By RANDY GONZALES

rgonzales@dailynews.net

It was another comeback victory for the Fort Hays State University baseball team at Larks Park.

The Tigers edged Northwest Missouri State University 4-3 on Saturday in the first game of a Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association doubleheader.

"I think we're very competitive, we don't like to lose," Fort Hays coach Rick Sabath said of the Tigers' eighth come-from-behind win this year. "We showed again those characteristics, as they came from behind."

The doubleheader was technically home action for Northwest Missouri. The teams were supposed to play in Maryville, Mo., this weekend, but were unable to because of field conditions. So, the teams moved the four-game series to Hays. The Tigers and Bearcats are scheduled to play a noon doubleheader today at Larks Park.

In Saturday's opener, Fort Hays (10-3 overall, 6-3 MIAA) trailed 2-1 entering its last at-bat in the top of the seventh. Freshman Kelton Rule, who drove in the Tigers' first run with an RBI single in the second inning, led off with a walk. A base hit by freshman Trent Mauler on an attempted sacrifice put two runners aboard. Bearcat freshman reliever right-hander Nathan Horton (0-1) got two strikeouts, but gave up a game-tying single to right field to Tiger freshman Chris Santoscoy. Junior Ryan Majercik greeted junior reliever Christian Dekker with a two-run single to give Fort Hays a 4-2 lead.

"Chris Santoscoy, another big base hit, Ryan Majercik, another big base hit," Sabath said.

Sabath brought in senior closer Mat Atkinson to get the final three outs, but not without some excitement.

An error and hit batter gave Northwest Missouri (2-14, 0-5) two runners on with nobody out. After a fly ball to center for the first out, Atkinson balked the runners to second and third. Senior Brandon Kirsch hit a sacrifice fly to center to get Northwest Missouri within a run. Atkinson then hit the next batter, senior Jon Henne. Northwest Missouri put two runners in scoring position before Atkinson got sophomore Landinn Echardt -- who homered earlier -- on a grounder to short to end the game for a shaky save, his fifth of the season.

"He always makes it that way, it seems, but he's a competitor, he seems to be comfortable," Sabath said. "Lot of guys try to do too much when they allow some baserunners, and he seems to keep his composure, make good pitches.

"Obviously, the results speak for themselves," Sabath added.

The victory went to senior Garrett Morgan (1-0), in relief of junior starter Andy Lewton, who allowed two runs on five hits in 52âÑ3 innings.

"He was very good today," Sabath said of Lewton, who entered the game 0-1 with a 7.20 earned-run average. "We wanted to give him every chance to win the game, and he deserved a better fate.

"We left too many guys on base, just didn't get that hit when we needed it. But we found a way to win."

For results of Saturday's late game, visit www.tigersportszone.com