HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader against MIAA foe Central Oklahoma Saturday afternoon (March 17) at Larks Park. The Tigers dip to 9-14 overall and 1-10 in league play, while the Bronchos are now 17-8 on the year and 9-2 in league action.
Game One: Central Oklahoma 6, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers had plenty of opportunity to score in game one, matching the Bronchos in hits, 8-8. But the FHSU offense could not come up with the timely hits UCO managed, stranding 10 runners on base in the opener. Fort Hays State loaded the bases with no outs in the first inning, but a double play and a strikeout brought the rally to a screeching halt.
After the Bronchos took a 2-0 lead on a second inning home run, Fort Hays State closed within one when Addison Kaasch singled home Ryan Grasser.
The potent Broncho offense added two more home runs later in the contest while the Tigers were unable to put another run up on the board through the final seven innings.
Sam Capps (1-2) took the loss for FHSU after allowing six runs on eight hits over five innings of work. The senior struck out four batters on the afternoon. Austin Weiser came out of the bullpen to tame the Bronchos, allowing only two baserunners on walks through four innings of relief.
Kaasch collected three of the eight Tiger hits, finishing 3-for-5 with an RBI. Clayton Basgall collected the lone extra-base hit for FHSU, doubling down the left field line in the seventh inning.
Game Two: Central Oklahoma 17, Fort Hays State 6
Fort Hays State fell behind early and could not recover in the nightcap, falling by a final score of 17-6. The Bronchos swatted three home runs before rattling off six hits in the second inning to quickly lead 9-0.
Cody Starkel gave the Tigers their first run with a solo home run to right, closing the gap to 9-1 in the home half of the second. Fort Hays State added single runs in the fourth and sixth innings before pushing across three in the seventh, but UCO tacked on eight runs over the final four innings to secure the win.
Dayton Pomeroy drove in two runs and scored two more, finishing 2-for-4 with two doubles. Starkel added a second RBI later in the game, while Alex Weiss added an RBI on a 2-for-5 effort at the plate.
Ryan Ruder (2-4) took the loss after allowing five runs over 1.1 innings of work on the mound. Roger Kruse came on to silence the Broncho bats for three innings, holding UCO scoreless from the third through the fifth innings. The junior struck out six batters over 4.1 innings of relief, giving up three earned runs on six hits.
The Tigers will look to return to the win column on Sunday (March 18) when FHSU and UCO battle in game three at 1 p.m.