The Fort Hays State baseball team took the final game of a three-game series at Metro State by a score of 10-6 on Saturday (Feb. 9). The Tigers took the series by winning the last two games and start the year at 2-1 before jumping into conference play next weekend against Central Missouri in Hays.

Jesse Hart was the winning pitcher in long relief for the Tigers, pitching the final 7.1 innings of the nine-inning contest. He relieved Robert VanCour, who lasted just 1.2 innings and allowed four runs. Hart allowed just three hits, three walks and just one of his two earned runs allowed were earned. Hart struck out four batters. He worked three 1-2-3 innings, which included the fourth, sixth, and ninth.

Clayton Garland was 4-for-6 at the plate in the leadoff spot, scored three times, and drove home a run. Casey Sedbrook, who pinch ran early in the game for Chris Santoscoy, tied for the team lead in RBI with Kelston Rule as both drove home two Shane Wade and Jordan Miller also recorded one RBI each.

The Tigers had a total of 17 hits in the game and just two went for extra bases. Garland and Sedbrook each had one double. FHSU trailed after three innings 5-4, but Sam Thornton scored on a balk and Kelton Rule singled home a run in the fourth to give FHSU its first lead at 6-5. The Tigers kept the lead the rest of the way, scoring three in the seventh to go up 9-5. After a Metro State run in the bottom of the seventh, FHSU tacked on one more in the ninth.

Fort Hays State opens MIAA play next weekend (Feb. 16-17) at Larks Park in Hays when it hosts nationally ranked Central Missouri in a three-game series. The teams are scheduled to play a doubleheader Saturday and a single game Sunday.

– FHSU Sports Information –