By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Zach Berg tossed eight scoreless innings and Corbin Truslow drove in the lone run of the game on a 10th-inning sacrifice fly in a series-opening victory over CSU-Pueblo for the Fort Hays State baseball team Friday (Feb. 21). The Tigers are now 10-3 on the season, while the ThunderWolves move to 3-4 overall.
With a stiff wind blowing in and both starting pitchers looking sharp, both offenses struggled to get things going all afternoon. The Tigers did not record a hit until the fourth inning against Pueblo starter Tim McIntyre and did not advance a runner to third base until the eighth inning, while the ThunderWolves were limited to just four hits over 10 innings.
CSU-Pueblo had two prime chances to score in the first two innings, but Berg worked out of both jams before settling into a groove. The ThunderWolves opened the game with a double to left center before working a walk. The next batter advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, but Berg got out of the inning with a pop up and a groundout. CSU-Pueblo recorded another double to open the second inning before Berg struck out the side to get out of the jam.
Grant Schmidt picked up two of the first four hits for the Tigers with a single in the fourth and a double in the sixth, but the left fielder was stranded on second in both frames. FHSU had prime chances to score in the eighth and ninth, but left a pair of runners on in both innings.
After scattering just four hits and striking out eight batters over eight scoreless innings, Berg gave way to Jacob Ensz (3-0) out of the bullpen in the ninth. The lefty did not allow a hit, walking one batter while striking out three to secure the win.
Fort Hays State finally broke through in the 10th, taking advantage of a leadoff single from Griffin Brunson. The shortstop sent a hard liner right back up the middle, deflecting off the pitcher’s glove towards the left side of the infield. Garrett Stephens came through with a double into the gap in left center two batters later before CSU-Pueblo intentionally walked Schmidt, loading the bases for Truslow. The first baseman took the first two pitches before sending a 2-0 pitch soaring into left center, plenty deep enough to plate Drake Angeron for the walk-off win.
Brunson (3-for-4) and Schmidt (2-for-4) were responsible for five of the eight Tiger hits on the day, with Stephens, Jaxson Webb and Tyler Olson each adding one base knock.
McIntyre finished the game with eight strikeouts while scattering five hits over 7.1 scoreless innings. Dane Kapande (0-1) took the loss after allowing three hits and three walks while striking out three over two innings of relief.
The Tigers and ThunderWolves will resume the series on Saturday (Feb. 22) with a doubleheader beginning at noon.
NOTES:
-It was the first 1-0 win for the Tigers since 2007. FHSU won three 1-0 games that season
-FHSU is now 19-14 all-time in 1-0 decisions.
-It was the fewest runs scored in a game at Larks Park since April 20, 2007, a 1-0 nine-inning win over Southwest Baptist in which current assistant coach Dusty Washburn tallied a team-high two hits.
-This is the first time the Tigers have had multiple shutout victories in one season since 2013.