FHSU Sports Infomation
Fort Hays State earned a split in the doubleheader against Northwest Missouri State on Saturday at Larks Park. The Tigers won game one in comeback fashion 7-6 with a walk-off RBI single, but fell in game two 7-5. FHSU moved to 6-16 overall and 5-14 in the MIAA, while Northwest Missouri State moved to 14-9 overall and 10-6 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Northwest Missouri State 6
Horace Johnson had a two-out RBI walk-off single in game one to push the Tigers to a 7-6 victory. Down 6-5 heading to the bottom of the seventh, FHSU rallied for two runs for the comeback win.
Casey Sedbrook started the seventh-inning rally with a single through the right side of the infield and then moved up to second on a throwing error by the pitcher on a pick off attempt. A sacrifice bunt by Nick Hammeke moved Sedbrook to third. After a walk by Jordan Miller, Gus Strunk also drew a walk, but on ball four the Bearcat catcher dropped the ball and it went all the way to the backstop, allowing Sedbrook to score on the passed ball to tie the game. With two outs and runners at first and second, Johnson delivered the clutch single to plate Miller from second for the Tiger win.
The Tigers trailed 3-0 through three and a half innings, but got a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Kodie Fewin came in to score on a ground ball double play off the bat of Nick Hammeke and the Tigers later took advantage of a Bearcat error as Clayton Garland had a RBI single.
Northwest Missouri pushed its lead out to four runs with three in the top of the sixth, but FHSU answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning, all via the long ball. Garland had a two-run homer, followed by a solo shot from Johnson to make it 6-5 in favor of NWMSU.
Ty Thomas retired the two batters he faced in relief in the top of the seventh, then Nathan Briar entered to get the final out of the inning. That set the stage for the Tiger comeback in the bottom half of the inning. Briar moved to 1-0 on the season with the win.
Austin Unrein pitched well in his start for FHSU. He went 6.0 innings and allowed six runs (just three earned) on five hits with a walk and seven strikeouts.
Jon Pomatto took the loss in relief, who entered at the start of the seventh with the one-run lead. He moved to 0-1 on the year.
Game 2: Northwest Missouri State 7, Fort Hays State 5
The Tigers had the bases loaded with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Jordan Miller’s looping fly ball to left field hung up too long, allowing the fielder to get under it and secure the win for Northwest Missouri State.
The Tigers were in control of the game through three innings, leading 3-0, until the Bearcats erupted for five runs in the fourth all on two outs. A walk, pair of singles, triple, and two-run home run generated the five runs turning the game around in a flash. That rally chased FHSU starter Tyler Patty from the mound, who went 3.2 innings allowing five runs on seven hits and two walks. He struck out two and took the loss, now 1-3 on the season.
The Bearcats extended their lead to 7-3 in the top of the fifth with a two-run home run off FHSU reliever Ty Thomas. Thomas pitched effectively for FHSU, going 3.0 innings with five hits allowed. Nick Hammeke got the final out of the seventh, keeping the Bearcats from rallying for any more runs.
The two-run blast in the fifth by NWMSU was too much to overcome as the Tigers could only get one in the sixth and one in the seventh. Miller provided an RBI double in the sixth and Horace Johnson led off the seventh with a solo home run.
Hondo Pearcy was the winning pitcher for Northwest Missouri, going 5.1 innings with four runs allowed on nine hits and two walks. He struck out three. Rob Henrichs relieved for 1.0 innings and allowed one run before yielding to Daulton Perry, who recorded his first save of the season by getting the final two outs of the game.
The Tigers and Bearcats conclude the four-game conference series on Sunday (Mar. 23) at Larks Park. Game time is set for 1 pm.