Can't
get to the game? Don't worry, we've got ya covered.
Inconsistency has plagued Tigers in 24-20 run
4/15/2009
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
In his 14-year coaching career at five different schools, Fort Hays State University head baseball coach Rick Sabath has "never seen anything" like his Tiger squad. Fort Hays has posted a 24-20 mark through 44 games, but has been very inconsistent.
The Tigers are 22-4 at home versus 2-16 on the road and have encountered a six-game losing streak, 12-game winning streak, a 2-10 stretch and a 9-1 run. They have not split a single series all year.
"That's been the most frustrating thing with this season as been the up-and-down play, not only with the streaks, but inside the games," he said. "One game we are great with guys in scoring position, the next game we are not. That inconsistency has led to our obvious downfall here throughout the season."
The long stretches and poor road play has put Fort Hays on the brink of missing a top four seed in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association and missing the conference tournament. The Tigers have made the MIAA postseason tournament in each of the two seasons since they joined the conference. Fort Hays sits fifth in the conference with a 16-14 mark. The Tigers were scheduled for action today Washburn University (16-19, 9-13).
"We have had a lot of games that we have come up with huge base hits, but then we have not been consistent for whatever reason. That is the most frustrating thing to me," Sabath said.
Many of the same players were starters on the 2008 team that went 28-30, including a 12-17 record on the road. The road mark also yielded three wins at University of Central Missouri, the first time any opponent had taken three of four from UCM in Warrensburg since 1997.
This season, though, the Tigers have been a different team on the road. They won nine of 10 in a 10-game homestand before they lost three of four at Missouri Western State University last weekend. The Tigers only two road wins have come against Missouri Western and Missouri Southern State University. Sabath and the coaching staff has made a few tweaks, including which coach hits pregame infield-outfield to the players.
"I think at the beginning, we were just trying a little bit too hard," Sabath said. "Just swinging at bad balls. This weekend, I felt like our swings were a little bit long and we weren't on time with the fastball."
Washburn misses two games
All-American first baseman Dusty Washburn has been the Tigers' resident Iron Man since he joined the team three years ago from Garden City Community College. Washburn, a Thomas More Prep-Marian graduate, played in all 53 games as a sophomore, the full 58 contests in 2008 and the first 42 games this season. He missed the final two contests of the Missouri Western series last Sunday because his grandfather passed away. Washburn, fifth in school history with 32 homers, was expected to play today.
"He was really close, as we all are, with our grandparents, so he is having a tough time with that, a tough time with the family," Sabath said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him."
Atkinson back as closer
Junior right-hander Mat Atkinson held the closer job for most of the year, before junior right-hander Garrett Morgan (team-best 1.96 earned-run average in MIAA play) took over the job for a few series when Atkinson had some command problems.
Atkinson, though, has retaken the role and has seven saves, tied for sixth on the all-time single season Tiger list.
Both of the pitchers are right-handers with sinker/slider arsenals and have pitched well this season.
Morgan is 3-3 with a 3.55 ERA and three saves in 20 appearances, tied for sixth-most in school history. Atkinson carries a 1-1 record and 3.13 ERA.
"Mat has taken that back over because he has done it more," Sabath said.
"He has been the closer a little more than Garrett has, but I feel comfortable with either one of them at the end of the game. For right now until the end of the season, we will stay with Garrett in the seventh, eighth inning slot like he did and then Mat will be at the end of the game."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 2/18 | SW Baptist | L 66-53 | |
| 12/1 | Oklahoma - Panhandle | L 66-60 (OT) | |