By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
The 20th-ranked Fort Hays State baseball team rattled off a season-high 21 hits in a 17-7 run rule win over Northeastern State on Sunday (April 13), taking the series with the RiverHawks two games to one. Every Tiger scored at least once and collected at least one hit in the blowout win, including a five-hit day for Tony Moore and four hits from Trey DeGarmo.
With the win, the Tigers (26-10, 20-5 MIAA) secured a trip to the 2025 MIAA Baseball Championship Tournament with 11 games left to play on the league schedule. The Tigers also reached 20 league wins for the first time in 13 years (2012 – 29-24 overall, 20-19 MIAA).
FHSU never trailed in the contest after the first six batters of the game came in to score on a pair of three-run home runs. DeGarmo crushed the first bomb to left center before Derek Woolwine ripped another three-run home run to right center three batters later, forcing NSU’s starting pitcher out of the game before he recorded one out.
The RiverHawks (12-27, 9-16) pulled within 6-2 after solo home runs in the next two frames, but Fort Hays State was able to push the lead back to six with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Moore opened the scoring with an RBI double to left center before later coming in to score on a double play.
Three hits, including a three-run home run, helped NSU close within 8-6 in the top of the fifth, before FHSU answered right back with four runs of its own. Zane Knox and Cooper Howell opened the run with back-to-back singles before Cesar Saavedra and Moore followed with back-to-back RBI doubles. Saavedra then scored on a balk before DeGarmo made it 12-6 with a single to left.
Gage Williams, NSU’s leadoff hitter, clubbed his second solo home run in the top of the sixth to trim the deficit to 12-7 before the Tigers scraped together four more runs in the bottom of the sixth to help the lead balloon to 16-7.
Woolwine opened the frame with a double before Knox was hit by a pitch. Howell then laid down a sacrifice bunt, with the NSU first baseman opting to go after the lead runner at third. The throw was late and then muffed by the third baseman, allowing Woolwine to scamper home. Moore drove in two more with a single to right before Herrmann made it a nine-run lead with a two-out single to center.
The Tigers walked it off in the bottom of the eighth when Moore led off with his fifth hit of the game. Isaiah Uralfollowed with a double down the right field line, putting two runners in scoring position for DeGarmo. The senior came through with his fourth hit of the game, a single to right to drive in the run-rule-clinching run.
Brett Jacobs made his first career start, allowing six runs on five hits over 4.2 innings of work while striking out three batters. Kaleb Carpenter (3-2) earned the win after allowing one run on one hit over 2.1 innings of relief, striking out four. Trevor Baugh pitched the final inning, striking out one batter and walking one while allowing no hits.
Moore was 5-for-5 with four runs and four RBI, the first five-hit game for a Tiger since Herrmann did so last March (3/12/24 at NU). DeGarmo added five RBI and finished the game 4-for-5 at the dish. Woolwine had three hits and drove in three RBI, while Saavedra was 2-for-4 with three runs scored.
The Tigers will be on the road for four games this week starting Tuesday (April 15) when they wrap up their midweek series against Washburn beginning at 5 p.m. FHSU will then travel to Wichita Thursday through Saturday (April 17-19) to take on Newman in a three-game set.
Saturday
Fort Hays State’s late-inning magic never materialized on Saturday (April 12) afternoon as the 20th-ranked Tigers (25-10, 19-5 MIAA) dropped a 6-2 decision to Northeastern State (12-26, 9-15 MIAA) at Larks Park. Despite a long ball from Trey DeGarmo, the Tigers couldn’t recover from a sixth-inning surge by the RiverHawks.
Fort Hays State opened the scoring in the second inning when Ural reached on a single to center and advanced all the way to third on an error. Sebastian Burgos then drove him in with a groundout to short, giving the Tigers an early 1-0 lead. Northeastern State answered with two runs in the top of the third, thanks to a two-RBI double from Diego Murillo with the bases loaded.
DeGarmo briefly brought the Tigers even in the bottom of the third, launching a solo homer to left field for his 12th long ball of the season to make it 2-2.
The stalemate continued until the sixth inning, when Northeastern State capitalized in the sixth inning. Gage Williams delivered a two-run single down the third base line, and the RiverHawks would tack on another run moments later on a wild pitch to extend their lead to 5-2.
The RiverHawks added an insurance run in the eighth, making it 6-2. FHSU had a few opportunities late, including Ural’s third hit of the game and his stolen base in the ninth, but couldn’t push anything across against Northeastern’s Izac Sizemore, who tossed a complete game with seven strikeouts.
Despite the loss, a few Tigers turned in noteworthy performances. Ural led the offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, scoring once and adding a stolen base. DeGarmo finished 2-for-4 with the solo homer, and Cooper Howell contributed a pair of singles.
On the mound, Paul Panduro got the start, but was quickly relieved in the third by Kaleb Carpenter. Carpenter battled through 3.2 innings, allowing just two earned runs, while Brandon Chavez threw 3.1 innings in relief without giving up an earned run.
Friday
The 20th-ranked Fort Hays State baseball team opened its series against Northeastern State with a 2-0 victory Friday evening (April 11) at Larks Park. The Tigers (25-9, 19-4 MIAA) collected seven hits on the day, while starter Ty Riley limited the RiverHawks (11-26, 8-15 MIAA) to just two hits in a complete game shutout.
Riley’s nine inning shutout was the first-such performance by a Tiger in eight years (Sam Capps, 3/22/17 vs. NWOSU). The senior fanned nine batters and allowed just four baserunners on two hits and two walks. He retired the final 13 batters he faced to improve to 8-1 on the year and lower his ERA to 2.45. Riley now has 88 strikeouts on the year, tied for fourth-most in a single season at FHSU and just seven away from tying the program record.
After leaving one man on in the bottom of the first, the Tigers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Elliott Herrmann roped a one-out double into the gap in left center. Cesar Saavedra then worked a walk before Cooper Howell singled to load the bases. Luis Ayala lifted a ball to deep center, allowing Herrmann to easily score to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
Fort Hays State doubled its lead in the next inning when Trey DeGarmo led off with a single. Brady Kreutzer later singled before Saavedra and Howell worked back-to-back two-out walks, allowing another run to trot home.
The Tigers had plenty of chances to add to their lead, stranding 12 runners on base, but the two runs were more than enough support for Riley. Kreutzer and Herrmann both finished the day 2-for-3 with a double.