ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - Missouri Western baseball (1-12, 0-5 MIAA) fought until the very end but lost Saturday's low-scoring game and the series against the Fort Hays State Tigers (10-4, 5-0 MIAA) by a score of 3-2 at Larks Park.
 
Hays took an early 2-0 lead, scoring one run each in the second and fourth innings. The Griffons responded with an RBI single by Carson Shear in the fifth inning, followed by an equalizing run from Quinn Gundelfinger in the sixth. However, in the seventh inning, the Tigers regained the lead with an RBI single from Derek Woodbin, which held until the final out.
 
Anthony Taggart (2-3) and Easton Mains (2-4) both had multi-hit games for the Griffons, contributing to the team's total of nine hits. Additionally, Mains and Frank Gall each stole a base, while Blake Venneman drew two walks.
 
Junior Logan Winkelman made his fourth start of the season for Western, recording four strikeouts while allowing five hits and two runs, ultimately leading to a no-decision. Fellow junior Lou Levy (1-1) took the loss, surrendering one run and two hits over four innings.
 
For the Tigers pitching staff, starter Cade Flaherty also received a no-decision. He led the game with six strikeouts but also gave up the most hits of any pitcher (8). Kaleb Carpenter (1-1) was credited with the win, while Brandon Chavez earned his fifth save of the season.
 
Missouri Western will return to action tomorrow for the finale with the Tigers at noon.