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Fort Hays baseball looks to continue turnaround
4/22/2008
By RANDY GONZALES
rgonzales@dailynews.net
If the Fort Hays State University baseball team just pretends University of Nebraska-Omaha is in the conference this year and not next, the Tigers might be tough to tangle with when the Mavericks come to Hays.
Fort Hays had won nine straight Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association games until losing Sunday's final game of a four-game series at 14th-ranked University of Central Missouri.
"We're very fortunate," Fort Hays coach Rick Sabath said. "We've been playing well."
After playing a single game tonight against Newman University in Wichita, Fort Hays (20-22) will play host to Nebraska-Omaha on Wednesday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Larks Park.
Nebraska-Omaha, which is 30-9 overall and 12-0 in the North Central Conference, will join the MIAA in the fall.
An already tough conference just gets tougher, Sabath said.
"It's crazy," Sabath said. "One good team after another."
Fort Hays has been tough on opposing pitchers. The Tigers have eight regulars batting over .300 and are hitting .330 as a team, second-best in the conference. The Tigers are also second in runs scored.
They are led at the plate by junior first baseman Dusty Washburn. He leads the team in hitting at .399 and in home runs with 15.
Washburn's 45 RBIs are one behind sophomore Tyler Robbins' 46, best on the club.
"One thing is our increased productivity at the plate," Sabath said of the Tigers' turnaround after a 4-13 start.
"We settled on a lineup, found the right combination of guys.
"With all the new people, it took some time," Sabath added.
The Mavericks have three players hitting over .400 heading into Wednesday's games.
"They're a very good club," Sabath said. "Their top of the lineup is very good."
Sophomore right-hander Pat Huddleston, who has made three appearances for the Tigers without giving up an earned run, will make his first start for the Tigers in Wednesday's Game 1.
Sophomore right-hander Donnie Moore, who is 2-1 with a 9.12 earned-run average, is the probable starter for Game 2.
Getting consistent pitching over the weekend was key for the Tigers in taking three of four from the Mules.
"We had three quality starts," Sabath said. "We hadn't had that for awhile."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 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 |
| SB | 5/01 | Emporia State | L 11-0 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 14-1 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 12-2 |
