FHSU Athletics
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - The Fort Hays State baseball team split a doubleheader against Northeastern State Thursday afternoon, winning the opener via run rule, 16-2, before falling in the finale, 7-2.
The Tigers (15-30, 10-22 MIAA) and RiverHawks (15-29, 10-22 MIAA) remain tied for 10th place in the MIAA standings with four games remaining in the regular season. The teams will meet in game three of the series on Friday (April 24) beginning at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 16, Northeastern State 2 (7 innings)
The Tigers scored early and often in the opener, pushing across one run in the first, seven in the second, one in the fifth and seven more in the seventh. Mac Bowie opened the scoring with a sacrifice fly before Josh McWilliams made it 2-0 with a sacrifice bunt in the second.
Antonio Avila and Derek Woolwine helped open things up later that inning with a pair of three-run home runs, ballooning FHSU's lead to 8-0.
Tiger starter Karter Beving (2-2) threw his best outing of the season, allowing just two runs on four hits, one walk and one hit batter while striking out seven in a complete-game effort. He retired the first eight batters he faced and did not allow a hit to any of the last eight NSU hitters of the game.
Justin Lipka made it 9-1 in the fifth with an RBI double before the Tigers took advantage of a pair of errors in the top of the seventh to score six unearned runs. Dylan Salcido put the nail in the coffin with a grand slam to left field, giving the Tigers a 14-run lead.
All nine FHSU hitters had at least one hit in the game, including two each for Garretson Cook, Cooper Howell, Bowie and Woolwine. Avila scored a team-high three runs, while Salcido plated four RBI.
Game 2: Northeastern State 7, Fort Hays State 2
The Tigers struck first again in the nightcap, scoring two runs with two outs in the top of the first. Gehrig Heckathorn made NSU pay for a pair of walks with a double into the left field corner to make it 1-0 before Salcido doubled the lead with a single to left.
The home team answered right away with three runs on two hits in the bottom of the inning before pushing across four runs on two hits and five walks in the second.
Trailing 7-2 after two innings, Cody Bruss settled in out of the bullpen to give FHSU a chance. The senior lefty tossed 6.1 scoreless innings of relief, striking out nine batters while allowing just three hits and three walks. He retired eight in a row at one point and faced the minimum four times.
The Tiger bats, however, managed only four base hits the rest of the way, all singles, with none occurring in the same inning. FHSU was unable to get a man to second base after the second, allowing NSU to hold on for the win.
Tucker Russell (3-4) took the loss after allowing seven runs on four hits and five walks in 1.2 innings of work. Heckathorn tallied two of FHSU's six hits in the game.