The Tigers picked up a pair of wins over Pittsburg State on Saturday (Apr. 6) at Larks Park in Hays by scores of 2-1 and 11-6. Strong pitching efforts from Shawn Lewick and Alex Ellison helped the Tigers get the doubleheader sweep. The wins pushed FHSU to 13-15 overall and 11-12 in the MIAA, while Pittsburg State dropped to 11-16 overall and 9-11 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 2, Pittsburg State 1
All of the scoring for both teams in the first game happened in the third inning. Chase Barnes delivered a two-out base hit RBI that put Pitt State up 1-0.
After failing to pick up a hit in the first two innings, Fort Hays State broke through in the bottom of the third with its only two runs off PSU starter Matt Stalcup. FHSU also did all its damage with two outs. The first run scored on a wild pitch, then Ryan Busboom would deliver an RBI single to give FHSU the lead.
That’s all Shawn Lewick needed as he blanked the Gorillas over the final four innings on the hill. He worked around a leadoff single in the seventh to preserve the FHSU win and his complete game effort. He scattered seven hits and walked two, while striking out four. Lewick moved to 3-2 on the season with the win.
Stalcup took the loss for Pitt State, also in a complete game effort. He went 6.0 innings, allowing five hits and three walks with five strikeouts.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 11, Pittsburg State 6
The Tigers did all of their damage in the second and third innings. FHSU plated five runs in the second and six in the third to pull away early from the Gorillas.
Brandon Hoefler triggered the scoring in the second with an RBI single. Chris Santoscoy would later follow with a two-RBI double, then Nash Smith hit a two-run homer, both with two outs to push the lead to 5-0.
After the Gorillas scored a single run in the top of the third, Mace Krol immediately got the run back with a solo home run to make it 6-1. Ryan Busboom scored the second run of the inning on a wild pitch, then Shane Wade delivered and RBI single to make it 8-1. Santoscoy picked his third RBI of the game up on a sacrifice bunt to make it 9-1. The Gorillas helped FHSU claim the final two runs of the inning when they committed an error on what would have been the final out of the inning. A run scored on that play and then led to an RBI single by Sheldon Howell to cap the six-run rally.
Alex Ellison had his strongest outing of the year on the mound. He retired the first seven batters of the game before allowing a hit in the third. He retired the side in the first inning on three consecutive strikeouts. He lasted 7.0 innings, allowing five runs (three earned) with six hits. He struck out six and did not allow a walk. Ellison is now 1-4 on the season.
Nathan Zimmerman relieved Ellison to breeze through the eighth before running into some trouble in the ninth. Kyle Leroy entered in a non-save situation to get the final two outs of the game and stop a bases-loaded rally by the Gorillas in the final inning.
Jake Stevenson took the loss for Pittsburg State, lasting just 2.0 innings and allowing eight runs.
– FHSU Sports Information –