FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State completed the three-game sweep of Northeastern State on Sunday (Apr. 3) at Larks Park. A three-run home run by Ty Redington in the eighth lifted the Tigers to a 7-6 win over the RiverHawks, giving FHSU seven wins in its last eight games. FHSU is now 16-15 overall, 10-10 in the MIAA, while NSU moved to 15-15 overall, 9-11 in the MIAA.
The teams played to a 3-3 tie through five innings, but NSU gained the lead for a third time in the game with one run in the sixth and two in the seventh for a 6-3 advantage. The run in the sixth chased FHSU starter Logan Herd from the game, who lasted 5.2 innings. Three of the four runs he allowed in the game were earned and he struck out two batters.
In the eighth with two outs, Nick Hammeke had a key RBI single to make it 6-4, which brought Ty Redington to the plate with two on base. FHSU had not scored more than one run in an inning off NSU starter Thomas Murray until Redington changed that with one swing of the bat. Redington sent a scorched line drive down the left field line that cleared the wall, pushing the Tigers into the lead 7-6.
Austin Unrein, who had entered in relief in the seventh, worked a scoreless ninth as catcher Trevor Hughes caught Cody Begovich trying to advance to second on a ball in the dirt to end the game. Unrein threw 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with three walks. He struck out four to pick up his first win of the season.
Hammeke finished the game with two RBI by going 3-for-3 at the plate, collecting his other one in the fourth to pull the Tigers within a run. Connor Ross had an RBI on a sacrifice fly in the fifth that tied the game 3-3 at the time. Alex King had the other RBI for the Tigers in the second, that tied the game 1-1 at the time. King went 3-for-4 at the plate.
Even in throwing a complete game, Murray moved to 0-3 on the season for NSU with the loss. Begovich led the RiverHawks in RBI with two, both on a two-run homer in the fourth.
With the win, Fort Hays State moved up into a tie for eighth in the MIAA standings with Southwest Baptist. The Tigers return to action on Tuesday at Washburn for the final game of the season series. Both teams have won one game each. Game time is set for 4 pm in Topeka.