FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State outlasted Central Missouri in a series finale that saw plenty of offensive fireworks Sunday afternoon at Larks Park. The teams combined for 27 runs and 37 hits as the Tigers won the game in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the ninth, thanks to a 6-for-6 game by Garretson Cook and back-to-back home runs by Mac Bowie and Derek Woolwine. FHSU moved to 12-26 overall and 9-19 in the MIAA, while UCM went to 28-9 overall and 18-7 in the MIAA.
Central Missouri took the early lead in the game with three runs in the second inning. The Tigers countered with a run of their own in the second on a Tytin Goebel RBI single. FHSU jumped into the lead 4-3 in the third with three runs. Mac Bowie had an RBI groundout and Goebel brought in two more runs on a single.
The Tigers started to gain separation in the fourth with five runs. Bowie and Jaxon Schleper delivered RBI singles, then Gehrig Heckathorn mashed his first collegiate home run, a 3-run shot to make it 9-3.
The Mules started to chip away at the Tiger lead in the sixth with three runs, cutting the lead to 9-6, but the Tigers countered with a run in the inning on a Goebel RBI single to lead 10-6.
The Mules kept pushing forward, scoring two in the seventh and then overtook the Tigers in the eighth with four runs to lead 12-10. Dylan Salcido delivered an RBI double in the eighth to get the Tigers back within one at 12-11.
Central Missouri scored one more time in the ninth to take a 13-11 lead to the last half inning and handed the ball to Tommy Gross on the mound. Garretson Cook capped a monumental day at the plate for FHSU at 6-for-6, all singles, to start the Tiger ninth. Immediately following, Bowie launched a two-run home run to right field to tie the game at 13-13. Then, Derek Woolwine immediately followed with a solo blast to right field to end the game, 14-13 in favor of the Tigers. Gross did not record an out in the ninth and took the loss for UCM. The Mules used six pitchers in the game.
Evan Piwowarski, the final pitcher of five for FHSU to throw in the game, picked up the win as he allowed two runs in 1.2 innings. Luke Berry started the game and allowed three runs (one earned) in 3.0 innings. Caleb Camp allowed one run in 2.0 innings, Brett Jacobs allowed four (two earned) in 1.1 innings, and Tucker Russell allowed three in 1.0 innings.
Aside from Cook's 6-of-6 game, Bowie and Goebel each had three hits and drove in four apiece, while Heckathorn had three hits and three RBIs. The Tigers outhit the Mules 21-16.
Fort Hays State continues their home stand this upcoming week with a single MIAA contest against Washburn on Tuesday (Apr. 14) before hosting Colorado Christian in non-conference action next weekend.