⚾ Felton, Schmidt homer, but Ichabods rally to beat Tigers

FHSU Athletics

TOPEKA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped Sunday's contest against Washburn, 6-3, after another late Ichabod rally (Feb. 27). The Tigers led for much of the contest after early home runs from Mikey Felton and Grant Schmidt, but a three-run rally in the eighth propelled Washburn into the lead for good.

Tiger starter Hunter Parker nearly worked around a triple in the first inning, but the run came in to score with two outs on a wild pitch. FHSU quickly responded with Felton's first home run as a Tiger. The catcher fell behind in the count 0-2 before working it back to 3-2. He then sent a towering fly over the fence in left center, knotting things up at 1-1.

Parker retired the side in order in the second before the Tigers jumped in front in the top of the third. Ed Scott worked a one-out walk before Schmidt followed with a two-run homer to left. The senior fouled off five pitches in the at bat before squaring up on a pitch for his fourth long ball of the season.

Parker scattered five hits over the next five innings, with Washburn manufacturing a run in the fifth before tying it up with a solo shot in the sixth. The Tigers had runners in scoring position in the fourth, fifth and sixth, but the Washburn pitching staff got out of the jam each time.

The Tigers went to the bullpen in the eighth, bringing in the lefty Dustin Menard (0-1). The Ichabods had two on and two out before rattling off back-to-back singles to take a 6-3 lead.

Jaxson Webb gave FHSU a chance with a leadoff single in the ninth before Traelon Yarbrough sent the tying run to the plate with a pinch-hit single on the first pitch he saw. But the Ichabods capped off the win with a 6-4-3 double play.

Parker went seven strong, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out four batters. Menard was issued the loss after giving up three runs on three hits and one walk. FHSU had six hits from six different players for the second day in a row. Jenner Kehe worked a walk in his third at bat, extending his on-base streak to 14 games.

The Tigers and Ichabods wrap up the series Monday (Feb. 28) beginning at 1 p.m.