By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The Fort Hays State baseball team extended its winning streak to seven with a walk-off win over Missouri Western on Sunday (March 2), winning 3-2 for the second day in a row. The Tigers (11-4, 6-0) swept their second-straight conference series in the process, doing so for the first time since 2016.
Paul Panduro got the start for the Tigers and gave FHSU seven solid innings, scattering three hits over those frames while allowing just one unearned run to score.
The Tigers struck first in the bottom of the second when Trey DeGarmo led off with a double to center. Luis Ayala followed and reached on an error before DeGarmo came in to score on an RBI groundout from Cooper Howell. Zane Knox kept things rolling with an RBI single up the middle, putting the home team in front 2-0.
Fort Hays State had chances to add to its lead, collecting 11 hits in the game and managing baserunners in each inning, but the Griffon staff was able to get out of multiple jams to keep things close.
The Griffons eventually tied the game with a pair of unearned runs, one in the sixth and one in the top of the ninth. Fort Hays State answered right back, scoring in the bottom of the ninth after Isaiah Ural led off with a double down the right-field line. A pair of intentional walks later loaded the bases with one out for Ayala. The catcher sent a grounder to the third baseman, who went home to keep things tied. The Griffon catcher then tried to throw Ayala out at first, but the throw got away from the first baseman and allowed Elliott Herrmann to score from second base to end the game.
Kaleb Carpenter came on with one man on in the eighth inning to record three consecutive outs, including a pickoff to wipe out the baserunner. Brandon Chavez (2-0) earned the win after giving up one unearned run on one walk in the ninth inning while striking out one batter.
Cesar Saavedra and Zane Knox each had three hits in the game, while Ural added a pair of base knocks.
The Tigers will continue a nine-game homestand next weekend (March 7-9) when they host No. 13 Missouri Southern, with first pitch again set for 3 p.m. on Friday, 2 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.
Saturday
Fort Hays State ran its win streak to six games on Saturday (Mar. 1) with a 3-2 win over Missouri Western at Larks Park. FHSU led 2-0 through four inning, but saw MWSU even the count with runs in the fifth and sixth. A Derek Woolwine 2-out RBI single put the Tigers in front in the seventh and Brandon Chavezmade the lead hold up with a 2-inning save.
The Tigers scored first in the second when a single and a walk set up an RBI single by Cesar Saavedra. In the fourth inning, the lead moved to 2-0 when a walk led to an RBI single by Tony Moore.
The Griffons used small ball to put their first run on the board in the fifth on an RBI single by Carson Shear. A pair of bunt singles set up the opportunity. The Griffons picked up their second run in the sixth when a throwing error allowed another run to cross.
Isaiah Ural singled, stole a base, and advanced to third on a groundout in the seventh. That set up the go-ahead single by Woolwine to left center field.
After a leadoff walk by the Griffons in the eighth, Chavez entered to shut the door. He allowed just one hit over his two innings of work and struck out one. Kaleb Carpenter bridged the gap from starter Cade Flaherty and picked up the win in just one inning of work. He struck out two. Flaherty pitched the first 6.0 innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on eight hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Logan Winkelman and Lou Levy both threw 4.0 innings for the Griffons. Levy, the reliever, gave up the go-ahead run in the seventh and took the loss. He allowed just two hits and struck out two. The starter Winkelman allowed five hits and recorded four strikeouts.
Friday
Fort Hays State moved to 9-4 overall and 4-0 in the MIAA with a 14-1 win over Missouri Western in the three-game series opener on Friday (Feb. 28) at Larks Park. After Missouri Western went up 1-0 in the third inning, the Tigers powered past the Griffons with a big nine-run fourth and eventually went on to win the game by run rule. Missouri Western moved to 1-11 overall and 0-4 in the MIAA.
The Tigers took a little bit of time to solve starter Lynden Bruegman, but broke through in a big way in the fourth due to a Missouri Western error that led to a big two-out rally for the Tigers. With two outs, the Tigers generated nine straight hits to score nine runs. Tytin Goebel tied the game with an RBI single, then Cesar Saavedra put the Tigers on top with an RBI double. Tony Moore and Isaiah Ural each recorded RBI singles to make it 4-1 before Colby Deaver relieved Bruegman. Elliott Herrmann greeted the new Griffon arm with a 2-RBI double, Derek Woolwine followed with a single, and then Trey DeGarmo launched a 3-run homer to make it 9-1. All six runs Bruegman was responsible for in the inning were unearned due to the error.
The Tigers went on to add a run in the sixth on a Herrmann solo homer. In the seventh, a pair of singles and a hit batter set up a walk-off grand slam by Ural to end the game by run rule, 14-1.
Ty Riley had an impressive performance for the Tigers on the mound, throwing a complete game with nine strikeouts and just two hits allowed. The only run he allowed was a solo home run by Frank Gall. Riley had one inning where he struck out three and two innings where he struck out two. He moved to 4-0 on the season.
Ural finished with a team-best five RBIs in the game, while DeGarmo and Herrmann each had three. Six Tigers had two hits in the game.