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Tigers rally for Sunday victory, claim their first conference series of season
3/31/2008
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
The Fort Hays State University baseball team was down 9-6 to Northwest Missouri State University on Sunday afternoon when Tiger junior infielder Bret Fortman delivered a one-out single to center in the bottom of the seventh.
The Bearcats pulled right-hander Sean Brady and brought in their left-handed specialist, Ben Stedronsky, to face the Tigers' No. 9 hitter, freshman Corey Gaudet. Stedronsky entered the game with a 2.61 ERA and no homers allowed in his collegiate career.
However, Tiger head coach Rick Sabath had no problems with the matchup, a matchup that helped decide the series.
"He has been swinging the bat pretty well for us, so we were going to let him go after it," Sabath said of Gaudet.
Gaudet, who entered the game with 13 collegiate at-bats and just four hits, took advantage of a strong wind and lined a two-run homer to right-center.
The shot pulled Fort Hays within one and started a seven-run Tiger rally that eventually yielded a 13-9 win under cold, windy, and rainy conditions at Larks Park.
Gaudet's homer gave Fort Hays their first series victory all year and moved them to 9-15 overall and 6-6 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association. The Tigers are in a five-way tie for third place. The top four teams make the conference tournament.
"In terms of the conference race and the overall psyche of our team, it is a huge win for us," Sabath said.
Fort Hays, which started the season 4-13 and 1-4 in the conference, has captured five wins in seven games, including the last three in a row. Coupled with two wins Saturday, the three straight victories set a season-best.
"I think we are starting to see some signs as we play more regularly of consistency and that is going to be the key," Sabath said. "Can we repeat over time these performances? That is the key to any baseball team. Anybody can do it every once in awhile, but the good teams do it day after day and that is what we need to get to."
Fort Hays certainly enjoyed a consistent offensive performance. Gaudet's blast, the first of his collegiate career, was one of seven homers by the two squads.
Helped by the blustery conditions, Fort Hays hit a season-high four, including two by sophomore third baseman Tyler Robbins, and also delivered 21 hits, the best mark all year.
The 13 runs tied a season-high for runs at Larks Park and marked the fifth time Fort Hays has reached double digits.
Pitching-wise, junior right-hander Brian Thompson, after a rough patch as a starter, earned his second win in two days with six innings of terrific relief.
"The main thing was an absolute jet stream to right field," Sabath said. "I think it was just the conditions. It was very tough for both teams for the outfielders to make plays.
"They struggled, as did we, on just catching fly balls, that normally at this level, we don't have a whole lot of trouble with. Today it seemed to be an adventure, any ball in the air. If you elevated the ball to right field, you are in the money," he added.
Northwest took advantage early with eight runs in the first three innings. Fort Hays, down 8-3, scored three runs in the bottom of the third. Robbins, assisted by the elements, delivered the big blow with a two-run homer to right-center - his third homer this season.
"I got a little wind-aided in a few of my at-bats," Robbins said. "The wind definitely helped out, but I was looking for a pretty good pitch to hit to drive in runs."
The Tigers were down 9-6 entering the seventh when Fortman singled to center. Gaudet, making just his fifth start of the season, came to the plate against Stedronsky, a sophomore left-hander who had permitted one earned run since Feb. 27.
"We were going to let him hit and see what happens," Sabath said.
Gaudet took advantage of the lefty-lefty matchup and blasted a homer to right-center. Shortstop Brent Biggs singled and designated hitter Brett Becker, like Gaudet, took advantage of the elements when Bearcat closer Evan Nickell (MIAA-leading five saves) relieved Stedronsky.
He hit a fly ball to centerfield that appeared catchable but kept carrying and carrying. Becker ended up with a game-tying triple. After a sacrifice fly by junior first baseman Dusty Washburn, freshman catcher Ryan Majercik singled and Robbins deposited his second homer of the game.
Two more hits, including a RBI double by sophomore outfielder Greg Bieker, provided the final margin the comeback, series-winning victory.
"I thought we showed a great deal of character today," Sabath said.
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/11 | Central Missouri | L 4-2 |
| BB | 5/10 | Missouri Western | W 4-3 |
| BB | 5/09 | Emporia State | L 6-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
