Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
Needing just one win to solidify a spot in the MIAA Tournament, Fort Hays State fell twice at Northwest Missouri State on Thursday (Apr. 25) with a pair of 3-1 losses, the second in 10 innings. The Tigers moved to 23-20 overall and 19-19 in the MIAA with the losses. FHSU now has to wait on results from the Southwest Baptist vs. Nebraska-Kearney series this weekend to see if it gets in the MIAA Tournament.

Game 1: Northwest Missouri State 3, Fort Hays State 1

Game one was a pitching dual between Austin Warren of Northwest Missouri State and Tayler Davis of Fort Hays State. The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth on a Clayton Garland RBI single, but the Bearcats had a walk and three hits in the bottom of the fourth to score three runs. That was all the scoring for either team.

Warren went the distance for Northwest Missouri State, allowing just four hits and a walk with five strikeouts. He faced just three batters over the minimum in the game. Warren moved to 2-6 overall on the season.

Davis also had a complete game, allowing three runs on five hits and five walks with one strikeout. Davis moved to 6-4 overall with the loss.

Game 2: Northwest Missouri State 3, Fort Hays State 1

Fort Hays State had a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth, but could not close out the win against the Bearcats in game two. Alex Ellison was throwing a shutout through 8.1 innings until he allowed a RBI double that tied the game. Michael Edlefson came in to get the final two outs and force extra innings.

In the bottom of the 10th, Edlefson allowed a walk-off two run home run to Tyler Durant with two outs.

Fort Hays State scored its lone run of the game in the fourth on a Kelton Rule RBI single.

Rob Henrichs of Northwest Missouri State went 7.0 innings in his start, allowing three hits and three walks with eight strikeouts. Blaine Reutter and Nathanial Horton combined for six strikeouts over the final three innings. Horton got the win pitching the final 1.2 innings of the game.

Alex Ellison went 8.1 innings in his start for FHSU, allowing nine hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Edlefson moved to 4-2 on the season with the loss in 1.1 innings of relief. His only hit allowed was the home run.

The Tigers will now need both Southwest Baptist and Nebraska-Kearney to lose one game this weekend in order to get in the MIAA Tournament. The Tigers are at 19-19 in the MIAA, while SBU and UNK are both at 17-19. Southwest Baptist and Nebraska-Kearney play each other in a three-game series this weekend.