BOLIVAR, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped a pair of games to Southwest Baptist Friday afternoon (March 1) at Dodson Field. The Tigers were one run short in the opener, falling 7-6 before their bats went silent in a 6-0 loss in the nightcap. Because the series was originally scheduled as a home series for the Tigers, Fort Hays State played as the home team in both contests. The Tigers (0-13, 0-5 MIAA) and Bearcats (8-6, 3-2 MIAA) will wrap up the series Saturday (March 2) beginning at 11 a.m.
Game One: Southwest Baptist 7, Fort Hays State 6
The Tigers had chances early and often in game one, with runners reaching base in all but one inning in the opener. Fort Hays State scored the first run of the game after four consecutive walks in the first inning.
The Tigers extended their lead to 3-0 when they tacked on a pair of runs in the home half of the fourth. Marcus McDaniel plated Garrett Francis with an RBI groundout before Tyler Olson came home to score on an error. A walk to Ryan Stoecklein and a single from Taylan Mullins-Ohm once again loaded the bases, but SBU got out of the jam with a flyout.
After managing just three hits over the first four innings against Tiger starter Jake Steinbring, Southwest Baptist got things going in the fifth inning. The Bearcats took the lead after pushing four runs across, two of which were unearned.
Fort Hays State tied things up with a big two-out base hit from Mullins-Ohm in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ryan Grasser worked a walk before swiping second, allowing the senior to come around to score when Mullins-Ohm sent a single back up the middle to center.
SBU took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the top of the seventh inning. Grasser helped the Tigers close within one in the bottom of the eighth when he plated Olson with a ground ball to short.
After the Bearcats went back in front by two in the top of the ninth, 7-5, the home half of the inning opened with Landon Erway being hit by a pitch. A double from Francis and a walk to Jared Maneth loaded the bases yet again for the Tigers with the top of the lineup due up. A pitch hit Olson in the following at bat, closing the gap to one after Erway came in to score. After going to the bullpen, SBU got out of the jam with a popup and a flyout to lock down the win.
Francis collected three of FHSU’s seven hits, finishing 3-for-5 with a run. Mullins-Ohm reached base four times, turning in a 2-for-3 effort with an RBI and two walks.
Steinbring completed 4.2 innings before being removed, allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits while striking out four. Ryan Ruder (0-2) suffered the loss after tossing 4.1 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits.
Game Two: Southwest Baptist 6, Fort Hays State 0
After leaving 15 runners on base in the opener, the Tigers managed just four baserunners in game two. SBU starter Dalton Morrow controlled the game on the bump, tossing a complete game shutout while striking out 11 and allowing just three hits.
Southwest Baptist clubbed a pair of home runs over the first two innings to provide all the run support Morrow would need.
Garrett Francis, Isaas Soares and Cody Starkel all singled in the loss. Ethan Booe (0-2) was credited with the loss after allowing five runs (four earned) on three hits and three walks over 6.0 innings of work. The freshman struck out three on the day. Ryan Brown struck out two in one inning of relief while Tanner Smith struck out four and did not give up a hit over two innings out of the pen.
