EMPORIA, Kan. - A complete game from Cade Flaherty helped the 27th-ranked Fort Hays State baseball team defeat Emporia State on the road Wednesday afternoon (April 9), 8-1. The Tigers (24-9, 18-4 MIAA) collected 11 hits in the win, including four players with multi-hit performances, while Flaherty limited the Hornets (16-17, 9-13 MIAA) to six hits alongside six strikeouts in the win.
 
Flaherty (3-1) scattered the six ESU hits over the first five innings before retiring 13 of the last 14 batters he faced, allowing only one walk over the final four frames. The complete game was his second nine-inning complete game win of the season.
 
The Tiger offense backed up its pitcher starting in the top of the second when Brady Kreutzer delivered his eighth home run of the season soaring over the fence in right field. FHSU doubled its lead in the following inning when Tony Moore started a two-out rally with a single. Jose Cintron then worked a walk on a full count to bring Trey DeGarmo to the plate, who singled up the middle to push the lead to 2-0.
 
Emporia State put together a pair of hits to trim the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the third, but FHSU grabbed that run right back in the top of the fourth. Kreutzer led off the inning with a double down the left field line before later coming in to score on a ground ball, pushing the lead to 3-1.
 
Fort Hays State extended its advantage to 4-1 in the top of the fifth when DeGarmo reached on a bunt single. Kreutzer later worked a walk to extend the inning before Isaiah Ural drove in a run with a single to right field.
 
The Tigers doubled their run total in the top of the eighth thanks to three hits and multiple free bases. Cesar Saavedra and Luis Ayala were both hit by a pitch while Cooper Howell reached on an infield single, loading the bases for Moore. The second baseman drove in a pair with a double into the left field corner before Cintron drove in two more with a single through the hole at short.
 
DeGarmo finished the game 3-for-5, while Kreutzer had a pair of extra-base hits and scored two runs. Moore and Howell also recorded two base hits each.
 
The MIAA-leading Tigers will return to Larks Park this weekend (April 11-13) to host Northeastern State in a conference series. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. on Friday, 3 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.