FHSU Athletics
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Fort Hays State baseball team fell in the rubber match of their series with Missouri Western on Sunday, 6-5. The game was tied at the end of the ninth and the Tigers managed to take the lead in the tenth, but the Griffons walked it off in the home half to take the series finale and claim the series victory. FHSU falls to 18-26 overall and 8-19 in the MIAA and MWSU improves to 11-28 overall and 8-19 in the conference.
The Griffons struck first in the second frame taking a 3-0 lead, but the Tigers leveled the contest in the top of the third. Colter Maldonado led off the inning with a single before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Ed Scott stepped up and smashed a ball to straightaway center for a two-run home run, Scott's second homer of the series. The scoring continued as the Tigers took advantage of three free trips to load the bases before Mikey Felton worked a two-out walk to tie the game, 3-3.
Cade Flaherty retired the Griffons in order in the bottom of the inning and the Tigers plated another run in the fourth to take the lead. Joel Nieves singled up the middle followed by a double from Scott putting a pair of runners in scoring position. A sacrifice fly from Jenner Kehe plated Nieves to give FHSU a 4-3 lead. Flaherty was able to hold the Griffons scoreless in the fourth, but they tied things up again in the fifth with an RBI single.
The next four innings featured and intense pitcher's battle as neither team was able to plate a run. Flaherty tossed three scoreless frames before Daniel Bebee came in to throw a scoreless ninth inning. In the tenth, Zane Knox drew a leadoff walk in a pinch hit appearance and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Elliott Herrmann singled through the left side in the next at bat to plate Knox and give FHSU a 5-4 lead.
Missouri Western drew back-to-back walks to start the bottom of the inning before Spencer Maley came in to relieve Bebee. Maley struck out the first batter he faced before walking the next batter loading the bases. A walk-off single up the middle plated two runs for the Griffons giving them the series victory.
Flaherty went eight innings allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out seven batter and walking none. Scott finished 2-for-4 at the plate collecting three RBI's while Herrmann also had a multi-hit performance and drove in a run.
The Tigers will return home next weekend for Pack the Park as they host Northwest Missouri State for a three-game series at Larks Park. Friday's contest is slated for 6 p.m. followed by a 1 p.m. start on Saturday and a noon start on Sunday.