Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Fort Hays State split the final two games of a four-game series with No. 1 ranked Central Missouri on Sunday (Mar. 25), dropping the first contest 13-5, but rebounding to win game two 14-6. The Tigers took three of four games in the series with the top-ranked Mules, moving back into good position in the MIAA standings now at 9-11 overall and 7-8 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Central Missouri 13, Fort Hays State 5

Box Score

Fort Hays State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first on a JC Ochoa RBI single. The Tigers could have had a big inning in the first, but two runners were caught stealing in the inning.

FHSU starter Connor Beer escaped a bases loaded jam in the first, but could not push through another tight situation in the second as the Mules scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead. They would never relinquish the lead from that point.

The Tigers made it interesting in the third, down 5-1 entering the inning. A run came across for FHSU on a Ryan Busboom ground ball that resulted in a double play. Later, back-to-back doubles netted RBIs for Ochoa and Brandon Hoefler, pulling the Tigers within one at 5-4.

The Mules would score eight unanswered runs from that point with three in the fourth, four in the fifth, and one in the sixth, before the Tigers picked up their final run in the seventh on another RBI single by Ochoa. Ochoa drove in three of the five runs for FHSU in the first game.

Beer took the loss for FHSU, dropping to 1-3 on the season. He allowed seven runs (six earned) in 3.1 innings of work. Casey Pierce allowed five runs in 0.2 innings of relief. The last UCM run came off Tyler Treinen, but it was unearned. He and Ethan Weber did not allow an earned run in three innings logged between the two of them.

Dane Krone picked up the win in relief for UCM, pitching 1.1 innings. He spelled the starter Chris Fitzpatrick, who gave up four runs to the Tigers. Ethan Gibbons got a save for UCM, pitching the final three innings, allowing just one run.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 14, Central Missouri 6

Box Score

Central Missouri jumped on FHSU early with two runs in the first and second innings to take a 4-0 lead. An error comitted on the first batter of the game led to two Central Missouri runs in the first when the Tigers should have been out of the inning. Three consecutive singles in the second led to two more UCM runs.

The Tigers began their comeback charge in the second, plating three runs. A pair of singles and a walk set up a two-RBI single by Shane Wade to put FHSU on the board. Chris Santoscoy followed later with another RBI single to put the Tigers within one at 4-3.

The Tiger offense errupted in the third inning for six runs to take a 9-4 lead, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. After a single and double to start the inning, JC Ochoa tied the game with an RBI single down the right field line. The hit parade continued after UCM recorded the first out of the inning. FHSU had four consecutive singles, which netted RBIs for Wade and Brett Macari. Ochoa scored on a wild pitch between the RBIs by Wade and Macari. Sheldon Howell picked up an RBI by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 8-4. A sacrifice fly RBI by Mace Krol capped the six-run rally.

FHSU pushed its advantage to 10-4 in the fourth scoring on a bases loaded double play off the bat of Macari.

After Tayler Davis pitched the first 2.1 innings, FHSU reliever Jesse Hart stepped in to give the Tigers five strong innings on the mound. He worked out of a bases loaded jam with one out in the third before the Tigers exploded for six runs to take the lead. He held the Mules scoreless in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. He only earned run allowed was in the fifth on a single. He allowed one other run in the top of the eighth, but it was unearned.

FHSU pushed its lead back to six in the sixth at 11-5 with an RBI double by Wade. After a UCM run in the eighth, FHSU tacked on three more runs in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI groundout by Brandon Hoefler and a two-RBI double by Santoscoy.

Brett Macari picked up the final five outs of the game to seal the FHSU win and series win. He allowed Jesse Hart to pick up the win and move to 1-0 on the season. Hart allowed just three hits in his five innings of work, while walking five and striking out three.