CLAREMORE, Okla. - The Fort Hays State baseball team rallied to defeat Rogers State in extra innings Saturday (March 2), 9-4. In the process, the Tigers (12-5, 2-3 MIAA) handed the Hillcats (12-4, 4-1 MIAA) their first loss in conference play this season.
 
The Tigers jumped in front in the top of the first thanks to an unearned run. Brady Kreutzer worked a leadoff walk before Trey DeGarmo reached on an error. Kreutzer came in to score two batters later thanks to an RBI groundout from Elliott Herrmann.
 
Tiger starter Tanner Vaughn stranded a pair in the bottom of the first before the Tigers added another run in the second. Zane Knox led off with a double to left center before Justin Lipka dropped in an RBI double down the left-field line, putting the visitors up 2-0.
 
Vaughn faced the minimum in the second before again stranding a pair in the bottom of the third. Rogers State broke through in the fourth with a two-out rally. The Hillcats used a two-out double with two men on to close within 2-1, prompting the Tigers to go to the bullpen in Ty Riley. RSU then used a two-RBI single to take a 3-2 lead before a fourth run came in to score on a throwing error.
 
Riley retired the side in order in both the fifth and sixth innings before allowing a single in the seventh, leading to the Tigers making another pitching change in Spencer Maley. Maley got the job done, inducing an inning-ending double play to keep the score at 4-2.
 
The Tiger bats answered the call in the eighth, scoring two runs on two hits and three walks. DeGarmo led off with a walk before Kyle Morrell worked a walk. Back-to-back walks to Jose Cintron and Knox plated a run before Cesar Saavedra drove in the game-tying run with a double to left. RSU managed to get out of the inning without giving up the lead due to a baserunning blunder and a strikeout with two men in scoring position.
 
Maley retired the side in order in the eighth before the Tigers were unable to capitalize on a walk in the ninth. Maley then walked the first batter in the bottom of the ninth before FHSU went back to the bullpen in Dylan Rinker. Rinker struck out the first batter he faced before a second Hillcat reached base on a bunt single.
 
The next batter then delivered a single into left field right to Kreutzer. The baserunner at second was waved home, with Kreutzer's perfect throw beating him to the plate by two steps. The baserunner proceeded to plow through the catcher, but Lipka held onto the ball while applying the tag to save the game. Rinker escaped the inning two batters later with a bases-loaded strikeout.
 
The Tiger bats kept the momentum going in the 10th, plating five runs on four hits and two walks. Walks to Herrmann and Knox and a single from Cintron loaded the bases for Saavedra, who came through with another RBI base hit when he drove in a pair on a single to right center. Kreutzer drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to right before DeGarmo plated two more with a double to deep left field. Rinker secured the win by working around a pair of singles in the 10th.
 
Rinker (2-1) picked up the win after tossing 2.0 scoreless innings of relief, striking out two batters while allowing four hits. Maley did not allow a hit in his 1.2 innings of relief, striking out one and walking one. Riley struck out one and allowed one unearned run in 2.2 innings of work, while Vaughn struck out a pair and allowed three runs on four hits and four walks in 3.2 innings on the mound.
 
Saavedra drove in three RBI and scored one run, finishing the game 2-for-3 after coming in as a pinch hitter. DeGarmo drove in two runs, while DeGarmo and Lipka both had two hits and Knox scored two runs.
 
The Tigers and Hillcats will wrap up the series Sunday (March 3) beginning at 1 p.m. from the Diamond Sports Complex.