ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Fort Hays State baseball team split a doubleheader Saturday (March 14) at Missouri Western, taking the opener 8-3 before falling in the nightcap 6-3. The Tigers are now 9-14 overall and 6-7 in conference play after taking the series two games to one, while The Griffons move to 9-14 overall and 4-8 in league play.
 
The Tigers are slated to continue their 11-game road trip Tuesday (March 17, 3 p.m.) at Washburn before heading to Joplin, Mo. to take on Missouri Southern in a three-game set over the weekend (March 20-22).
 
Game One - Fort Hays State 8, Missouri Western 3
The Tigers jumped in front early in game one with a trio of first inning runs. Cooper Howell led off with a single before Tytin Goebel reached on an infield single. Derek Woolwine was then walked to load the bases for Tony Moore, who doubled to right center to plate a pair of runs. Mac Bowie later drove in a run with a fielder's choice to push the lead to 3-0.
 
Goebel made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second before the Griffons scored three with a two-out rally in the home half.
 
The Tigers kept things rolling in the third after Moore and Salcido led off with back-to-back singles. Tyson Jimenez came through with a two-out double later in the frame, plating a pair and padding the lead to 6-3.
 
Another FHSU run came in on a double play in the fourth before Salcido drove in a run with a single to left, extending the advantage to 8-3.
 
The eight runs were more than enough for Tiger starter Tucker Russell, who went the distance allowing just three runs on eight hits alongside three strikeouts to improve his record to 2-1. After retiring the side in order in the first, the Griffons had baserunners in each of the next eight frames. But the junior lefty worked out of trouble in each inning after the second to throw FHSU's third complete game of the season and lower his ERA to a team-best 4.75.
 
Goebel led the team with three base hits, while Howell, Moore, Salcido and Jimenez all recorded two hits in the win.
 
Game Two - Missouri Western 6, Fort Hays State 3
Missouri Western took advantage of three free bases in the bottom of the second to score four runs on only two hits. The Tigers quickly responded with two unearned runs in the top of the third, scoring on a Goebel sacrifice fly and a wild pitch.
 
Howell helped FHSU pull within 4-3 with an RBI single in the top of the fifth before Luke Berry retired the side in order in the home half of the inning. The Tigers then loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth, but the Griffons were able to get out of the frame unscathed after two groundouts.
 
The Griffons then capitalized on the momentum shift, scoring two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to lead 6-3 before the MWSU bullpen retired eight in a row to secure the win.
 
The Tigers combined for four hits, tied for their fewest in an MIAA contest this season. Berry (0-2) only allowed three hits in five innings, but gave up five runs after hitting three batters with a pitch and walking one. Caleb Camp tossed a pair of scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits and two walks, while Brett Jacobs got the final two outs in the eighth without allowing a hit.