By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EDMOND, Okla. — The Fort Hays State baseball team fell in both games of a double header at Central Oklahoma on Saturday (Mar. 6), dropping game one 8-4 and game two 7-5.
The Tigers and Bronchos wrap up the series tomorrow with a 1:00 pm finale in Edmond.
Game 1 – Central Oklahoma 8, Fort Hays State 4
Fort Hays State was held scoreless for a majority of this game before tacking on four runs in the eighth inning. With the bases loaded and down to two outs, Kade Wallace came in as a pinch hitter. Wallace made the most of his opportunity as he sent a grand slam ball over the left field fence for his first home run of the season, driving in all four FHSU runs on one swing.
Zach Berg (0-2) was tabbed with the loss in game one after 6.2 innings of work. Berg surrendered seven earned runs on ten hits and five strikeouts. Brayden Smith, Dustin Menard, and Jayce Meyer all came in relief combining for one earned run on three hits.
Drake Angeron and Garrett Stephens both collected a pair of hits and scored one run for the Tigers. Ed Scott was 1-for-2 with a pair of walks and one run scored.
Game 2 – Central Oklahoma 7, Fort Hays State 5
After giving up single runs in the second and third innings, the Tigers opened their scoring in the top of the fourth the with an Ed Scott sacrifice fly. Jacob Bouzide trotted home from third, cutting the Broncho lead in half. Central Oklahoma later increased its lead to four with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth.
FHSU cut into the Broncho lead once again in the top half of the sixth. With runners at first and third, Scott drove in his second RBI of the game with a single through the right side, plating Drake Angeron. After advancing to third base on Scott’s single, Corbin Truslow hustled home on a wild pitch, slicing the UCO lead to two, 5-3. Central Oklahoma again extended its lead with single runs in the sixth and eighth frames, going up 7-3 with three outs to go.
Kade Wallace started the inning off with another big hit for the Tigers, doubling down the right-field line. Down to the final out after the next two batters were retired, Garrett Stephens scorched his second home run of the season over the left field wall to keep the Tigers alive late in the game. Conner Kessler worked a walk to bring the tying run to the plate, but Central Oklahoma escaped with the win after a strikeout.
Ryan Ruder (0-1) was struck with the loss after allowing five runs in 4.1 innings and striking out four. Hunter Parker came on in relief and finished the final 3.2 innings with a strong performance, allowing just one earned run on three hits while striking out six Broncho batters.
Angeron picked up two of FHSU’s seven hits in game two, finishing 2-for-4 with one run scored.