FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – No. 26 Fort Hays State delivered a thrilling comeback victory on Tuesday afternoon at Larks Park, walking off Washburn 4-1 thanks to a three-run blast from Sebastian Burgos in the bottom of the ninth. It was the second time the Tigers used a ninth inning rally to beat the Ichabods. Two weeks ago in Topeka they scored five in the top of the ninth for a 7-5 comeback win.
Both starting pitchers were in command from the start. Cade Flaherty, making his first start since March 15 after an arm injury, scattered three hits over 5 2/3 innings, allowing just one run while striking out five. Washburn's Caleb Lunnon was even sharper, holding the Tigers to just one hit through seven scoreless frames while striking out five.
Washburn broke through in the top of the sixth. Cash Jay worked a leadoff walk, Hayden Priest laid down a well-executed sacrifice bunt, moving Jay into scoring position. With two outs, Jett Buck ripped a double down the right-field line to give the Ichabods a 1-0 lead.
Fort Hays State turned to its bullpen, bringing in Kaleb Carpenter, who got a key lineout to limit Washburn to just the one run. Carpenter tossed a scoreless seventh before Friday starter, Ty Riley came in relief in the eighth. He was able to retire six straight batters to keep the Tigers within a run.
Trey DeGarmo led off the bottom of the ninth with a five-pitch walk. Derek Woolwine followed with a sacrifice bunt with two stikes to advance DeGarmo to second. Brady Kreutzer worked a walk followed by an an opposite field single off the bat of Elliott Herrmann to tie the game 1-1. Sebastian Burgos then walked it off with a dramatic home run over the left field wall.
Riley (6-1) earned the win with two perfect innings of relief, striking out two. Tigers are now 22-8 overall and 17-4 in MIAA play. They host UC-Colorado Springs in a three-game non-conference series at Larks Park this weekend.