Fort Hays State outhit fifth-ranked Central Missouri by five, but fell by a score of 5-0 at the MIAA Baseball Tournament Championship in Kansas City, Kan., on Friday (May 11). Fort Hays State moved to 27-23 on the season with the loss. The Tigers now await the loser of Missouri Western vs. Washburn at 6 pm on Friday evening.

Steve Johnson Postgame Interview
fhsu 05-11 post game 1 interview

Game Highlights
fhsu 05-11 game 1 highlights

The only earned runs for Central Missouri in the game occurred on a solo home run by Ben Cox in the fifth inning and a sacrifice fly in the seventh by Jon Cotter.

A pair of errors by Tiger catcher Shane Wade led to three Central Missouri runs in the game. His first was a throw wide of second base on a stolen base attempt that went into center field and allowed the runner to reach third. Gabe Thibodeau put UCM on top 1-0 with an RBI groundout. Later, in the seventh inning with runners at second and third and no outs, Wade threw a ball in the dirt to first base on a sacrifice bunt attempt that went up the right field line and allowed.

The Tigers had their leadoff batter reach base in each of the first four innings, but could never advance a runner past second base. The Mules turned three double plays in the game and had a strike out/throw out on a stolen base attempt by Chris Santoscoy in the third. The frustrating stat is that the Tigers outhit the Mules 8-3.

Alex Ellison took the tough luck loss, allowing just three hits through 6.0 innings of work with three walks and two strikeouts. Only two of the five runs he allowed were earned. Casey Pierce threw a third of an inning and Sam Thornton went the final 1 2/3 innings and held the Mules hitless the rest of the way. Ellison moved to 3-6 with the loss.

Kurtis Schuyler worked around the eight Tiger hits and struck out seven in a complete game effort. He moved to 9-2 on the season with the win.

– FHSU Sports Information –