FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team picked up a second-straight win over Arkansas-Fort Smith on Saturday, winning 5-1. Starting pitcher Tucker Russell (1-1) and reliever Caleb Camp (1 save) combined to allow just four hits, tied for the fewest allowed by the Tigers (6-13, 3-6 MIAA) this season.
Russell didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning, however the Lions (1-16, 0-8 MIAA) scored the first run following two Tiger errors in the top of the first. Fort Hays State had runners on base in each of the first two innings but were unable to score until the third when Tyson Jimenez led off with his first career home run.
FHSU took the lead for good in the home half of the fourth after two batters were hit by a pitch. Derek Woolwine came through with the go-ahead RBI, plating Antonio Avila with a single to right.
Russell worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth, allowing two singles after a walk before escaping the inning without any damage thanks to a flyout to left. The Tigers had more chances to score in the sixth and seventh innings, but left men in scoring position each time.
Camp came on in relief with one on and one out in the sixth, but the baserunner was promptly retired when Justin Lipka threw out his second would-be base stealer of the game. Camp finished the inning with a strikeout against the first batter he faced, one of four punchouts for the sophomore.
Tytin Goebel led off the eighth with a line-drive single back up the middle to put more traffic on base. The Lions later intentionally walked Woolwine with two outs and appeared to get out of the inning before a Lipka was misplayed by the UAFS third baseman. Jimenez made the Lions pay for the error, driving a 3-2 pitch off the wall in left field to plate three runs with his team-leading second triple of the season.
Camp allowed a one-out single in the ninth before bringing things to a close with a pair of fly balls to right.
Jimenez drove in four of FHSU's five runs and was the lone Tiger with multiple hits. Russell struck out five and allowed one unearned run on three hits over 5.1 innings of work, while Camp struck out four and allowed just one hit in 3.1 innings of relief.
The Tigers will look to complete the sweep on Sunday (March 8) beginning at 1 p.m. at Larks Park.