By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State picked up a split of an MIAA doubleheader with Pittsburg State on Monday (Mar. 18) at Tiger Stadium. After falling 1-0 in the first game, FHSU rallied for three runs in the final inning of game two and won on a walk-off RBI single by Grace Philop. FHSU moved to 10-9 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Pittsburg State 1, Fort Hays State 0
Fort Hays State had a tough time solving Pittsburg State starting pitcher Halle Brin in the first game of the day. Bailey Boxberger was the only Tiger to muster a hit off Brin, a double in the fourth inning.
The lone run of the game came on back-to-back doubles by the Gorillas in the fifth by Keelah Griffith and Dru Collins. Michaelanne Nelson surrendered the run after throwing four shutout innings prior. Nelson recorded one out in the fifth before turning the ball over to Hailey Chapman, who held the Gorillas scoreless over the final 2.2 innings. Nelson had three strikeouts in the game, while Chapman had two.
Brin finished with four strikeouts in her compete-game effort for PSU. She allowed only one walk.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 9, Pittsburg State 8
Runs were hard to come by in game one, but the second game had plenty of offensive fireworks as the Tigers rallied back from an 8-6 deficit in the bottom of the seventh to win 9-8.
Pittsburg State jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the first, but the Tigers finally broke through on the scoreboard for the first time with a big six-run second inning. Jeni Mohr and Sierra Rodriguez combined for the first run with back-to-back doubles. Terran Caldwell knotted the game at 2-2 with a clutch two-out RBI single. Three batters later, Sara Breckbill unloaded the bases with a two-RBI single. A third run came in on the play due to an error and pushed the Tigers in front 5-2. Bailey Boxberger extended the lead further with another RBI single.
The Gorillas steadily mounted a comeback, scoring two in the third, one in the fifth, two in the sixth, and one in the seventh. PSU took the lead back in the sixth, 7-6, with an RBI single and RBI double. They added on to the lead in the seventh with a sacrifice fly.
After struggling to solve Halle Brin in game one, the Tigers broke through against her in the seventh inning of game two. Elise Capra started the rally with a smash-shot base hit off the third baseman’s glove. Mohr then immediately tied the game when she had a hit fall in front of the diving right fielder. Selling out for the ball was a mistake by the PSU player, allowing the ball to get all the way to the right field wall. Mohr motored all the way around to score, earning an inside-the-park two-run homer. Lily Sale and Caldwell each reached base moments later and then Grace Philop delivered the clutch two-out RBI single to left field that plated Sale from second.
Brin took the loss for PSU in 2.1 innings of relief work. Michaelanne Nelson was able to break even on the day record-wise in the circle, grabbing the win after throwing 1.1 innings of relief. Nelson is now 4-5 overall on the year. Hailey Chapman started the game for FHSU and went five innings. She allowed five runs on eight hits with a walk and four strikeouts. Sierra Rodriguez threw 0.2 innings of relief, allowing two runs before turning the ball over to Nelson. PSU starter Shelby Smith allowed six runs (five earned) to the Tigers in 4.1 innings.
Up Next
Fort Hays State hits the road for a pair of conference series this coming weekend. The Tigers take on Lincoln at 1 pm on Friday (Mar. 22) before traveling to Lindenwood on Saturday to play at 12 pm.