Sports – Page 779 – Hays Post Archive

Tiger Softball Wins First Two at MIAA Championships

Posted on April 27, 2012April 27, 2012

The Fort Hays State softball team earned a pair of wins on the first day of the MIAA Championship Tournament. In game number one the third seeded Tigers matched up with the six seed Pittsburg State Gorillas. FHSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Taylor Nelson led off the home half of the 1st inning with a solo homer, her seventh. Fort Hays added to their lead when Maddie Holub scored on a wild pitch and Kellsi Olsen doubled in two giving the Tigers a 4-0 lead after three. Maddie Holub hit her eighth home run of the season in the 4th inning as the Tigers picked up a 7-2 win. Holub also turned in a great performance on the mound to earned the complete game win. For the third time this season and the second time against the Gorillas, Holub struck out 16. The win is the 18th of the season for Holub, that gives her a school record for wins in a season, breaking the record held by Brittany Parker and Kayla Rupa.

In game two the Tigers found themselves in a pitchers duel in game number two with Missouri Western. Once against FHSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the home half of the first inning on Maddie Holub’s second home run of the day and her ninth of the season. Neither team was able to plate another run until Missouri Western tied the game with a Keri Lorbert homerun in the 4th inning. In the Tigers’ half of the 4th Callie Wright led of the inning with a walk. Adriana Wortley sacrifice Wright too second and then freshman outfielder Amanda Vaupel singled home the eventual go-ahead run. The Griffons out hit the Tigers, 7-4, but FHSU was able to earn the victory and advance on the face Emporia State with the winner playing in the championship game. Once again it was Holub earning the win, her 19th of the season.

The Tigers and Hornets will play at 3pm on Friday.

Coaches Post Game Comments
coachs interview

Holub and Nelson Named 1st Team MIAA

Posted on April 26, 2012

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Three members of Emporia State’s 2012 MIAA Softball Regular Season Championship team earned spots on the All-MIAA First Team to highlight the all-conference team announced Thursday by the league office. The selections were made by the league’s 11 head coaches, and coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.

Pittsburg State shortstop Amanda “Mannie” DeCastro was named the MIAA Player of the Year after a season in which she held a .913 slugging percentage, tops in the conference, was second in the league with a .447 batting average, and led the MIAA in RBIs with 54. The senior from Carl Junction, Mo., was also an All-MIAA First Team selection.

Missouri Western sophomore Jackie Bishop is the MIAA Pitcher of the Year. The Kirksville, Mo., native led the MIAA with a 0.97 ERA, led the conference in wins with a 22-2 record, and was second in the league with 210 strikeouts. Bishop was the lone unanimous All-MIAA First Team selection.

Fort Hays State first baseman Adriana Wortley was voted the MIAA Defensive Player of the Year after ranking seventh in the conference with a .986 fielding percentage and finishing fourth in the league with 273 putouts. The senior from Tacoma, Wash., also earned a spot on the All-MIAA Second Team.

Emporia State designated player Stephanie Goodwin was honored as the MIAA Freshman of the Year after a season in which she led the MIAA with a .454 batting average, was second in the league with an .807 slugging percentage, and tied for third in the league with 43 runs scored. The Overland Park, Kan., product also earned All-MIAA First Team honors.

Emporia State head coach Julie LeMaire was selected as MIAA Coach of the Year after guiding the Hornets to a perfect 20-0 record in conference play and the eighth MIAA Softball Championship in school history. ESU is the first team in MIAA history to go undefeated in a complete round robin conference season. The Hornets set a league record with the 20 MIAA wins.

Fort Hays State, Missouri Western, Pittsburg State, and Washburn tied for the second-most first-team selections with two, followed by Truman with one.

2012 ALL-MIAA SOFTBALL TEAM

PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Amanda DeCastro, Sr., SS, Pittsburg State

PITCHER OF THE YEAR
Jackie Bishop, So., Missouri Western

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Adriana Wortley, Sr., 1B, Fort Hays State

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR
Stephanie Goodwin, DP, Emporia State

COACH OF THE YEAR
Julie LeMaire, Emporia State

FIRST TEAM
P: Jackie Bishop, So., Missouri Western** [r1]
P: Maddie Holub, Jr., Fort Hays State
C: Amanda Self, Jr., Emporia State
1B: Tricia Vogel, So., Emporia State
2B: Taylor Nelson, Sr., Fort Hays State
SS: Amanda DeCastro, Sr., Pittsburg State
3B: Alex Zordel, Jr., Washburn
OF: Maegan Roemmich, Jr., Missouri Western
OF: Bridget Schade, Sr., Truman
OF: Kacy Covert, Sr., Washburn
DP: Stephanie Goodwin, Fr., Emporia State
UT: Cheslyn Mitchell, Fr., Pittsburg State

**Unanimous Selection
[r1] – Repeat first team selection from last season

SECOND TEAM
P: Karley Schmelzer, Jr., Emporia State
P: Kelsea Dorsey, Fr., Truman
C: Callie Wright, So., Fort Hays State
1B: Adriana Wortley, Sr., Fort Hays State
2B: Blair Stalder, Sr., Missouri Western
SS: Taylor Zordel, Fr., Emporia State
3B: Jessica Gragg, Fr., Emporia State
OF: Brenna George, So., Pittsburg State
OF: Jessica Brewer, Jr., Emporia State
OF: Breanna Volkmann, Sr., Missouri Southern
DP: Tiffany Brown, So., Pittsburg State
UT: Keri Lorbert, Jr., Missouri Western

HONORABLE MENTION
Central Missouri: Braylyn Bivens, So., SS; Katie Groves, Sr., 3B; Ashlea Bengtson, Jr., OF; Alex Groeger, So., OF; Jaydee Young, Sr., OF; Jakki Prater, Fr., UT.

Emporia State: Jennifer Heerey, Sr., P; Taylor Reichard, So., 2B; Andrea Piezuch, So., OF.

Fort Hays State: Chelsey Rottinghaus, Jr., 3B; Amanda Vaupel, Fr., OF.

Lincoln: Megan Braun, Sr., OF.

Missouri Southern: Lydia Niemegeers, Sr., C; Shelby Romines, So., 1B; Brianna Fulkerson, Sr., 2B.

Missouri Western: Annalee Rubio, Jr., P; Kat Steponovich, So., C; Leah Steele, Sr., 1B; Taylor Anding, So., SS; Sarah Elliott, Jr., 3B; Bre Fleschner, Fr., OF; Kendall Sorensen, Jr., OF.

Northwest Missouri: Jenna Creger, Jr., P; Hailee Hendricks, Jr., 2B; Kristen Uthe, Jr., 3B; Kayli Schurman, Jr., DP.

Pittsburg State: Hilary Erbert, Sr., P; Jessica Barnes, So., P; Kreslee Ketcham, Jr., C.

Southwest Baptist: Jessica Colliver, Fr., P; Kassy Williamson, Jr., UT.

Truman: Elizabeth Leath, Fr., C; Laura Miller, Jr., OF; Katie Pitts, Sr., OF; Kelsey Bollman, So., UT.

Washburn: Katie Schroeder, So., 2B.

-MIAA SPORTS INFORMATION-

Mendoza, Clutch Hitting Lead Royals to Second Straight Win

Posted on April 26, 2012

KC Royals at Cleveland — Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Luis Mendoza (39) delivers in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field. Mendoza pitched into the sixth for his first win of the season. David Richard-US PRESSWIRE

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Luis Mendoza picked up his first win of the season and Kansas City won a series for just the second time in 2012 with a 4-2 victory over Cleveland on Thursday afternoon.

Mendoza (1-2) allowed two runs on four hits over five-plus innings, and the Royals’ bullpen pitched four scoreless frames for Kansas City’s first series victory since it opened the season by taking 2-of-3 from the Angels.

Jonathan Broxton worked around a hit and a walk in the ninth to record his second save.

Travis Hafner and Aaron Cunningham drove in runs for the Indians, who received 4 2/3 innings from Josh Tomlin (1-2) in a losing effort. He surrendered four runs on eight hits with two walks.

Kansas City put a run on the board in the top of the first, but missed an opportunity for a big inning. Tomlin gave up a pair of hits around a walk to the first three batters, but was able to get Eric Hosmer to ground into a double play and Jeff Francoeur to ground out.

