HAYS, Kan. - The 20th-ranked Fort Hays State baseball team opened its series against Northeastern State with a 2-0 victory Friday evening (April 11) at Larks Park. The Tigers (25-9, 19-4 MIAA) collected seven hits on the day, while starter Ty Riley limited the RiverHawks (11-26, 8-15 MIAA) to just two hits in a complete game shutout.
 
Riley's nine inning shutout was the first-such performance by a Tiger in eight years (Sam Capps, 3/22/17 vs. NWOSU). The senior fanned nine batters and allowed just four baserunners on two hits and two walks. He retired the final 13 batters he faced to improve to 8-1 on the year and lower his ERA to 2.45. Riley now has 88 strikeouts on the year, tied for fourth-most in a single season at FHSU and just seven away from tying the program record.
 
After leaving one man on in the bottom of the first, the Tigers opened the scoring in the bottom of the second when Elliott Herrmann roped a one-out double into the gap in left center. Cesar Saavedra then worked a walk before Cooper Howell singled to load the bases. Luis Ayala lifted a ball to deep center, allowing Herrmann to easily score to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead.
 
Fort Hays State doubled its lead in the next inning when Trey DeGarmo led off with a single. Brady Kreutzer later singled before Saavedra and Howell worked back-to-back two-out walks, allowing another run to trot home.
 
The Tigers had plenty of chances to add to their lead, stranding 12 runners on base, but the two runs were more than enough support for Riley. Kreutzer and Herrmann both finished the day 2-for-3 with a double.
 
Fort Hays State will look to clinch the series win over the RiverHawks Saturday (April 12) when the teams meet in game two beginning at 3 p.m.