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Stacken paces Tigers in win
4/29/2009
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
As a freshman in 2008, Fort Hays State University infielder Kyle Stacken hit .259 in 27 at-bats and was used mainly in a reserve role, a position he expected to have again this spring.
"Late-inning guy, come off the bench to hit," he said.
Stacken, though, hit well in the season's second series against Angelo State (Texas) University and batted .321 in 28 at-bats before he suffered a cracked rib sliding into home plate. Stacken missed nearly a month before he returned in late March and has continued to be productive.
Stacken, who leads the team with a. 418 batting average in 86 at-bats, started at first base and collected three hits, two runs and a RBI in an 18-1 win against NAIA Bethany College on Tuesday night at Larks Park.
Senior catcher AJ Levanduski and junior right fielder Greg Bieker both homered, while Fort Hays scored 10 second-inning runs (all with none out). On the mound, the Tigers team-pitched and used seven pitchers in the contest with junior right-hander Sean Bartholomew (3-0) earning the win.
"We want to play good baseball and I thought we did that today," Fort Hays coach Rick Sabath said. "I thought we threw strikes on the mound and played good defense, turned (four) double plays."
Fort Hays improved to 30-22 with four games left in the season. The Tigers, already eliminated from postseason play in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, will complete their year this weekend at home against University of Central Missouri, the conference's second-best club.
"This record last year would have put us right back in the conference tournament and maybe a regional," Stacken said. "We are playing well and we are just trying to end playing well and playing for pride right now."
Missouri Southern State University took the final spot in the conference tournament when the Lions took three of four games from Emporia State University, the MIAA champion, last weekend. Fort Hays carries a 20-16 conference record, while Missouri Southern is 24-10 and in third. University of Nebraska-Omaha is 25-11 for fourth place.
"It was devastating," Sabath said of learning Fort Hays would miss postseason play for the first time since 2004. "It's sad that we only get four to the conference tournament."
The Tigers, who have seen multiple injuries, including at third base, shortstop and left field, started 0-6 before they enjoyed a 30-16 run. A poor midseason stretch against Northwest Missouri State University, Emporia State and Missouri Southern put Fort Hays in a hole that eventually produced the team's worst MIAA record since Fort Hays switched conferences three years ago.
"I am really proud of our guys with the way we came here and played tonight," Sabath said. "I feel like we can continue that this weekend."
Stacken has been a big part of Fort Hays' success all season. He went 3-for-5 in the series against Angelo State, a ranked team that swept the Tigers, and hit well against Truman State (Mo.) University before he suffered the injury.
"We really missed him for the time that he was out," Sabath said, "He has just been a huge difference with our team. He is an exceptional kid, hard worker and does everything that we ask."
Stacken raised his average nearly 100 points since he returned on March 26. He also leads the team in slugging percentage.
"I thought I would be off coming back," he said. "My first game, I didn't have any hits, but I still hit it well. I still it hard. After that, they started falling in and I was right back on board."
Stacken seen regular playing time in the last two weeks after senior Dusty Washburn missed two games because of a death in the family and then broke his pinkie finger before the University of Nebraska-Omaha series. Stacken has started six straight contests and carries a .435 average (10-for-23) in those games. Washburn returned Tuesday and served as the designated hitter and Stacken played first. Stacken singled in the 10-run second inning and also singled and scored again in the fourth.
"You rarely see him have a bad at-bat or swing at a bad pitch," Sabath said. "He doesn't give away at-bats. He takes advantage of every at-bat like he has, so that is why he is hitting like he has been."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| 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 |
| SB | 02/27 | Drury | W 17-10 |
| BB | 02/27 | Mo. Western | W 17-0 |
| BB | 02/27 | Mo. Western | W 3-2 (10 inn.) |
| BB | 02/26 | Mo. Western | W 12-8 |
| BB | 02/26 | Missouri Western | W 11-10 |
| MB | 02/24 | Pittsburg State | W 69-60 |
| WB | 02/24 | Pittsburg State | L 78-74 |
| MB | 02/21 | Mo. Southern | L 76-57 |