FHSU Athletics
CLAREMORE, Okla. - For the first time this season, the Fort Hays State baseball team was swept in a series. The 19th-ranked Tigers dropped the series finale against Rogers State 11-1 Saturday afternoon at the RCB Bank Sports Complex. The Tigers, who entered the weekend tied for first in the MIAA, finished in third place with a 32-15 overall record and 26-10 conference mark.. The Hillcats wrapped up the regular season 29-19 and 19-17 in league action.
Saturday's game looked very much like the first two games of the series which were both decided by one run. After three and a half scoreless innings, RSU got on the board with a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth. Elliott Herrmann answered with his 11 h homer of the season to lead off the top of the fifth and tie the game 1-1.
The game stayed that way until the seventh when the Hillcats pulled away with 10 runs in the seventh and eighth innings against the Tigers bullpen.
Paul Panduro worked the first six innings, allowing one run on five hits and four walks while striking out three. Brandon Chavez (6-3) allowed five runs on three hits in one inning of relief and was charged with his second loss in consecutive games.
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The Tigers will open the postseason on Thursday as the No. 3 seed in the MIAA Championship Tournament when they take on sixth-seeded Northwest Missouri State beginning at 7 p.m. in Joplin, Mo.