By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped a pair of games to Lindenwood Sunday afternoon (March 31) at Larks Park. The Tigers were overpowered by the Lions pitching at the plate in both contests, falling 13-1 in the opener before taking a 16-3 loss in the nightcap. The Tigers (3-23, 2-15 MIAA) and Lions (16-15, 10-7 MIAA) will wrap up the series Monday (April 1) beginning at 1 p.m.
Game One: Lindenwood 13, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers could only total five base pokes in the opener. Landon Erway and Jared Haynes tallied two hits each, while Ryan Grasser earned the other hit and the lone RBI. Ryan Ruder (1-5) started on the mound for the Tigers as he allowed eight runs (six earned) on 10 hits, striking out two and walking one in 4.0 innings of work. Chase Werth came on in relief but was tagged for five runs (four earned) in two innings. Jake Vieira tossed a scoreless frame in the seventh, while earning one strikeout.
Game Two: Lindenwood 16, Fort Hays State 3
In the nightcap, Tiger starter Ethan Booe tossed 6.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out one and walking four batters. Ryan Brown was tapped for six runs (five earned) in 0.2 of the seventh frame before Tanner Smith came on in relief to get the final out of the inning. Wyatt Schumacher tossed one inning, while giving up two runs on one hit and one walk.
The Lions built their 9-0 lead heading into the home half of the seventh with a seven-run frame. LWU posted a three-run home run, a 2 RBI triple, and earned three runs on two Tiger miscues.
The Tiger bats fared better in the second game, as they were able to post eight hits. Tyler Olson picked up his fifth multi-hit bid of the season while Grasser, Haynes, Jared Maneth and Cody Starkel each earned a hit in the contest. Kyler Cox and Taylan Mullins-Ohm produced key pinch-hit singles that led to Haynes finding the center field wall for a two-out 2 RBI double in the eighth inning.