By FHSU Sports Information
Photo courtesy FHSU SID
The Fort Hays State baseball team was defeated by Nebraska-Kearney in the all-time series and season series finale on Wednesday, 11-8. The Tigers dip to 13-31 overall and 5-25 in the MIAA, while the Lopers moved to 25-19 on the year and 18-11 in conference play.
The Lopers jumped out to an early 5-0 lead in the top of the first frame thanks to a grand slam by Scott Platt chased Tiger starter Zach Rothert from the mound. Alex Ruxlow was called upon in relief of Rothert with two outs in the inning by throwing three pitches and inducing a fly ball to right field.
Ruxlow made quick work of the Loper lineup in the next three innings as he retired his first six batters faced, including 11 out of 15 before allowing his first run on a long ball in the fifth inning.
Fort Hays State took advantage of Loper starter Brown coming out of the game when Alex Weiss put life into the Tiger faithful with a two-run double to right center, plating Ryan Grasser. Addison Kaasch and Weiss then scored on back-to-back RBI groundouts from Cody Starkel and Dayton Pomeroy, respectively. The Tigers trailed the Lopers 5-3 after four innings of play.
UNK earned a run back on a solo shot to left field in the fifth and another three runs in the sixth. FHSU wasn’t done yet as Marcus Altman roped a 2 RBI single to the gap in right center, scoring Pomeroy and Weiss. After Jordan Wilkerson earned a free pass to first, freshman catcher Dawson Sramek picked a great time to belt his first long ball of the season. Sramek crushed a 2-2 pitch over the left center field wall for a 3-run blast, pulling the Tigers within a run after six innings of play.
The Tigers were shut down the final three innings as UNK was able to tack on a couple insurance runs in the eighth and ninth frames.
Zach Rothert was charged with the loss after allowing five runs on three hits in 0.2 of an inning. Weiss continued his hot streak with a 2-for-3 day at the plate with two runs scored and an RBI. Sramek also picked up a couple of hits in the contest on 2-for-4 at the dish.
The Tigers are back in action this weekend as they host Missouri Western for their final home conference series of the season (April 27-29). Friday’s ball game is part of the Pack the Park night at Larks Park. First pitch for game one is slated for 7 p.m.