FHSU Sports Information
Missouri Southern remained undefeated by sweeping a doubleheader against Fort Hays State on Thursday (Feb. 27) in Joplin, Mo. Fort Hays State fell by scores of 8-0 and 11-7, now 3-6 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA. Missouri Southern improved to 10-0 overall and 6-0 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Missouri Southern 8, Fort Hays State 0
The Tigers could not get anything going offensively in the first game, scratching out just one hit against Missouri Southern starter David Reese. Reese threw a complete game shutout, striking out nine Tigers and did not allow a walk, but hit one batter.
Cooper Langley had the lone hit for FHSU in the second inning. FHSU had runners at second and third in that inning, but could not push a run across with MSSU holding a 1-0 lead at the time. MSSU went on to score one in the second, two in the third, and four in the sixth.
Steven Federau went the distance for FHSU, allowing eight runs on 11 hits with two walks and one strikeout.
Game 2: Missouri Southern 11, Fort Hays State 7
The Tigers fell behind 7-1 after three innings, then 11-2 after five innings and could not mount a big enough comeback to catch the Lions in game two.
Horace Johnson had a RBI single in the first inning to give FHSU the lead 1-0 momentarily until Missouri Southern scored four in the bottom half of the first. FHSU added its second run of the game in the fourth on a sacrifice fly RBI by Nick Hammeke.
Down by nine, the Tigers scored twice in the sixth on a two-RBI single by Alex King, then plated three in the eighth on a two-RBI double by King and a RBI single by Cooper Langley. King finished the game with four RBI.
The Tigers had two pitchers each go 4.0 innings. Starter Tyler Patty pitched to one batter in the fifth before being relieved by Ty Thomas. Patty surrendered eight runs on 11 hits with one walk. Thomas allowed just three runs (one earned) and eight hits, while striking out three.
Payton Walker threw 6.0 innings for the Lions, picking up the win. He surrendered four runs on 11 hits and struck out eight. Josh Engler (0.1 innings) and Stephen Vaughn (1.0 innings) shut down the Tigers over the final inning and a third.
Fort Hays State and Missouri Southern play the final two games of the four-game series on Friday, starting at 1 pm.