Fort Hays State Baseball (0-0)
at University of Colorado Colorado Springs (0-0)
Friday-Sunday, January 30-February 1, 2026
Colorado Springs, Colo. • Mountain Lion Park
Friday - 2 p.m. (1 p.m. MT)
Saturday - 1 p.m. (noon MT)
Sunday - noon (11 a.m. MT)
 
The Fort Hays State baseball team will open the 2026 season this weekend (Jan. 30-Feb. 1) with a three-game series at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. The Tigers and Mountain Lions are slated for a single game each day, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. (1 p.m. MT) on Friday, 1 p.m. (noon MT) on Saturday and noon (11 a.m. MT) on Sunday.
 
The Tigers were originally scheduled to travel to Hot Springs, Ark. for the Mike Dugan Collegiate Baseball Invitational, but lingering effects from last weekend's major winter storm prompted the change in schedule.
 
Live video will be available via the RMAC Network at a cost of $10 per game or $25 for a month-long pass. Live stats will be available online here.
 
Fort Hays State is coming off a 32-16 record last season, the first 30-win campaign for the team since 2010. FHSU's 32 wins were the most for the team since 2007 while the 16 losses were the fewest for the squad since 2004.
 
The Tigers were picked sixth in last week's MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll, the same position they were picked last year before finishing the year third in the league standings.
 
The Tigers return 12 players from last season while head coach Justin Wichert has added 27 newcomers to this year's roster, including 15 transfers and 12 freshmen. Three returners earned All-MIAA honors last season, including first team relief pitcher Brandon Chavez, second team designated hitter Derek Woolwine and honorable mention second baseman Tony Moore.
 
Wichert is entering his fourth season at the helm at FHSU. He was the 2025 Steve Anson MIAA Coach of the Year and has guided the Tigers to a 77-72 record over the last three seasons. Including four years as skipper at Trinidad State College, Wichert holds a collegiate head coaching record of 189-155 across seven seasons.
 
The Mountain Lions were picked to finish fourth in the RMAC Preseason Coaches Poll. UCCS turned in a record of 23-26 last season, qualifying for the conference tournament for the first time since 2022. Starting pitcher Ryder Mancuso was named to the Preseason All-RMAC team after leading the team with 59 strikeouts last season.
 
The Tigers and Mountain Lions split a doubleheader at Larks Park in the first meetings in series history last season. FHSU won the opener, 6-3, before UCCS took the nightcap, 8-2. Former RMAC rivals in other sports, UCCS did not sponsor baseball as an intercollegiate sport until 2017.
 
Looking ahead, the Tigers will next travel to Arkadelphia, Ark. for the Henderson State Invitational next weekend (Feb. 6-8). FHSU will take on Ouachita Baptist on Friday, Harding and Henderson State on Saturday and Harding again on Sunday.