HAYS, Kan. - Fort Hays State scored 12 or more runs in their fourth consecutive game as they defeated Northwest Missouri State 12-4 Saturday (Apr. 17) in Hays. The Tigers belted a trio of three-run home runs on their way to a series opening victory. With the win, Fort Hays State improves to 6-20 (6-16 MIAA) while the Bearcats drop to 12-16 (10-12 MIAA).
The Tigers surrendered a run in the first, but were able to get out of the inning with
Kade Wallace cutting down a runner at the plate. Fort Hays answered back by scoring two runs in their first plate appearance. After back-to-back errors that placed
Jacob Bouzide on second and
Kade Wallace on first, Schmidt singled to score Bouzide and get the Tigers on the board. Wallace eventually scored on a wild pitch to put the Tigers ahead 2-1.
Fort Hays State blasted their first of three home runs in the bottom of the second. With two runners on and two outs,
Kade Wallace launched a ball over the left field fence for his fifth longball of the year, pushing the Tiger lead to 5-1. In the bottom of the third inning, FHSU hit another three-run home run off the bat of
Ed Scott. He lifted a ball over the right-center wall for his second home run of the year and increased the lead for the Tigers to seven runs at 8-1.
Northwest Missouri cut the Fort Hays lead to four with a run in the fourth and a two-run homer in the fifth, but the Tigers sealed the deal with four more runs in the bottom of the eighth. After a leadoff 11-pitch at-bat resulting in a single from
Griffin Brunson, then a bunt single by
Drake Angeron and a walk by
Jacob Bouzide, a Wallace sacrifice fly scored Brunson for his fourth RBI of the game. Schmidt stepped to the plate next and capped the Tiger scoring effort with another three-run blast to left field for his seventh homer of the season, cementing the 12-4 victory for FHSU.
The Tigers were effective with their pitching and defensive efforts as they limited the Bearcats to four runs on nine hits.
Jake Campbell (4-3) picked up the win after going six strong innings. Campbell allowed four runs on six hits, while also striking out five.
Jacob Ensz relieved in the sixth inning and closed the door the rest of the way to pick up his third save of the year. Ensz shutout the Bearcats for the final three innings, allowing only three hits with one strikeout.
Fort Hays State and Northwest Missouri State will close out their weekend series with a double-header beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday (Apr. 18) at Larks Park in Hays.
