FHSU Sports Information

The Tiger softball team split a doubleheader with Lindenwood on Sunday (March 30) in Hays, Kan.  Fort Hays State took Game 1, 5-2, before dropping the second game, 10-3.

FHSU (22-13, 11-5 MIAA) hits the road next weekend with conference doubleheaders at Missouri Western (Friday, April 4) and Northwest Missouri State (Saturday, April 5).  FHSU will be on the road for the next month, returning to Tiger Stadium on April 26 against Nebraska-Kearney.

Game 1: FHSU 5, Lindenwood 2
Fort Hays State picked up its third consecutive victory with a 5-2 topping of Lindenwood on Saturday in Game 1 of a conference doubleheader.

Paxton Duran improved to 13-6 on the season with her fifth consecutive complete game, scattering seven hits for two runs and striking out five.

Courtney Dobson led the offense with three hits and a run while Danie Brinkmann, Jenna Lang and Kellsi Olsen were 1-for-3.  Amanda Vaupel went 1-for-2 with the Tigers’ lone extra base hit (a double) and an RBI.

LWU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, using a solo home run from leadoff hitter Courtney Opich.  That lead was short lived, however, as FHSU answered in the second with two runs of its own.

Samanthe Villarreal started the inning with a single to right, and after Kelli Koehler subbed as a pinch runner, Kellsi Olsen reached on a bunt to the pitcher.  During Vaupel’s at-bat, Koehler and Olsen executed a double steal, moving both into scoring position with one out.  Vaupel followed with a squeeze bunt, reaching safely as Koehler beat the play at the plate, and as it deflected off catcher Brittany Rozier’s glove, both Vaupel and Olsen were able to move up a base, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead.

LWU tied the game in the third with a run on Katy McAllister’s RBI double, but that was it for the Lions as FHSU pulled away in its half of the third.  Dobson and Brinkmann started the inning with a single and fielder’s choice, respectively, putting runners on first and second before Lang’s bunt single loaded the bases.  Olsen’s ground ball to third base scored Dobson to give FHSU the lead for good.

In the fifth, Brinkmann led off the inning with a single before Rilee Krier replaced her as a pinch runner.  During Lang’s at-bat, Krier stole second and moved to third as the throw kicked away from LWU’s Courtney Kitson.  Lang’s ground ball to short scored Krier, pushing the Tigers’ lead to two (4-2).

The Tigers’ final run of the day came in the sixth, started by a one-out bunt single from Biance Adame (though she would reach second on an overthrow).  After stealing third during Duran’s at-bat, Adame came home on a ground ball to second from Duran.

The win was head coach Erin Kinberger’s 100th career victory.

Game 2: Lindenwood 10, FHSU 3
Fort Hays State fell behind early and couldn’t recover, dropping a 10-3 contest to Lindenwood in Game 2 of a conference doubleheader.

Kelsey Kimminau (8-5) started the game, tossing 1.2 innings and allowing four unearned runs on seven hits. Katlyn Kern entered in the second, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing six runs (four hits) on seven hits and striking out two.  With two outs in the seventh, Paxton Duran entered to close out the inning.

Bianca Adame was 3-for-4 with two RBI at the plate while Courtney Dobson, Duran and Callie Wright all went 2-for-3.  Wright and Duran each had doubles.

After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first, FHSU answered with a run in the bottom half to cut the lead to two. Adame led off the inning by reaching on a bunt single before stealing second. Dobson followed with a single up the middle, taking second on a throw to the plate that cut down Adame.  After Danie Brinkmann and Samantha Villarreal drew walks, Paxton Duran singled through the left side to plate Dobson.

LWU added another in the second, but again the Tigers answered with a run of their own. Wright doubled to left center, and with one out, was pinch ran for by Rileee Krier.  Adame’s single to left field was deep enough to score Krier and cut the lead back to two (4-2).

Down 5-2 after three innings, the Tigers continued to chip away with a run in the bottom of the fourth.  Wright picked up her second hit of the game – a single to left center – before taking second on Adanda Vaupel’s ground out.  With one down, Adame’s triple to right center scored Wright, but Adame was tagged out in a rundown between third and home.

After adding a run in the fifth, the Lions put the game out of reach with four runs in the seventh.

