The Greyhound baseball team fought off a competitive and scrappy Highland Community College Scottie team by capturing two walk-off wins in the last inning of the first and fourth games in the series.
Game one saw freshman, Aaron Mason throw a complete game, allowing one unearned run on three hits to collect his eighth victory of the season. The Greyhound offense was held in check for most of the day by Scottie pitcher, Derek Rottinhaus, and a 25 mph wind blowing straight in, but the Greyhounds pushed two runs across the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning. The Greyhounds entered the seventh inning trailing 1-0, but sophomore, Joe Hermsen, got the inning going with a one out single to left. Freshman, Parker O'Dell, entered the game to run for Hermsen and advanced to third base with one out on a double by sophomore, Alex Drew. O'Dell scored the tying run on an infield single by freshman, Lance Barkley. Drew advanced to third base which brought up sophomore, Reyn Sugai. Sugai pushed home the winning run on a fielder's choice when he beat the throw to first base on an attempted double play by the Scottie infield.
Game two saw FSCC take a 2-0 lead into the fourth inning, but Highland scored five runs in the inning off Greyhound starter, Ryan Ahrens. The Scotties followed with two more runs in the fifth and the game ended in favor of Highland, 7-2.
Game three saw Highland command an early lead that they wouldn't relinquish as the game ended in favor of the Scotties, 6-2. Highland took advantage of nine walks allowed by Fort Scott pitchers and they held the Greyhound bats in check.
Game four brought out early offense for the Greyhounds as they scored three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-0 lead. Highland scored one run in the third and fourth innings but the Greyhounds answered with two more in the bottom of the fourth to make the score 5-2. Highland clawed back scoring two runs in the fifth and one in the sixth to tie the score 5-5. Reliever, Lance Barkley held the Scotties bats in check in the top of the seventh. In the bottom half, Reyn Sugai got on base by way of a Scottie error. He advanced to second base on a fielder's choice. Freshman, Josh Griffith, was intentionally walked to bring up Joe Hermsen. Following an infield single by Hermsen, the bases were loaded with one out for sophomore, John Morey. Morey scored Sugai for the game's winning run a bunt for a hit.
The Greyhounds are scheduled to return to action Thursday versus Baker University at 2:00pm at Lions Field. In conference action, the Greyhounds are now in second place in the Jayhawk East Division with a conference record of 20-12 and an overall record of 32-14. FSCC plays host to Allen County Community College for its final regular season conference games this weekend. Games are set to begin at 1:00pm both days at Lions Field.