FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State baseball continued its dominant start to conference play with an emphatic 11-7 victory over No. 25 Missouri Southern on Saturday at Larks Park. A seven-run first inning set the tone early, and despite a late push from the Lions, the Tigers controlled the game from start to finish to remain undefeated in MIAA action.
The Tigers wasted no time jumping on Missouri Southern, capitalizing on early pitching struggles to plate seven runs in the opening frame. Elliott Herrmann led the offensive charge, launching two home runs and driving in three runs, while Brady Kreutzer delivered the biggest blow of the night with a grand slam on the first pitch he saw, part of his six-RBI performance.
On the mound, Ty Riley (5-0) delivered another strong outing, keeping the Lions' offense in check for most of the night. The right-hander worked 6.1 innings, allowing four runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking three. Kaleb Carpenter took over in the seventh and held firm despite some late pressure from Missouri Southern. The junior righty pitched the final 2.2 innings, giving up three runs on four hits while striking out three to close out the win.
Missouri Southern struggled to generate offense early but attempted a comeback in the later innings. Ethan Clark provided the biggest highlight for the Lions with a three-run homer in the ninth, cutting into the Tigers' lead. Drew Townsend was a bright spot, going 3-for-5 with three runs scored, while Brayden Luikart and Jacob Filip each contributed an RBI. However, Fort Hays State's pitching and defense held firm, preventing the Lions from mounting a full comeback.
Fort Hays State's lineup proved relentless, tallying 12 hits and showing depth throughout the order. Seven of the nine starters recorded at least one hit, while five collected multiple knocks. Cesar Saavedra, Zane Knox, Herrmann, Cooper Howell, and Kreutzer all had multi-hit performances, providing steady production up and down the lineup.
With the win, Fort Hays State improves to 12-4 overall and 7-0 in MIAA play, maintaining its perfect conference record. The Tigers will look to extend their winning streak and complete the series sweep when they return to action on Sunday at 2 p.m.