FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State won in walk-off fashion for the second game in a row on Saturday (Mar. 5) when they defeated Central Oklahoma 4-3 in 13 innings. With the win the Tigers moved to 9-7 overall and 3-2 in the MIAA.
Central Oklahoma got on the board early with a run in the first inning. A leadoff walk eventually led to a run.
Fort Hays State responded in the third tying the game at 1-1. An error put Ty Redington on second base and he eventually scored on a two-out double from Austin Unrein. Another Broncho error in the fourth put Connor Ross on second with no outs. After a strikeout and a fielder’s choice, the Tigers faced two outs with a runner on first. Nick Hammeke gave the Tigers their first lead when he roped a double to right field scoring Alex King from first base. The Tigers took their 2-1 lead all the way to the ninth inning.
In the ninth however, the Bronchos were able to tie the game after two singles and a sacrifice fly from Landon Eason. In the bottom half of the ninth, the Tigers were able to get a two out walk from Casey Sedbrook but nothing more as the game headed for extra innings.
The Bronchos were able to take the lead in the top half of the 10th when T.J. Sparr singled, stole second, and moved the next two bases via a pair of wild pitches. The Tigers fought back in the bottom half of the inning to extend the game. Joe Mapes roped a single up the middle to lead off and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Ross. Two batters later, pinch runner Colton Helm was able to score on a single by Alex Weiss.
The next two and a half innings went scoreless and the Tigers once again saw themselves in a position to win the game. Weiss led off the 13th inning with a walk and moved into scoring position two batters later. With two outs Ty Redington hit a single up the middle scoring Weiss to win the game.
Logan Herd started the game on the mound for the Tigers, but did not factor in the decision. Herd threw 7.0 innings, giving up one run on just three hits with four walks and five strikeouts. Kyle Vogt picked up his second win for the Tigers by tossing the final 6.0 innings, giving up two runs on five hits with a walk and three strikeouts.
The Tigers look for a sweep on Sunday in the series finale at 12 p.m