Fort Hays State (9-22, 9-18 MIAA) at
Emporia State (12-22, 8-19 MIAA)
Friday-Saturday, April 30-May 1, 2021
DH Saturday • Friday 6 p.m. • Sat 12 p.m. & 3 p.m.
Emporia, Kan. • Trusler Sports Complex
The Fort Hays State baseball teams makes its final road trip of the regular season this weekend when the Tigers travel to face off with Emporia State Friday and Saturday (April 30-May 1). The Tigers and Hornets are slated to open the series with a single game beginning at 6 p.m. Friday before wrapping up the weekend with a doubleheader Saturday starting at noon.
With just six games remaining in the regular season, the Tigers (9-22, 9-18 MIAA) enter the penultimate weekend series in ninth place in the MIAA standings. FHSU is two games back of eighth-place Northwest Missouri State, the final spot that will advance to play in the MIAA Championship Tournament. Emporia State (12-22, 8-19 MIAA) is also playing for its postseason life, entering the weekend three games out of the eighth spot.
Fans are permitted in Trusler Sports Complex and are asked to wear masks and maintain social distance from other fan groups at all times. Tickets are available for $5 for adults and $3 for youth and senior citizens.
The Tigers are hitting their stride down the stretch, winning seven of their last nine games and averaging just under 10 runs per game over that span (9.8 runs per game). The offense is batting .306 with an on-base percentage north of .400 and 16 home runs over the last three series, while the pitching staff sports a 5.24 ERA and an opposing batting average of .263 over that span.
Hunter Parker is 3-0 over his last three starts, striking out 21 batters across 21.1 innings and allowing an ERA of 2.35. Jacob Ensz has recorded three saves across five appearances during the run, striking out eight batters over 7.2 innings of relief. He has five saves on the year, third-most in the MIAA and 16th-most in Division II.
Grant Schmidt and Garrett Stephens each have four home runs over the last nine contests, with Schmidt leading the team with a .811 slugging percentage over that stretch.
Fort Hays State is up to fourth in the MIAA in home runs this season, totaling 39 on the year. Drake Angeron, the team leader in batting average at .352, is one of the toughest players in the MIAA to strike out, going down on strikes just once every 11.1 at bats. His 11 stolen bases are seventh-most in the league.
The Hornets rank third in the MIAA with a team batting average of .298 while sitting in 10th with an ERA of 7.29 and 11th with a fielding percentage of .956. Brady Michel leads the team with a .400 batting average, second-best in the MIAA, with 10 doubles, four home runs, 25 RBI and 22 runs scored. Blake Carroll has legged out six triples on the year, third-most in the country.
Emporia State leads 145-70 in the all-time series, including an 84-28 edge in games played in Emporia. The teams have split the last four meetings, 2-2.
Looking ahead to the final week of the regular season, Fort Hays State will return to Larks Park to host Newman May 7-8. Friday night's contest will feature specials on several concession stand items.
FHSU Athletics