FHSU Athletics
CLAREMORE, Okla. - The 19th-ranked Fort Hays State baseball team dropped the opening game of its final regular season series Thursday (May 1), losing at Rogers State 6-5. The Tigers (32-13, 26-8 MIAA) led 3-0 and 5-2 before the Hillcats (27-19, 17-17 MIAA) scored the final four runs to take the lead for good.
After stranding the bases loaded in the top of the first, Tony Moore opened the scoring with an RBI double in the top of the second. Isaiah Ural kept the inning going with a single up the middle, plating Moore and doubling FHSU's lead.
Derek Woolwine made it 3-0 in the next inning with a solo home run to right field before the Hillcats responded with back-to-back solo home runs in the bottom of the fourth.
An RBI double from Sebastian Burgos gave the Tigers a 4-2 lead in the top of the sixth before Woolwine clubbed his second home run of the game in the following frame, pushing FHSU's advantage back to three runs.
Rogers State battled back with a two-RBI double in the bottom of the seventh before pushing across two more runs with two outs in the eighth to take the lead for good.
Every Tiger in the lineup picked up at least one hit, with Woolwine and Ural both picking up two hits each. Ty Riley tossed six-plus innings, allowing four runs on seven hits while striking out five Hillcats. Kaleb Carpenter (4-3) took the loss after throwing the final two innings, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk while striking out four batters.
The Tigers and Hillcats will resume their series on Friday beginning at 3 p.m. before concluding the regular season on Saturday starting at noon.