSU. Her 167 free-throws made and 256 free-throw attempts in 2014-15 also set new single-season school records.

The WBCA presents the player of the year award annually to the top player in five WBCA membership divisions (NCAA Divisions II, III, NAIA, junior/community college and high school).  The winners will be announced during the fifth annual WBCA Awards Show on Monday, April 6, in Tampa Bay.  The event is part of the WBCA National Convention and is held in conjunction with the NCAA Women’s Final Four.  The WBCA All-America Team is selected by a 10-person committee, comprised of one representative from each of the nine geographical regions and a chairperson.

Below is the WBCA All-America Team for 2014-15…

Name	Institution	Year	Pos.	Height
Shaunteva Ashley	Augustana College	Senior	Guard	5’8″
Jada Blackwell	Cal State Poly – Pomona	Senior	Center	6’1″
Mariyah Brawner-Henley	Lewis University	Junior	Forward	6’0″
Shareta Brown	Wayne State University (Mich.)	Senior	Center	6’1″
Tori Faieta	Stonehill College	Senior	Center	6’2″
Aquillin Hayes	University of New Haven	Senior	Guard	5’8″
Kate Lehman	Fort Hays State University	Senior	Center	6’4″
Michelle Mitchell	Columbus State University	Junior	Guard	5’9″
Amy Philamlee	Union University	Senior	Guard	5’5″
Chontiquah White	West Texas A&M University	Senior	Center	5’11”

The following have been recognized as Coaches’ All-America Team Honorable Mentions in Division II:

	Name	Institution	Year	Pos.	Height
	Taylor Beverly	University of West Georgia	Senior	Forward	5’11”
	Danielle Blake	Michigan Technological University	Junior	Forward	6’0″
	Alicia Brookins	Limestone College	Senior	Forward	5’8″
	Emily Caswell	Caldwell University	Senior	Forward	6’0″
	Erin Chambers	Simon Fraser University (BC)	Senior	Forward	6’1″
	Samantha Creed	Newberry College	Junior	Guard	5’10”
	Mikaylah Glenn	California University of Pennsylvania	Sophomore	Guard	5’7″
	Kayleen Goggins	Montana State University – Billings	Senior	Forward	6’1″
	Anna Hackert	University of Southern Indiana	Senior	Forward	6’1″
	Kailee Howe	West Liberty University	Junior	Guard	5’10”
	Stephanie Huffman	University of North Georgia	Senior	Guard	5’9″
	Lizzy Jeronimus	Pittsburg State University	Senior	Forward	5’11”
	Jamie Johnson	Lewis University	Junior	Guard	5’7″
	Shanteona Keys	Georgia College and State University	Senior	Guard	5’9″
	Abby Kirchoff	University of Colorado – Colorado Springs	Senior	Guard	5’11”
	Laurel Lindsay	Edinboro University	Senior	Guard	6’0″
	Emma Mahady	California University of Pennsylvania	Senior	Guard	5’11”
	Kelly Mannix	Adelphi University	Senior	Guard	5’10”
	Megan Mullings	University of Alaska – Anchorage	Junior	Forward	6’0″
	Suzanna Ohlsen	Seattle Pacific University	Senior	Guard	5’7″
	Morgan Pullins	Saint Mary’s University	Senior	Forward	6’0″
	Merissa Quick	Emporia State University	Senior	Forward	6’3″
	Erin Reichle	Colorado Mesa University	Sophomore	Guard	5’6″
	Jazzmine Robinson	Cameron University	Senior	Guard	5’6″
	Marla Simmons	Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania	Senior	Guard	5’10”
	Jordan Spencer	Wayne State College (Neb.)	Senior	Forward	5’11”
	DeAnna Thompson	Union University	Senior	Center	6’2″
	Anh-Dao Tran	Adelphi University	Senior	Guard	5’6″
	Kayk Wilson	Florida Institute of Technology	Senior	Guard	5’7″

Below are the Record Lists that feature Lehman …

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

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

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

Unofficial MIAA Records (as of March 23, 2015)
1^st all-time in Career Free-Throw Attempts (787)
1^st all-time in Career Blocks (515)
1^st in Single-Season Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
Tied for 1^st in Single-Game Blocked Shots (11, Kansas Wesleyan, 12/16/14)

