By FHSU Sports Information
Photo courtesy FHSU SID
The Fort Hays State baseball team welcomes Nebraska-Kearney to Hays for the season series and all-time series finale Wednesday evening. The Tigers enter the contest at 13-30 overall and 5-24 in the MIAA, while the Lopers enter at 24-19 on the season and 17-11 in conference play. First pitch from Larks Park is scheduled for 6 p.m.
This will be the 190th all-time meeting between the two squads. The Tigers lead the all-time series history at 130-59 spanning back to 1966. Fort Hays State holds a 78-23 overall record against Nebraska-Kearney in Hays.
The Tigers hitting corp. is led by Addison Kaasch. The junior leads the team in batting average (.382), hits (66), doubles (17), triples (four), total bases (100), slugging percentage (.578) and on-base percentage (.451). Kaasch ranks second in the conference in triples, fourth in doubles and fifth in hits. First-baseman Dayton Pomeroy leads the charge in home runs (12) and runs batted in (37).
Ryan Ruder fronts the pitching staff in earned run average (7.19), wins (four) and innings pitched (61.1). Sam Capps leads the bullpen and ranks sixth in the MIAA with five saves on the season.
The Lopers are led by Alex Achtermann at the dish as he is hitting .412 on the season. The junior also leads the squad in runs scored, home runs and runs batted in. Josh Cooper leads the pitching staff with six wins recorded in 53.1 innings pitched. Eric Sandoz ranks fourth in the MIAA in saves with seven.