FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - With strong winds gusting upwards of 40 mph and blowing out to left field, the Fort Hays State baseball team dropped a home run derby in its series opener against No. 4 Missouri Southern on Friday, 13-3. The teams combined to club 10 home runs on the day, with all but two runs in the contest coming off a long ball.
The Lions led 3-0 after home runs in both the first and second innings before Zach Davis pulled the Tigers within one with a bomb of his own. The left-handed hitting junior poked a 3-1 pitch sailing the opposite way into left field, with the wind helping propel it over the fence and inside the foul pole.
Missouri Southern responded with two more home runs in the third to lead 6-2 before starter Zach Berg (3-3) settled in to post zeros over the next three innings. Both teams clubbed solo shots in the seventh, including a drive to straightaway center off the bat of Zane Knox.
The visitors tacked on six runs against the Tiger bullpen, while the MSSU relievers kept the Tigers at bay to secure the victory.
Berg struck out seven batters over 7.0 innings of work, allowing seven runs on 10 hits and three walks. Knox was 3-for-4 at the plate with one RBI and two runs.
The Tigers and Lions will resume their series Saturday at Larks Park beginning at 1 p.m.