HAYS, Kan. (Larks Park)-
The Fort Hays State Tigers scored 10 runs in the fifth inning
of Game 1, then combined for four runs in the second and third
innings of Game 2 to complete a double-header sweep of Bemidji
State on Friday afternoon at Larks Park in Hays, Kan. Fort
Hays State captured Game 1 by a score of 13-8, and capped
the three-game series with a 5-4 win in Game 2.
The Tigers broke open a scoreless game and got on the board
first in Game 1. Cody Staten doubled to left center and then
advanced to third on a single by Dusty Washburn. Luke Dreiling
pushed Staten across for the games first run of the game when
he hit a grounder to the first baseman. The Beavers took the
lead in the top half of the second when Anthony Turk hit a
two-run homer to left field for his second homerun of the
season.
The Tigers knotted the game back up at 2-2 in the third inning
on a RBI single by Dusty Washburn but the Beavers regained
the lead in the fourth inning when Anthony Stoloski (Half
Moon Bay, Calif.) led the inning off with a homerun to right
field for his second of the season. The Tigers blew the game
open in the bottom of the fourth inning when they scored 10
runs on 10 hits and two errors to take a commanding nine run
lead into the final innings. Rob Nelson and Luke Dreiling
highlighted the inning for the Tigers each hitting two run
homeruns to help the Tigers complete the big 10 run inning.
Bemidji State scored five runs in the final three innings.
In the fifth inning Stoloski hit his second homerun of the
game this time a three run bomb to right center field to bring
the Beavers to within a 12-6 deficit. The sixth inning saw
the Beavers score one run as Turk scored from third on a fielding
error by the Tigers shortstop that allowed Rich Bohannon (Goodyear,
Ariz.) to reach first base safely. BSU added one more in the
final frame as Josh Juntunen (Elk River, Minn.) led the inning
off with a double and eventually scored from third on a ground
out to the right side of the infield by Eric Pilgrim (Park
Rapids, Minn.) but the rally would come up short and the Beavers
fell 13-8 in Game 1.
Stoloski and Turk had three hits apiece for the Beavers, accounting
for six of Bemidji State’s thirteen hits. Stoloski paced
the Beavers with four RBI with Turk finishing with two RBI
in the contest.
Kevin Morel (Shoreview, Minn.) took the loss on the mound
for the Beavers, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on nine
hits and zero walks in three innings of work, seeing his record
fall to 0-2 on the season. Chad Schwegel (St. Joseph, Minn.)
and Bryan Buhr (Frazee, Minn.) pitched in relief; Schwegel
allowed four run (four earned) on six hits in one inning of
work while Buhr allowed one run (one earned) on two hits in
two innings of work.
Bobby Lewton picked up the win for the Tigers, allowing six
runs on 10 hits and zero walks seeing his record improve to
3-1 on the season. Aaron Nuss pitched in relief allowing two
runs on three hits while striking out three batters in two
innings of work.
Game 2 saw Bemidji State open the scoring in the second inning
when the Beavers put together a two out rally. Brian Simon
(Owatonna, Minn.) doubled to center field and Ryan Bohannon
followed that up with a RBI single to left field to give the
Beavers and early 1-0 lead.
The Tigers went on to score four unanswered runs through the
second and third innings of play. Dusty Washburn led the second
inning off with a double and Luke Dreiling followed up with
a RBI triple to tie the contest up in the second inning. Brett
Becker pushed the go-ahead run across on an sacrifice bunt
scoring Dreiling from third to give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
The Tigers scored two more runs in the bottom of the third
to push its lead to 4-1. Rob Nelson hit a two out homerun
to right field to push the tiger lead to 3-1 and then Jason
Pfeifer hit a single to right field to score Dusty Washburn
from second to give the Tigers a 4-1 lead.
The Beavers battled back bring the score to 4-3 after five
innings of play. The Beavers led the fourth and fifth innings
off with homeruns. In the fourth inning Josh Juntunen (Elk
River, Minn.) homered to right center field and then in the
fifth inning Rich Bohannon homered to left field to bring
the Beavers back within a one run deficit.
The Tigers pushed its lead back to two runs in the sixth inning
on a RBI double by Rob Nelson. The Beavers tried to comeback
in the seventh and final at bats for the Beavers. Anthony
Stoloski hit a two out RBI single to center field to bring
the Beavers back within one run but the next batter would
ground out to first base to end the comeback effort by the
Beavers and the Tigers took game 2 by a score of 5-4.
Josh Langlie (Thief River Falls, Minn.) took the loss for
the Beavers giving up four runs (four earned) on six hits,
four walks with two strikeouts in five innings of work, seeing
his record fall to 0-3 on the season.. Tony Meech (Menahga,
Minn.) made the lone relief appearance for the Beavers giving
up one run (one earned) on one hit and two walks in one inning
of work.
Matt Augustine picked up the win for the Tigers allowing three
run (three earned) on seven hits with one walk in four innings
of work for his first win of the season for the Tigers. Tom
Goodwin and Tyler Nuss made relief appearances; Goodwin struckout
two batters while Nuss struckout three batters in their appearances.
Bemidji State (0-10) will travel to Arkadelphia, Ark. to battle
Ouachita Baptist in a double-header on Saturday, March 10th
and then just a single contest on Sunday, March 11th. The
first pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. from Rab Rodgers Field
on Saturday afternoon.
--beavers--