LAS VEGAS, N.M. – The Fort Hays State baseball team rallied from a five-run deficit to defeat New Mexico Highlands in extra innings Friday afternoon (Feb. 16), 9-8. The Tigers improved to 6-2 with the win, while the Cowboys are now 2-6 on the year.
The Tigers scored two runs in the top of the ninth to tie things up before winning the game in the 13th inning. FHSU scored its nine runs on 13 hits and seven Cowboy errors, while NMHU pushed across eight runs on 10 hits and two Tiger errors.
The Cowboys scored single runs in each of the first four innings to take an early lead. The home team added two more runs in the home half of the sixth before the Tiger bullpen came on to calm the Cowboy bats. Cole Schumacher, Alex Ruxlow and Cody Rottinghaus combined to keep NMHU off the board until the 11th inning, giving the Tigers an opportunity to rally.
Fort Hays State started its comeback in the top of the third inning when Jason Nicholson reached on a two-out error and promptly swiped second base. Clayton Basgall made NMHU pay for the defensive miscue, driving a double to right to plate Nicholson and closing the gap to 2-1 at the time.
Trailing 6-1, the Tigers took advantage of two more Cowboy errors in the top of the seventh to narrow the deficit to two runs, 6-4. Addison Kaasch doubled to right to open the inning before Jordan Wilkerson put runners at the corners with a single to left. The pair came around to score with Ryan Grasser at the dish on two Cowboy errors, allowing Grasser to reach third base. The junior sprinted home two batters later when Marcus Altman punched an RBI groundout to short.
Wilkerson opened the ninth inning with his third base hit of the day, doubling to left field. Grasser followed with an RBI double to left center, helping the Tigers close within one, 6-5. Altman reached base two batters later on a hit by pitch before Nicholson worked a walk, loading the bases with one out. Basgall came through with an RBI fielder’s choice to short, beating out the double play to tie things up at 6-6.
The Tigers looked to be in control when they scored a pair of runs in the top of the 11th after Altman led off with a single. The sophomore came around to score two batters later when Basgall reached on an error. Alex Weiss followed with an RBI single to score Basgall, putting the Tigers in front 8-6.
New Mexico Highlands answered with two runs of their own, collecting three singles. Sam Capps came on to strand the winning run at second, giving the Tigers new life. The senior got out of another jam in the 12th, leaving a runner at third with a strikeout.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the 13th on another error and singles from Basgall and Weiss. Kaasch stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs, coming through with an RBI when he was hit by a pitch. Capps mowed through the Cowboys in order in the bottom of the inning, securing the victory for the Tigers.
Basgall and Wilkerson both collected three hits, with Basgall knocking in two RBI. Capps (1-1) earned the win after giving up just one hit over 2.2 innings of work, striking out two. Schumacher did not allow a baserunner over 1.1 innings pitched while Ruxlow retired five of the six batters he faced. Rottinghaus came out of the bullpen to retire the side in order in the ninth and 10th innings before allowing the two runs in the 11th, giving up two runs on two hits over 2.1 innings of action.
The Tigers and Cowboys will face off in game two of the series on Saturday (Feb. 16) at 2 p.m. CT (1 p.m. MT).