FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team clinched its spot in the 2026 MIAA Baseball Championship Tournament with a come-from-behind win over Newman Saturday on Senior Day at Larks Park, winning 17-7. The Tigers (17-32, 12-24 MIAA) trailed the Jets (6-44, 3-33 MIAA) on two separate occasions, but rallied for 14 runs in the final four innings to secure the run-rule victory.
With the win, the Tigers have secured the 10th and final spot in next week's conference tournament, scheduled for May 6-10 in Edmond, Okla. The official bracket and schedule will be released later on Saturday.
Newman took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first thanks to a two-out double, but Mac Bowie helped the Tigers quickly respond with a line-drive home run to right that plated a trio of runs.
Another two-out double allowed the Jets to tie the score at three in the third before the visitors took the lead on an unearned run in the fourth. The Tigers again responded, regaining the lead in the home half of the fourth on another line-drive homer, this time off the bat of Cooper Howell. The shortstop's two-run blast narrowly cleared the wall in left, putting the Tigers on top 5-4.
The Tigers kept things rolling in the fifth, batting around to score six runs on five hits. Dylan Salcido drove in one run with an RBI single to center before Erick Ordonez lifted a sacrifice fly to center. Derek Woolwine kept things rolling with an RBI double into the right-field corner before Howell drove in another run with a groundout. Gehrig Heckathorn capped off the inning with an RBI double of his own, pushing FHSU's lead to 11-4.
Newman punched back with a two-run home run in the top of the sixth, but Karter Beving quickly shook it off to retire three-straight and get out of the inning. Woolwine later doubled into nearly the same spot in the right-field corner, driving in another run to pad the lead to 12-6.
The visitors loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Cody Bruss came on to get out of the inning by allowing only one run to score. The Tigers put the finishing touches on the win with a five-run seventh inning, walking off with a run-rule victory. Three free bases loaded the bases with two outs for Salcido, who slapped a single to center on a full count to plate a pair. Antonio Avila followed with a double into the left-field corner before the senior scored from second on a single from Woolwine.
Nine of the 10 Tigers to step up to the plate recorded a hit, including a trio of base knocks from both Woolwine and Salcido. Although he did not record a hit, Josh McWilliams scored three runs after drawing two walks and being hit by a pitch twice. Bowie, Salcido, Woolwine and Howell all drove in three runs each.
Brett Jacobs made the start and struck out two batters in 2.2 innings of work, allowing three runs on two hits. Beving (3-3) earned the win after allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out a pair in 3.1 innings of relief. Bruss got the final three outs, tossing a scoreless inning of relief while allowing one hit and striking out one Newman Jet.