FHSU Athletics
EDMOND, Okla. - The Fort Hays State baseball team dropped the series opener at Central Oklahoma Saturday evening (March 16). The Tigers (18-8, 6-6 MIAA) and Bronchos (21-5, 8-4 MIAA) both tallied ten hits, but were not able to pull out with the win at the Wendell Simmons Field in Edmond, Okla.
Central Oklahoma had a big first inning by scoring four runs from a double, taking advantage early with a fielding error. The Bronchos scored four on four hits and only left one base runner on. The Tigers were able to get on the board in the top of the fifth when Brady Kreutzer collected an RBI when Kyle Morrell came across home. After a Kreutzer stolen base, Isaiah Ural was able to capitalize the situation with an RBI single.
The sixth inning saw the Tigers score again with a Garrett Wellbrock ground out to third, scoring Jose Cintron. The Tigers couldn't score till an Elliott Herrmann home run to right field in the top of the ninth, his tenth on the season. Herrmann put the score to 8-4 in the ninth, too little too late.
Tiger starter Cade Flaherty went 6 1/3 innings giving up seven hits and seven runs (five earned runs) while striking out seven. Spencer Maley came out to relieve Flaherty, pitching a solid 1 2/3 innings striking out a batter while giving up an earned run.
Brady Gilmore, UCO starter, went 4.2 innings striking out eight on six Tiger hits, giving up two earned runs. Three relievers came in after Gilmore and were able to keep the Tigers under wraps, giving up just three hits between the three relievers.
Herrmann and Luis Ayala were able to get multiple hits, with seven total Tigers able to get a knock on the day. Herrmann and Ural were able to tally an RBI. The teams will end the series Sunday (March 17), with the first pitch set for 1 p.m. in the afternoon.