ODESSA, Texas – The Fort Hays State baseball team opened the season with an impressive 6-0 victory over Texas-Permian Basin Friday afternoon (Feb. 2) at Roden Field. The pitching duo of Tanner Smith and Austin Weiser befuddled the Falcons all afternoon, striking out 13 while allowing just four batters to reach base (two hits, one HBP, one error). It was just the second shutout for the Tigers since 2013 (5-0 vs NWOSU, 3/22/17).
The Tigers accumulated six hits and made one error on the day while the Falcons scraped together only two hits and made four errors in the field.
Smith (1-0) made the most of his first start in a Tiger uniform, striking out nine batters and allowing just one hit over six innings of work, issuing zero walks. The righty allowed just one Falcon to reach third base. Smith’s nine strikeouts are tied for the most in a single game for a Tiger since 2015 (Ben Ramberg and Sam Capps last season).
Sophomore Marcus Altman carried the team on offense, driving in four RBI while finishing 2-for-3 at the dish. The outfielder nearly matched his RBI total from last season in one game (five RBI in 2017).
The Tigers got off to a quick start after Jason Nicholson worked a walk to lead things off. After the catcher swiped second, Nicholson scored from second when Alex Weiss singled to third and forced a throwing error.
Fort Hays State doubled its lead in the top of the second when Bryce Whitchurch led off by working a walk. Ryan Grasser followed with a single into the gap in right center in his first at bat as a Tiger, advancing Whitchurch to third. Altman picked up the first RBI of the year for a Tiger in the next at bat when he punched a single to right, scoring Whitchurch.
Altman added another RBI in the top of the sixth when he lifted a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded, plating Jordan Wilkerson.
The Tigers added a trio of insurance runs in the top of the eighth when Whitchurch reached on an error to open things off. Grasser worked a walk in the next at bat, bringing Altman to the plate with two on and one out. The sophomore continued his torrid afternoon, clubbing a double to left to plate a pair of runs. Altman later scored when Clayton Basgall grounded into a double play, putting the Tigers in front 6-0.
Weiser came on in relief in the seventh inning, earning the save after tossing three scoreless innings. The senior struck out four batters and allowed only one hit, retiring the first seven batters he faced before giving up a one-out double in the ninth. Weiser remained calm under pressure, striking out the final two batters with a runner in scoring position to secure the win.
The Tigers showed plenty of plate discipline, working eight walks in the victory. FHSU is now 4-4 on Opening Day under head coach Steve Johnson.
The teams will face off in game two of the series at 2 p.m. Saturday (Feb. 3).