Yuniesky Betancourt scored on the double play, but Tomlin escaped without further damage.

Cleveland’s starter could not avoid a string of two-out hits in the fifth, however. With Alex Gordon and Billy Butler aboard, Jeff Francoeur began the rally with a liner to left, plating Gordon. Mike Moustakas brought home Butler on a grounder through the hole into right, spelling the end of Tomlin’s afternoon.

He was lifted for Dan Wheeler, who gave up a run-scoring base hit to Brayan Pena but got the third out without another run.

Aaron Cunningham singled home Jose Lopez in the home third to get the Indians on the board.

A bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the sixth trimmed their deficit to two runs, but a strikeout followed by a soft groundout prevented them from pulling any closer.

– Sports Network –

Royals Hit Four Home Runs To End 12-game Losing Streak

Posted on April 26, 2012April 26, 2012

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Alex Gordon hit a three-run home run and Billy Butler added two homers as Kansas City snapped a 12-game losing streak with an 8-2 win over Cleveland in the second of a three-game set.

Butler hit a two-run and solo homer while Eric Hosmer contributed a two-run homer for the Royals, who hadn’t won a game since defeating Oakland on April 10th. Luke Hochevar (2-1) gave up just two runs on four hits over 6 1/3 innings for the win.

“We’ve been waiting for that first win to stop the streak and it’s nice,” said Hosmer. “Luke really did a good job for us in keeping them quiet tonight and the bats did a good job.”

Travis Hafner and Aaron Cunningham each drove in a run for the Indians, who had won four of five coming into the game. Ubaldo Jimenez (2-1) gave up four runs on six hits over six innings to take the loss.

“I wasn’t able to control my breaking balls and as the game went on my fastball got worse,” said Jimenez.

Kansas City got on the board in the first inning as Chris Getz led off with a walk and, two batter later, Butler clubbed a pitch over the right field wall for his third homer of the season and a 2-0 lead.

The score remained that way until the fifth when Gordon hit a one-out single and, after Butler popped out, Hosmer hit his fifth homer of the season for a 4-0 lead.

Cleveland got on the board in the sixth. Michael Brantley hit a one-out single and moved to second on a passed ball. Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana then worked walks to load the bases and Hafner hit into a fielder’s choice to score one run. Hochevar limited the damage by striking out Shelley Duncan to end the inning.

Hochevar was chased from the game in the seventh after walking Jason Kipnis with one out and Tommy Hottovy then took the mound. After hitting Casey Kotchman with a pitch, Cunningham punched a single to center to make it a 4-2 game.

Brantley then struck out and Aaron Crow took over on the mound, getting Cabrera to fly out and end the frame.

The Royals, though, put the game away in the top of the ninth courtesy of the long ball as Gordon hit a three-run homer and Butler followed with his second of the game for an 8-2 lead and Jose Mijares set the Indians down in order to close the game.

– Sports Network –

Holub Named Louisville Slugger Division II Pitcher of the Week

Posted on April 26, 2012April 26, 2012

Sophomore Jessica Rourke of Lewis and junior Maddie Holub of Fort Hays State have been named as the Louisville Slugger Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played April 16-22.

Holub was 4-0 in the circle last week, allowing just one earned run and eight hits over 31 complete innings. The junior also fanned 57 batters over six appearances, while walking just six. She ended the week with a 0.22 ERA, a .077 opponent’s batting average and 12.9 strikeouts per seven innings.

The Hays, Kan., native tossed the first no-hitter of her career on Tuesday in a 1-0 win over Northwest Missouri State in which she struck out 13 batters. Holub also notched three 10-plus strikeout performances last week, with a high of 16 coming in a 5-1 win over Pittsburg State. She finished the week with three complete games and two shutouts.

Holub is currently 17-8 on the year with a 1.64 ERA and 279 strikeouts. She currently ranks third in the nation in both strikeouts and hit per seven innings with 11.2 and 3.68, respectively, and is fourth in total strikeouts.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Busboom’s Grand Slam Lifts FHSU Past Bethany

Posted on April 25, 2012

Fort Hays State pulled out a wild 17-13 win over Bethany College on Tuesday night in Hays. Ryan Busboom delivered a walk-off grand slam in the ninth, part of a 3-home run, 7-RBI performance. The Tigers improved to 23-19 with the win.

The game was a see-saw battle throughout the night. Both teams scored two in the first and three in the second, but FHSU took its first lead of 6-5 with one in the third. Busboom’s first home run of the night, a two-run shot, came in the first.

Bethany tied the game once again with one in the fourth, but FHSU retook the lead in the fifth at 7-6 on Busboom’s second home run of the game, a solo shot. Bethany knotted the score with a run in the top of the sixth, but FHSU pulled back ahead on a Nash Smith two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.

With the Tigers leading 9-7, the game was delayed in the top of the seventh due to lightning observed by the umpires. It was a confusing moment for the teams and fans, since the storm was not even in the vicinity of Hays. Instead of waiting the entire 30 minutes for lightning, the teams resumed play after about 20 minutes once the situation was properly assessed.

The break was not good to the Tigers, as Bethany came out and scored six runs in the top of the seventh following the delay to take a 13-9 lead. FHSU turned to reigning MIAA Pitcher of the Week Brett Macari to shut the door on the Swedes the rest of the way as he pitched the final 2 1/3 innings of the game.

The Tigers scored once in the seventh on a Sam Thornton infield RBI single, then scored twice in the eighth on a Mace Krol sacrifice fly RBI and a Brandon Hoefler RBI single. The Tigers entered the ninth down 13-12.

The Tigers immediately started the rally in the ninth as Luke Kordsmeier was hit by a pitch. Chris Santoscoy pinch ran and Thornton layed down a successful sacrifice bunt to get him in scoring position. Smith followed that with a RBI double to the left center gap to tie the game.

From that point, the Tigers drew two walks to load the bases and set the stage for Busboom with one out. Busboom hit a long foul ball down the line that Bethany let fall, because it would have been deep enough to score Smith from third. However, instead of a sacrifice fly RBI, Busboom pulled another pitch down the left field line that cleared the wall and gave the Tigers to walk-off win. Busboom finished the night 5-of-6 at the plate with three home runs, one double, and one single.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Royals Losing Streak Reaches 12 After 4-3 Loss in Cleveland

Posted on April 25, 2012

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Jack Hannahan’s two-run double highlighted a three-run fifth, as Cleveland sent Kansas City to its 12th straight loss with a 4-3 decision in the opener of a three-game series.

Shelley Duncan and Carlos Santana knocked in a run each for the Indians, who have won four of five overall.

Derek Lowe (3-1) worked six strong innings, scattering eight hits and one run while fanning five. The veteran was able to claim victory despite his Florida home being burglarized earlier in the week, at the cost of his 2004 World Series ring and other losses totaling $90,000.

“This has obviously been a tough week,” Lowe admitted. “It was nice to get back to work today. We played really good defense all around.”

Chris Perez allowed an RBI hit from Billy Butler to pull KC within a run in the ninth, but after an Eric Hosmer single, retired Jeff Francoeur on a grounder to end the game and earn his seventh save.

Mitch Maier finished with three hits and two RBI for the Royals, who haven’t won since April 10 at Oakland.

Jonathan Sanchez (1-1) lasted 4 2/3 frames, allowing four hits and four runs with a season-high seven walks.

Asdrubal Cabrera began the deciding frame with a walk, Santana also walked with one down and Travis Hafner’s base on balls filled the sacks. Duncan lifted a fly to center which scored Cabrera then Hannahan stroked a double to right which brought in two more for a seemingly-safe 4-1 edge.

“It was a good pitch,” said Sanchez of Hannahan’s key hit. “I hit my spot there, but he just got after it.”

But the visitors got one back in the eighth when Maier’s double with runners on the corners and two out plated Hosmer, then made sure Perez worked through trouble in the final frame.

Chris Getz hit a leadoff double and moved to third on an Alez Gordon dribbler to the mound. He scored on Butler’s grounder to short for a 4-3 game, but Francoeur’s ball was snapped up by Hannahan, who flipped to second for the final out.

Cleveland picked up a run in the first as Jason Kipnis was plunked, moved to third when Cabrera followed with a double and came in on Santana’s fly to left.

KC equalized in the fourth as Mike Moustakas singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch, reached third on a line out and scored on Maier’s single.

– Sports Network –

HHS Sweeps Larned, Runs Win Streak To Five

Posted on April 25, 2012

The Hays High Indians have won five in-a-row after taking a pair in Larned Tuesday. The Indians (9-1) win the opener 14-0 in five innigns then take game two 12-3. They return to Western Athletic Conference play Friday when they host Garden City at 4pm.

Game 1: Hays High 14, Larned 0, 5 innings
Chase Young pitched a complete game one-hitter, striking out seven while walking only one.

Zach Legleiter hit a grand slam in the first inning and finished with five RBI’s.

Hays scored four in the first, three in the second, two in the third and five in the fourth.

Game 2: Hays High 12, Larned 3
Josh Heifner picks up the win after allowing two unearned runs on five hits over five innings.

Riley Kaus and Trevor Henningson both hits three-run homers. Hayden Hutchison, Jake Sedbrook, Chase Young and Tyler Wooldridge all doubled.

The Indians broke a 1-1 tie, scoring six in the second.

TMP-Marian Baseball Sweeps Russell

Posted on April 24, 2012April 25, 2012

The Thomas More Prep – Marian baseball team has now won 11 straight games after earning a sweep over Russell (1-11) in Tuesday’s doubleheader at TMP Field. The Monarchs take the opener 9-3 and win game two 12-2 in six innings to improve to 11-1 on the season. They are at Salina Sacred Heart Thursday.

Brian Schumacher Postgame Interview:
Coaches Interview

Game 1: TMP-Marian 9, Russell 3

Game 1 Highlights:
TMP Highlights Game 1
After making his debut appearance on the mound last Friday in Goodland for one inning of relief pitching, sophomore Cameron Brin (1-0) made his first start in game one and earned the win by going six innings. Brin gave up three runs on six hits while striking out seven and only walking one batter.

Russell (1-11) received their first win of the season last Friday against Ellis and the Broncos were competing with TMP early on making it a 3-3 ballgame going into the bottom of the fourth inning.

The Monarchs would end up batting around in the fourth scoring five runs and forcing Russell’s starting pitcher, Brennan Walter (0-3), out of the game after pitching just three innings.

TMP’s Nick Hammeke, Taylor Pfeifer, and Pierce Schippers all had two hits each. Senior Dylan Lang relieved Brin at pitcher in the seventh inning and gave up one hit but also received a double-play ball to help out his cause to close out the game. Pfeifer returned to the lineup Tuesday afternoon for the first time since April 5th after missing four plus games due to a hip flexor injury.

Game 2: TMP-Marian 12, Russell 2, 6 innings

Game 2 Highlights:
TMP Highlights Game 2

TMP had three explosive innings with the bats and again received solid outings on the mound by their young pitchers.

TMP’s freshman Kameron Schmidt (1-0) made his first start and pitched four innings which turned out to be good enough for the win. Schmidt gave up two runs on five hits while striking out three and walking two batters.

The Monarchs had big scoring frames in the first, fourth, and fifth innings plating four, four, and three runners respectively. TMP batted around in the first and fifth innings and sent 10 to the plate in the fourth inning. Russell’s sophomore Kaden Rohr (0-3) was tagged with the loss pitching 3 2/3 innings.

Hammeke went 3-for-4 in the second game and hit the RBI single in the sixth inning to give TMP a 10-run lead and finish the game due to the mercy rule. Hammeke finished the doubleheader 5-for-7 from the plate and is now batting .514 on the season.

No-Hitter Helps Holub Earn MIAA Pitcher of the Week

Posted on April 24, 2012

Fort Hays State’s Maddie Holub has been named the MIAA’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of April 17-23, as selected by a conference SID panel. This is the third time this season that Holub has earned the MIAA’s weekly honor and second as a pitcher. She previously was named the conference’s Hitter of the Week for the week of February 21 and the Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 27.

Holub started five games from the circle last week, helping the Tigers to a 5-1 record, which locked up third place in the MIAA standings and the No. 3 seed in the upcoming conference tournament. Fort Hays State was 5-0 in the games that Holub started and she finished the week with a 3-0 record and 0.27 ERA. Holub hurled the fifth no-hitter in FHSU history on Tuesday as the Tigers beat NW Missouri State 1-0 and she nearly picked up a second after throwing a one-hitter against Missouri Southern on Sunday. She tied her own single-game school record with 16 strikeouts against Pittsburg State on Saturday and then almost matched it the next day with 15 more strikeouts against Missouri Southern. She started two other games during the week, and pitched a total of five innings, by design, and allowed one hit and struck out seven more batters.

Holub, a junior from Hays, recorded at least 13 strikeouts in each complete game she pitched and finished with 51 for the week in 26.0 innings of work. She only allowed seven hits as well, with six of those coming againstPittsburgState, who leads the MIAA in hits. Holub is currently 17-8 on the year, tying the FHSU record for wins in a season, and she has lowered her ERA to 1.64. She also leads the MIAA and ranks among the nation’s best with aFortHaysState single-season record 279 strikeouts.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Krol and Macari Named MIAA Players of the Week

Posted on April 24, 2012

FHSU-BSB-Krol-Macari — (FHSU Athletics Photo)

Fort Hays State baseball players Mace Krol and Brett Macari were named the MIAA Baseball Student-Athletes of the Week for the week of April 16-22. Krol earned Hitter of the Week and Macari earned Pitcher of the Week honors. Both were instrumental in a midweek victory over Nebraska-Kearney and then the four-game series at Southwest Baptist this past weekend.

Krol, a senior from Nickerson, Kan., led the Tigers in batting average (.526), hits (10), and RBI (10) last week. He started his week with four-RBI against Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday, delivering a grand slam in the fourth to put FHSU up 8-5 after trailing 5-4. It was Krol’s second consecutive grand slam home run after hitting one against Truman the previous weekend.

In the first game of the series at SBU, Krol’s RBI single in the fourth inning broke a scoreless tie. FHSU went on to win that game 4-1. In the second game on Friday, he had a pair of RBI singles and an RBI double. One of the singles was in the first inning, pushing FHSU to a 2-0 advantage. The double in the third inning pushed the FHSU lead to 3-0. With the game tied in the eighth, Krol delivered his other RBI single with two outs to give FHSU the lead and they went on to win 5-3. In the 6-3 loss, Krol had an RBI single that was part of a two-run fourth inning for the Tigers. In the series finale he had another RBI single, which was part of a five-run seventh for the Tigers in an 11-4 win.

Macari, who ranked second in the MIAA in saves last year with 12, finally had several save opportunities this past week and converted all three, pushing his total to six for the season. He allowed just one hit against the 12 batters he faced. He allowed just one walk and struck out two over that stretch. He closed out a pair of crucial conference wins for the Tigers at Southwest Baptist on Friday and had a two-inning save against Nebraska-Kearney earlier in the week. In the 4-1 win against SBU, Macari entered with FHSU leading 4-1 with runners at first and third and one out. He got the first batter he faced to ground into a double play and end the game. He pitched the entire ninth inning in the 5-3 win.

Macari has not allowed a run over his last 6.2 innings pitched and recorded five of his six saves this year in that stretch since April 7. In that time, he has seen his ERA drop from 2.70 to 1.80.

– FHSU Sports Information –

FHSU Softball No. 3 Seed For MIAA Tournament

Posted on April 22, 2012

The Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) released the bracket for the MIAA Centennial Softball Tournament on Sunday evening. The tournament begins Thursday evening at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan. Fort Hays State finished the regular season 29-17 (13-7 MIAA) and secured the No. 3 seed in the tournament.

The Tigers will face the No. 6 seed Pittsburg State on Thursday evening at 6pm. The format for the tournament is double-elimination, with all eight teams that qualified guaranteed to play at least two games on Thursday evening. Pitt State finished 11-9 in the conference standings, but their seed was adjusted following a self-reported eligibility violation. Fort Hays State swept the Gorillas by scores of 5-1 and 7-5 on Saturday at Tiger Stadium in Hays.

Following that game, the Tigers will meet either No. 2 seed Missouri Western or No. 7 seed Northwest Missouri State at 8pm on Thursday evening.

