Fort Hays State baseball split a doubleheader with Missouri Southern in Joplin, Mo. on Monday. Fort Hays State rallied in its final at bat for a 7-6 win in game one, but fell 14-3 in game two. FHSU is now 7-6 overall and 4-5 in the MIAA. The Tigers were the home team in each contest, since the series with the Lions was scheduled to be played in Hays.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Missouri Southern 6
The Tigers jumped out quickly to a 5-0 lead after two innings in a seven-inning contest, but Missouri Southern methodically chipped away at the lead, scoring once in the third, once in the fourth, and once in the sixth to make it a 5-3 game heading to the last inning.
An error by the Tigers in the top of the seventh opened the door for Southern who scored three unearned runs off reliever Kyle Leroy to take a 6-5 lead.
The Tigers would battle back in the bottom of the seventh. Singles by Kelton Rule and Jay Sanders gave FHSU runners at first and third with one out. Shane Wade struck out for the second out, but pinch hitter Casey Sedbrook drew a walk to load the bases. Jordan Miller was then hit by a pitch to force the tying run in from third. Sam Thornton ended the game with a RBI single to give the Tigers a game that nearly slipped away from them.
Alex Ellison pitched 5.0 innings for FHSU, allowing three earned runs on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts. Nathan Briar and Nathan Zimmerman each relieved for a third of an inning before giving way to Kyle Leroy, who pitched the final inning and a third. All three runs allowed by Leroy were unearned, who picked up the win in relief.
Game 2: Missouri Southern 14, Fort Hays State 3
Missouri Southern jumped out to a 6-0 lead after an inning and a half and never looked back, cruising to a 14-3 win over the Tigers in the second game. All six runs were charged to Tayler Davis, who lasted just 1.0 innings. Five of the runs were earned.
Jesse Hart held the Lions scoreless in relief until the top of the sixth. In that inning, the Lions struck for five more runs to push out to an 11-3 lead. The Lions added three more runs in the seventh to win by run-rule after seven.
Tayler Davis took the loss for the Tigers, now 1-1 on the season.
Fort Hays State is scheduled for a three-game series at Emporia State this weekend.