HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team led 5-1 after the second inning before Missouri Western stormed back to take the series finale Saturday, 16-6.
The Griffons struck first with one unearned run in the top of the first before the Tigers took the lead with two runs in the home half. Brady Kreutzer came through with the big hit for FHSU, driving in a pair with a double into the gap in left center.
Tiger starter Hunter Parker faced the minimum in the second inning, working around a leadoff single thanks to a pair of strikeouts and a perfect throw from catcher Mikey Felton to catch his second would-be base stealer of the afternoon.
Fort Hays State kept things rolling with three runs in the bottom of the second. Felton was hit by a pitch before Griffin Brunson singled through the hole at short, turning the lineup over to Kehe. The first baseman lined a 2-2 pitch right back to the mound where it bounced off the pitcher's shoulder and into right field, scoring Felton from second. Ed Scott followed with an RBI single up the middle before Grant Schmidt made it 5-1 with a sacrifice fly to left.
The Griffons went to the bullpen after the three-run second, with Samson Holcomb retiring the side in order in the third, fourth and fifth innings, retiring nine in a row. Missouri Western got things going offensively during that run, scoring eight runs in the third and three more in the fifth to go up 12-5. The visitors added one run in the sixth before pushing across three in the eighth.
Fort Hays State finally strung together a few hits in the bottom of the eighth, with Kreutzer, Joey Olson and Felton all collecting singles, the last of which drove in one run.
Parker (0-9) took the loss after allowing nine runs (eight earned) on seven hits and four walks over 2.2 innings while striking out four batters. Sammy Sanchez (2.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER), Jason Robertson (1.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K), Dylan Hamilton (1.1 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 1 K) and Padraic Walsh (0.2 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K) all worked out of the bullpen for the Tigers.
Kreutzer had three of FHSU's 11 base hits on the day while leading the team with two RBI. Olson and Kehe both finished 2-for-4, with Kehe scoring one run and driving in another.
The Tigers will be on the road next weekend (April 22-24) in Maryville, Mo. to take on Northwest Missouri State before returning home for the final series of the regular season against Central Missouri April 29-May 1. Pack the Park - Curt Pfannenstiel Night at Larks Park is scheduled for Friday, April 29, with first pitch slated for 6 p.m. Click here for more information, and make plans now to join the Tigers for Pack the Park!