FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped its series finale against Washburn Sunday afternoon (Feb. 26) at Larks Park, losing 4-1. Zach Berg and Emile Boies combined to toss five shutout innings of relief for the Tigers (7-8, 0-3 MIAA), but four early runs were enough for the Ichabod (9-7, 3-0) victory.
Tiger starter Nate Whitehill (1-1) walked three batters in the first inning, but limited the damage to one run after getting a strikeout and a lineout to second. The Tigers also loaded the bases in the first, but were unable to get a run across.
Whitehill then retired four Ichabods in a row, posting back-to-back clean frames. Washburn then broke through in the fourth, rattling off four hits to score two runs.
The damage could have been greater, but a pair of solid defensive plays kept the Ichabods to two runs. A pickoff from Whitehill nabbed one baserunner before a strong throw from Colter Maldonado to Emile Boies created the final out of the inning at third base.
Washburn went up 4-0 in the top of the fifth with a solo home run, ending the day for Whitehill, who tossed 4.0 innings and allowed four runs on seven hits while striking out two batters.
The Tigers had chances on offense in all but one inning, stranding 16 runners on base on the day, including three innings where they left the bases loaded. Fort Hays State scored one run in the sixth when Maldonado scampered home on a throwing error by the catcher.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the ninth on a Zane Knox single and two walks, but a strikeout ended the game in the next at-bat.
Trey DeGarmo and Elliott Herrmann both singled twice, while Ed Scott reached base three times on a hit and two walks.
Next up for the Tigers is a midweek doubleheader against Wayne State (Neb.) on Wednesday (March 1) beginning at 1 p.m. at Larks Park.