By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State secured its first MIAA series win of the season with a 2-0 win over Central Oklahoma in the rubber match between the teams on Sunday (March 19). It marked the first shutout for the Tigers since March 4, 2022 (2-0 vs. Emporia State) and the first conference series win since May 8, 2021 vs. Newman. The Tigers improved to 11-16 overall and 4-9 in the MIAA, while UCO lost their second straight conference series falling to 17-8 overall and 7-6 in conference play.
The series finale was a pitching battle from the very beginning as Jake Campbell and UCO starter Aiden Bagwell prevented any runs from crossing the plate through the first four innings. In that span, Bagwell allowed only two hits, while Campbell gave up three. UCO brought in reliever Jeb Jenkins in the fifth, who kept the scoreless string going into the sixth.
The Tigers scored both of their runs in the sixth inning. A sacrifice bunt by Colter Maldonado moved Mikey Felton to second, setting up an RBI double by Ed Scott down the left field line. Before another pitch was thrown, the UCO pitcher made a throwing error on an unsuccessful appeal play allowing Scott to score all the way from second.
Campbell (2-0) went an impressive 8.1 scoreless innings before yielding to Spencer Maley with two runners on in the final frame. Maley allowed a hit to load the bases, but was able to escape the jam with a strikeout and groundout for his first save of the season and secure the win. Campbell struck out four and scattered six hits with just two walks, throwing 124 pitches.
Isaiah Ural finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Tigers in hits for the game, while Emile Boies and Zane Knox each had hits aside from Scott’s RBI double.
The Tigers will be back at home this week when they host Rockhurst for a midweek doubleheader on Tuesday (March 21).
Saturday
The Fort Hays State baseball team evened the series with Central Oklahoma with a 9-2 victory on Saturday (March 17). The Tigers held the Bronchos scoreless into the eighth inning while scoring at least one run five frames. The Tigers improve to 10-16 on the season and 3-9 in the MIAA while the Bronchos move to 17-7 overall and 7-5 in conference play.
Zach Berg made the start and retired the first six batters he faced. The Tigers got on the board in the third inning as a sacrifice fly from Trey DeGarmo brought in Zach Davis. Emile Boies added to the Tiger lead in the fourth with a solo shot to right field, his second of the series.
FHSU batted around in the fifth, scoring four runs on three hits and one UCO error. Colter Maldonado started off the inning by reaching base on a bunt before swiping second base. A single from DeGarmo moved Maldonado to third and a wild pitch by UCO brought him home. DeGarmo would score on the next play as the catcher mishandled a play at the plate on an infield hit from Isaiah Ural.
Boies later picked up his second RBI of the day on a double down the left field line. After a pitching change by UCO, the Tigers loaded the bases on a pair of walks to Zane Knox and Davis. In the next at bat, Mikey Felton was hit by the pitch bringing the Tiger lead to 6-0.
The Tigers plated two more runs in the sixth on a sacrifice fly from Elliott Herrmann and another RBI double from Boies. The final run for the Tigers was scored in the eighth on a double down the left field line by Davis, scoring Ural and pushing the Tiger lead to 9-0.
Berg (3-1) tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing only three hits and six walks while striking out five batters. Spencer Maley took the mound the eighth to relieve Berg and close out the game. The Bronchos managed to spoil the shutout with a two-out double down the right field line which plated two runs. Maley returned in the ninth and held UCO at bay to secure the win.
Boies finished 3-for-5 with three RBI while Ed Scott, DeGarmo and Maldonado each recorded multi-hit games.
Friday
The Fort Hays State baseball team fell in their series opener with Central Oklahoma 11-4 on Friday (March 17). The Tigers were in control early, but a few big innings for the Bronchos put them in front for the win. FHSU falls to 9-16 overall and 2-8 in conference play while UCO improves to 17-6 overall and 7-4 in the MIAA.
UCO took the lead in the opening frame on an RBI single, but the Tigers quickly tied the game with a leadoff solo home run from Emile Boies in the second inning. The Tigers took the lead with three runs in the top of the third. FHSU led off the inning with another solo shot as Ed Scottcollected his second bomb of the season. Trey DeGarmoreached on a bunt single before a throwing error by the catcher put him on second. Isaiah Ural doubled to the left-center gap to bring home DeGarmo before Boies blooped a single over the head of the Broncho shortstop, plating Ural.
Daniel Bebee got his second start of the season on the mound for the Tigers. After allowing just one run through the first two innings, Bebee gave up two runs in the third closing the Tiger lead to 4-3. Bebee retired the side in order in the fourth, but another two-run homer gave the Bronchos a 5-4 lead in the fifth. He retired UCO in order again in the sixth but the Bronchos would score six runs over the next two frames to extend their lead to 11-4. Bebee threw his second consecutive complete game in the process, the only two complete games for the Tigers this season.
Boies finished 3-for-5 at the plate with two RBI while DeGarmo, Tico Olivas, and Ridge Stephens each drew a walk.
March 14
even walks and five errors were too much for the Fort Hays State baseball team to overcome on Tuesday (March 14), with Newman taking a 13-8 victory inside Larks Park. The Tigers (9-15, 2-8 MIAA) trailed by six before storming back to make it a one-run game, but Newman (11-13, 5-5 MIAA) scored six runs over the final four innings to secure the win.
After Tiger starter Austin Puett worked a 1-2-3 top of the first, the Tigers got to work right away with one run in the home half. Trey DeGarmo clubbed a double into the left-field corner that was misplayed by the Jet fielder, allowing DeGarmo to move up to third before scoring on an Isaiah Ural sacrifice fly.
A walk led off the top of the second, kickstarting a two-run inning for the visitors that was aided by two Tiger errors. Newman added five runs in the third thanks to four more walks.
The Tigers responded with two runs in the bottom of the third when Mikey Felton led off by drawing a walk. Ed Scottthen beat out a bunt single before Ural drove them both in with a double into left center.
After Spencer Maley came on to get the Tigers out of the jam in the third, the junior put up scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth innings. Fort Hays State worked three walks of its own in the home half of the fifth, leading to three runs to help the Tigers close within 7-6.
Newman bounced back with three more runs in the sixth before adding a pair in the eighth and one in the ninth. The Tigers pushed across two runs in the eighth to close within 12-8 before the Newman bullpen slammed the door to seal the victory.
Puett (0-2) allowed one hit over 2.0 innings of work, walking four and striking out two while allowing five runs. Maley tossed 3.2 innings, striking out one and allowing three runs on six hits. Scott was 3-for-5 with a triple and two runs, while Ural drove in three runs and scored once.