FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - Home runs from Elliott Herrmann and Jose Cintron and a season-high 17 strikeouts from the Tiger pitching staff helped the Fort Hays State baseball team defeat Emporia State in Friday's series opener at Larks Park, 5-4 (April 19). The Tigers are now 23-20 on the season and 10-18 in MIAA play, while the Hornets dip to 18-26 on the year and 8-20 in league action.
Junior righty Ty Riley got things going for the Tigers out of the gate, retiring the side in order in the first and working around a walk in the second to retire six of the first seven batters he faced. The Tiger bats totaled three hits in the first inning and another in the second, but were unable to push across a run.
The visitors took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third when the Hornets manufactured a run on two walks and two hits before the final out was recorded at the plate following a perfect throw from Brady Kreutzer in left field.
The Tigers answered right back with a five-run bottom of the inning. Isaiah Ural opened the run with his second hit of the game before Elliott Herrmann sent a moon shot soaring out of the park in deep left center, putting the Tigers up 2-1. Kreutzer followed with a double to right before Zane Knox worked his first of three walks on the night. Jose Cintron then delivered a three-run home run sailing over the wall in right for his third long ball of the season, giving FHSU a 5-1 advantage.
Riley worked out of trouble in the fourth, striking out the side while leaving men on second and third, before adding two more strikeouts in the fifth. Fort Hays State had baserunners in each of the first seven innings, but were only able to scrape across runs in the third. The Tigers left two men on base three times and left the bases loaded in the sixth.
The Hornets trimmed the lead in half in the sixth, scoring two runs on three walks and one hit. Tanner Vaughn came out of the bullpen to relieve Riley, allowing one run on two hits and three walks while striking out two batters.
Spencer Maley was next out of the pen, with the lefty working efficiently in the seventh and eighth innings before finding trouble in the ninth. Maley retired the first five batters he faced before allowing a lone single in the eighth, but quickly got out of the frame with another strikeout. The Hornets closed within one with a leadoff home run in the top of the ninth before Maley walked a pair with one out, forcing the Tigers to go back to the bullpen in Dylan Rinker.Rinker came on to slam the door, recording the final two outs via strikeout to earn his first save of the season.
Riley (4-2) earned the win after striking out eight batters over 5.0 innings of work, surrendering two runs on four hits and five walks. Maley struck out five batters in 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits and two walks.
Seven Tigers recorded at least one hit, helping FHSU to 13 base knocks on the day. Cesar Saavedra and Ural both had three hits, with Kreutzer and Cintron both adding two hits.\
UP NEXT
The Tigers and Hornets will continue the series Saturday (April 20) beginning at 3 p.m. before FHSU plays at home for the final time this season on Sunday (April 21) beginning at 1 p.m.