LAS VEGAS, N.M. – Fort Hays State moved to 2-0 to start the season with a 9-7 win over New Mexico Highlands on Sunday. Down 6-3, FHSU scored six runs over the final three innings, while Jackson Rolfs and Logan Herd shut the door on the Cowboys late. The Tigers are out to their first 2-0 start since 2010.
The Tigers picked up a win in comeback fashion for the second straight day against the Cowboys. FHSU trailed 2-0 after one inning, but cut the lead in half on a Connor Ross RBI in the third. The Tigers took their first lead of the game in the fifth with a Caleb Cherryholmes RBI double and an Austin Unrein single.
FHSU starter Kyle Vogt settled in nicely after allowing the two runs in the first. But he finally ran into trouble in the sixth. He surrendered a run in the fifth that tied the game, but then gave up a two-run homer in the sixth to give the lead back. That was the end of his afternoon, going 5.2 innings and allowing five runs (four earned), while striking out four. The Cowboys tacked on another run by error with Clayton Basgall on in relief.
Down by three, the Tigers fought back in the top of the seventh with a four-run, two-out rally. Ross started it with an RBI double, then Alex King had an RBI single to cut the deficit to one. Alex Weiss stepped to the plate and hit a two-run homer down the left field line to push the Tigers back in front 7-6.
Basgall struggled to open the bottom of the seventh, allowing the Cowboys to load the bases before handing the ball to Jackson Rolfs. Rolfs induced a double play on which the tying run scored, but then got a fly out to get out of the bases loaded, no-out jam.
In the eighth Ty Redington put the Tigers back in front with a solo homer and Rolfs worked a scoreless bottom half of the inning. Weiss gave the Tigers an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI single, then freshman Logan Herd entered and worked a 1-2-3 inning on the mound for his first collegiate save.
Unrein had his second-straight three-hit game, going 3-for-4 at the plate. Redington, Cherryholmes, Ross and Weiss all had two hits. Weiss had three RBI, while Ross had two. Rolfs picked up the win in relief.
The Tigers look for a three-game sweep of the Cowboys on Monday when they take the field at 12 pm MT/1 pm CT.