Tigers fall to Hornets 4-2 in game 1

Fort Hays State baseball fell by a score of 4-2 to Emporia State in the first game of a scheduled doubleheader on Saturday at Larks Park in Hays. One pitch was thrown before game two was put into a rain delay and eventually suspended until Sunday at 1 pm.The teams are now scheduled to complete the suspended game at 1 pm on Sunday and play a seven inning game afterwards. The fourth game of the series has now been pushed to Monday with the start time to be announced on Sunday.

Emporia State led the entire game, even though the Tigers pulled within one twice. The Hornets opened the game with single runs in the first and second innings before a Nick Hammeke home run for FHSU cut the lead in half at 2-1 in the third. The Hornets benefitted from a Tiger error in the fourth to push the lead back to 3-1, but Kevin Czarnecki pulled the Tigers within one again with a solo homer in the sixth.

Emporia State added an insurance run in the seventh on a two-out RBI double. Closer Shawn Talkington worked a 1-2-3 seventh for the Hornets to pick up his seventh save of the year. He threw 1.2 innings of relief in place of starter Travis Hendry, who lasted 5.1 innings. Hendry improved to 8-1 on the year with the win.

Gabe Cook went the distance on the mound for the Tigers. He allowed four runs (three earned) on seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Cook moved to 1-3 on the year.