Unofficial NCAA Division II Records (as of March 23, 2015)
2^nd all-time in Career Blocks (515)
Tied for 3^rd all-time in Career Triple Doubles (Three)
Tied for 4^th in Season Triple Doubles (Two)
Tied for 5^th in Season Blocks Average (5.3 in 2013-14)
6^th all-time in Career Double-Doubles (55)
7^th in Single-Season Blocks (155 in 2013-14)
Tied for 17^th all-time in Consecutive Double-Doubles (Nine in 2013-14)
Tied for 18^th 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

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State’s Kate Lehman was named to the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-America First Team on Monday. Lehman is the second player in FHSU women’s history to earn All-America honors in back-to-back seasons, joining only Annette Wiles, but is the first-ever All-America First Team selection at the NCAA Division II level for Fort Hays State.

A WBCA and Division II Bulletin All-America Honorable Mention selection in 2013-14, Lehman continued her rise to prominence in 2014-15. She is one of just five All-America First Team selections by Daktronics. She joins Shareta Brown of Wayne State (Mich.), Amy Philamlee of Union, Lindsay Stamp of Indiana (Pa.) and Morgan Pullins of St. Mary’s (Texas) as first-team selections this year.

Brown was named the National Player of the Year as she averaged 22.0 points and 14.7 rebounds per game, while shooting a Division II-best 64.9 percent from the field for the season. Lehman finished the year at 19.3 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 4.1 blocked shots per game and became the first player ever in Division II history to reach at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots in a career. Philamlee is the nation’s top scorer at 24.7 points per game, but also ranks second in the country in assists per game at 7.9. Stamp averaged 19.6 points per game and Pullins averaged a double-double of 20.0 points and 12.0 rebounds per game.

Lehman helped FHSU reach new heights in its NCAA Division II history in 2014-15, helping the Tigers to a record of 30-4 and their first-ever MIAA Regular Season Championship. It was the first-ever 30-win season at the NCAA level for FHSU and it extended a run of four straight seasons in which the program has churned out at least 20 wins, which spanned Lehman’s four years at FHSU. She helped the team to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in 10 years and the program’s first-ever NCAA Tournament wins, reaching the Sweet 16 (Central Regional Final).

Lehman adds this to the list of post-season honors she has received this year. Below are the honors she has already collected…
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association Central Region Most Outstanding Player
-Daktronics/Division II Commissioner’s Association All-Central Region First Team
-MIAA Player of the Year
-MIAA Defensive Player of the Year (3^rd straight year)
-All-MIAA First Team (3^rd straight year)
-MIAA All-Defensive Team (3^rd straight year)

Lehman finished 2014-15 with 655 points, 337 rebounds, and 141 blocked shots, while shooting 57.8 percent from the field.

At the MIAA Tournament in early March, Lehman became the first women’s basketball player in Division II history to reach at least 1,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 500 blocked shots in a career. But the point and rebound marks didn’t just scrape by. She nearly had 2,000 career points, finishing with 1,917, and pulled down 1,109 career rebounds. She recorded 515 career blocks (second most in NCAA Division II history) and is now the school record holder in career rebounds and blocked shots. She finished second all-time in scoring. She finished fourth all-time at any level of NCAA (Division I, II, or III) in blocked shots.

Lehman finished with 55 double-doubles and three triple-doubles in her career at FHSU. Her 167 free-throws made and 256 free-throw attempts in 2014-15 also set new single-season school records.

Below is the Daktronics/Division II Conference Commissioner’s Association All-America Team for 2014-15…

First Team
Name School Pos. Ht. Class Hometown
Shareta Brown, Wayne State (Mich.), Center, 6-1, Senior, Pontiac, Mich.
Amy Philamlee, Union, Guard, 5-5, Senior, Murfreesboro, Tenn.
Kate Lehman, Fort Hays State, Center, 6-4, Senior, Newton, Kan.
Lindsay Stamp, Indiana (Pa.), Guard/Forward, 5-10, Senior, Erie, Pa.
Morgan Pullins, St. Mary’s (Texas), Forward, 6-0, Senior, Franklin, Mich.

Second Team
Morganne Comstock, Hawaii Pacific, Center, 6-2, Senior, Seattle, Wash.
Aquillin Hayes, New Haven, Guard, 5-8, Senior, Harlem, N.Y.
Michelle Mitchell, Columbus State, Guard, 5-9, Junior, Eastman, Ga.
Emily Caswell, Caldwell, Forward, 6-1, Senior, Wakefield, R.I.
Mariyah Brawner-Henley, Lewis, Forward, 6-0, Junior, Skokie, Ill.

