MARYVILLE, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped the series opener to Northwest Missouri State on Friday 9-2. The Tigers moved to 3-25 overall and 2-17 in conference play, while the Bearcats moved to 15-15 on the season and 11-8 in MIAA action.

Marcus Altman had three of the Tigers six hits going 3-for-3. He hit a lead-off double in the third inning and two singles, one in the fifth and one in the eighth. Ryan Grasser, Jared Maneth and Tyler Olson were the only other Tigers to produce a hit in the contest.

Tiger starter Ryan Ruder pitched 2 2/3 innings of shutout ball before the Bearcats got to him with two runs in the third. An eight-hit, seven-run fifth inning chased Ruder from the game as NWMSU increased their lead to 9-0.

Jared Maneth put the Tigers on the board in the ninth inning lifting a fly ball over the left field wall for his first home run of the season. The 2-run blast scored Bryce Baumwart.

The Tigers and Bearcats will lace it up for game two of the series on Saturday with a first pitch slated for 2 p.m. from Bearcat Field.