HAYS, Kan. – The Fort Hays State Tigers tallied a six-run first inning and didn't look back as they knocked off the Northwest Missouri State Bearcats 18-8 in seven innings.
 
Bearcat starter Max Spitzmiller was tagged with eleven runs, all earned in three innings of work.
 
The Tigers scored six in the first inning, one in the second, four in the third.
 
Northwest had an answer in the bottom of the third inning when Brady Miles lifted a three-run home run to left field scoring Griffith and Shiers.
 
Bearcat skipper Darin Loe turned to Quinn Mason in relief of Spitzmiller to start the bottom of the fourth inning, The Tigers would tack four more runs on a pair of singles and some throwing errors by the Bearcats. Northwest had four errors in the first four innings of play.
 
Ryan Koski would bring the Bearcat deficit to 11 runs with his team best 11^th bomb of the season with two-outs in the fifth inning.
 
The Bearcats sent 10 hitters to the plate in the top of the sixth inning scoring four runs in the inning. Parker Griffith got things started reaching on an error by the shortstop followed by a walk by DJ Heck, Layne Shiers brought in Griffith with a single down the left field line. Brady Miles kept it going with his career best fourth RBI on the day with a single to center field, Koski would then tally his 116 and 117^th RBI of his career with a sizzling double down the left field line scoring two, after a Trey Morris walk the bases were loaded with two away for Parker Griffith but a pop up to shortstop would strand the bases juiced.
 
Fort Hays loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, but Quinn Mason would strand all three runners striking out the last two hitters of the inning.
 
Connor Polli was brought on to relieve Quinn Mason in the seventh, Fort Hays tacked three more on in the seventh to bring the final score to 18-8 in seven innings ending the game on a single to center field by Mikey Felton.
 
Northwest will try to fend off the sweep tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. for the final game of the series.

NOTES: Ryan Koski connected for his 11th home run of the season and 20 in his career in the fifth inning … Koski ranks No. 9 on Northwest's career home run chart … Koski upped his career RBI total to 117 … Cole Slibowski extended his streak of games reaching base to 32 in a row with a hit in the first inning … FHSU out-hit Northwest, 23-9 … Northwest made four errors, while the Tigers had one error … Northwest pitchers issued two walks … FHSU hurlers allowed four walks.