FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The 21st-ranked Fort Hays State baseball team rallied for a Senior Day series-clinching victory Sunday against Northwest Missouri State, scoring four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to knock off the Bearcats 4-3. The Tigers (32-12, 26-7 MIAA) fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first before a pair of sophomores in Brandon Chavez and Brett Jacobs combined to hold the Bearcats (22-24, 16-17 MIAA) scoreless over the next eight frames.
The Tigers now have 26 MIAA victories this season, their highest conference win total since joining the league in 2007. Fort Hays State finishes the regular season 20-7 at home, winning 20 games at Larks Park for the first time since 2009 (24-8).
With the win and No. 3 Central Missouri's home loss to Northeastern State, the Tigers and Mules are now tied atop the MIAA standings at 26-7 with three games to play in the regular season. Pittsburg State is two games back in third place at 23-9 in league play.
Northwest Missouri State took advantage of four hits and two walks in the first inning, pushing across three runs. Making his first start of the season and just the second start of his career, Chavez was able to get out of the jam with back-to-back strikeouts to the last two batters in the NWMSU lineup.
The sophomore limited the Bearcats to just two more hits over the next six innings, leaving the game after seven innings of work and allowing just the three runs on six hits, four walks and five strikeouts.
The Tigers struggled to get things going offensively against NWMSU starter Brock Steggall, who retired the first nine batters while allowing only two hits and three total baserunners over the first seven frames.
Several seniors playing in their final home game at Larks Park helped Fort Hays State finally able to break through in the bottom of the eighth. Elliott Herrmann got things going with a leadoff walk, just the second walk issued by Steggall in the game. Luis Ayala later picked up his second double of the game, driving in Herrmann and helping FHSU pull within 3-1.
The Bearcats went to the bullpen after Cooper Howell extended his hitting streak to 12 games with an infield single. Cooper Howell kept things rolling by beating out an infield single. Zane Knox then worked a pinch hit walk against the relief pitcher to load the bases for the top of the order. Tony Moore trimmed the deficit to one with a sacrifice fly to deep left field before Isaiah Ural and Trey DeGarmo worked back-to-back walks, helping FHSU tie things up at three.
Derek Woolwine gave the Tigers their first lead of the day with a single to left field, putting FHSU on top 4-3 heading into the ninth.
After Jacobs worked around a single in the top of the eighth, the sophomore went back out to the mound to finish things off in the ninth. Northwest managed a pair of baserunners with a single and a walk, but with two men in scoring position Jacobs was able to complete the win with a strikeout and a pop up to short.
Jacobs (3-0) earned the win after tossing two scoreless innings of relief, giving up two hits and one walk while striking out a pair. Ayala had two of FHSU's five hits in the win.
UP NEXT
The Tigers wrap up the regular season on the road next Thursday through Saturday when they take on Rogers State in Claremore, Okla. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and noon on Saturday. Central Missouri concludes the regular season on the road against Newman while Pittsburg State will finish at home against Arkansas-Fort Smith.
Fort Hays State has already clinched a spot in the 2025 MIAA Championship Tournament, scheduled for May 7-10 in Joplin, Mo. The Tigers are guaranteed to finish no lower than third, while one win in the final series would clinch a top two finish for the squad.