Third Team
Madison Rowland, Queens (N.Y.), Guard/Forward, 5-10, Sophomore, Albany, N.Y.
Fatima Adams, Arkansas Tech, Forward, 5-10, Junior, Bryan, Texas
Shaunteva Ashley, Augustana (S.D.), Guard, 5-8, Senior, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Chontiquah White, West Texas A&M, Forward/Center, 5-11, Senior, Dallas, Texas
Jamie Johnson, Lewis, Guard, 5-8, Junior, South Holland, Ill.
Verdine Warner, Shaw, Center, 6-4, Senior, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Honorable Mention: Erin Chambers (Simon Fraser), Jada Blackwell (Cal Poly Pomona) Alicia Brookins (Limestone), Jasmine Wilkins (Nova Southeastern), Megan Mullings (Alaska Anchorage)

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State women’s golf finished 13th at the Missouri Western/Holiday Inn Express Invitational in St. Joseph, Mo., held Sunday and Monday (Mar. 22-23). The tournament took place at the St. Joseph Country Club, a par-72 course.

Megan DeWerff led the way for FHSU, shooting a total of 177 to tie for 50th. She shot rounds of 87 and 90. Samantha Hobson tied for 60th with a total of 181, carding rounds of 95 and 86.

Quillen Eichhorn was consistent over two days, shooting two rounds of 92 for a 184 total and 65th place finish. Abby Schmidtberger was 69th with a 194, carding rounds of 98 and 96. Hadley Tharp also played, shooting rounds of 106 and 105.

The Tigers as a team shot a total of 736. FHSU was eight strokes better on the second day, going from 372 to 364. Arkansas Tech won the tournament with a total of 619, just one stroke ahead of Central Oklahoma. Rebecka Surtevall of Arkansas Tech won the tournament individually with a 7-over par total of 151.

FHSU returns to action next week at the UNK Invitational at Awarii Dunes Golf Course, just to the south of Kearney, Neb.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State fell in the series finale at Northwest Missouri State by a score of 4-3 on Sunday (Mar. 22). FHSU tied the game with a pair of runs in the top of the ninth, but NWMSU won the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom half of the inning on a bases loaded walk. NWMSU took three of four games in the series.

Errors plagued the Tigers throughout the game as three of Northwest Missouri’s four runs were unearned. FHSU committed four errors in the game.

NWMSU scored in the first to take a 1-0 lead as the leadoff man, who reached by error, came in to score on a RBI bunt single. From that point, FHSU starter Justin Hersch settled in to hold the Bearcats at bay through the sixth inning.

FHSU tied up the game in the third on a Kevin Czarnecki RBI double, also benefitting from an error that led to the run.

Hersch would pitch a total of 6.1 innings, surrendering one more run in the seventh. Kyle Vogt relieved him right before a sacrifice fly, which was charged to Hersch’s run total. But once again the run was unearned due to a run earlier in the inning. NWMSU went up 2-1 after seven innings.

The Bearcats added one more in the eighth courtesy of another error to lead off the inning. A double brought the runner in and the unearned run was charged to Giles Fox, who allowed a hit with a strikeout in 0.2 innings of work. Austin Unrein entered to pick up the final out of the inning with a strikeout.

FHSU put its first two batters aboard in the ninth before Cooper Langley knocked them in with a two-RBI triple. Langley attempted to score on a ground ball off the bat of Casey Sedbrook, but he was cut down at the plate by the second baseman.

Unrein ran into trouble on the mound in the ninth as he hit the leadoff batter and then allowed a bunt single. He got the next batter to pop out on a bunt and then induced a flyout to centerfield for the second out, while the runners remained at first and second. However, he allowed back-to-back walks to end the game, forcing in the winning run (the only earned run of the game for NWMSU).

Carson Smith picked up the win in relief for NWMSU, going 2.1 innings. He allowed two runs on three hits with three strikeouts. NWMSU starter Nikko Pablo went 6.2 innings and allowed six hits and a walk, while striking out eight.

FHSU left 14 runners on base in the game, leaving two or more on base in five of the nine innings.

The Tigers moved to 4-17 overall and 4-12 in the MIAA. Northwest Missouri State moved to 12-12 overall and 9-7 in the MIAA.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State baseball snapped a 12-game losing skid on Saturday (Mar. 21) by splitting a conference doubleheader at Northwest Missouri State. FHSU dropped the first game of the day 8-3 before earning the split with a 10-5 win in game two.

Game 1: NW Missouri State 8, Fort Hays State 3

Fort Hays State took an early 2-0 lead in the first game of the day, but it was short lived as NWMSU responded with two in the first inning as well. The Bearcats went on to score three in the third and three in the fourth to pull away for the win. FHSU picked up its final run in the sixth in the seven-inning contest.

Back-to-back RBI doubles by Austin Unrein and Kevin Czarnecki in the first pushed FHSU out to the 2-0 lead. Andre Vieyra had the other RBI for FHSU in the sixth on a sacrifice fly. Connor Ross and Czarnecki each went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Gus Strunk was 1-for-1 with two walks.

FHSU starting pitcher Tyler Patty allowed all eight runs to the Bearcats (six earned) over 3.0 innings of work. He faced three batters in the fourth before being lifted for reliever Will Amen. He went an inning before yielding to Joe Mapes for the final two innings. Mapes allowed just one hit and struck out three. Patty moved to 1-2 on the year with the loss.

Joseph Hietpas grabbed the win for NWMSU, going 5.1 innings in his start. He allowed three runs on seven hits with four walks and struck out four. Austin Battaglia pitched the final 1.2 innings for NWMSU, keeping the Tigers scoreless.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 10, NW Missouri State 5

Fort Hays State jumped out to a 4-0 lead and Northwest Missouri State could never catch up. FHSU snapped its 12-game losing streak by pulling away with a run in the fourth and five in the sixth. The Bearcats scored single runs in the sixth and seventh, but it was too little, too late in another seven-inning contest.

Joe Mapes got the Tigers on the board in the second with a fielder’s choice RBI. Austin Unrein and Kevin Czarnecki each recorded RBI singles in the third and Czarnecki came in to score later on an error, making it 4-0.

After NWMSU plated three runs in the third to make it 4-3, FHSU added a run on the fourth on an RBI single by Nick Hammeke.

FHSU took advantage of a big sixth inning to take a comfortable lead of 10-3. Connor Ross had a RBI single and then Cooper Langley drove in two on a single. Czarnecki came in to score on a wild pitch and Mapes added an RBI single.

FHSU starting pitcher Chase Newman had a solid outing to move to 1-0 on the year. He allowed just three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work, while striking out three.

Giles Fox pitched two innings in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts. Unrein took the mound in the seventh with two runners on and shut the door, allowing just one hit with a strikeout.

The Tigers are now 4-16 overall and 4-11 in the MIAA. NWMSU moved to 11-12 overall, 8-7 in the MIAA. The final game of the series is on Sunday (Mar. 22) at 12 pm.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State held Lindenwood to just three runs while racking up 25 hits for the second consecutive day, sweeping the Lions in a conference doubleheader on Saturday (March 21).  FHSU scored nine runs in the final three innings of game one to win, 11-2, and took the second game, 5-1.

FHSU (15-12, 8-4 MIAA) closed out its spring break road trip at 6-2 with two sweeps, and begins a 10-game homestand next Friday (March 27) in a doubleheader with Northeastern State at Tiger Stadium.

Fort Hays State 11, Lindenwood 2
A 13-hit effort and four Lindenwood errors helped FHSU roll to its third consecutive win and defeat the Lions, 11-2, in the first game of the day.

Paxton Duran (8-5) won her fourth straight game, going the distance with two runs allowed on five hits.  Duran struck out seven and walked two.

Nine Tigers found their way into the hit category, led by multi-hit games from Kylie Strand, Tori Beltz, Amanda Vaupel and Courtney Dobson.  Strand and Duran each had two RBI in the game, with Strand hitting a two-run home run and Duran and Beltz picking up doubles.

FHSU started early with back-to-back one-out singles from Erin Elmore and Tori Beltz in the first, then loaded the bases when Samantha Villarreal was hit by a pitch.  Amanda Vaupel‘s RBI single scored Elmore in the next at-bat, and though FHSU kept the bases loaded, they were limited to just one run.

LWU tied it in the bottom of the fourth, scoring two runs on three hits – including an RBI double from Hannah Braun.  That tie was short lived, however, as FHSU struck back with three runs of its own in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of a one-out error to score three runs.

