PITTSBURG -- The Fort Hays State University baseball team rallied from a 5-0 deficit to claim a 9-8 10-inning victory over Pittsburg STate University in the series opener Friday (Mar. 21) at Al Ortolani Field.
The MIAA-leading Tigers (18-5, 13-1 MIAA) smacked four solo home runs -- three by rightfielder Brady Kreutzer -- to overcome the early deficit against the Gorillas (17-6, 7-6 MIAA), who plated four runs in the bottom of the first inning in the contest.
Pitt State still led 6-3 after five innings of play but FHSU scored single runs in the sixth and seventh frames before pushing in front 8-6 with a three-run eighth inning. The Gorillas countered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth thanks to
Jake Skaggs' RBI triple and
Andrew Branson's sacrifice fly.
Kreutzer smacked his third homer of the day with one out in the top of the 10th off Pitt State reliever
Cadyn Castellanos (0-1). The Gorillas, who touched Tigers reliever Brandon Chavez (4-0) for two runs in the ninth, were unable to mount a second rally in the bottom of the 10th.
Hayden Dyer led Pitt State's 14-hit attach by going 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBI.
Alex Rodgers also went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base.
The Gorillas and the Tigers will resume their three-game series with a 2 p.m. (CDT) contest Saturday.
