Fort Hays State women’s and men’s golf are competing at the MIAA Championships in Lawrence, Kan., April 21-23 at the Alvamar Golf Club. The Tiger women are eighth and the men are ninth after the first of three rounds of competition.
In men’s action, the Tigers are tied for ninth with Missouri Southern, each team shooting 309 on the first day. That is 26 strokes off the pace of 283, shot by Central Missouri. There are 12 teams competing on the men’s side.
Grant Storey had the top round for the Tigers on day one with a 3-over par 75. Trey Herman was right behind with a 4-over 76. Nick VonLintel shot 78, Jeff Heptig carded 80, and Sam Christianson shot 83. Cy Moritz of Central Missouri leads the tournament after a 4-under par 68 to open.
FHSU shot 392 as a team, 72 strokes off the pace of 320 set by Central Oklahoma. Taylor Niedy of Central Oklahoma leads the way individually after a 76.
The Hays High girls’ soccer team ran their win streak to five Monday, defeating Garden City 3-1. The contest was tied 1-1 when the Buffaloes gave Hays the lead for good on an own goal off a cross from Rachel Lueders with 3:30 to play. Alexa Brull made it 3-1 with a goal less than two minutes later off an assist from Lueders.
Talyn Kleweno scored the first goal for Hays with 12:34 to play in the first half. They would lead until the 11:54 mark of the second half when Garden City tie the match.
The Indians are now 7-2 overall and 4-0 in the Western Athletic Conference. They are back at home Thursday with a one o’clock match with Liberal at the Hays High field.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) – Phil Hughes ended a personal losing streak that dated to last July, pitching into the seventh inning Sunday and helping the Twins top the Kansas City Royals 8-3 to avoid a three-game sweep.
Hughes (1-1), who signed a $24 million, three-year deal in December, allowed an RBI single to Omar Infante in the fifth and a two-run homer to Alcides Escobar in the seventh while winning for the first time in 17 appearances. He had lost eight games since that victory on July 2.
Josmil Pinto homered and Trevor Plouffe and Kurt Suzuki each drove in a pair of runs for the Twins, who battered Yordano Ventura (1-1) before piling on against the Royals’ bullpen.
The loss ended Kansas City’s five-game winning streak.
Fort Hays State earned a split with Lindenwood on Saturday in the final two games of a four-game MIAA series at Larks Park in Hays. FHSU won game one 7-6 before falling in game two 14-0. The Tigers won three out of four in the series, posting their first series win in MIAA play this year. FHSU moved to 17-25 overall and 14-22 in the MIAA, while Lindenwood moved to 17-25 overall and 13-19 in the MIAA.
Steve Johnson Postgame Interview
Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Lindenwood 6
Lindenwood broke a 3-3 tie with three runs in the fifth, but Fort Hays State responded with four in the bottom half of the inning to take a 7-6 lead and relievers Nick Hammeke and Gave Cook shut the door the rest of the way.
The Lions took a 2-0 lead with three straight two-out hits in the first, the last a double that plated two runs off FHSU starter Austin Unrein. The Tigers immediately got the runs back in the bottom of the second as Lindenwood starter Dylan Terrell struggled with his control. The Tigers loaded the bases and then Kevin Czarnecki and Gabe Cook knocked in a run each with singles to make it 2-2.
Fort Hays State took the lead 3-2 in the second on a Jordan Miller RBI single, benefitting from a Lion error earlier in the inning. The Lions tied the game up again with a single run in the fourth on a two-out RBI single.
A walk and four hits in the fifth for Lindenwood produced three runs, going on top 6-3. All of the runs were charged to Unrein, who was relieved by Hammeke with two outs in the inning. Unrein allowed 10 hits, walked two, and struck out three in 4.2 innings.
FHSU had a big inning in the fifth to take the lead back at 7-6, thanks to two Lions miscues. Both errors were on fielder’s choice plays, where the first baseman threw wide of the second base bag on two consecutive batters. The second time, off the bat of Clayton Garland allowed two runs to score. Czarnecki would tie the game with a RBI double and Cooper Langley knocked him in with a single to put the Tigers in front.
