FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team wraps up its home schedule with a three-game series against Pittsburg State this week (May 1-2) at Larks Park. The teams will play a twin bill on Monday before wrapping things up with game three on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. both days.
The annual Pack the Park event has been moved to Monday and will last for the duration of both games. Admission will be FREE for both games. Special promotions include concession specials and giveaways, courtesy of our sponsor Heartland Building Center. Concession specials include $1.50 hamburgers, bratwursts, and beverages all afternoon. Additionally, Heartland Building Center will be giving away limited edition souvenir baseballs throughout the games.
The Tigers head into the final week of the season 10-33 overall and 3-27 in MIAA play, while the Gorillas are fighting for the postseason at 20-24 on the year and 14-16 in the league. They currently sit two games back of eighth place in the MIAA standings, the final spot that qualifies for the MIAA Tournament.
FHSU is 27-17 all-time against Pittsburg State, including a 13-7 advantage in games played at Larks Park. The Tigers have had plenty of success against the Gorillas of late, winning 15 of the 21 games under head coach Steve Johnson.
Four starters are batting better than .300 on the year for the Tigers, led by senior Nick Hammeke (.323). Cody Starkel is in the midst of a five-game hitting streak, collecting eight base knocks during that span (8-for-17, .471) to raise his batting average to .312 this season. Sam Capps carries a team-best 5.69 ERA among qualified pitchers while punching out 58 batters in 15 appearances on the year.
The Gorillas are led offensively by Dallas Reed, who has a .377 batting average with 16 doubles and eight home runs so far this season. Andrew Vogelbaugh has crushed 12 home runs on the year, one back of the MIAA leaders. Ty Rowe leads the pitching staff with a 3.21 ERA in 23 relief appearances, while starter Cody Whiting as a team-high 67 strikeouts.