FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team avoided the series sweep with a 7-4 win over No. 4 ranked Missouri Southern on Sunday at Larks Park. This win for the Tigers snapped a 17-game losing streak to the Lions going all the way back to 2017.
It's FHSU's first win over a ranked opponent since 2020 when they defeated #23 Colorado School of Mines, 11-9 (Feb 9, 2020) and their first win over a top-5 ranked opponent since 2012 when they knocked off #1 Central Missouri, 14-6 (Mar 25, 2012).
FHSU improved to 14-22 overall and 5-15 in conference action, while MSSU dropped to 27-8 overall and 16-4 in conference play.
Cade Flaherty took command on the mound early for the Tigers retiring the Lions in order in the first two innings, while collecting three strikeouts. The Tigers plated three runs on three hits and one Lion error in the bottom of the second to take the lead. Elliott Herrmann led off the inning with a double to the right center gap before Zane Knox launched a towering home run to deep right center plating two runs. A throwing error by the MSSU third baseman allowed Zach Davis to reach second before Ed Scott brought him home on a single back up the middle.
The Lions manufactured a run in the third to get on the board, but the Tigers answered with three more runs in the home half. After a leadoff single from Isaiah Ural, the Tigers put together a two-out rally. Jenner Kehe singled up the middle before Davis smashed a ball into the left field wall for a double plating Ural and Kehe. Another MSSU miscue allowed the Tigers to load the bases and Davis would cross the plate on a wild pitch. The Lions found some life at the plate in the fifth scoring three runs on four hits and an errant throw by the Tigers. Joel Nieves would bring home the final run of the contest with an RBI single to left center in the bottom of the frame bringing the score to 7-4.
Flaherty (2-2) tossed his first career complete game in the win, the third by a Tiger pitcher this season. Over the final four innings, the sophomore held the Lions scoreless scattering a pair of hits and punching out four batters.
Ural finished the day 4-for-5 at the plate, while Knox and Davis each collected two RBI.
The Tigers go on the road on Tuesday to play a single game at Rockhurst in Kansas City, Mo. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.