Hammeke worked a 1-2-3 sixth and then turned the ball over to Cook to close in the seventh. Cook allowed a single with one out and the runner stole second, but an infield pop out and a ground out to second base sealed the win for FHSU. Hammeke moved to 3-0 on the year, allowing just one hit in 1.1 innings of work with a strikeout. Cook picked up his fourth save of the season.
Game 2: Lindenwood 14, Fort Hays State 0
Starting pitchers Joe Mapes (FHSU) and Zac Pearman (LWU) breezed through two innings before Mapes started to run into trouble in the third. The Lions broke through for one run in the third and then tagged Mapes for four runs in the fourth to take a 5-0 lead.
The Tigers had several well hit balls against Pearman throughout the game, but could never find a way to push runs across. Pearman would wind up going the distance for the Lions to pick up his third win of the season.
Gus Strunk relieved Mapes in the fourth. Mapes was charged with five runs (four earned) on seven hits, while striking out two. Strunk allowed two runs in the fifth, making it 7-0, and then ran into trouble again in the eighth, an inning that saw the Lions score seven runs and take a commanding 14-0 lead. Strunk went 3.2 innings in relief, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Nathan Briar could not record an out in the eighth and allowed three runs, Ty Thomas got one out and allowed one run, and Drew Martineau got the final out.
The Tigers got two aboard in the eighth, but could not score, falling 14-0 in the finale cut an inning short by run rule. Mapes took the loss, going to 2-5 on the year. Pearman allowed nine hits and struck out three in his complete game for Lindenwood.
Fort Hays State got more help from Emporia State on Saturday as the Hornets completed a four-game sweep of Northwest Missouri State. That leaves the Tigers still mathematically alive for the conference tournament heading into the final week of regular season play.
FHSU is 3.0 games back of eighth-place Northeastern State, 2.5 games back of Northwest Missouri State, 2.0 games back of Missouri Southern, and 1.0 games back of Lindenwood. Fort Hays State has to win at least three games, if not all four at Missouri Western next weekend to have a shot at the eighth and final spot in the MIAA Tournament, but it will need help from all the opponents of the teams mentioned above coupled with the wins.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bruce Chen labored through five innings before the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen took over, shutting down the Minnesota Twins the rest of the way in a 5-4 victory Saturday.
The Royals have won five straight after getting swept last weekend in Minnesota.
Chen (1-1) allowed all four runs on eight hits and four walks, but the damage could have been worse. He twice walked the bases loaded, and his only clean inning was the first, when Brian Dozier hit a fly out that nearly left the park.
Still, a five-run fourth inning off Kevin Correia (1-1) staked Chen to a lead, and his bullpen made it stand up.
Danny Duffy tossed two scoreless innings, and Wade Davis navigated a perfect eighth before turning the game over to All-Star closer Greg Holland. He set down the top of the Minnesota lineup in order for his sixth save in as many chances.
The Fort Hays State women’s track and field team traveled to Lawrence, Kan., Apr. 16-19, for the Kansas Relays. Kylie Gaughan and Sam Szczublewski each set personal best marks in their respective events at the meet, while Madison Wolf grabbed a fourth-place finish in the javelin.
Gaughan competed in the unseeded 3,000-meter steeplechase and her time of 11:31.88 was a personal best for the Tiger senior. She also grabbed an impressive third-place finish in the event.
In the unseeded 800-meter run, Szczublewski missed running a provisional time by just over one second with her time of 2:15.89. Her personal best time helped grab ninth-place in the field of 22 runners.
FHSU’s Sam Szczublewski at the KU Relays (Courtesy of Mark Shaiken)
Wolf continued her strong freshman campaign for the Tigers with her fourth place finish. She had a toss of 146’2″ to finish second among NCAA Division II athletes. It was a provisional length, but Wolf already has an automatic mark in the event and is locked to compete at outdoor nationals.
Tiger Men at KU Relays
The Fort Hays State men’s track and field team was split into two separate squads this week to compete at two different meets. Several members of the team traveled to Lawrence, Kan., Apr. 16-19, for the Kansas Relays and another group traveled to Hillsboro, Kan. on Apr. 16 for the Tabor Invitational.The Tigers had three athletes post personal best performances at the Kansas Relays.
