By FHSU Sports Information<\/b><\/p>\n
Photo courtesy FHSU SID<\/em><\/p>\n JOPLIN, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team scored two early runs before dropping the final game of the regular season Sunday afternoon (May 6) to Missouri Southern, 17-2. The Tigers wrap up the regular season 13-37 overall and 5-31 in MIAA play, while the Lions finish the year 27-23 and 15-21 in league action.<\/p>\n The Tiger defense saved the best for last, as they turned a rare feat in the home half of the sixth inning. In Tyler Renninson<\/a>‘s first frame of work, the righty allowed two runners to reach base before inducing a sharp ground ball to third base. Alex Weiss<\/a> scooped up the ball and quickly tagged third before whipping a throw towards second. Ryan Grasser<\/a> corralled the toss and tapped on the bag before firing the ball towards Dayton Pomeroy<\/a> at first who completed the first triple play in more than 16 years (5\/1\/02, 2nd inning vs. Central Christian, Smith-Santangelo-Dreher).<\/p>\n Offensively the Tigers were limited to just five hits, with three coming in the third and two coming in the seventh. Addison Kaasch<\/a> worked a leadoff walk before singles from Clayton Basgall<\/a> and Weiss quickly loaded the bases. Grasser put the Tigers on the board with a base knock to center two batters later, plating a pair.<\/p>\n Missouri Southern kept things rolling at the plate in the home half of the first, with a pair of home runs adding up to four runs. The Lions continued to pour it on moving forward, compiling 14 hits, including four long balls, to score their 17 runs.<\/p>\n The Tigers, meanwhile, went stagnant at the plate, with 19 batters being retired in order after Grasser’s RBI single in the first. Colton Helm<\/a> and Jonathan Mariani<\/a> both collected singles off the bench in the seventh inning, but a pop up ended the game with two men aboard.<\/p>\n