WICHITA, Kan. - Fort Hays State defeated Newman on Tuesday as the offense exploded for seven extra-base hits. A five-run seventh inning sealed the deal for the Tigers as the bullpen kept the Jets in check. The Tigers snapped a five-game skid and picked up their second MIAA win of the season.
The Jets jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of hits in the bottom of the first. The Tigers split the score in half in the third as a single by Ed Scott scored Griffin Brunson. Newman responded quickly and pushed its lead back to two in the bottom half of the inning.
In the fourth, the Tiger bats found their rhythm as doubles from Mason Holton, Jenner Kehe, and Grant Schmidt led to five runs for FHSU. It all happened with two outs as Holton got on base with a double to left field before Brunson walked and brought up the top of the order. Kehe launched a ball into right field bringing both runners around, tying the game 3-3. A single from Brady Kreutzer brought in Kehe to give the Tigers their first lead of the contest. Another single from Scott gave way for a bases-clearing double from Schmidt, pushing the Tiger lead to 6-3.
The Jets immediately fought back and scored four runs in the fourth to take the lead back 7-6. That spelled the end of Padraic Walsh's start, going 3.1 innings with four strikeouts. Dustin Menard came in for the Tigers and stopped the rally getting a strikeout and a flyout.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the sixth as the Tigers plated three runs on five hits to take the lead back 9-7. The frame began with three straight singles by Kehe, Kreutzer, and Scott to generate the first run. Schmidt brought home the next run with a sacrifice fly. Kade Wallace and Traelon Yarbrough added another pair of singles with the latter driving in the third run. In the home half, Conner Kessler relieved Menard and the two-way player picked up a pair of punchouts in the inning, but a couple of singles from the Jets would tie the game 9-9 before a flyout ended the inning.
FHSU went on another offensive frenzy in the seventh picking up five runs on four hits and an NU error. The Tigers put five consecutive batters on base. Schmidt plated the first two runs with a single to left to break the tie. A fielding error by the Jets allowed Ty Campbell to reach first, while also bringing in Schmidt and Scott. Holton wrapped up the Tiger scoring in the inning with an RBI double to left solidifying a 14-9 lead for the Tigers at the seventh inning stretch. The Tigers managed another run in the eighth when Kehe tripled and came in to score on a Schmidt single.
Kessler held the Jets in check working out of jams in the seventh and eighth innings, adding another pair of strikeouts. Jacob Ensz took the mound for the Tigers in the ninth. The Jets managed a run on a pair of hits in the final frame, but Ensz slammed the door with a punchout securing a 15-10 victory for the Tigers.
The Tiger offense managed season-high marks in runs (15), hits (20), and RBIs (13) in the high-scoring victory. Kehe and Kreutzer each managed four hits with Scott, Schmidt, and Holton all finishing with three. Holton led the extra-bases effort with three doubles. Schmidt led the way with six RBIs, while Kehe and Scott each had a pair.
Menard allowed a run on one hit with a strikeout in 1.2 innings tossed. Kessler collected the winning decision with one run allowed on three hits and four strikeouts in three full innings. Ensz allowed one run on three hits with a strikeout to close out the game.
The Tigers will be back at home this weekend, March 18-20, for an MIAA series with Central Oklahoma at Larks Park. First pitch in the series opener is scheduled for 5 p.m.