FHSU Athletics
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Fort Hays State baseball team rallied for an 8-7 extra-inning win over Missouri Western Friday , clinching a fourth-straight win. The Tigers (8-13, 5-6) trailed 7-4 entering the ninth inning before a Derek Woolwine three-run home run extended the game.
The Griffons (8-13, 3-7 MIAA) struck first with a two-run double in the second before FHSU took its first lead in the top of the fourth. Dylan Salcido and Mac Bowie started a two-out rally with back-to-back singles before Justin Lipka tied things up with a two-run double. Tyson Jimenez then reached on an infield single, plating Lipka and giving the Tigers a 3-2 lead.
Missouri Western answered with two runs in the fourth and two more in the fifth, while a Cooper Howell solo home run momentarily tied the score at four in the top of the fifth. The Griffons later pushed the lead to three thanks to an inside-the-park home run in the seventh.
Down three with three outs to go, Antonio Avila led off the ninth with a double. Howell then worked a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. Woolwine came through with a first-pitch home run, moving into a tie for first in the MIAA with eight home runs this season and more importantly tying the game at seven.
Aaron Boutz (1-2) completed a long-relief outing with a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth, recording one strikeout, one groundout and one fly out to give the Tigers a chance in extra innings.
Lipka led off with his second double of the game before Jimenez walked. Avila then reached on a fielder's choice where all the runners were safe, loading the bases with no outs. Howell drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly before the Griffons got out of the inning without any further damage.
Brett Jacobs came on to throw in the bottom of the 10th and allowed a pair of baserunners on walks but completed the win with two strikeouts and a groundout to secure his second save of the season.
Cody Bruss worked the first 4.1 innings, striking out three Griffons while allowing six runs on nine hits and just one walk. Boutz earned the win after allowing just one run on two hits and one walk in his 4.2 innings of relief.
Salcido and Lipka recorded three hits each in the win, with Avila and Howell also recording mutli-hit games.
The Tigers and Griffons will wrap up the series with a doubleheader Saturday (March 14) beginning at 1 p.m.