Samantha Villarreal led off the inning with a single, and after Gabrielle Sandoval pinch ran for the designated player, a ground out moved Sandoval to second.  Duran followed with a double to plate Sandoval, and after a walk from Veronica Knittig, Mackenzie Villarreal reached on an error in a pinch hit situation, allowing Duran and Knittig to score.

FHSU led, 5-2, at that point and extended its lead with two more runs in the sixth.  After Elmore reached on an error to lead off the inning (moving to third on the play), Beltz’s double brought Elmore home and sent Samantha Villarreal to the plate – who walked.  A single from Vaupel loaded the bases, and with one out, Duran’s fly out to center field was deep enough to score Beltz.

In the seventh, the Tigers added four more runs to reach double figures for the second consecutive game.  Dobson led off the inning with a single and promptly came around to score as Strand belted her third home run of the season (and second in two games), making it 9-2.  From there, Elmore (hit by pitch), Beltz (walk) and Samantha Villarreal (error) all reached safely to load the bases, and back-to-back pinch hit singles from Adara Erickson and Jenna Lang scored Elmore and Beltz for the final runs of the game.

For Lindenwood, Kendall Ryndak took the loss after allowing six runs (one earned) in 4.2 innings pitched while Brooke Miller gave up five runs in the final 2.1 innings thrown.  Alexandra Newcomb was 2-for-3 in the game with a double.

Fort Hays State 5, Lindenwood 1
Fort Hays State never trailed in Saturday’s finale and had 12 hits in a 5-1 victory over Lindenwood to complete the sweep.

Kelsey Kimminau (6-6) won her second consecutive game and reached the .500 mark, throwing six innings with just one run allowed.  Kimminau scattered seven hits and struck out three (walking no one) before Savannah Price threw the final inning, giving up just one hit.

Strand, Samantha Villarreal and Vaupel put together two-hit performances, with six other Tigers recording a hit.  Beltz, Samantha Villarreal and Vaupel had doubles for the games’ only extra-base hits.

With one out in the second, Strand drew a walk before moving to second as Elmore reached safely on an error.  Beltz followed with her team-leading seventh double of the season, scoring Strand and pushing Elmore to third.  After an out, Elmore came home as Vaupel reached on the second error of the inning, making it 2-0 in FHSU’s favor.

The lead reached four in the fifth inning as FHSU strung together four hits to plate two more Tigers.  Elmore led off with a single and moved to third on Samantha Villarreal‘s one-out double.  Vaupel continued the hit parade with a double of her own, scoring Elmore and moving two runners into scoring position.  With two outs, Kimminau drew a walk to load the bases and Mackenzie Villarreal singled home Samantha Villarreal for the game’s fourth run.

LWU got one back in its half of the fifth behind Ryndak’s RBI single, but that was it for the Lions as FHSU struck for one more in the sixth and closed out the win.  After two fielder’s choices left Beltz on first with two outs, Samantha Villarreal and Vaupel strung together two straight singles to move Beltz home.

Morgan Colvis took the loss for the Lions, throwing 4.1 innings with four runs allowed (three earned) and three strikeouts.  Maria Tippett finished 3-for-3 in the game and Brooklyn Sisk was 2-for-3.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State racked up 25 hits on its way to a conference doubleheader sweep of Lincoln on Friday.  The Tigers took game one, 11-4, before closing the day with an 8-0 win in six innings.

FHSU (13-12, 6-4 MIAA) ends its eight-game road trip on Saturday (March 21) with a doubleheader at Lindenwood.  First pitch from St. Charles, Mo., is set for 1 p.m.

Fort Hays State 11, Lincoln 4
A seven-run fifth inning and 13 hits in the game helped FHSU pull away from Lincoln and pick up an 11-4 win to start its doubleheader.

Paxton Duran (7-4) threw four innings in the win, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits while striking out seven. Sarah Cochran threw the final three innings, notching four strikeouts while not allowing a hit to earn the save.

Kylie  Strand (2-for-5) and Duran (1-for-3) each had three RBI, with Strand hitting two doubles and Duran picking up her second home run of the week. Tori Beltz had two doubles and two RBI as well, finishing 3-for-5 at the plate.

Rilee Krier and Courtney Dobson also drove in runs, and Amanda Vaupel was 1-for-3 with two walks.

FHSU took a 1-0 lead in the first off Beltz’s RBI double, coming after Strand led off the inning with a double of her own.  With one out, Beltz drove Strand home for the first run of the day.

