By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
OZARK, Mo – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader Friday (Feb. 11) against Drury, 10-4 and 13-0. The Tigers (0-6) kept pace with the Panthers in the hit category in the opener, but five home runs propelled the home team to a victory before Drury used 19 hits to grab the win in game two.
Jenner Kehe reached base seven times on the day, including three hits and four walks. Freshmen Tico Olivas and Mason Holton both had two hits in the first game of the day, including Holton’s team-leading second home run of the year.
Due to the forecasted low temperatures in southeastern Missouri tomorrow, the Tigers and Panthers are scheduled to resume the series with another doubleheader on Sunday (Feb. 13) beginning at noon.
Game One – Drury 10, Fort Hays State 4
The Tigers took an early lead in the top of the first when Kehe led off with walk. The second baseman then stole second and advanced to third on an error before coming in to score on a sacrifice fly from Jaxson Webb.
Drury scored the next six runs before Holton pulled the Tigers within 6-2 with his second home run of the season, a towering shot to center in the top of the fourth. The Panthers hit two more solo shots in the fifth before Kehe scored on another sac fly in the seventh, this time off the bat of Grant Schmidt.
The Tigers scored their final run in the eighth when Ed Scott led off with a double to right. The center fielder later came in to score on Ty Campbell’s first collegiate base hit, a single to right.
Zach Berg (0-1) took the loss after surrendering three runs on three hits in the first inning. Cade Flaherty allowed three runs on two hits in one inning of work before Sammy Sanchez racked up six strikeouts in 5.0 innings on the mound. The transfer allowed four runs on five hits, while Dustin Menard tossed a hitless eighth inning in his first appearance of the year.
Game Two – Drury 13, Fort Hays State 0
Tiger starter Jake Campbell faced the minimum in the first inning before Drury got on the board with one in the second before scoring three in the third and nine on the Tiger bullpen in the fifth.
Fort Hays State had multiple runners on base in three innings, but the Tigers were unable to get a run across against the DU pitching staff. Connor Kessler had the lone extra-base hit for FHSU with a double in the seventh.
Campbell (0-2) struck out two batters while allowing four runs on four hits. Cade Peters tossed a scoreless sixth inning, allowing just one hit.