The Fort Hays State baseball team went into their final doubleheader of the regular season at Northwest Missouri State looking to punch their ticket into the MIAA postseason tournament. Now the Tigers are going to need some help after losing twice to the Bearcats on Thursday by scores of 3-1. Fort Hays State drops to 24-21 overall and 19-19 in the MIAA. Northwest, who has now won seven straight, improves to 21-25 and 18-22 in the conference after splitting their four games this season with the Tigers.

The Tigers now need Nebraska-Kearney and Southwest Baptist to each lose a game in their three-game series this weekend to secure a spot to the conference tournament.

Game 1: Northwest Missouri State 3, Fort Hays State 1
The Bearcats scored three in the bottom of the fourth after the Tigers had scored one in the top of the inning to take the lead. Clayton Garland’s single down the left field line drove in Fort Hays State’s lone run.

Tayler Davis (6-4) takes the loss, allowing the three runs on five hits over 6.0 innings, walking five while striking out one.

Game 2: Northwest Missouri State 3, Fort Hays State 1 (10 inn.)
Tyler Durant hit a two-out two-run homer in the bottom of the 10th off of Michael Edlefson to rally for the sweep. The Bearcats scored a run in the bottom of the ninth on a one-out double from Cameron Bedard.

The Tigers scored their lone run on a Kelton Rule single in the fourth.

Edlefson (4-2) takes the loss, allowing two runs on one hit in 1 1/3 innings. Starter Alex Ellison scattered nine hits over 8 1/3 innings, allowing just the one run in the ninth, striking out two and walking one.