CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped the series opener at Rogers State Friday afternoon (March 1), 11-1. The Tigers (11-5, 1-3 MIAA) collected six hits compared to 11 for the Hillcats (11-3, 4-0 MIAA), while both teams committed one error.

Rogers State struck first in the bottom of the second by scoring two runs with two outs, taking advantage of two singles and three walks. Tiger starter Cade Flaherty retired the side in order in the second before the Hillcats manufactured another run in the third, going up 3-0. Flaherty then faced the minimum over the next three innings, keeping FHSU within striking distance.
 
Fort Hays State had runners on base in all but two innings, but the Tigers were unable to get things going until the top of the sixth when Brady Kreutzer started a rally with a leadoff single to left center. Trey DeGarmo followed with a perfect bunt down the third-base line, giving the Tigers multiple baserunners for the first time all day. The pair moved up on a wild pitch before Kyle Morrell drove in FHSU's first run with a single to left.
 
The Hillcats responded with four runs in the seventh, including three unearned runs, before pushing across four more in the eighth.
 
DeGarmo collected two of FHSU's six hits, with Kreutzer, Morrell, Zane Knox and Isaiah Ural also recording base knocks. Flaherty struck out three batters in 6.1 innings of work, while Brandon Chavez added one strikeout in 0.2 innings of relief.
 
The teams will continue the series Saturday (March 2), with first pitch slated for 1 p.m.