PITTSBURG, Kan. – Fort Hays State won a pair of non-conference games against Pittsburg State on Friday (Mar. 1), moving to 7-4 overall on the season. The Tigers won by scores of 5-4 and 6-0, led by a 5-for-7, two home run, five RBI day from Bailey Boxberger and a complete-game shutout from Hailey Chapman. Pittsburg State dropped to 7-8 overall.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 5, Pittsburg State 4
A solo home run by Bailey Boxberger in the seventh inning proved to be the game winner for Fort Hays State in the first contest of the afternoon. Boxberger finished the game 4-of-4 at the plate with 2 RBIs.

The Tigers took an early 1-0 lead on Boxberger’s first RBI of the game, a single up the middle that plated Grace Philop in the first inning. Pittsburg State countered with a pair of runs on a two-out, two-RBI single by Makenzie Goswick in the bottom half of the inning. That produced the only lead of the day by the Gorillas, a 2-1 advantage after an inning.

Philop instantly pushed the Tigers back in front in the second inning with a bases-clearing, two-out double to left center field. Jeni Mohr, Lily Sale, and Katie Adler all came in to score on the play.

Philop’s double in the second stood as the game’s decisive hit until the sixth when Pittsburg State rallied for a pair of runs to tie the game at 4-4. Michaelanne Nelson settled into the circle during the second through fifth innings, but ran into trouble in the sixth when the Gorillas opened the inning with a single, RBI double, and a walk. Hailey Chapman took over in the circle and hit the first batter she saw, which loaded the bases with no outs. Chapman got a strikeout before a grounder to second base tied the game. Chapman escaped further damage by getting another strikeout to end the threat.

Already 3-for-3 at the plate, Boxberger blasted her solo homer to left field in the seventh to push the Tigers back in front and then Chapman mowed through the heart of the Gorilla order in the bottom half of the inning with a strikeout, flyout, and another strikeout. Chapman picked up the win for FHSU in relief, moving to 3-2, with her only runner allowed being the batter she hit in the sixth. It was just the start of a dominating day for Chapman in the circle. Nelson went 5.0 innings in her start, allowing four runs on six hits and four walks, while striking out four.

Shelby Smith took the loss for PSU, moving to 3-3 on the season. She allowed 11 hits and three walks with three strikeouts in her complete game effort.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 6, Pittsburg State 0
Already warmed up from getting the final six outs of game one, Hailey Chapman continued to navigate through the Gorilla lineup by hurling a four-hit complete game shutout in game two. She struck out five and did not allow any walks.

Chapman locked in a pitcher’s duel with Sierra Thompson for the first three innings as the teams went into the fourth inning scoreless. The Tigers finally solved Thompson in the fourth when they strung together four consecutive singles by Megan Feiner, Jeni Mohr, Lily Sale, and then Terran Caldwell. Caldwell’s bases-loaded, two-RBI single up the middle with two outs broke the scoreless tie and put the Tigers up 2-0.

A Grace Philop single and Sara Breckbill walk to open the fifth inning put an end to Thompson’s day in the circle handing the ball to game-one starter Shelby Smith. Her first challenge in relief was the person she could not get out in game one, Bailey Boxberger. The trend continued as Boxberger launched a ball over the right field wall for a three-run home run, pushing the Tiger lead to 5-0. Boxberger finished the day 5-for-5 against Smith, reaching base all six times against her in the doubleheader with two home runs, three singles, and a walk.

Breckbill tacked on an insurance run in the sixth with an RBI double, but it was plenty for Chapman in her march toward a complete-game win. Chapman retired the side in order in three of the seven innings. Chapman moved to 4-2 on the season by picking up the win in both games.

Tiger Notes
-Bailey Boxberger went 5-for-7 at the plate with 2 home runs and 5 RBIs. She was 5-for-5 against Shelby Smith in the doubleheader and reached base in all six plate appearances against her.
-Hailey Chapman averaged a strikeout per inning, fanning nine over nine innings of work for the day with no runs allowed. She has 31 strikeouts through 28.2 innings of work this season. She had a WHIP of 0.56 for the day.
-Fort Hays State outhit Pittsburg State 23-10 in the doubleheader.
-Seven of Fort Hays State’s 11 runs on the day came with two outs. The two home runs on the day by Boxberger that produced the other four runs came with less than two outs.

Up Next
Fort Hays State travels to Springfield, Missouri on Saturday to take on Drury University in another doubleheader. Game time is set for 12 pm.

BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped a pair of games to Southwest Baptist Friday afternoon (March 1) at Dodson Field. The Tigers were one run short in the opener, falling 7-6 before their bats went silent in a 6-0 loss in the nightcap. Because the series was originally scheduled as a home series for the Tigers, Fort Hays State played as the home team in both contests. The Tigers (0-13, 0-5 MIAA) and Bearcats (8-6, 3-2 MIAA) will wrap up the series Saturday (March 2) beginning at 11 a.m.

Game One: Southwest Baptist 7, Fort Hays State 6
The Tigers had chances early and often in game one, with runners reaching base in all but one inning in the opener. Fort Hays State scored the first run of the game after four consecutive walks in the first inning.

The Tigers extended their lead to 3-0 when they tacked on a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth. Marcus McDaniel plated Garrett Francis with an RBI groundout before Tyler Olson came home to score on an error. A walk to Ryan Stoecklein and a single from Taylan Mullins-Ohm once again loaded the bases, but SBU got out of the jam with a flyout.

After managing just three hits over the first four innings against Tiger starter Jake Steinbring, Southwest Baptist got things going in the fifth inning. The Bearcats took the lead after pushing four runs across, two of which were unearned.

Fort Hays State tied things up with a big two-out base hit from Mullins-Ohm in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ryan Grasser worked a walk before swiping second, allowing the senior to come around to score when Mullins-Ohm sent a single back up the middle to center.

SBU took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. Grasser helped the Tigers close within one in the bottom of the eighth when he plated Olson with a ground ball to short.

After the Bearcats went back in front by two in the top of the ninth, 7-5, the home half of the inning opened with Landon Erway being hit by a pitch. A double from Francis and a walk to Jared Maneth loaded the bases yet again for the Tigers with the top of the lineup due up. A pitch hit Olson in the following at bat, closing the gap to one after Erway came in to score. After going to the bullpen, SBU got out of the jam with a popup and a flyout to lock down the win.

Francis collected three of FHSU’s seven hits, finishing 3-for-5 with a run. Mullins-Ohm reached base four times, turning in a 2-for-3 effort with an RBI and two walks.

Steinbring completed 4.2 innings before being removed, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out four. Ryan Ruder (0-2) suffered the loss after tossing 4.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits.

Game Two: Southwest Baptist 6, Fort Hays State 0
After leaving 15 runners on base in the opener, the Tigers managed just four baserunners in game two. SBU starter Dalton Morrow controlled the game on the bump, tossing a complete game shutout while striking out 11 and allowing just three hits.

Southwest Baptist clubbed a pair of home runs over the first two innings to provide all the run support Morrow would need.

Garrett Francis, Isaas Soares and Cody Starkel all singled in the loss. Ethan Booe (0-2) was credited with the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits and three walks over 6.0 innings of work. The freshman struck out three on the day. Ryan Brown struck out two in one inning of relief while Tanner Smith struck out four and did not give up a hit over two innings out of the pen.

HAYS, Kan. – Marcus Cooper and Devin Davis both hit two free throws in the final seven seconds and Fort Hays State scored the final six points to edge No. 25 Missouri Southern State 89-84 Thursday night at Gross Coliseum. The Tigers rallied from a 12-point first half deficit for their fifth straight home win over the Lions and lock up a fourth place finish in the MIAA.

Mark Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers (17-10, 11-7 MIAA) led by four early but a 10-0 Lions run put them eight with 11 minutes to play in the first half. On strength on red-hot 3-point shooting, MSSU (22-6, 13-5 MIAA) extended their lead to 12 at the 5:11 mark. FHSU closed the half on a 12-4 run and pulled within four on Nyjee Wright’s tip in at the horn.

Marcus Cooper scored the first two baskets of the second half to tie the game 41-41. A Brady Werth jumper gave the Tigers their biggest lead at 65-60 with just under 10 minutes to play but Southern answered with back-to-back threes to pull within one.

The last nine minutes saw seven ties and seven lead changes with the Tigers taking the lead for good a Trey O’Neil layup with 20 seconds to play.

Marcus Cooper got a key steal in the lane and was intentionally fouled with seven seconds to play. After hitting both free throws. Devin Davis was fouled on the ensuing inbound and hit both of his free throws with six seconds left to seal the win.

Brady Werth led the Tigers with 19 points and nine rebounds before fouling out with a little over two minutes to play. Marcus Cooper added 18 points and seven boards. Jared Vitztum scored 11 and had six rebounds and Kyler Kinnamon scored all 10 of his points in the second half and dished out seven assists with one turnover and four steals.

Cam Martin led the Lions with 29 points and eight boards. Braelon Walker scored all of his 17 points in the second half while Kinzer Lambert added 16.

The Tigers close out the regular season Saturday afternoon against Pittsburg State where they will honor seniors Brady Werth, Kyler Kinnamon, Marcus Cooper, Trey O’Neil and Grant Holmes.

HAYS, Kan. – Belle Barbieri had her third double-double of the season and led four Tigers in double figures as Fort Hays State cruised to a 79-59 win over Missouri Southern State Thursday at Gross Coliseum. Barbieri scored 18 and had 11 rebounds, Kacey Kennett added 17 points, Tatyana Legette scored 14 and Whitney Randall had 10.

Tony Hobson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

The Tigers (26-1, 17-1 MIAA) raced out to a 9-0 lead and never led by less than six. A 12-0 run pushed their lead to 18 midway through the second quarter and were up as many as 23 on a couple occasions in the second half.

FHSU shot 47-percent from the floor and outscored the Lions (13-15, 5-13 MIAA) 25-14 off of turnovers and 17-8 on second chance points.

MSSU was led by Chelsey Henry’s 12 points. Layne Skiles came off the bench to add 10.

The Tigers, who received their MIAA Championship trophy at halftime of the men’s game,  close out the regular season at home Saturday afternoon against Pittsburg State. It will be Senior Day as the honor Tatyana Legette and Carly Heim.

INDIANAPOLIS – Despite a pair of convincing road victories last week, the third-ranked Fort Hays State women’s basketball team moved to No. 2 in the latest set of NCAA Division II Central Region rankings, released Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 27). It is the second of three announcements of regional rankings that will be released before the NCAA Championship bracket is filled in on March 10.

The 25-1 Tigers dropped behind 25-1 Southwestern Oklahoma State, who also collected a pair of wins last week. Both teams have two regular season games remaining before entering the postseason.

The same 10 teams are listed in this week’s rankings as last week’s initial release, with three teams jumping one spot. Minnesota State-Moorhead climbed to No. 3, passing Central Missouri, while Lindenwood passed Pittsburg State for the No. 8 spot.

Fort Hays State is 5-1 against teams listed in the top 10 in the Central Region this week, with another game against Pittsburg State on tap Saturday. SWOSU is 0-1 against the rest of the Central Region top 10.

The champions of the MIAA, GAC and NSIC tournaments will all earn an automatic bid into the NCAA Championship field, with the next five teams in the region also earning an at-large selection. The top team in the region earns the right to host the regional tournament, which will be held March 15-18.

The Tigers return to Gross Memorial Coliseum to wrap up the regular season with two games this week. Fort Hays State will host Missouri Southern on Thursday (Feb. 28) at 5:30 p.m. before the aforementioned season finale against Pittsburg State Saturday (March 2) at 2 p.m.

The complete NCAA Division II Central Region rankings for February 27, 2019 can be found below.

Rank School Overall DII Record In-Region Record Last Week
1 Southwestern Oklahoma State 25-1 25-1 2
2 Fort Hays State 22-1 22-1 1
3 Minnesota State-Moorhead 23-5 21-5 4
4 Central Missouri 20-5 18-4 3
5 Minnesota Duluth 19-6 19-6 5
6 Emporia State 18-6 18-6 6
7 Concordia-St. Paul 19-6 19-6 7
8 Lindenwood (Missouri) 19-5 19-5 9
9 Pittsburg State 17-6 16-6 8
10 Washburn 17-8 15-8 10