BY TRISTAN SASSE
PHOTO COURTESY OF FHSU ATHLETICS
After starting the season 7-3, the FHSU baseball team has dropped eight of its last 10 contests, including a 3-game sweep by the No. 7 ranked Central Missouri Mules over the weekend. The Tigers are now 9-11 on the year, including 1-8 in MIAA play.
Friday, March 9
13 hits were not enough as FHSU dropped the first game of the series 13-8. The Tigers allowed 11 hits, walked nine batters and had three errors on the afternoon. The Mules scored first and maintained their lead for the entire game.
For the Tigers, Ryan Grasser hit two solo home runs, while Dayton Pomeroy had two RBIs. Ben Ramburg fell to 2-3 on the year by allowing five runs and four hits in just over two innings. Alex Ruxlow struck out three batters in 2 2/3 innings, and Roger Kruse retired the side in the eighth inning.
Saturday, March 10
FHSU had a 2-1 lead through four innings, but a five-run fifth inning led Central Missouri to a second straight win over the Tigers. UCM came away with a 12-6 victory as the Mules hit six home runs in the game and scored a pair of runs in both the eighth and ninth innings to take control. Both teams finished with 13 hits, but three crucial errors by Fort Hays proved to be the difference.
Cody Starkel had three hits, including a home run, and three RBIs in five plate appearances for the Tigers. Alex Weiss added two hits, an RBI, and drew a walk in five trips to the plate. Ryan Ruder picked up the loss for FHSU, falling to 2-2 on the season. He allowed six hits and five earned runs over 4 1/3 innings while striking out four batters. Cody Rottinghaus and Easton Palmer each allowed two runs in relief, while Alex Weiss allowed an additional run.
Sunday, March 11
Once again, the Tigers finished with more hits than the Mules (11-9), but Central Missouri came away with a decisive 11-6 win and the series sweep. The Mules had five extra-base hits and both teams hit a home run. Fort Hays struck out 16 times while striking out eight batters.
Dayton Pomeroy led the Tigers with three RBIs in four plate appearances. Alex Weiss and Clayton Basgall both added an RBI, while the extra run came off a wild pitch. Dawson Sramek added three hits in four at-bats. For FHSU, pitcher Tanner Smith fell to 1-3 overall while allowing four earned runs and having three wild pitches. The Tigers had a total of eight wild pitches on the afternoon. Sam Capps allowed six runs and four walks over four innings. Cody Rottinghaus allowed two hits and a run over 2 2/3 innings.
Looking Ahead
FHSU (9-11) will travel to Kansas City, Missouri on Wednesday to face the Rockhurst Hawks (4-6). Meanwhile, No. 7 Central Missouri (16-3) will also take on Rockhurst on Wednesday, following the FHSU game.