Box Score
A
Ryan Busboom single in the sixth gave FHSU a 3-2 lead and then
Kyle Leroy and
Brett Macari made it hold up, sending the Tigers to the MIAA Baseball Tournament Championship Game on Sunday against fifth-ranked Central Missouri. The Tigers improved to 29-23 on the year with the win. The Tigers will have to defeat Central Missouri twice on Sunday to claim the championship, while Central Missouri would have to win just once.
FHSU took a 1-0 advantage in the second.
JC Ochoa advanced home on a throwing error when Missouri Western tried to turn a double play on a
Jay Sanders grounder. However, Michael Schulze tied the game in the top of the third with an RBI single for Missouri Western.
The Tigers answered and took the lead back 2-1 with a two-out
Luke Kordsmeier RBI single through the left side that plated
Brandon Hoefler from second base.
The Griffons countered once again in the top of the fourth to tie it at 2-2 on a David Chew RBI single.
FHSU starter
Jesse Hart was able to get through 5.1 innings before
Steve Johnson went to the pen to get
Kyle Leroy. He stymied the Griffons by stranding runners at second and first entering with one out. He induced two weak choppers to first base to get out of the jam.
Ryan Busboom delivered a clutch two-out RBI single into right field in the sixth that would prove to be the winner for the Tigers. Busboom played the game with a broken nose that he suffered on Friday night when a pitch struck him in the helmet and face.
Kyle Leroy really beared down in the seventh after Schulze led off the inning for Missouri Western with a single and then stole second. Leroy proceeded to strike out three in a row with a nasty breaking pitch that dove outside to all three batters.
Brett Macari took the ball in the ninth and worked around a leadoff single, getting a pop up on a bunt, a flyout to left field, and then snagged a liner in the air right back at his legs to end the game. He picked up his eighth save of the season. Leroy moved to 3-0 on the season with the win in relief.
