By The Hays Daily News

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- The Fort Hays State University baseball team saw its season come to an end Sunday with a 4-2 loss to University of Central Missouri.

The Tigers finished at 28-30 after falling in a loser's bracket elimination game at the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association's postseason tournament.

It's the first time Fort Hays finished under .500 since the 1991 team finished 9-33 under Tom Mahon.

Central Missouri (41-15) went on to defeat Emporia State University 4-3 in the title game for the school's 13th MIAA tourney title in 15 years. The Mules advance to the NCAA Div. II tournament for the 15th consecutive season.

Against Fort Hays, the Mules trailed 2-0 before scoring four runs in the final three innings. Sophomore Donnie Moore (3-3) took the loss in relief for Fort Hays.

Tiger junior first baseman Dusty Washburn hit an RBI single, and finished the season with a .383 batting average, second on the team, and had 19 homers and 59 RBIs, both best on the club.

Sophomore Greg Bieker led the Tigers in hitting at .399 and finished with 14 homers and 58 RBIs. The Tigers batted .334 as a team.

The Tiger pitching staff finished with a team earned-run average of 7.10 and opponents hit .324 off Fort Hays pitching. Sophomore left-hander Matt Augustine (5-7, 5.21 ERA) led the team in wins.

Senior James Simpson's ERA of 4.60 was the best on the club.