By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State homered twice in the rubber match against Emporia State, but fell victim to three big innings and fell 15-4 to the Hornets. The Tigers moved to 8-12 overall and 1-5 in MIAA play, while the Hornets moved to 7-12 overall and 3-3 in conference action.
Isaiah Ural put the Tigers on the board in the opening frame with a solo homer to left center, but the Hornets responded with a seven-run bottom of the first. FHSU narrowed the ESU lead in the next frame when Emile Boiesand Ridge Stephens each drew a walk before Colter Maldonado blasted a three-run bomb over the left field wall.
Andrew Hansen held the Hornets scoreless into the fifth inning, but a two-run homer and a single plated four runs in the frame for ESU. Emporia State led 11-4 going into the bottom of the seventh. In what would become the final inning, the Hornets scored four more runs on a single and a walk off three-run home run to enact the 10-run rule after seven.
Hansen allowed four runs on four hits through 4.1 innings on the mound, while Jake Campbell recorded three strikeouts in 1.1 frames. Hansen also struck out five batters in his appearance.
Ural finished 2-for-3 at the plate for the Tigers. Boies, Stephens, and Ed Scott each drew a walk.
The Tigers will be back in action next weekend when they host Rogers State for a three-game conference series (March 10-12) at Larks Park.
Saturday
The Fort Hays State baseball team hung on for a 4-3 win over Emporia State on Saturday (March 4). Solid pitching by both squads kept the score close before the Tigers took the lead for good in the sixth. The Tigers improved to 8-11 overall and 1-4 MIAA while the Hornets fall to 6-12 this season and 2-3 in league play.
Elliott Herrmann singled home Trey DeGarmo to give the Tigers an early lead in the opening frame, but the Hornets tied it up by taking advantage of three free trips in the home half. The teams traded punches again in the fourth as Mikey Felton collected an RBI single before ESU bounced back with an unearned run in the bottom half of the inning.
Zach Berg started on the mound for the Tigers, allowing two runs (one earned) across three innings. Daniel Bebeetook over in the fourth and made another strong showing, allowing only one run and scattering a pair of hits over 5.1 frames to collect his first win of the season. Berg and Bebee struck out three batters each in their stints on the mound.
The Hornets took a 3-2 lead in the sixth on another RBI single, but the Tigers would answer in the following half-inning with four hits and two runs. Felton opened the inning with a single up the middle before Colter Maldonado moved him over with a single of his own. DeGarmo tied the game with a two-out single past the pitcher, bringing Felton in to score. Isaiah Ural followed with the go-ahead RBI, driving in Maldonado on a single to right to give the Tigers a 4-3 lead.
Bebee faced just four batters in the seventh and retired the side in order in the eighth to keep the Tigers in front, but allowed two runners to reach base with one out in the ninth. Tiger head coach Justin Wichert then came out to swap pitchers, giving Emile Boies took the ball for the Tigers with two outs to go. After starting the game at third base, Boies struck out both batters he faced to secure the win for the Tigers and claim his third save of the year.
Herrmann, DeGarmo, Ural, and Felton each recorded a pair of hits and drove in a run in the win.
Friday
The Fort Hays State baseball team fell to Emporia State in their series opener Friday (March 3) 13-0 in seven innings. The Hornets took advantage of two big scoring innings while the ESU pitching staff kept the Tigers at bay to secure the win. ESU improves to 6-11 (2-2 MIAA) while FHSU falls to 7-11 (0-4 MIAA).
The opening frame didn’t yield much for either squad as the Tigers were retired in order. The Hornets managed one hit, but the runner was caught stealing by Ridge Stephenswho fired a laser from behind the plate to second. A single from Elliott Herrmann and two free trips awarded to Zane Knox and Stephens loaded the bases for the Tigers with one out in the following frame, but the Hornets turned a double play to keep the Tigers scoreless. ESU plated their first run in the home half of the second before rallying seven runs on six hits and one miscue by the Tigers to take an 8-0 lead through three innings.
Luuk ter Beek (0-1) started on the mound for the Tigers, tossing 2.2 innings. The Nieuw Vennep, Netherlands native seemed to settle in at the end of the second frame, retiring the last two batters he faced including a strikeout to end the inning. ter Beek was charged with eight runs on eight hits while collecting three punchouts before Connor Holletook over to close out the third inning. Holle threw two scoreless innings before the Hornets began a five-run rally in the sixth frame. Holle was charged with two of the runs before he was relieved by Jacob Shope. Shope managed to get two outs in the seventh, including one strikeout, but Emporia State plated three more runs on a home run. The Hornets plated their final two runs on a single before Spencer Maley forced a flyout to end the inning.
ESU starter Ian Lanik scattered three hits over six scoreless innings while striking out three batters.
Ed Scott, Isaiah Ural and Herrmann each collected a hit for the Tigers while Emile Boies and Zane Knox each drew a walk.