 

FHSU Sports Information

Fort Hays State baseball earned a doubleheader split with Emporia State on Saturday (Mar. 29) at Larks Park in Hays. Emporia State took game one by a score of 4-1, but the Tigers held on for a 7-6 win in game two. Fort Hays State is now at 8-18 overall, 7-16 in the MIAA, while Emporia State moved to 18-10 overall and 14-9 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Emporia State 4, Fort Hays State 1
Pitching had the upper hand in game one for both teams as runs were hard to come by in a battle between Steven Federau of Fort Hays State and Jarrod Miller of Emporia State.

Fort Hays State took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning on a Nick Hammeke two-out RBI single to plate Cooper Langley who reached by error earlier in the inning. Unfortunately the Tigers could not get their slim margin to hold up.

After Federau held the Hornets scoreless through four innings, he ran into trouble in the fifth. A walk and double to open the inning led to a pair of runs and Emporia State grabbing a 2-1 lead. ESU tied the game with the first runner coming in on a wild pitch, then a RBI groundout plated the go-ahead run.

With two outs in the sixth, the Hornets extended their lead to 4-1 on an Aaron Gile two-RBI double, ending the day for Federau who allowed the four runs on six hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Joe Mapes pitched the final 1.1 innings for the Tigers and retired all four batters he faced.

The Tigers only scratched out three hits after the second inning and Miller retired the final nine Tigers that he faced in the game. Miller allowed seven hits, did not walk anyone, and struck out eight to move to 3-3 on the season. Federau moved to 1-5 on the season with the loss for FHSU.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 7, Emporia State 6
Fort Hays State jumped out to a 5-1 advantage over Emporia State in game two, but Emporia State tied the game with four runs in the fourth. The Tigers took the lead back for good with a pair of runs in the fifth and held off the Hornets over the last two innings.

Clayton Garland put the Tigers on the board in the first with a RBI triple and Horace Johnson followed with a RBI groundout to make it 2-0. In the second inning, the lead grew to 3-0 on a Nick Hammeke RBI single. Emporia State cut into the lead with a run in the third, but the Tigers immediately responded with two more runs on a two-RBI double by Kevin Czarnecki in the bottom half of the inning to make it 5-1.

Emporia State rallied for four runs in the fourth on a RBI single, a sacrifice fly RBI, and a two-run game-tying home run by Dean Long.

FHSU starter Austin Unrein battled through the rally and moved in line for the win when the Tigers scored twice in the bottom of the fifth to make it 7-5. Czarnecki recorded his third RBI of the game on a single and Casey Sedbrook also knocked in a run on a fielder’s choice.

With runners at first and third in the sixth, Gabe Cook relieved Unrein on the mound. An error by the Tigers allowed one run to score, but Cook got a flyout to end the threat and keep the Tigers ahead by one at 7-6. He then worked around a pair of singles in the seventh to record his first save of the season and push Unrein’s record to 2-1 for the season. Unrein went 5.2 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on 10 hits and two walks. Cook allowed two hits and struck out one.

Emporia State starter Kevin Shaffer allowed five runs to the Tigers in 2.2 innings, but reliever Matt Hinkley was tagged with the loss in 1.1 innings of work. He allowed the two runs in the fifth to FHSU after the game was tied 5-5. Brenton Higgins worked the final 2.0 innings for ESU.

Fort Hays State will look for a four-game series split on Sunday in the final game of the series, beginning at 12 pm. You can hear the game on Tiger Radio Mix-103.

FHSU Sports Information

The Fort Hays State University women’s track and field team opened up the 2014 outdoor season with a dominating performance at the Alex Francis Classic in Hays on Mar. 28-29. The Tiger women grabbed 14 individual crowns and the team title by scoring 378.5 points.

Samantha Woodburn swept the 100 and 200-meter dashes. She kicked off the outdoor season by setting a provisional time of 11.90 seconds in the 100-meter dash which was also good enough to get her a victory in the event. She also put up the top time in the 200-meter dash with a provisional time of 24.05 seconds. Woodburn currently sits sixth on the national performance list in the 100 and fifth in the 200.

Tiger freshman Madison Wolf was also able to hit a provisional mark in the javelin during her first collegiate meet. Wolf’s toss of 147’8″ helped her also notch her first collegiate victory. She currently ranks seventh on the national performance list.

