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Tigers back on track with doubleheader sweep
4/9/2008
By NICK McQUEEN
nmcqueen@dailynews.net
Junior Kevin Large threw the slider. Junior Brian Thompson worked the change-up.
Two relief pitchers provided the spark, and the Fort Hays State University offense did the rest.
The result was two come-from-behind wins at Larks Park on Wednesday, as the Tigers swept the season series with Washburn University with a 10-7 win in Game 1, and a 5-4 walk-off in the nightcap.
After the weekend the Tigers had at No. 6 Emporia State University (outscored 65-24 in four games), the mid-week sweep got the Tigers back on track, as they moved to 13-19 on the season and 10-10 in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association.
They didn't make it easy on themselves, falling down early in both contests.
"We really came to the ball park in Game 1 with great energy,"¬ Tiger second-year coach Rick Sabath said. "It would have been very easy (to give up) after the weekend we had at Emporia."
Sophomore Matt Augustine's start didn't match the Tigers' hopes, as the left-hander was roughed up through an inning and a half, as Washburn took a 7-0 lead on eight hits, including a home run and a triple. Washurn sophomore Wes Joy led off the game with a solo shot to left field.
In third-inning relief, Large came in and gave the Tigers the shot in the arm they needed, allowing just one hit over the remainder of the game. It was up the Tiger offense the rest of the way.
Fort Hays was able to plate two runs in the second inning, but a third-inning solo home run by junior first baseman Dusty Washburn, his ninth of the year, gave the Tigers offense a lift, narrowing the lead to 7-3.
"We just chipped away and chipped away," Sabath said. "We did a good job with our two-strike, two-out hitting, and that was the difference."
The Tigers pulled two runs closer in the fourth with RBI singles by sophomore Justin Groff and senior shortstop Brent Biggs, but the big hit came in the fifth when Fort Hays tied the game at seven.
With one out and freshman catcher Ryan Majercik reaching on a walk by Washburn senior starter Zach Engelken, Tiger sophomore Tyler Robbins provided another key at-bat.
After two bad swings, Robbins was called over to third base by Sabath.
"He seemed a little unsure," Sabath said of Robbins, the MIAA hitter of the week two weeks ago. "I just told him 'trust your hands, get a good pitch to hit -- you control the at-bat.' "
Robbins responded by blasting a two-run homer to left-center, closing the gap to 7-5.
"I would to like to be able to take credit for that, but I really didn't tell him anything," Sabath said. "I wish I could do that every time."
With momentum on their side, the Tigers took the lead in the sixth inning. Junior Brett Becker scored Biggs on a triple to right field, and Washburn drove in Becker before Engelken was finally relieved by junior Chris Contee, who gave up one more run, an RBI single for Robbins, his third run driven in. Large, who started in Sunday's loss to Emporia State, pitched five innings of relief, giving up just one hit with five strikeouts and two walks.
"We won every inning from the third inning on. I was really proud of our character and bounce-back ability," Sabath said.
In Game 2, it was Thompson who closed the door on Washburn after a solid start by sophomore Donnie Moore.
Moore allowed the Ichabods a 3-0 early lead as the Ichabods again got a first-inning solo homer, this time a two-out shot by junior Brian Gorges to right field. Washburn (9-18, 6-14 MIAA) put up a run in each of the first, second and fourth innings as Moore scattered nine hits in six innigs, allowing just two earned runs with two strikeouts.
The Fort Hays offense managed three unproductive hits off Washburn senior Bryan Stroth through the first four innings, but the Tigers started their comeback in the fifth.
With Tiger junior Bret Fortman leading off the inning with a walk and junior Garrett Brown collecting a base hit down the right side, Biggs nearly beat out a sacrifice bunt to move the runners. After a ground-out by Becker, Dusty Washburn doubled to right center, driving both runners in to start the rally.
The Tigers tied it in the sixth on a sacrifice RBI bunt by senior Richard Bonansea, but it was short lived.
Thomspon relieved Moore to start the seventh and gave up a solo home run to junior Calvin Iverson, but settled into it, retiring the next nine batters.
The Tigers tied it back up in the eighth with four hits off Washburn reliever J.P. Verhulst, but left the go-ahead run at third with the bases loaded.
"It again would have been easy for us to get down after Thompson gave up the homer to start the seventh," Sabath said.
Fort Hays got a leadoff single to right field to start the ninth by Dusty Washburn and that was the only runner the Tigers needed. Augustine ran for Washburn, Robbins drove him to second on a sacrifice bunt, sophomore Greg Bieker singled up the middle, and freshman catcher Logan Burditt did the rest. Burditt singled to right center field to score Augustine on a hit that would have been a double had Bieker not held up on second, just in case.
The RBI capped Burditt's 3-for-3 effort in the nightcap, one of three Tigers with multiple-hit games. Bieker went 4-for-5 with two runs scored, while Washburn was 2-for-5 with a pair driven in.
At 10-10, the Tigers are now alone in sixth place in the MIAA standings, just two games out of fourth with bottom-feeder Truman State (Mo.) University visiting Larks Park this weekend.
Game notes
*¬ Twice in the nightcap, Washburn head coach Steve Anson doubled over, and seemed somewhat dazed, drawing attention from trainers from both clubs. After the first time, Anson was back out in the third-base coaching box. After the second time, officials forced Anson to remain in the dugout for the rest of the doubleheader. Anson, in his 29th season with the Ichabods, reached win No. 700 this season.
*¬ With a 3-for-4 game in the opener, and a 1-for-4 effort in Game 2, Biggs has now hit safely in six straight outings, averaging .336 on the season. He is second on the team with 23 runs scored.
*¬ Following the wins, Sabath said the Tigers still have a chance to reach their first goal of 30 wins, but it will be a tough task. Of the Tigers' 20 remaining games, 10 are at home, with MIAA series with Truman State and Pittsburg State University at Larks Park.
"It's now or never," Sabath said. "We'll have to play outstanding baseball down the stretch to be able to do that, but we're going to work very hard to accomplish those goals."
| 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 |
