Box Score

MIAA Baseball Championship Bracket

Fort Hays State took the final game of a four-game series against Missouri Western by a score of 12-11 on Sunday afternoon at Larks Park in Hays. After falling in the first three games of the series, the Tigers salvaged the last game to finish the regular season portion of their schedule at 26-22 overall and 20-19 in the MIAA.

As they had done all series, the Griffons jumped on top early with a pair of runs in the top of the first, but the Tigers punched back in the bottom half of the inning with four runs. Nash Smith led off the bottom half with a home run, then back-to-back doubles by Ryan Busboom and Mace Krol tied the game at 2-2. Krol would score on an RBI groundout by JC Ochoa to give the Tigers the lead, then Brandon Hoefler scored the fourth run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Missouri Western pounded out four hits in the third inning to take the lead back at 5-4 and then pushed the lead to 6-4 in the fourth, but FHSU responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth on Nash Smith's second home run of the game, a two-run blast.

Fort Hays State finally took the lead back with three runs in the bottom half of the fifth when Chris Santoscoy had a two-RBI single with the bases loaded, then Smith followed with his fourth RBI of the game on another single.

A walk and error to start the top of the sixth triggered a three-run rally by the Griffons to tie the score once again at 9-9 and the Griffons reclaimed the lead 10-9 on a solo home run by Bubba Dotson in the seventh.

The Tigers punched right back in the bottom of the seventh as Luke Kordsmeier hit a solo home run down the left field line to lead off the inning.

Missouri Western once again took the lead with a run in the eighth just after Brett Macari entered the game with runners at first and second with one out. The run was charged to reliever Chase Newman. Macari got out of the jam from that point to limit the damage.

The Tigers would not be denied in the bottom of the eighth as Shane Wade hit a solo home run after entering as a defensive sub for Jay Sanders earlier in the game at catcher. That made it 11-11. A pair of singles and a walk led to a Sheldon Howell RBI sacrifice fly to put the Tigers back on top 12-11.

Macari shut the door on the Griffons in the ninth. He allowed a walk with one out, but got a pop up and strikeout to end the game. He moved to 4-1 on the season with the win.

FHSU starter Andy Lewton went 4.0 innings, allowing six runs on six hits and two walks. Casey Pierce went 1.1 innings and allowed two runs (one earned). Sam Thornton lasted 0.2 innings and allowed two runs. Chase Newman went 1.1 innings, allowing one run, but struck out two. Macari went the final 1.2 innings for the win.

Fort Hays State honored 15 seniors participating in their final home contest at Larks Park. Those players included Andy Hammeke, Mace Krol, Brandon Hoefler, Nash Smith, Andy Lewton, Anthony Salinas, Shawn Lewick, Sheldon Howell, JC Ochoa, Tyler Treinen, Connor Beer, Brett Macari, Luke Kordsmeier, Casey Pierce, and Matt Patzner.

The Tigers will be the No. 6 seed in the MIAA Tournament and face the No. 3 seed Missouri Southern in the single-elimination format on Thursday (May 10). The winner will move on to the four-team double-elimination play, which begins on Friday. Game time is set for 2:30 pm on Thursday between FHSU and MSSU. See the tournament bracket at the link above at the start of the article.