KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team fell behind early Wednesday (March 14) against Rockhurst and were unable to bounce back, falling 17-3 in seven innings. The Tigers are now 9-12 on the year while the Hawks improve to 5-7 this season.

The Hawks got the bats going early and often, scoring in all but one inning and pushing across multiple runs in four frames. Fort Hays State was outhit in the contest, 15-6.

Trailing 3-0, Dayton Pomeroy temporarily put the Tigers within two with a solo home run in the top of the second, the senior’s seventh long ball of the season.

The Tigers put together a bit of a rally in the top of the sixth, collecting four of their six hits in the frame. Singles from Alex Weiss, Cody Starkel and Ryan Grasser loaded the bases before Jonathan Mariani stepped up to the dish as a pinch hitter. The senior came through with a two-RBI double down the left field line, making the score 16-3.

Pomeroy picked up two of the Tigers’ six hits on the afternoon, adding a leadoff single in the top of the fourth inning. Ryan Ruder (2-3) took the loss after allowing five runs on five hits over 1.1 innings, striking out a pair.

Fort Hays State will return to Larks Park and MIAA play this weekend when Central Oklahoma makes the trip to Hays. The three-game series begins at 5 p.m. Friday (March 16).