Jonny Bernasky ran the unseeded 5,000-meter run in a time of 14:52.64 to break fifteen minutes for the first time. He finished 14th in a field of 22 distance runners.
FHSU’s Jonny Bernasky runs in the 5.000 meters at the KU Relays (Courtesy of Mark Shaiken)
In the unseeded 1,500-meter run Ryan Hopkins and Nathan Purdue were also able to run personal best times. Hopkins crossed the line in 4:00.67 for 11th place and right behind him Purdue finished in 12th place with a time of 4:01.67.
At the Tabor Invitational the Tigers also had some noteworthy performances.
Brett Ottley won the pole vault with a jump of 15′. He grabbed the top spot by vaulting six inches higher than the next best athlete.
In the 200-meter run Nelson Vazquez and DeAndre James finished in third and fourth place. Vazquez ran a time of 22.08 seconds for third and James finished in fourth with a time of 22.21 seconds.
Cade Sharp added a second-place finish for the Tigers in the hammer throw. Sharp heaved the hammer 143’6″ to finish in the second spot.
The 4×100-meter relay team finished in first place. The group ran a time of 42.65 seconds to narrowly top Garden City Community College who also ran a time of 42.65.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Jason Vargas pitched seven shutdown innings, Mike Moustakas cracked a two-run homer and the Kansas City Royals romped to a 5-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Friday night.
Alcides Escobar had three hits and Omar Infante also drove in two runs for the Royals, who followed up a sweep at the hands of Minnesota last weekend by sweeping Houston and then taking the first of their three-game set against the Twins this weekend.
Ricky Nolasco (1-2) gave up five runs on 11 hits in 5 2-3 innings for the Twins.
Vargas (2-0), who signed a $32 million, four-year deal in the offseason, allowed seven hits while striking out four in another dazzling start. The crafty left-hander lowered his ERA to 1.24 while going at least seven innings in each of his four outings this season.
Tyler Patty and Steven Federay turned in strong pitching performances to help Fort Hays State to a doubleheader sweep of Lindenwood on Friday afternoon at Larks Park in Hays. Fort Hays State won game one 7-3, with a near complete-game effort from Patty, and then won game two 6-1. FHSU moved to 16-24 overall and 13-21 in the MIAA, while Lindenwood moved to 15-26 overall and 12-18 in the MIAA.
Steve Johnson Postgame Interview
Game Highlights
Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Lindenwood 3
Fort Hays State built a 5-0 lead through three innings and never looked back in a 7-3 win in game one. Tyler Patty was just one out short of a complete-game effort in the seven-inning contest. After surrendering two runs in the seventh, Gabe Cook relieved Patty to get the final out of the game with one runner on. Patty allowed three runs on eight hits and three walks, while striking out three, moving to 2-5 overall on the year with the win.
Horace Johnson got the scoring triggered for the Tigers in the first with a two-RBI double. Cooper Langley followed with a RBI single later in the inning. Gus Strunk tacked on a RBI single in the second and Kevin Czarnecki knocked in a run with a sacrifice bunt in the third.
After allowing a bases-loaded walk in the top of the sixth, Patty beared down to get a ground ball out from the next batter to keep the Tigers on top 5-1 heading to the bottom half. The Tigers added two insurance runs in the sixth on an Austin Unrein RBI single, with the second run scoring on an error on the play.
Clayton Garland, Kodie Fewin, Strunk and Johnson went 2-for-3 at the plate in the game.
Austin Klein of Lindenwood took the loss, allowing all seven runs (five earned) in his 5.2 innings of work.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 6, Lindenwood 1
Just like game one, Fort Hays State built a 5-0 lead before Lindenwood pushed across its first run in the sixth inning. The Tigers answered that run in the bottom of the sixth with one of their own and then both teams went scoreless the rest of the way in the nine-inning contest.
Steven Federau provided the Tigers 5.2 innings of quality work on the mound, allowing just one run on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Nathan Briar entered in the sixth with two outs and runners at first and third. He got the final out on a fielder’s choice to end any further damage by the Lions, leaving FHSU in front 5-1. Briar went the rest of the way for FHSU, picking up his third save of the season. He allowed just two hits and struck out one in 3.1 innings of work. Federau moved to 2-6 for the season with the win.
