HAYS, Kan. – Three home runs were not enough for the Fort Hays State baseball team against No. 7 Central Missouri, with the Mules taking game one of a three-game series Friday evening (March 9), 13-8. The Tigers dip to 9-9 on the year and 1-6 in MIAA play, while UCM is now 14-3 overall and 6-1 in league action.
Fort Hays State outhit the Mules, 13-11, but nine walks and three errors came back to doom the Tigers. The offensive outburst lasted all evening for both teams, as UCM scored in every inning but the eighth while the Tigers pushed across runs in five different frames. Fort Hays State had baserunners in all nine innings, while UCM was set down in order once.
The Tigers were playing from behind all afternoon thanks to an early home run from the Mules’ clean-up hitter, Collin Nevil. FHSU answered right back by manufacturing a run in the home half of the first, closing within 3-1. Addison Kaasch singled to lead things off and promptly swiped second before coming around to score after a pair of groundouts.
Fort Hays State closed within one in the bottom of the second inning with the help of two home runs. Ryan Grasser deposited a ball over the fence in center to lead things off before Cody Starkel crushed a line-drive home run to left two batters later, making the score 4-3.
Starkel picked up another extra-base knock in the fourth, leading off with a double into the gap in right center. Jason Nicholson immediately drove him in after he tripled to right past the diving Mule outfielder. The catcher came in to score on a throwing error later in the frame, helping the Tigers close within 7-5.
Fort Hays State put together a two-out rally to keep things interesting in the bottom of the sixth. Kaasch reached on an infield single after the third baseman couldn’t handle a wild hop before Clayton Basgall and Alex Weiss followed with singles to load the bases. Dayton Pomeroy came through with a big base knock, dropping in a double just inside the foul line in the left field corner to narrow the gap to three, 10-7.
Grasser collected another long ball in the ninth inning, sending a 2-1 pitch to deep center once again as the leadoff hitter in the frame.
Ben Ramberg (2-3) took the loss after allowing five runs on four hits and four walks in two-plus innings of work. Alex Ruxlow came on to strike out three in 2.2 innings of work, while Roger Kruse was the lone pitcher to retire the side in order all evening (top of the eighth).
Eight different Tigers collected a hit in the loss, including five players with two base knocks. Pomeroy and Grasser both drove in two runs, while Kaasch, Grasser and Starkel all crossed the plate twice.
The Tigers will look to even out the series on Saturday (March 10) when the teams go at it in game two. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. from Larks Park.