FHSU Athletics
WARNER, Okla. - The Fort Hays State baseball team fell to Northeastern State in the rubber game of their MIAA series Friday, losing 9-7. The Tigers (15-31, 10-23 MIAA) scored four runs in the first inning and led 7-4 after five, but the RiverHawks (16-29, 11-22 MIAA) scored five in the seventh to take the lead for good.
The game was played at Biff Thompson Field on the campus of Connors State College due to overnight rain in Tahlequah.
The Tigers got to work right away on the neutral field, pushing across four runs on four hits in the top of the first. A walk, single and a hit batter loaded the bases for Derek Woolwine, who doubled to right to drive in the first two runs of the game. Cooper Howell kept things moving with an RBI single before Dylan Salcido made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly.
NSU answered with a run on two singles in the bottom of the first before tying the score on a three-run home run in the bottom of the second. Woolwine collected another double in the top of the third before scoring the go-ahead run on a single from Salcido, giving the Tigers a 5-4 lead.
Gehrig Heckathorn led off the fifth with a solo home run before Woolwine doubled for a third time in as many at-bats. Salcido later lifted another sacrifice fly to center, stretching FHSU's lead to three runs.
Brandon Chavez came out of the bullpen in the second and faced just four batters in the third, fourth and fifth innings before stranding two in the sixth. NSU broke through in the seventh, tagging the junior for a walk and two hits before the Tigers went back to the bullpen in Brett Jacobs. The RiverHawks finished the frame with five runs on five hits and two walks, taking a 9-7 lead.
Salcido and Garretson Cook led off the eighth and ninth with singles, respectively, but the NSU bullpen worked out of trouble each time to maintain the lead and secure the win.
Woolwine finished the day 3-for-5 with three runs and two RBI, while Cook and Salcido also had two hits each. Aaron Boutz got the start and allowed four runs on five hits in 1.1 innings of work. Chavez tossed the next five frames, striking out seven batters while allowing three runs on five hits. Jacobs (1-7) took the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in 1.2 innings of relief.
With the win, NSU now sits alone in 10th place in the MIAA standings, one game up on FHSU. With the RiverHawks holding the head-to-head tiebreaker, the Tigers would need to pass them in the standings to clinch the final spot in the MIAA Championship Tournament, set for May 6-10 in Edmond, Okla.
The Tigers finish the season at home against Newman next Thursday through Saturday (April 30-May 2), while the RiverHawks wrap up their schedule at Emporia State who is receiving votes in this week's ABCA coaches poll.
First pitch at Larks Park is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday, 6 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. on Saturday. Friday's game will be the annual Pack the Park event, featuring discounted concession and other special events.