EMPORIA, Kan. - The Fort Hays State baseball team fell to Emporia State in a midweek conference matchup Tuesday (March 24), losing 12-7.
 
The Tigers (9-18, 6-11 MIAA) took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on a Dylan Salcido two-RBI double before the Hornets (21-6, 8-5 MIAA) scored two in the second and five in the third to take the lead for good.
 
FHSU got one run back in the fourth after three-straight walks pushed across a run before Garretson Cook made it 8-4 with an RBI double in the top of the fifth.
 
Emporia State added four insurance runs in the seventh before Erick Ordonez smashed a three-run home run with two outs in the ninth, helping the Tigers close within 12-7. A walk to Derek Woolwine and a Mac Bowie single put the tying run in the hole, but the Hornet bullpen slammed the door with a strikeout to end the game.
 
Bret Deegan, Cooper Howell and Tytin Goebel all collected two hits in the game, with Deegan scoring a pair of runs. Karter Beving (0-1) got the start and took the loss after allowing three runs in one-plus inning of work. Cody Bruss allowed one earned run over 1.2 innings of relief before Aaron Boutz struck three in 3.2 innings of work while allowing two runs. Evan Piwowarski allowed one run and got one out before Brandon Chavez tossed the final 1.1 innings, striking out two and allowing one run.
 
The Tigers will conclude an 11-game road trip this weekend (March 27-29) with a three-game set at Central Oklahoma. First pitch is set for 4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday.