Fort Hays State Baseball (15-31, 10-23 MIAA)
vs. Newman (5-42, 2-31 MIAA)
Thursday-Saturday, April 30-May 2, 2026
Hays, Kan. • Larks Park
Thursday - 3 p.m. • Friday - 6 p.m. • Saturday - 1 p.m.
Promotions: Friday - Pack the Park • Saturday - Senior Day
 
The Fort Hays State baseball team returns home to wrap up the regular season this week (April 30-May 2) when the Tigers host Newman in a three-game conference series. Action from Larks Park is slated to begin at 3 p.m. on Thursday, 6 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday.
 
Fort Hays State enters the final weekend of the regular season 15-31 overall and 10-23 in MIAA play, while the Jets are 5-42 on the year and 2-31 in conference action. The Tigers sit in 11th place in the conference standings with three games to play, one game behind Northeastern State. With the RiverHawks' 2-1 series win over FHSU last week, the Tigers will need to pass NSU in the standings to earn the 10th and final spot in the MIAA Championship Tournament, set for May 6-10 in Edmond, Okla. The RiverHawks finish the regular season at Emporia State.
 
Friday's game will be the annual Pack the Park event, featuring free admission courtesy of game sponsor Bison Crop Insurance. Concession specials include $2.50 sandwiches and $2 beverages. FHSU baseball alumni will receive free food and drinks thanks to sponsors Kansas Farm Bureau - Danny Dinkel and Dusty Washburn, High Plains Roofing, Haselhorst Construction, Insurance Planning, GB Feeds and Dreher Guttering. Free t-shirts will be given away to the first 250 fans in attendance thanks to the support of Redeem Designs, RD Graphics, Simpson Farm Enterprises, Inc. and the Insurance Guys.
 
Saturday's contest will be Senior Day, with the Tigers honoring Antonio Avila, Cody Bruss, Kaleb Carpenter, Tytin Goebel, Cooper Howell, Erick Ordonez and Derek Woolwine before their final regular season home game.
 
Admission is free once again this season at Larks Park, while live video will be available on The MIAA Network. Subscriptions cost $15 per game, $35 for a monthly subscription or $140 for an all-access pass. Live stats will be available online here. Live radio coverage will be available Friday on KJLS 103.3 FM, with voice of the Tigers Gerard Wellbrock on the call.
 
Eight Tigers are batting .300 or better, helping FHSU to a team average of .294. Gehrig Heckathorn leads the team with a batting average of .366 in 12 games played, with Antonio Avila close behind at .363 in 44 games.
 
Avila leads the team with 16 doubles, 48 runs and 16 stolen bases, while Derek Woolwine paces the squad with 26 extra-base hits (15 doubles and 11 home runs) and 42 RBI.
 
Brandon Chavez has picked up 57 strikeouts in 38.1 innings on the mound, averaging 13.4 punchouts per nine innings. Cody Bruss and Tucker Russell have a team-high three wins each, while Brett Jacobs has tallied three saves.
 
The Tigers are 28-34-1 all-time against Newman, including a 4-5 record during the Justin Wichert era. Fort Hays State took two out of three on the road against the Jets last season.
 
Newman is hitting .259 as a team, with Kaynan Kaku (.377 average) and Nicolas Ely (.344) both hitting north of .300. Justin Birch has hit a team-high eight home runs and is tied with Ely with a team-best .538 slugging percentage. Jaden Talle and Alex Gillig are tied for the team lead with 28 strikeouts each.