By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
No. 26 Fort Hays State delivered a thrilling comeback victory on Tuesday (April 1) afternoon at Larks Park, walking off Washburn with a 4-1 win thanks to a three-run blast from Sebastian Burgos in the bottom of the ninth. The game was a classic pitchers’ duel for much of the afternoon before the Tigers erupted late to stun the Ichabods.
Both starting pitchers were in command from the start. Cade Flaherty set the tone for Fort Hays State, working efficiently through the Washburn lineup. The senior right-hander scattered three hits over 5.2 innings, allowing just one run while striking out five. On the other side, Washburn’s Caleb Lunnon was even sharper, holding the Tigers to just one hit through seven scoreless frames while striking out five.
The deadlock held until the top of the sixth when Washburn finally broke through. Cash Jay worked a leadoff walk, giving the Ichabods their first real scoring opportunity. Hayden Priest then laid down a well-executed sacrifice bunt, moving Jay into scoring position. With two outs, Jett Buck delivered the big hit, ripping a double down the right-field line. Jay turned on the jets, racing around third and sliding home to give Washburn a 1-0 lead.
Fort Hays State turned to its bullpen, bringing in Kaleb Carpenter, who got a key lineout to limit the damage. Fort Hays State’s bullpen kept the team within striking distance. Carpenter tossed a scoreless seventh before usual starter, Ty Riley, came in relief in the eighth. He was able to retire six straight batters to keep the Tigers in the game.
Still trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth, Fort Hays State finally found its spark. Trey DeGarmo led off with a walk after a disciplined plate appearance, putting the tying run on base. Looking to move him into scoring position, Derek Woolwine laid down a well-placed sacrifice bunt, allowing DeGarmo to advance to second.
With the pressure mounting, Brady Kreutzer worked a walk, giving the Tigers two runners on with one out. Elliott Herrmann then delivered the clutch hit the Tigers had been searching for all afternoon, lacing a single through the right side. DeGarmo raced home from second, sliding across the plate to tie the game at 1-1 as the crowd erupted.
With the game on the line, Sebastian Burgos came through, crushing one deep over the left-field fence for a dramatic three-run walk-off home run. The Tigers stormed out of the dugout to greet him at home plate, celebrating a thrilling 4-1 victory over the Ichabods.
Burgos finished the game 1-for-1 with the game-winning home run and three RBIs, while Herrmann went 1-for-4 with a key ninth-inning single and game-tying RBI. Flaherty delivered a strong start, striking out five over 5.2 innings while allowing just one run while Riley earned the win with two perfect innings of relief, striking out two to keep the Tigers within striking distance. Riley now has a record of 6-1 so far this season.
The Tigers now sit at 22-8 and 17-4 in MIAA play., leading the MIAA. They will face off in a non-conference battle at Larks Park against UC-Colorado Springs this weekend (April 5-6).