By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

Kevin Czarnecki went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs helping the Fort Hays State Tigers to a 6-3 win over Emporia State Sunday afternoon at Larks Park. The Tigers win the final two games to split the four-game series with the Hornets. It’s the Tigers third straight series split after losing nine straight conference games. They are how 8-16 in the MIAA. ESU falls to 18-11 and 14-10 in conference play.

The Tigers never trailed, scoring single runs in each of the first four innings in building a 4-1 lead. Emporia State closed the gap to 4-3 on Dean Long’s two-run homer in the fifth. It would stay that way until the seventh when Czarnecki drove in Gus Strunk and Clayton Garland with a  two-out double to left field. He also knocked in a run with a double in the third to give FHSU a 3-0 lead.

Joe Mapes made an emergency start after an injury to Alex Cox and held the Hornets to three runs (two earned) on five hits over five innings for his first win of the season. Nathan Briar threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit before leaving with two on and nobody out in the ninth. Gabe Cook coaxed a foul out then got the speedy Justin Harris to ground into a 5-3 double play to end the game and pick up his second save in consecutive games.

Dakota McKaskie takes the loss for the Hornets (3-2) allowing four runs (three earned) on seven hits over five innings.

The Tigers scored their first run with two outs in the first when Emporia State second baseman Levi Parker dropped a popup in front of the pitchers mound, allowing Gus Strunk to score from second. An Austin Unrein solo home run to lead off the second made it 2-0. Casey Sedbrook tripled with one out in the fourth then scored on a Nick Hammeke ground out to put FHSU up 4-1.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game  Highlights