By GERARD WELLBROCK
Hays Post

HAYS, Kan. – Joe Mapes and Alex King both homered as Fort Hays State overcame an early three-run deficit then held off a Northwest Missouri State rally for a 9-8 win and sweep the three-game MIAA series Saturday afternoon at Larks Park. The Tigers (23-26, 17-21 MIAA) won their final four and six of their last seven. The Bearcats (24-26, 19-20 MIAA) lost their sixth straight.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview

Game Highlights

 

The Bearcats scored three in the third to take a 3-0 lead but the Tigers answered on Mapes three-run opposite field home run down the left field line in the fourth. Alex King followed two batters later with an opposite field solo shot to right to put FHSU up 4-3. The Tigers scored five in the fifth in singles from Alex Weiss, Joe Mapes, Alex King and Ty Redington.

The Bearcats rallied with a run in the sixth and and seventh, two in the eighth then a solo homer in the ninth.

Freshman Logan Herd allowed five runs (four earned) on 10 hits in five innings of relief for his fourth win of the season. Austin Unrein entered with one out in the ninth and picked up his second save in consecutive games.

King went 3-for-4 and drove in three while Mapes had two hits and knocked in four.