FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State baseball fell 17-8 in the second game of its MIAA series with Missouri Southern at Larks Park on Saturday. The Tigers built some momentum early outscoring the Lions 8-2 over the first four innings, but 15 unanswered run over the remainder of the game pushed the Lions past the Tigers. The Lions improved to 27-7 overall and 16-3 in the MIAA, while the Tigers fell to 13-22 overall and 4-15 in conference play.
Jake Campbell escaped a jam in the opening frame leaving two runners stranded for the Lions. The Tigers took the lead immediately in their half as Ed Scott led off with a double down the left field line. A single to center by Trey DeGarmo brought Scott home and the Lions mishandled the ball in center field allowing DeGarmo to reach third on the error. An RBI single from Elliott Herrmann plated DeGarmo giving the Tigers a 2-0 lead after the first inning. Campbell retired MSSU in order in the following frame before a sacrifice fly from Scott plated Zach Davis, who led off the inning with a double to right center.
MSSU narrowed the lead to 3-2 in the third, but the Tigers answered with a three-run home half of the inning. Herrmann collected his second RBI of the day with a solo homer to straightaway center. Zane Knox had a single and Jenner Kehe drew a walk setting up an RBI single from Davis. Kehe crossed the plate on a double steal play to give the Tigers a 6-2 lead. Campbell retired the Lions in order once again in the fourth and the Tigers plated their final two runs of the game in the bottom of the inning. Isaiah Ural and Herrmann had back-to-back RBI singles.
The Lions cut the lead back to two in the fifth scoring four runs on five hits before taking the lead in the sixth on a two-out grand slam. From there, MSSU relievers Kyle Moore and Cale McCallister held the Tigers in check scattering six hits over the final five innings. The Lions scored two in the seventh, one in the eighth, and three in the ninth as they completed the comeback and secured the series win.
Campbell tossed 4.2 innings allowing six runs on 10 hits, while striking out three batters. Spencer Maley (0-2), who relieved Campbell at the end of the fifth, threw 1.1 innings allowing five runs on three hits and also punched out three batters. Daniel Bebee allowed two runs in an inning of work and Luuk ter Beek allowed four runs (three earned) over two innings. Herrmann had a great day at the plate going 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a home run.
The Tigers and Lions will wrap up their series Sunday (April 2) at 1 p.m.