FHSU Athletics
CLAREMORE, Okla. – For the second straight day, the 19th-ranked Fort Hays State Tigers dropped a 1-run heartbreaker to Rogers State. After rallying for three runs in the top of the ninth the Hillcats walked it off Friday afternoon in a 5-4 victory at the RCB Bank Sports Complex.
The Tigers loss coupled with Central Missouri's doubleheader sweep of Newman ends the Tigers hopes of their first-ever MIAA title.
Fort Hays State (32-14, 26-9 MIAA) struck first in the third inning when Isaiah Ural ripped a two-out RBI single to center field, plating Cooper Howell, who had drawn a walk earlier in the inning.
After Rogers State responded with runs in the third, fourth, and fifth to take a 3-1 lead, the Tigers stayed within striking distance. The Hillcats tacked on another in the sixth, making it 4-1, and kept the Tigers quiet until the ninth.
Facing a three-run deficit in their final at-bat, the Tigers mounted a furious comeback. Luis Ayala led off the frame with a double to left before Ural followed with a single. After a flyout, Derek Woolwine stepped up and delivered a clutch three-run blast to left field, tying the game at 4-4 with his third home run of the series.
However, Rogers State answered in the bottom of the ninth. After a leadoff single and a sacrifice bunt, the Hillcats loaded the bases with one out. A sacrifice fly brought home the winning run as Fort Hays fell in walk-off fashion.
Woolwine finished with three RBIs, all coming in the ninth, while Ural went 3-for-5 with a run and an RBI. Trey DeGarmo, Elliott Herrmann, Ayala, and Brady Kreutzer each added extra-base hits in the Tigers' 12-hit effort.
On the mound, Cade Flaherty started and went 4.1 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits. Brandon Chavez took the loss, surrendering the winning run in the ninth to fall to 6-2 on the season.
UP NEXT
Fort Hays State will close out the regular season and look to salvage the final game of the series on Saturday at noon.