FHSU Athletics
TOPEKA, Kan. - The 27th-ranked Fort Hays State baseball team scored five runs in the top of the ninth to rally and beat Washburn 7-5 Tuesday afternoon at Falley Field. The MIAA-leading Tigers are now 17-5 overall and 12-1 in league play after winning their fifth game in a row while the Ichabods dip to 13-12 on the year and 6-7 in conference games.
Fort Hays State got to work right away, manufacturing a run in the top of the first after a walk, a single, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout. The Ichabods responded immediately, plating one run off two hits and a walk off Tiger starter Mike Acierno in the bottom of the first.
The Tigers had runners on base in each of the next three innings but were unable to push a run across, allowing the home team to take a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth off two base hits and three batters that were hit by a pitch.
The FHSU offense punched back in the top of the fifth when Trey DeGarmo drove in Derek Woolwine with an RBI single. Woolwine opened a two-out rally with a single before taking second on a wild pitch. Elliott Herrmann then struck out but was able to reach first on a passed ball, extending the inning. The reigning MIAA Hitter of the Week made the Ichabods pay, helping the Tigers close within 3-2 with a single through the hole at short.
Trevor Baugh then delivered the first 1-2-3 inning of the game in the bottom of the fifth before WU pushed its lead back to 4-2 with a home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Fort Hays State had two runners reach in the seventh inning with no outs, but the Ichabod bullpen was able to get out of the jam. Kaleb Carpenter came on after the seventh-inning stretch, striking out a pair and working around a double to post another scoreless frame.
Brett Jacobs was next out of the pen, coming on with no outs and two on in the bottom of the eighth. The righty was able to get out of the inning with a ground out and two fly outs.
FHSU's ninth-inning rally opened with a pinch-hit single from Jose Cintron. Two beaned batters and two strikeouts loaded the bases for DeGarmo, who worked a walk to close the gap to 4-3. The Tigers then scored four unearned runs after a throwing error and a Cooper Howell two-RBI single to right, putting FHSU in front for the first time since the top of the first.
Brandon Chavez came on to record his MIAA-leading seventh save after allowing one run to score on three hits in the bottom of the ninth.
Zane Knox and Howell both collected two hits on the day, while Cesar Saavedra and Woolwine both scored twice and DeGarmo and Howell both drove in two RBI.
Acierno struck out one Ichabod and allowed three runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings of work. Baugh gave up one run on two hits in 2 1/3 innings of relief. Carpenter struck out a pair and allowed two hits in a scoreless inning of work, while Jacobs (1-0) retired all three batters he faced to earn his first win of the season.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State will be back on the road this weekend when they head to southwest Kansas to take on Pittsburg State Friday through Sunday (March 21-23). First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday.