FHSU took an early 2-0 lead in the first game of the day, but it was short lived as NWMSU responded with two in the first inning as well. The Bearcats went on to score three in the third and three in the fourth to pull away for the win. FHSU picked up its final run in the sixth in the seven-inning contest.
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Austin Unrein and Kevin Czarnecki in the first pushed FHSU out to the 2-0 lead. Andre Vieyra had the other RBI for FHSU in the sixth on a sacrifice fly. Connor Ross and Czarnecki each went 2-for-3 at the plate, while Gus Strunk was 1-for-1 with two walks.
FHSU starting pitcher Tyler Patty allowed all eight runs to the Bearcats (six earned) over 3.0 innings of work. He faced three batters in the fourth before being lifted for reliever Will Amen. He went an inning before yielding to Joe Mapes for the final two innings. Mapes allowed just one hit and struck out three. Patty moved to 1-2 on the year with the loss.
Joseph Hietpas grabbed the win for NWMSU, going 5.1 innings in his start. He allowed three runs on seven hits with four walks and struck out four. Austin Battaglia pitched the final 1.2 innings for NWMSU, keeping the Tigers scoreless.
[divider]Game 2: Fort Hays State 10, NW Missouri State 5[/divider]FHSU jumped out to a 4-0 lead and Northwest Missouri State could never catch up. FHSU snapped its 12-game losing streak by pulling away with a run in the fourth and five in the sixth. The Bearcats scored single runs in the sixth and seventh, but it was too little, too late in another seven-inning contest.
Joe Mapes got the Tigers on the board in the second with a fielder’s choice RBI. Austin Unrein and Kevin Czarnecki each recorded RBI singles in the third and Czarnecki came in to score later on an error, making it 4-0.
After NWMSU plated three runs in the third to make it 4-3, FHSU added a run on the fourth on an RBI single by Nick Hammeke.
FHSU took advantage of a big sixth inning to take a comfortable lead of 10-3. Connor Ross had a RBI single and then Cooper Langley drove in two on a single. Czarnecki came in to score on a wild pitch and Mapes added an RBI single.
FHSU starting pitcher Chase Newman had a solid outing to move to 1-0 on the year. He allowed just three runs on five hits in 4.0 innings of work, while striking out three.
Giles Fox pitched two innings in relief, allowing two runs (one earned) on three hits with two strikeouts. Unrein took the mound in the seventh with two runners on and shut the door, allowing just one hit with a strikeout.