HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State baseball team struck first on Wednesday afternoon (Feb. 13), but two late runs from Wayne State pushed the Wildcats over the top, 5-4. The Tigers are now 0-6 on the year while Wayne State improves to 3-1 overall.
The Tigers wasted no time getting things going, scoring the first run of the contest just two batters into the bottom half of the first inning. Tim Fitzgerald sent a double to right center before coming around to score on a Ryan Grasser RBI single, putting the Tigers in front 1-0.
After the Wildcats tied the score in the top of the third, Fort Hays State answered with another run of their own in the home half. Grasser opened the inning with another single before promptly swiping second, allowing the senior to score on a base knock from Ryan Stoecklein.
Wayne State tied things up in the fourth inning before both sides added a tally in the sixth, with the Tigers tying things after Marcus Altman reached on an error to lead things off. The Hays native later came around to score on an RBI sacrifice bunt from pinch hitter Marcus McDaniel, allowing Fort Hays State to tie the score at 3-3.
The Wildcats added a pair of runs over the next two innings to take the lead for good. Jared Maneth and Ryan Grasser both doubled in the bottom of the ninth to put the tying run on second base, but WSC closed things out with a strikeout.
Grasser reached base five times on the day, finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and one run. Stoecklein, Maneth and Landon Erway all added two hits each.
Ethan Booe made his first collegiate start, striking out four batters over 6.0 innings of work. The freshman allowed three runs on six hits and just one walk. Ryan Ruder (0-1) took the loss after giving up a pair of runs in one-plus innings on the bump. Jake Steinbring finished the game for the Tigers, allowing just one hit over two scoreless frames.
The teams will wrap up a three-game series with a doubleheader on Thursday (Feb. 14). First pitch from Larks Park is scheduled for noon.