FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State dropped two more games to Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday, the second and third games of a four-game series in Hays. The Tigers are now 3-11 overall and 2-9 in the MIAA, while the Lopers moved to 12-6 overall and 6-5 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Nebraska-Kearney 10, Fort Hays State 2
Clayton Garland put the Tigers on top after one inning with an opposite field solo home run, but that lead was short lived as Nebraska-Kearney scored a pair in the top of the second and pulled away from that point.
The UNK lead grew to 5-1 before FHSU scored its only other run in the fourth on a RBI single by Casey Sedbrook.
FHSU starter Tyler Patty went 5.1 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and a walk. He struck out one. Nathan Briar relieved in the sixth and recorded an out and Ty Thomas pitched the final 1.1 innings, allowing four runs.
Dalton Cowen went the distance for UNK, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk in seven innings of work. He struck out four, moving to 3-1 on the season.
Game 2: Nebraska-Kearney 17, Fort Hays State 4
The Lopers put game two out of reach early with two runs in the first and eight in the second to lead 10-0 after two innings. Six of the eight runs in the second were unearned due to an error in the inning. They tacked on four in the third and three in the fifth to lead 17-0 before FHSU scored all four of its runs in the sixth.
In the four-run sixth for FHSU, Kevin Czarnecki had a RBI single, followed by a Nick Foster two-RBI double, and a James Denton RBI single.
FHSU starter Joe Mapes lasted just 1.1 innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out one. Reliever Alex Cox allowed seven runs (three earned) in 1.1 innings of work. Nick Hammeke threw two innings and allowed four runs before Nathan Briar and Gabe Cook held the Lopers scoreless over the final 2.1 innings.
Logan Willard went 6.0 innings to get the win for UNK. He allowed four runs on eight hits with a walk, while striking out four. Ross Mortensen relieved for the final inning. Willard moved to 2-0 with the win.
Fort Hays State looks to salvage the final game of the four-game set with the Lopers on Monday at 1 pm.