By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State baseball team swept Rockhurst in a midweek non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday (March 21). The Tigers trailed early in both contests, but were able to string together some big hits to come from behind for their wins. The Tigers improved to 13-16 overall, while the Hawks fell to 7-18 on the season.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 8, Rockhurst 4
Luuk ter Beek got the nod in game one on the bump for FHSU. The Hawks got on the board in the opening frame, scoring two runs on a pair of hits and a fielding error by the Tigers. The Tiger starter began to settle in the following frame as he allowed only one hit and held the Hawks scoreless. With one out in the top of the third, ter Beek was struck hard by a single back up the middle and Tiger strikeout leader Andrew Hansen took over. Hansen held his own on the rubber allowing only one hit, while striking out four batters going into the fifth inning.
The Tigers scored the majority of their runs in the home half of the fourth, starting with a two-run pinch hit homer by Brady Kreutzer to bring home Zane Knox. Mikey Feltondrew a walk in the next at bat and would later be brought home on an RBI triple from Ed Scott. Back-to-back walks by Trey DeGarmo and Isaiah Ural juiced the bases for Elliott Herrmann, who drew yet another walk to plate Scott. Boies wrapped up the Tiger rally by blasting a double to left field scoring DeGarmo and Ural, putting the Tigers in front 6-2.
The Hawks answered with two runs in the top of the fifth on a couple of hits, but Hansen struck out the final two batters to end the inning. DeGarmo drove in the final two runs of the game for FHSU with a blast over the right field wall to plate Colter Maldonado. Hansen retired the Hawks in order in the sixth, including his seventh punchout of the game. Cade Flaherty entered the game to close it out in the seventh. After allowing a leadoff single, Flaherty punched out the next two batters he faced on his way to closing out the game.
Kreutzer, Boies, and DeGarmo each collected two RBIs in the contest.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 4, Rockhurst 2
Rockhurst jumped out to another early lead in the night cap by drawing a bases loaded walk in the top of the first. Trailing early with no outs in the opening frame, the Tigers brought in reliever Jenner Kehe with the bases loaded. Kehe was able to escape the inning with no further damage done forcing a double play and an easy put out at third. Kehe retired every batter he faced in his four inning appearance.
The Tigers claimed the lead in the third as a walk drawn by Ridge Stephens and a bunt single by Maldonado set up a two-RBI single for DeGarmo into the right center gap. Ural doubled to the same spot to move DeGarmo to third, allowing him to cross the plate on a wild pitch. Boies later added the final run the for Tigers on an RBI single to plate Ural in the fifth inning. The Tigers led 4-1.
Nate Pitts took over on the mound for the Tigers in the fifth and kept the Hawks in check, but a perfectly placed hit down the left field line allowed Rockhurst to plate a run in the sixth. Pitts returned in the seventh to hold off Rockhurst and secure the series sweep.
Boies finished 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI.
The Tigers will be back at home this weekend (March 24-26) to host Pittsburg State for a three-game conference series. First pitch on Friday is scheduled for 2 p.m.