HAYS, KS- The Cougars closed their series at Fort Hays State on Sunday with a rubber match with the three-game set tied at 1-1. In a back and forth battle, CCU lost the lead late and narrowly fell 9-8 to the host Tigers. 

Gregory Rangel started things strong with a solo homer in his first at-bat, sending a ball to left field for his team leading 7th home run of the season. FHSU tied things with a run in the first and plated three in the second for a 4-1 advantage, but CCU had an answer in the third. 

Landry Hamm singled in a run as he started 2-2 after a first inning double, while Cade Lacy lifted a sac fly to center field to cut the deficit to 4-3. The fourth saw the Cougars level things as some strong base running from Tanner Rae saw him walk, steal both second and third base and race home on a wild pitch to tie the game at 4-4. 

The offense continued to make contact as Hamm doubled in Lukas Hinze home for the 5-4 lead. Rangel continued the scoring with an RBI single, and Aidan Welsh notched a sac fly for a three-run advantage. Brandon Schramm closed the scoring in the 6th frame with an RBI groundout as CCU doubled up the Tigers 8-4. 

Fort Hays State rallied for three runs in the 6th to make it a one run game at 8-7. And a two-run rally in the 8th put the Tigers on top 9-8. The Cougars got a pair of runners on base in the ninth, but a groundout ended the threat and closed a 9-8 setback for CCU. 

Hamm and Rangel paced the offense with a pair of RBI apiece, while Lacy, Welsh and Schramm each notched an RBI. 

The Cougars will jump back into RMAC play with a four-game series at nearby Colorado School of Mines in Golden April 24-26.