Fort Hays State fell at 28th-ranked Emporia State on Friday evening by a score of 13-8 in the series opener of a four-game series in Emporia, Kan. The loss puts FHSU at 10-13 overall and 8-10 in the MIAA.
Errors hurt the Tigers throughout the game as they led to five runs for the Hornets, which turned out to be the final margin. FHSU committed five errors in the game.
Ryan Busboom put the Tigers up early in the first with an RBI single that followed a Mace Krol double, but Emporia State responded for three runs in the bottom half of the inning to go up 3-1.
The Tigers set up a big inning in the second when the first three batters reached base to load the bases. Chris Santoscoy drew a walk to force a run in, then Nash Smith had a two-RBI double to give the Tigers the lead back. Sheldon Howell followed with a RBI single that also plated Smith on an error by the Hornet left fielder. JC Ochoa would triple home the final run of the six-run rally in the second that gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead.
A throwing error by Tiger third baseman Luke Kordsmeier led to two of three runs for the Hornets in the bottom of the second. ESU tied the game in the third at 7-7 on a throwing error by FHSU starting pitcher Shawn Lewick.
FHSU briefly took the lead back at 8-7 in the fifth on a Ryan Busboom solo home run, but the Hornets struck for three in the bottom half of the inning to go up 10-8, the big blow being a two-run homer by Beau Poston. ESU went on to score three more in the seventh, the final two runs of the inning on a throwing error by FHSU shortstop Sheldon Howell that should have ended the inning.
Lewick suffered his worst outing of the year on the mound. Seven of the 10 runs he allowed were earned. He gave up 11 hits, walked two, and struck out just one in 4.1 innings of work. He took the loss, moving to 2-2 on the season. Tyler Treinen pitched the final 3.2 innings for FHSU, allowing just three runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.
FHSU scored seven of its eight runs off of ESU starter Brandon Faulkner, who lasted just 1.2 innings. Reliever Keith Picht kept the Tiger offense at bay the rest of the way, going 7.1 innings and allowing just the solo homer to Busboom. Picht moved to 2-4 with the win.
– FHSU Sports Information –