The Tigers extended their lead to 4-0 in the fourth, taking advantage a home run and Lincoln error for three runs.  After Vaupel’s one-out walk, Duran hit her second home run of the season over the left field wall to put FHSU up three.  With two outs, Veronica Knittig walked and moved to third on Dobson’s single into right, later scoring when Strand reached on an error.

LU answered with four runs of its own in the bottom of the fourth, loading the bases with one out before back-to-back two-out singles and an FHSU error allowed four Blue Tigers to score.

That tie was short lived, however, as six straight Tigers reached base to start the fifth, helping FHSU regain the lead with a seven-run burst.  After Beltz’s leadoff double, Samantha Villarreal drew a walk and Vaupel singled to load the bases with no outs.  Duran picked up her third RBI of the game in the next at-bat, reaching on a fielder’s choice as Beltz scampered home.  Krier followed with a single to score Villarreal and keep the bases juiced, and after an out, Dobson drew a walk (scoring Vaupel) and Strand sent a pitch into left field for a two-RBI double, scoring Duran and Krier and giving the Tigers a 9-4 lead.  From there, Dobson came home on a wild pitch during Erin Elmore’s at-bat, and with two outs, Beltz picked up her second hit of the inning – a single up the middle – to plate Strand and push FHSU’s lead to seven (11-4).

Fort Hays State 8, Lincoln 0 (6 innings)
Fort Hays State had 12 hits on its way to an 8-0 win in six innings over Lincoln, closing out the sweep for FHSU.  It was the second run-rule victory for FHSU this season.

Kelsey Kimminau (5-6) picked up the win, tossing four shutout innings with two strikeouts and a walk, scattering four hits. Savannah Price threw the final two innings and did not allow a baserunner.

Strand (1-for-3) and Beltz (1-for-4) each had two RBI in the game while Vaupel and Knittig each had two hits, going 2-for-4.

For the second game in a row, FHSU took an early lead in the second.  Vaupel led off the inning with a single, promptly stealing second and moving to third on Knittig’s one-bagger into center.  Kimminau then came up clutch in her first at-bat of the season, doubling to left field, scoring Vaupel and pushing Knittig to third. Dobson followed with the Tigers’ third single of the inning and picked up an RBI as Knittig scored.  Later in the inning (with two outs), Beltz singled up the middle to score Kimminau and Dobson, making it 4-0 early.

Vaupel started things again for the Tigers in the third, singling up the middle before moving to second on a passed ball and third on Knittig’s second single of the day.Rilee Krier’s bunt single pushed Vaupel home and Knittig to second, though a pitching change for the Blue Tigers settled the home team down and kept FHSU limited to just one run.

Up 5-0 headed to the bottom of the second, LU threatened to score with runners on second third and no outs, but Kimminau and the Tiger defense buckled down to keep the home team off the board.

In the sixth, FHSU put the game in run-rule territory with three runs. Dobson started things with a single to lead off the inning before Strand drove a pitch off the scoreboard above the left field wall for a two-run home run, making it 7-0.  With the bases empty, Elmore walked and took second as Beltz fouled out, sending Mackenzie Villarreal  to the plate, where the freshman doubled to score Elmore and put the Tigers ahead, 8-0.

FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State baseball fell by a score of 4-2 in the four-game series opener on Friday at Northwest Missouri State. The Tigers got all of their offense off two solo homers, but a three-run blast by NWMSU in the sixth was the difference in the game.

FHSU led off the game with a home run by Connor Ross, but NWMSU starting pitcher Anthony Caenepeel settled in from there by striking out 12 Tigers in eight strong innings of work. He allowed only three hits to the Tigers, two on homers. Alex King had the other home run for FHSU in the top of the eighth.

Gabe Cook pitched 6.0 innings in his start for the Tigers, allowing four runs on seven hits and six walks. He struck out five. He allowed a two-out RBI double in the fourth, which tied the game 1-1 at the time, but gave up the three-run homer with two outs in the sixth. Austin Wulff was Cook’s nemesis for the day as he recorded all four RBI for NWMSU with the two run-scoring hits.

Kyle Vogt pitched the final two innings in relief for FHSU, retiring the side in order in both the seventh and eighth.

Carson Smith entered in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the year for NWMSU, retiring the Tigers in order.

FHSU (3-15, 3-10 MIAA) faces NWMSU (10-11, 7-6 MIAA) in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 pm.