FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State University split a pair of one-run games with Pittsburg State on Saturday (Feb. 22). FHSU dropped Game 1 of the doubleheader, 8-7, before using a walk-off single from Kevin Czarnecki to take Game 2, 6-5.
Both teams are now 3-3 overall, with FHSU at 2-1 in the MIAA. PSU is 1-2 in the conference.
The two squads will face off in the four-game series’ finale on Sunday (Feb. 23) with a 1 p.m. game at Larks Park.
A complete recap of the doubleheader is below…
Game 1: Pittsburg State 8, Fort Hays State 7
FHSU’s comeback fell short by one run in the first game of the day, as the Tigers rattled off five runs in the late innings, but fell, 8-7.
Joe Mapes (0-1) took the loss, throwing 3.1 innings and allowing eight runs (four earned) on seven hits. In relief, Gus Strunk threw into the seventh inning, giving up just one hit while striking out three batters. Nathan Briar threw the final two outs of the game.
At the plate, Gabe Cook was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a home run, while Czarnecki finished 2-for-3 with an RBI.
The Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first. With one out, Alex King singled and stole second, moving to third on Cooper Langley’s first hit of the afternoon. Horace Johnson followed with a single of his own, pushing King home and Langley to second. After a sacrifice fly from Czarnecki put runners on first and third with two outs, Cook took an 0-2 pitch up the middle to score Langley.
PSU struck back in the second, scoring four runs on three hits, taking advantage of an FHSU error to take the lead, 4-2. That margin increased in the next inning, as three more Gorillas came home on a home run from Kyle Dickens. PSU’s final run of the game came in the fourth, as Ian Robinson’s ground ball sent Derek Hackney across the plate.
Down 8-2 in the fourth, FHSU’s Cook started the comeback effort with a lead-off home run to left field. With one out, Casey Sedbrook walked and Nick Hammeke singled, leaving runners on first and third. Clayton Garland’s single to left field scored Sedbrook and brought the Tigers to within four, 8-4.
In the fifth, Langley reached on a throwing error by Evan Thomas to start the inning, then moved to second on Johnson’s ground out. Czarnecki picked up an RBI in the next at-bat, ripping a 1-0 pitch into center field to score Langley. After a pitching change, James Denton reached on a catcher’s interference and Sedbrook drew a walk, loading the bases with two outs. Nick Foster, who pinch hit for Hammeke, and Garland worked two straight walks for the Tigers, scoring Czarnecki and Denton, but that was as close as FHSU could come, as a ground out ended the scoring threat.
Czarnecki would reach as far as second base in the sixth, but nothing came of it as FHSU fell in seven innings.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 6, Pittsburg State 5 (9 innings)
FHSU’s bats were quiet early in the game, as PSU’s George Brandecker struck out five in the first three innings. After that, however, the Tigers’ bats awakened to score six runs in the final four frames for the comeback win – ending on Czarnecki’s walk-off single in the ninth.
Czarnecki accounted for five of FHSU’s six runs, racking up five RBI in a 2-for-5 performance that included a grand slam in the sixth. King and Kodie Fewin each finished 2-for-4 on the day, with King scoring two runs. Cooper Langley (1-for-1) had two walks and one RBI.
Tyler Patty started the game for FHSU, throwing 5.2 innings and allowing five runs (two earned) on nine hits. Patty struck out one before Ty Thomas replaced him in the sixth. Thomas threw 3.0 innings in shutdown fashion – allowing just one base runner on a hit-by-pitch. Austin Unrein (1-1) picked up the win after throwing just one pitch in the ninth inning before PSU’s Derek Hackney was caught stealing.
Down 5-0 after five innings, FHSU’s offense awoke in the sixth. With one out, King singled to center field and moved to second as Langley was hit by a pitch. Horace Johnson worked a four-pitch walk to load the bases – forcing a pitching change for the Gorillas. Czarnecki shrunk the deficit to one soon after, taking a 3-1 pitch down the right field line for his first career grand slam.
FHSU manufactured another run in the seventh to tie the game. Sedbrook saw eight pitches before drawing a lead-off walk, and moved to second on Gus Strunk’s sacrifice bunt. Garland reached on fielder’s choice as the PSU defense attempted to tag Sedbrook out trying for third. After a brief rundown, Sedbrook slid under the tag and the Tigers had runners on first and third in one out. King walked to load the bases and Langley followed up with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring Sedbrook.
Tied at five in the ninth, Strunk took a pitch the opposite way for a single to right field before moving to second on Garland’s sacrifice bunt. King’s single pushed Strunk to third, then moved to second on a wild pitch during Langley’s at-bat. In order to keep the double-play in effect, PSU intentionally walked Langley, and Johnson reached on a fielder’s choice after Strunk was forced out at home plate. With two outs and the bases loaded, Czarnecki sliced the first pitch he saw up the middle, scoring King and sealing the comeback victory for FHSU.