By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EDMOND, Okla. – The Fort Hays State baseball team wrapped up its first conference series with a pair of losses Monday afternoon against Missouri Western (5-5, 3-0), falling 11-1 in the opener before dropping the nightcap 20-3. The Tigers (0-11, 0-3) are scheduled to return home to play Southwest Baptist next weekend, but field conditions could force another round of schedule changes. Stay tuned to fhsuathletics.com for the latest information.
Game One: Missouri Western 11, Fort Hays State 1 (7 innings)
The Tigers could never quite get started in the opener, collecting four hits while allowing seven Griffon base knocks. MWSU scored one in the first before adding four in the third to go up 5-0 before the Tigers put together their first rally. Jordan Wilkerson led off with a double before Isaac Soares reached on an error. Tyler Olson later singled to load the bases before Dawson Sramek drew a walk, helping FHSU close within 5-1.
FHSU managed just one hit after the fourth inning, giving Missouri Western the chance to pull away with six more runs.
Marcus McDaniel and Sramek also collected singles in the loss. Cole Zimmerman (0-3) was credited with the loss after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on five hits over 3.1 innings of work. He struck out three batters while Cody Rottinghaus struck out four in 3.1 innings of relief, giving up three runs on two hits.
Game Two: Missouri Western 20, Fort Hays State 3 (7 innings)
While Fort Hays State collected just four hits for the second game in a row, Missouri Western turned up the intensity at the plate to the tune of 16 hits and six home runs.
Missouri Western got things rolling in the first inning for the second game in a row, plating two runs in the home half of the first. Fort Hays State looked to have a chance to respond early when two walks and a double loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the second. But three batters later the Griffons were out of the inning unscathed, and the Tigers next came up to the plate trailing 11-0.
Taylan Mullins-Ohm got the Tigers on the board after a two-run double scored Tyler Olson and Marcus Altman in the top of the third, making the score 11-2. Fort Hays State added a run in the seventh when Caleb Egan legged out a pinch-hit, one out triple. Ryan Stoecklein lifted a sacrifice fly to right one batter later, scoring Egan from third.
Mullins-Ohm finished 2-for-2 with a walk and two RBI. Garrett Francis collected the other Tiger hit, doubling to left in his first at bat. Jake Taylor (0-2) took the loss after surrendering nine runs (seven earned) on six hits over 1.2 innings of work.