FHSU Athletics
TOPEKA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team was unable to hang on to a six-run lead Friday evening, with the Tigers falling to Washburn in the weekend series opener, 10-9 at Falley Field. The Tigers (21-18, 9-16 MIAA) led 6-0 after two innings of play before the Ichabods (21-16, 15-10 MIAA) scored 10 runs over the next six frames to seal the win.
The Tigers raced out to a quick start, scoring a pair of runs before the first out was recorded in the game. Cesar Saavedra led off with a double to left before a pitch hit Isaiah Ural and Elliott Herrmann singled to load the bases. Brady Kreutzer came through with a two-RBI double to left center, putting the Tigers on top. The double extended Kretuzer's hit-streak to a career-high and team best 11 games. Jose Cintron doubled the lead with another two-RBI base hit two batters later, giving FHSU a 4-0 lead.
Tiger starter Ty Riley worked around a walk in the bottom of the inning before the Tiger bats added two more runs in the top of the second. Saavedra opened the rally with a base hit before Herrmann crushed a two-out home run to left field, the first baseman's team-leading 12th long ball of the season.
Riley again faced one over the minimum in the bottom of the second before the Ichabods used back-to-back doubles in the bottom of the third to close within 6-2. The righty posted another scoreless inning in the fourth, stranding two men on base, before Washburn took the lead with five runs in the fifth inning, three of which were unearned following a pair of Tiger errors.
After getting men on base in each inning after the second but failing to score, the Tigers were able to tie the score in the top of the seventh when Saavedra led off with another double. He moved up 90 feet on a ground ball before scampering home on an RBI groundout from Herrmann.
Tanner Vaughn came on to get out of the jam in the bottom of the fifth and locked things down for the next two innings, striking out the side in the sixth before stranding a pair in the home half of the seventh inning.
Fort Hays State regained the lead in the top of the eighth when Zane Knox scored from second base on a passed ball. Trey DeGarmp then scored on an RBI single from Luis Ayala, giving the visitors a 9-7 advantage.
The Ichabods opened the bottom of the eighth with back-to-back base hits, prompting the Tigers to bring in Spencer Maley. Washburn then tied the game on a two-RBI triple before scoring the game-winning run on a sacrifice fly.
Ural gave the Tigers a chance in the top of the ninth, leading off with a double into the left-field corner. The center fielder moved up 90 feet on a fly ball before Knox worked a two-out walk, putting runners on the corners. Washburn managed to secure the win with a routine fly ball to right, finishing off the come-from-behind victory.
Saavedra and Herrmann both had three of FHSU's 11 hits, with Herrmann driving in a team-high three runs. Saavedra, Herrmann and Ural all scored twice in the loss. Riley struck out five batters in 4 2/3 innings of work, allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits and six walks. Tanner Vaughn picked up four strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings of relief, surrendering two runs on three hits and one walk. Spencer Maley (1-3) took the loss after allowing one run on one hit and striking out one batter in one inning of work.
UP NEXT
The Tigers and Ichabods will resume the series Saturday at 2 p.m. before wrapping things up on Sunday at 1 p.m.