FHSU Athletics
The Fort Hays State baseball team hits the road for the first time this season when it opens MIAA play at Pittsburg State this weekend (Feb. 28-March 1). The Tigers (10-6) and Gorillas (8-6) will battle in a single game on Friday at 3 p.m. before a 1 p.m. first pitch on Saturday and a noon finale on Sunday.
The Tigers opened the season with 16 consecutive home games, tied for the longest such streak to open a season in program history (2010, 12-4).
Fort Hays State is one of four MIAA teams with at least 10 wins so far this season.
The Tigers rank second in the MIAA with 140 hits on the year, compiling a team batting average of .287. Griffin Brunson picked up a team-high six hits in the series against CSU-Pueblo, totaling three runs and one stolen base.
Grant Schmidt's nine doubles are second-most in the nation, one shy of the NCAA DII lead. Garrett Stephens leads the MIAA and ranks third nationally with 27 hits through 16 games. The senior catcher also leads the conference with five home runs, 18 runs, 48 total bases, a slugging percentage of .842 and a batting average of .474.
Jacob Ensz is striking out 14.4 batters per nine innings, fifth-most in the MIAA.
Fort Hays State holds a narrow 27-26 lead in the all-time series that began in 1993, including a 14-13 edge in games played in Pittsburg. The Gorillas have won each of the last nine games in the series, with the last Tiger victory coming in 2016.
The Gorillas are tied with FHSU with a .287 batting average, third-highest in the MIAA. Tyson Cushman leads the team with an on-base percentage of .524, tallying 12 hits, 10 runs and 10 RBI. Reece Garvie has driven in a team-best 13 RBI, ninth-most in the MIAA. The PSU pitching staff has allowed an ERA of 6.33 and averages 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings, fifth-most in the MIAA.