HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 9-4 overall and 4-0 in the MIAA with a 14-1 win over Missouri Western in the three-game series opener on Friday (Feb. 28) at Larks Park. After Missouri Western went up 1-0 in the third inning, the Tigers powered past the Griffons with a big nine-run fourth and eventually went on to win the game by run rule. Missouri Western moved to 1-11 overall and 0-4 in the MIAA.
 
The Tigers took a little bit of time to solve starter Lynden Bruegman, but broke through in a big way in the fourth due to a Missouri Western error that led to a big two-out rally for the Tigers. With two outs, the Tigers generated nine straight hits to score nine runs. Tytin Goebel tied the game with an RBI single, then Cesar Saavedra put the Tigers on top with an RBI double. Tony Moore and Isaiah Ural each recorded RBI singles to make it 4-1 before Colby Deaver relieved Bruegman. Elliott Herrmann greeted the new Griffon arm with a 2-RBI double, Derek Woolwine followed with a single, and then Trey DeGarmo launched a 3-run homer to make it 9-1. All six runs Bruegman was responsible for in the inning were unearned due to the error.
 
The Tigers went on to add a run in the sixth on a Herrmann solo homer. In the seventh, a pair of singles and a hit batter set up a walk-off grand slam by Ural to end the game by run rule, 14-1.
 
Ty Riley had an impressive performance for the Tigers on the mound, throwing a complete game with nine strikeouts and just two hits allowed. The only run he allowed was a solo home run by Frank Gall. Riley had one inning where he struck out three and two innings where he struck out two. He moved to 4-0 on the season.
 
Ural finished with a team-best five RBIs in the game, while DeGarmo and Herrmann each had three. Six Tigers had two hits in the game.
 
The Tigers and Griffons play the second game of the series on Saturday (Mar. 1) starting at 2 p.m.