ARKADELPHIA, Ark. - Despite a 14-8 advantage in base hits, the Fort Hays State baseball team fell to Harding 8-6 Sunday morning (Feb. 8) on the final day of the Henderson State Invitational.
 
The Tigers (2-5) scored in the first inning for the first time this season when Antonio Avila clubbed his first home run of the season. FHSU doubled its lead with an unearned run later in the frame, but Harding (3-1) answered with three runs on two hits and two walks in the home half of the first.
 
Fort Hays State responded in the top of the third when Tyson Jimenez worked a leadoff walk. Avila followed with a double, putting a pair in scoring position. Garretson Cook drove in the tying run with a groundout before Dylan Salcido gave the Tigers the lead with an RBI double to right.
 
The Bisons once again answered immediately, plating four runs on three hits, three walks and an error to go on top 7-4 before using a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth to take an 8-4 lead.
 
The Tiger pitching staff settled in after that, allowing only two hits over the next four innings to give the offense a chance to rally. FHSU had good chances to respond in the fourth and fifth but left a pair in scoring position each time.
 
Derek Woolwine closed the gap to two with a two-run home run in the top of the seventh, plating Cook and trimming the deficit to 8-6. The Tigers then loaded the bases in both the eighth and ninth innings, but the HU bullpen was able to get out of the jam each time to seal the win.
 
All nine Tiger starters collected at least one base hit, including a 3-for-5 day from Avila and two hits each from Woolwine, Salcido and Cooper Howell. Aaron Boutz (0-1) took the loss after allowing seven runs (six earned) over 2.2 innings of work. Jack Laird and Cody Bruss both worked a pair of scoreless innings, with Bruss striking out four batters and giving up zero hits.
 
Fort Hays State will make its home debut next weekend (Feb. 14-15) when the Tigers host Colorado School of Mines at Larks Park. The former conference rivals will meet up in a doubleheader on Saturday before wrapping up the series with a single game on Sunday, with first pitch slated for noon each day.