FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team fell in the series finale with Pittsburg State on Saturday, 11-6. The Tigers (13-19, 4-12 MIAA) and Gorillas (21-7, 13-3 MIAA) fought back and forth in the contest before a four-run ninth inning by the Gorillas put the game out of reach.
Fort Hays State jumped in front in the opening frame with two runs to give them their first lead of the series. Ed Scott drew a leadoff walk before Trey DeGarmo reached on a bunt single up the first base line. Isaiah Ural moved the runners over on a sacrifice bunt to set up a two-RBI single from Emile Boies.
After escaping a bases loaded jam in the top of the first, Tiger starter Jake Campbell found himself in trouble again as the Gorillas started off the second with back-to-back singles. Pittsburg State manufactured a pair of runs in the inning to tie the game, including one unearned run, but Mikey Felton put the Tigers back in front with a solo shot over the left center wall in the home half of the second.
Campbell held PSU scoreless in the third before the Gorillas tied the game with a run in the fourth. Two throwing errors by the Tigers in the fifth led to two runs as the Gorillas took a 5-3 lead. Spencer Maley took over with one out in the fifth and managed to prevent further damage.
But the Tigers put together a big inning in the bottom of the fifth in response, plating three runs to regain the lead. A leadoff single by Colter Maldonado followed by a four-pitch walk to Scott got the Tigers rolling before a double steal put the runners in scoring position. DeGarmo plated Maldonado on a sacrifice fly before a wild pitch brought home Scott. Ural capped of the inning with a solo homer to right field to put the Tigers ahead 6-5.
The Gorillas quickly regained the lead with a two-run homer to left center in the sixth. Both bullpens worked efficiently down the stretch, with neither team scoring in the seventh or eighth. The Tigers picked up two free bases to lead off the eighth, but were unable to come away with a run after two strikeouts and a pop up.
Pittsburg State added four insurance runs in the ninth, all of which were unearned. Maley retired the first batter of the inning and walked the second before inducing a tailor-made double play ball, but the defense was unable to make the play. The Gorillas scored one run on a sacrifice fly before a three-run home run cleared the bases and made the score 11-6. Cade Flaherty took the mound to record the final out and did so without allowing any more damage, but the Gorillas struck out the side in the bottom of the frame to secure the sweep.
Campbell went 4 1/3 innings in his second consecutive start, allowing five runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks while striking out three batters. Maley (0-1) gave up six runs (two earned) on six hits and also recorded three punchouts. Flaherty gave up one hit and recorded a strikeout to end the game.
Boies finished 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBI while Scott crossed the plate twice in the finale. After collecting five hits and six runs off the PSU starter over 4.1 innings, the Tigers were hitless and scoreless in 4 2/3 innings against the Gorilla bullpen.
The Tigers will go on the road on Tuesday to play the second game of the midweek series with Newman in Wichita. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.