BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped the second game of the weekend series on Saturday (Mar. 24) to the Southwest Baptist Bearcats, 3-2. The Tigers dipped to 10-18 overall and 2-13 in conference play, while the Bearcats moved to 9-17 on the season and 3-11 in MIAA action.

The Bearcats built up a 3-0 lead after three innings of play and never looked back in the contest. SBU plated their first run on an infield RBI single, taking a 1-0 lead in the second frame. The Bearcats added to their lead in the third with an RBI single and a sacrifice fly to center.

FHSU picked up a pair of runs in the top of the fifth frame when Ryan Grasser led off with an infield single of his own. Grasser came around to score on another infield single, this time when Jonathan Mariani connected on the third pitch in the at-bat towards the pitcher. Throughout this sequence Jordan Wilkerson advanced to second on a groundout from Marcus Altman. Mariani and Wilkerson stole second and third, respectively, and then Wilkerson crossed home plate on a throwing error from the Bearcat catcher.

Neither team was able to do much more than that as Bearcat starter, Dalton Morrow, threw a complete game. Morrow held the Tiger offense in check, allowing one earned run on seven hits in the contest and earning his fifth win in the process.

Tanner Smith (1-5) was charged with the loss after pitching six innings, giving up all three SBU runs and recording six strikeouts. Alex Ruxlow came on in relief and did the part with four punch-outs in the six batters he faced, allowing one hit in two innings of work.

Mariani finished the day 2-for-3 at the plate with a double and an RBI on the afternoon.

Fort Hays State and Southwest Baptist will settle the series in the rubber match on Sunday (Mar. 25). First pitch from Bolivar, Mo. is set for 2 p.m.