FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team jumped in front by five runs through the first five innings before falling to Rogers State Saturday afternoon, 15-10. The Tigers (9-13, 2-7 MIAA) and Hillcats (14-7, 3-5 MIAA) will now face off in the rubber game of the series Sunday (March 12) beginning at 1 p.m. at Larks Park.
Tiger starter Zach Berg threw one bad pitch his first time through the order, giving up a solo home run in the top of the first before retiring six batters in a row. The Tigers quickly took control with a two-RBI single from Elliott Herrmann in the home half of the inning.
Fort Hays State doubled its lead to 3-1 when Isaiah Ural clubbed a no-doubt home run with one out in the third inning. Rogers State tacked on three runs in the fourth, including two unearned runs, to take a momentary 4-3 lead.
The Tigers grabbed the lead right back in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a pair of Hillcat errors. Tico Olivas tied the game when he scored on the second error before Herrmann drove in two more with a single down the right-field line.
Berg settled back in after the fourth, retiring the side in order in the fifth and sixth innings. Fort Hays State padded its lead with three more runs in the fifth. Zane Knox led off with a home run to right on a 3-2 pitch, his fifth long ball of the season. Later with two men on, Ed Scott crushed a ball to left that one-hopped into the fence to drive in a run on a stand-up double. Olivas later scored on a wild pitch, giving the Tigers a 9-4 lead.
Rogers State led off the seventh with a home run and a walk to bring and end to Berg's day before the Hillcats scored a total of 11 runs on seven hits and one error in the inning. FHSU scored one run in the home half of the inning when Scott came in to score on a wild pitch, but the Tigers were unable to draw any closer over the final three innings.
Berg tossed six innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out two batters. Jake Campbell did not allow a run over the final 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and one walk while striking out one.
Herrmann drove in four runs on the day, bringing his season total to an MIAA-leading 35 RBI. Scott scored three times while Knox collected a team-high three hits.