FHSU has now qualified for the conference tournament in all six years since joining the conference with the No. 3 seed they have equaled the team’s best at the event. Last season, the Tigers made it to the final day of the tournament before bowing out against Nebraska-Omaha 2-1 in the championship game.

Emporia State earned the top seed for the tournament after finishing with a 20-0 conference record while Missouri Western finished second at 18-2. Final MIAA standings and matchups for the tournament are as follows:

Final 2012 MIAA Standings:
Emporia State — 20-0 (1.000); 33-9
Missouri Western — 18-2 (.900); 37-8
Fort Hays State –13-7 (.650); 29-17
Central Missouri — 9-11 (.450); 25-28
Washburn — 9-11 (.450); 18-22
Pittsburg State — 11-9 (.435*); 29-26
Northwest Missouri — 7-13 (.350); 19-29
Lincoln — 6-14 (.300); 15-34
Truman — 6-14 (.300); 22-27
Southwest Baptist — 6-14 (.300); 16-30
Missouri Southern — 5-15 (.250); 16-35

First round matchups:
Thursday, April 26
Game 1: (1) Emporia State vs. (8) Lincoln, 6 p.m.
Game 2: (4) Central Missouri vs. (5) Washburn, 6 p.m.
Game 3: (3) Fort Hays State vs. (6) Pittsburg State, 6 p.m.
Game 4: (2) Missouri Western vs. (7) NW Missouri State, 6 p.m.
Game 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 8 p.m.
Game 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 8 p.m.
Game 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 8 p.m.
Game 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 8 p.m.

Royals Losing Streak Hits Ten With Loss To Toronto

Posted on April 22, 2012April 22, 2012

KC Royals vs Toronto — Kansas City Royals pitcher Danny Duffy (23) delivers a pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays during the forth inning at Kauffman Stadium. Peter G. Aiken-US PRESSWIRE

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Brett Lawrie knocked in two runs during a four-run fifth inning and later stole home, as the Toronto Blue Jays held off the Kansas City Royals, 5-3.

Jose Bautista and Yunel Escobar each added an RBI for the Blue Jays, who have won the first three games of this four-game set.

Ricky Romero (3-0) gave up two runs on five hits over eight innings. He struck out five and walked two.

“The defense has been tremendous for me all year and, in general, for the whole team,” Romero said. “I’m a guy that the hitters are going to hit ground balls with. I rely on my defense a lot.”

Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas each had an RBI for the Royals, who have lost nine straight at home – longest in franchise history – and 10 in a row overall.

Danny Duffy (1-2) allowed four runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings to take the loss. He fanned five and walked five.

Toronto wasted multiple scoring chances early on. With men on second and third and two outs in the first inning, Colby Rasmus struck out swinging.

The Blue Jays had a runner on third with two outs in the second, when J.P. Arencibia flied out.

Duffy gave up just one hit through the first four innings, but struggled in the fifth. Rajai Davis doubled and Arencibia walked to begin the frame. Davis stole third and scored on Yunel Escobar’s single to right. Two batters later, Bautista hit an RBI single up the middle. Edwin Encarnacion was intentionally walked to load the bases. After Rasmus struck out swinging for the second out, Lawrie hit a two-run single to right for a 4-0 margin.

“He (Duffy) couldn’t get through the fifth inning because his pitch count was so high,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “Baserunning gaffes. We ran the gamut today in just about everything.”

The Royals did manage to get two runs back in the home half of the inning. Jeff Francoeur and Moustakas singled before Humberto Quintero walked to load the bases. Alcides Escobar then grounded into a fielder’s choice to plate a run. Escobar’s throwing error on the play allowed another run to score. Jason Bourgeois and Alex Gordon grounded out to keep it 4-2.

The Blue Jays added an insurance run in the eighth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Yunel Escobar stepped to the plate. Arencibia stole second and the throw to second allowed Lawrie to steal home.

Francisco Cordero picked up his first save of the season, despite giving up a run in the ninth. With one out, Yuniesky Betancourt walked and Jeff Francoeur doubled. Betancourt scored when Moustakas’ infield single deflected off Cordero. Pinch-hitter Brayan Pena grounded into a double play to end the game.

– Sports Network –