The middle of the Tiger order knocked in all six runs for FHSU. Kevin Czarnecki got the Tigers on the board in the third with a RBI on a fielder’s choice. He would knock in another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly. Horace Johnson had the big blow for FHSU in the fourth with a three-RBI double to the right center gap, following a RBI by Clayton Garland who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Johnson finished the game 3-for-5 at the plate, as did Gus Strunk who scored three times in the game.
Will Spitzfaden took the loss for Lindenwood, going 4.1 innings in his start. He allowed five runs on 10 hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
The Tigers and Lions play the final two games of the series on Saturday, starting at 1 pm. Saturday will be Senior Day at Larks Park in Hays, the final two games at home this year.
FHSU did get help on Friday in the MIAA standings as Emporia State swept Northwest Missouri State in a doubleheader. The Tigers jumped from 5 1/2 games back of eighth-place NWMSU to 3 1/2 games back. Both ESU and NWMSU play the final two games of that series on Saturday.
HOUSTON (AP) – James Shields struck out 12 in eight innings and the Kansas City Royals completed a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 5-1 win on Thursday night.
Shields (1-2) gave up one run and four hits, all singles. He got back to his winning ways after seeing his nine-game road victory streak snapped in his last start at Minnesota when sloppy defense led to six unearned runs in a 7-1 loss.
Scott Feldman (2-1) yielded four earned runs and nine hits in six innings. It was the first tough outing for the Astros newcomer after he had allowed just one run and seven hits combined in his first three starts.
The Hays High baseball couldn’t hold on to a couple of early leads Thursday and drop both ends of their doubleheader at Salina South by scores of 6-2 and 7-4.
The Indians scored single runs in the first and second to take the early lead in the first contest but couldn’t overcome their five errors. The Cougars answer with a three-run third then add three more in the sixth for the final margin.
Marcus Altman allowed all six runs, four earned, on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings and takes the loss.
Hays scored a run in the first in the second game but South answered with three in the bottom of the inning. The Indians tied it with two in the second then took the lead with a run in the fifth but South answered again with four in the bottom of the fifth, all with two outs, to take the lead back for good. All seven of their runs were unearned.
Kade Parker takes the loss despite striking out eight and walking just one.
Connor Rule had two hits in the first game then went 3-for-4 in the second contest. Dalton Stout doubled in each game and Cole Schumacher and Garrett Pfannenstiel both tripled in the first game.
Hays is now 3-5 on the season. They host Garden City on Tuesday.
After opening with six straight on the road to start the season, the TMP-Marian Monarchs finally played at home Thursday and splits with Hoisington. The Monarchs pound out 13 hits in the first game but lose 4-3. They come back to take game two 11-0.
The Cardinals scored a run in the first and two in the third and led 3-1 before TMP rallied with single runs in the sixth and seventh in the opener. Cameron Brin pitched all seven innings for the Monarchs striking out seven.
The Monarchs took control the second game early, scoring five in the first then four in the second. They added two in the third in the game which ended in the fifth by run rule. Justin Pfeifer drove in three and Jordan Gottschalk and Taylor Wasinger both had two RBI’s. Braiden Werth picks up the win, striking out five.
TMP-Marian is now 6-2. They host Great Bend on Tuesday.
The Hays High softball team split their doubleheader at Salina South Thursday. Despite both teams getting 10 hits, the Indians drop the opener 9-4 but come back to win the second game 13-4.
Hays had an early 2-0 lead in the first contest but the Cougars score three in the second , two in the third and fourth then add two more in the sixth. Hanna Hearld allowed seven runs, five earned, on eight hits over four innings and takes the loss. Haley Wells and Tessa Stickel both had three hits.
The Indians explode for six runs in the second inning of game two. They put the contest away with two in the sixth and four in the seventh. Hanna Hearld allowed all four runs on eight hits in the complete game victory, striking out 11 and walking three. Tessa Stickel went 4-for-5 and Madison Prough doubled and tripled and drove in four.
The Indians are now 5-1. They host Colby on Tuesday at 4pm at the Bickel-Schmidt Sports Complex.
