FHSU Athletics

Fort Hays State baseball fell by a score of 4-2 in the four-game series opener on Friday at Northwest Missouri State. The Tigers got all of their offense off two solo homers, but a three-run blast by NWMSU in the sixth was the difference in the game.

FHSU led off the game with a home run by Connor Ross, but NWMSU starting pitcher Anthony Caenepeel settled in from there by striking out 12 Tigers in eight strong innings of work. He allowed only three hits to the Tigers, two on homers. Alex King had the other home run for FHSU in the top of the eighth.

Gabe Cook pitched 6.0 innings in his start for the Tigers, allowing four runs on seven hits and six walks. He struck out five. He allowed a two-out RBI double in the fourth, which tied the game 1-1 at the time, but gave up the three-run homer with two outs in the sixth. Austin Wulff was Cook’s nemesis for the day as he recorded all four RBI for NWMSU with the two run-scoring hits.

Kyle Vogt pitched the final two innings in relief for FHSU, retiring the side in order in both the seventh and eighth.

Carson Smith entered in the ninth to pick up his sixth save of the year for NWMSU, retiring the Tigers in order.

FHSU (3-15, 3-10 MIAA) faces NWMSU (10-11, 7-6 MIAA) in a doubleheader on Saturday starting at 1 pm.