By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State baseball team opened the 2020 season with a 4-3 win over MSU Denver on Friday (Jan. 31) at Larks Park, 4-3. The Tigers used a combination of strong pitching and timely hits to hold off the Roadrunners.
Starting pitcher Zach Berg (1-0) gave the Tigers a chance with five solid innings, surrendering three runs on five hits while striking out six. Jacob Ensz then came in to slam the door, tossing four shutout innings to pick up the save. The lefty mowed through the Roadrunner lineup, striking out five batters and allowing just three hits.
The Tigers never trailed in the contest, taking a 1-0 lead in the home half of the second inning. It took Garrett Stephens all of three pitches into the season to find one to crush, homering to right center in his first at bat as a Tiger.
The Roadrunners tied things up with a run in the fourth, but Fort Hays State quickly went back in front with a three-spot in the bottom of the inning. Corbin Truslow, Garrett Stephens and Tyler Olson opened the inning with three straight singles, loading the bases for Jared Maneth. The senior came through with a base knock to center, plating a pair after Stephens slid in under the tag at the plate. Olson made a heads up play advancing to third while the catcher was distracted and ended up scoring on a Jaxson Webb groundout in the ensuing at bat.
MSU Denver responded with a two-run home run in the fifth, but the Roadrunner bats went silent when Ensz stepped on the mound. The lefty struck out the side in the sixth inning before striking out two more in the eighth. He allowed just three baserunners on three singles and did not allow a baserunner past second base.
Stephens turned in a 2-for-4 day at the plate, scoring two runs and driving in another while gunning down two would-be base stealers from behind the dish. Olson also picked up a pair of hits, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
The teams are slated to resume the series with a doubleheader on Saturday (Feb. 1) beginning at noon.
STRANGE BUT TRUE:
Dating back to 2015, the Tigers have won on opening day in the even years (2016, 2018, 2020) and lost in the first game of the season in the odd years (2015, 2017, 2019).