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Tigers blow by Tabor
4/22/2009
By RANDY GONZALES
rgonzales@dailynews.net
AJ Levanduski was a triple away from a cycle in Tuesday night's game against Tabor College.
But Levanduski is a catcher for the Fort Hays State University baseball team. And a catcher legging out a triple is going to happen about as often as Rush Limbaugh saying nice things about a Democrat -- it ain't gonna happen.
So, Levanduski had to "settle" for a homer, two doubles and a single, five RBIs and four runs scored in the Tigers' 18-3 pounding of the Bluejays in seven innings at Larks Park.
Levanduski already had a homer, single and double in his pocket when he came to bat in the fifth inning with runners on second and third. Instead of a triple, the Tiger senior hit a grounder inside the bag at third and down the left-field line for a two-run double.
No triple, but Levanduski will take five RBIs any day.
"I was seeing the ball really well today," Levanduski said. "Obviously, it wasn't the hardest pitching today."
Hitting for the cycle was the last thing Levanduski was thinking of in his final at-bat.
"It didn't cross my mind," he said. "I'm not the speediest guy."
Fort Hays (29-22) made short work of Tabor (21-24), an NAIA school. After spotting the Bluejays two runs in the first and another in the second, the Tigers responded with two runs in their first at-bat, followed by a six-run second, a six-run third and a four-run fifth.
The Tigers played Home Run Derby, hitting five home runs in the first three innings.
"I thought it was a workmanlike performance," Fort Hays coach Rick Sabath said. "Really swung the bats well, really impressed with our power today."
Levanduski hit a two-run homer in the first off Tabor senior starter Kurt Swaggert (2-2) to tie the game at 2. Swaggert pitched to four batters in the second, retiring none, before departing. He gave up six runs on five hits.
The Tigers took a six-run lead after the second, with sophomore Kyle Stacken hitting a two-run homer to start the outburst. Junior Justin Groff's grand slam made it 8-2.
"Nice four-spot to open things up," Sabath said of Groff's home run.
Junior second baseman Tyler Robbins, named the conference's Hitter of the Week, belted a disputed three-run homer down the left-field line in the third. The Bluejays argued the ball was foul, but the call stood. Robbins finished with three hits, three RBIs and three runs scored. Junior Greg Bieker added a solo homer later in the inning.
The Tigers got their runs in the fifth on Levanduski's two-run double, an RBI single by junior Brennan Peterson and senior Brett Becker's sacrifice fly.
Junior left-hander Austen Bickford, making his first appearance of the season, got the win in relief, working three scoreless innings.
Junior right-hander Aaron Nuss pitched the first four innings, allowing three runs on four hits.
Fort Hays is off until Tuesday, when the Tigers will play host to Bethany College in another nonleague game at Larks Park.
"It's an advantage to have the bye week now," Sabath said. "Get healthy, get some rest."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 03/17 | Missouri S&T | W 2-1 (10) |
| SB | 03/17 | Bethany | W 6-1 |
| SB | 03/17 | Bethany | W 8-1 |
| BB | 03/16 | Misosuri S&T | L 13-4 |
| MB | 03/14 | Central Missouri | L 80-73 |
| BB | 3/13 | NW Missouri | W 13-10 |
| BB | 03/13 | NW Missouri | W 4-3 |
| MB | 03/13 | Central Oklahoma | W 80-64 |
| SB | 03/08 | Fort Lewis | W 5-4 |
| BB | 03/07 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 13-7 |
| BB | 03/06 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 16-4 |
| BB | 03/06 | No. 9 Emporia State | W 3-0 |
| MB | 03/05 | Emporia State | L 65-61 |
| BB | 03/05 | No. 9 Emporia State | L 10-3 |
| WB | 03/04 | No. 15 Emporia | L 72-66 |
| WB | 02/28 | No. 12 Emporia State | L 87-80 |
| MB | 02/28 | Emporia State | W 94-47 |
| SB | 02/28 | Quincy | L 6-0 |
| SB | 02/27 | Mo Southern | W 9-3 |
| SB | 02/27 | Missouri S&T | L 8-3 |