HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped its series opener against ninth-ranked Pittsburg State by a score of 12-2 Thursday evening (April 2) inside Larks Park. The Tigers (9-23, 6-16 MIAA) limited the top-hitting team in the conference to just seven hits, but 15 walks helped the Gorillas (27-6, 16-6 MIAA) collect the run-rule victory.
 
Both teams had their leadoff man on base in the first, but neither came around to score. Justin Lipka gunned down Jadyn McNealy, who leads Division II in steals, at second after a leadoff walk. It was the ninth time the redshirt-sophomore has caught a would-be base stealer in the act this season, third-most in the MIAA.
 
The Tigers then led off the bottom of the inning with back-to-back singles, but a botched suicide squeeze bunt retired the leading runner and led to a scoreless frame.
 
The Gorillas broke through with a bases-loaded walk in the top of the second before scoring four in the third, three in the fourth, one in the fifth and three in the seventh.
 
After PSU starter Bradyn McClure retired 12 in a row, the Tigers were able to get on the board in the bottom of the fifth when Bret Deegan worked a pinch-hit walk. Garretson Cook followed with a double into the gap in left center, plating Deegan to help FHSU pull within 9-1.
 
The Tiger defense turned its league-leading 30th double play in the top of the sixth, leading to a scoreless frame before the bats kept things rolling in the home half of the inning. Antonio Avila worked a leadoff walk before Gehrig Heckathorn made his collegiate debut with a pinch-hit appearance. The freshman from Tomball, Texas sent a 1-0 pitch the opposite way into the left-field corner, allowing Avila to sprint home from first and slide in safely around a tag to make the score 9-2.
 
Avila's leadoff single in the first extended his hitting streak to 16 games. Tucker Russell (2-3) took the loss after allowing five runs on two hits and seven walks in 2.1 innings of work. Caleb Camp was first out of the bullpen, allowing four runs (two earned) on two hits and three walks in 1.2 innings of work. Luke Berry tossed the next two frames, giving up one run on one hit and three walks before Cody Bruss worked the seventh, allowing two runs on two hits and two walks.
 
The Tigers and Gorillas will continue their series on Friday (April 3) beginning at 3 p.m. before a 1 p.m. first pitch in the Saturday finale (April 4).