Anna Eigruber won three events for the Tigers. She had victories in the 100-meter hurdles, triple jump and long jump. She won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.52 seconds, the triple jump with a leap of 38’0.25″ and the long jump at 17’6″.

Sam Szczublewski and Rachel Monteil were also multiple event winners. Szczublewski won both the 400 and 800-meter runs. She topped the 400-meter field with a time of 59.20 seconds and finished the 800 in 2:18.55. Monteil made her mark in the hammer throw and shot put. She won the hammer with a heave of 148’7″ and took the crown in the shot put with toss of 39’1″.

The Fort Hays women also took the top spot in the 4×100 and 4×400-meter relays. The team of Lexi Riedel, Whitney Taylor, Hanna Pfannenstiel and Samantha Wooburn ran a time of 47.53 seconds and just missed the provisional qualifying mark of 47.11 seconds in the 4×100. In the 4×400 the team of Jordan Ortega, Sam Szczublewski, Carman Hill and Sydney Lower cruised to victory in 4:06.34.

High jumper Danielle Berry picked up a victory for the Tigers in her event with a jump of 5’3″. Mindy Wilson was victorious in the 400-meter hurdles in a time of 1:06.74.

The Tigers scored 378.5 points to win the team title. Nebraska-Kearney finished runner-up with 87 points and Dodge City Community College finished in third with 66 points.

Several other Tigers also had notable performances. Full results, including the high school portion of the meet, can be found at the link below.

Alex Francis Women’s Results

FHSU Sports Information

The Fort Hays State University men’s track and field team kicked off the outdoor season with a victory at the Alex Francis Classic in Hays on Mar. 28-29.  The Tigers men tallied six victories during the home meet and scored 216 team points.

Brady Tien continued where he left off at the end of the indoor season with a provisional performance in the pole vault and winning the individual crown in the event. After clearing his personal best height of 16’6.75″, he attempted to hit the automatic qualifying mark of 16’9.5″ in his final three attempts but was unable to clear the height. Tien’s effort currently ranks him in a tie for second on the national performance list.

The Tigers also grabbed the top spot in five other events. Jake Durham won the javelin with a toss of 177’08”, Cade Sharp took the title in the hammer throw with a heave of 149’11”, Jameson Klein launched the shot put 48’5.25″, and Jordan Carlisle cleared 6’4.75″ in the high jump. Nate Simpson won the lone title for the FHSU men on the track with a victory in the 110-meter hurdles in a time of 15.24 seconds.

Fort Hays State topped the six-school field with 216 points. Colby Community College finished runner-up with 174 points and Nebraska-Kearney grabbed the third spot with 84 points.

Several other Tigers also had notable performances. Full results, including the high school portion of the meet, can be found at the link below.

Alex Francis Men’s Results

 

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

The Fort Hays State softball team sweeps Lincoln Saturday at Tiger Stadium, winning the opener 3-2 then taking the second game 7-0. FHSU has now won five of their last six conference games and improve to 21-12 overall and 10-4 in the MIAA. The Blue Tigers, who have lost 22 of their last 23, fall to 3-22 and 0-12 in the MIAA.

Fort Hays State hosts Lindenwood in an 11am doubleheader Sunday.

Erin Kinberger Postgame Interview

Game 1: FHSU 3, Lincoln 2
Paxton Duran’s two-out single to right field in the bottom of the seventh scored Kellsi Olsen with the game winner. Duran picked up the win, striking out eight while walking one for her fourth straight complete game victory.

Samantha Villearreal gave FHSU the early lead with a solo homer in the second. Lincoln’s Erin Sommerer tied the game with a solo homer in the top of the third.

The Tigers would grab the lead back in the fifth on a Bianca Adame triple, scoring Olsen who led off the inning with a walk. Blue Tiger starter Jessica Cook struck out the next two batters to leave Adame at third.

Just like she did in the third, Sommerer hit a solo homer to lead off the sixth to tie the game at two. Her two home runs were the only hits allowed by Duran who improves to 12-5.

Game 1 Highlights

Game 2: FHSU 7, Lincoln 0
Kelsey Kimminau threw her second complete game shutout, scattering five hits while striking out six and walking none. The Tigers scored two in the second, one in the third then two in the fifth and sixth to complete the sweep.

Courtney Dobson, Danie Brinkmann, Jenna Lang and Callie Wright all had two hits in the game. Lang and Kelli Olsen both had doubles for the Tigers only extra base hits in the game.

FHSU took a 2-0 lead in the second on Olsen’s RBI double and a Wright single. They would add a run in the third on Lang’s two-out double to right. Dobson drove in a run in the fifth with a second scoring on a passed ball. The Tigers would tack on the final two runs in the sixth when a grounder off the bat of Dobson was misplayed by Lincoln third baseman Shantae Duren and ended up in left field.

Game 2 Highlights

 

 

By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Emporia State used a pair of two-run home runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-5 lead and beat the Fort Hays State Tigers 8-6 in game one of their four-game series in front of 612 on Pack the Park night at Larks Park. The loss drops FHSU to 7-17 overall and 6-15 in the MIAA. The Hornets win their third straight and are now 17-9 and 13-8 in the MIAA.

The Tigers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second on a solo home run from Horace Johnson and two-out double from Kodie Fewin. Emporia State answered with two in the third to tie the game.

A three-run fourth gave the Tigers a 5-3 lead. Horace Johnson hit a two-run homer following a Clayton Garland double to tie the game, then one pitcher later Kevin Czarnecki hit a home run.

The score would remain that way until Price Jacobs two-run homer tied the game in the seventh. Aaron Gile would hit a two-run shot to give the Hornets the lead for good. Dean Long’s solo shot in the eighth made it 8-5. FHSU would score an unearned run in the bottom of the inning on a Czarnecki groundout.

Tyler Patty pitched 6 1/3 for the Tigers, striking out a season-high nine. Nathan Briar, who gave up two runs in relief takes the loss. Shawn Talkington struck out 11 and picks up the win for the Hornets.

The two teams play a doubleheader beginning at one o’clock on Sunday then wrap up the series with a single game at noon on Sunday.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

 

 

FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State Softball received nine votes in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) poll, down 21 votes from last week’s release.  The rankings, released Wednesday (March 26), have FHSU slated as one of three MIAA teams earning national recognition.

The Tigers have been ranked as high as 13th nationally this season, and are joined in this week’s poll by MIAA opponents Emporia State, which climbed into the Top 10 at No. 9, and Central Oklahoma, which received 16 votes.  FHSU split a doubleheader with UCO last week, stopping the Bronchos’ 35-game home winning streak.

FHSU returns to action this weekend for conference doubleheaders with Lincoln on Saturday (March 29) and Lindenwood on Sunday (March 30) at Tiger Stadium.

The complete NFCA Rankings for March 26 are below…

Rank	Team (First Place Votes)	Record	Points	Previous
1	West Texas A&M (12)	27-4	396	1
2	California Baptist (3)	30-7	379	3
3	Armstrong Atl. St. (1)	24-6	358	4
4	Tampa	23-4	330	10
5	St. Mary’s (TX)	31-4	307	7
6	Humboldt State	28-9	305	6
7	Wayne State (MI)	20-4	303	8
8	Alabama-Huntsville	21-5	295	2
9	Emporia State	26-7	281	12
10	Missouri-St. Louis	16-2	226	13
11	Augustana (SD)	17-4	210	5
12	Angelo State	24-9	203	11
13	Caldwell	10-1	195	17
14	Lenoir Rhyne	25-6	184	21
15	North Georgia	26-8	168	9
16	Cal St. Monterey Bay	22-5	166	14
17	Shippensburg	15-3	156	16
18	Valdosta State	27-8	135	RV
19	UC San Diego	18-4	90	19
20	Winona State	17-3	81	20
21	W. Virginia Wesleyan	18-6	68	22
22	Palm Beach Atlantic	21-6	65	24
23	LIU Post	13-3	62	RV
24	Midwestern State	23-9	55	RV
25	Truman State	18-5	33	RV

Dropped Out of Poll:  No. 15 North Alabama (28-8), No. 18 Texas Woman’s (20-10), No. 23 Southern New Hampshire (10-3), No. 25 Dixie State (27-8).

Others Receiving Votes: Dixie State (24), Catawba (23), North Alabama (22), Texas Woman’s (21), Central Oklahoma (16), Fort Hays State (9), Southern New Hampshire (8), Georgia College (6), Bellarmine (5), Indianapolis (4), Urbana (4), Western Oregon (4), New Haven (3).