The Tigers (17-13, 10-6 MIAA) are in the midst of a 10-game homestand.
Fort Hays State 3, Central Oklahoma 2 (Eight innings)
Fort Hays State used a two-run eighth inning in a 3-2 comeback, walk-off win against Central Oklahoma in game one.
Paxton Duran (9-6) threw all eighth innings, not walking a batter with six strikeouts on the day. Duran gave up six hits and two runs in the complete game victory. Nicole Brady (8-5) took the loss for the Bronchos, allowed three runs on eight hits with five walks allowed.
Rilee Krier was 2-for-4 in the game and had one of two doubles for the Tigers. Amanda Vaupel (1-for-3) had the other double and an RBI on the day. Mackenzie Villarreal and Courtney Dobson also had hits and each drove in the game tying and winning runs, respectively.
FHSU took an early lead in the first off Vaupel’s sacrifice fly to deep right, scoring Erin Elmore from third.
That lead held until the seventh when Brooke Zukerman led off the top half with a triple to right field, eventually scoring on a one-out squeeze play from Ashleigh Tramel.
In the bottom of the seventh, FHSU had runners on the corners with two outs but couldn’t come up with a game-winner as the teams headed for extras.
UCO scored again in the top of the eighth to take a 2-1 lead off Zukerman’s sacrifice fly that scored Kaylee Brunson. The Tigers, however, strung together three hits and scored two runs – including a walk-off RBI single from Dobson.
Tori Beltz led off the inning with a full-count walk, and with one out Vaupel doubled to left center to put Gabrielle Sandoval (who pinch ran for Beltz) on third. Mackenzie Villarreal‘s first hit of the day followed, as the freshman took a 2-2 pitch up the middle to score Sandoval and tie it, 2-2. Duran was intentionally walked to load the bases before the Bronchos got a fielder’s choice at home for the second out of the inning as Krier reached first. Dobson came through in the clutch for the Tigers, taking a 2-0 pitch back up the middle into center field for the game-winning RBI, scoring Mackenzie Villarreal.
It was the Tigers’ eighth extra-inning game this season and FHSU now holds a 4-4 record in those contests.
Central Oklahoma 4, Fort Hays State 1
Fort Hays State was held hitless through the first 4.1 innings and couldn’t string together a late rally, falling 4-1 in the finale versus Central Oklahoma.
Kelsey Kimminau (7-7) threw five innings with four strikeouts, giving up four runs on eight hits in the loss. Savannah Price tossed the final two innings and gave up two hits with a strikeout and a walk allowed. UCO’s Kelsey Berlin (7-6) struck out seven in a complete game performance, giving up one unearned run and five walks.
Beltz had a double and two walks for the day while Dobson and Samantha Villarreal had the Tigers’ only hits on the day.
UCO led 1-0 in the second after a solo home run from Ashleigh Tramel, and extended that lead to two in the fourth behind Shelby Carel’s RBI triple. Another two runs were tacked on in the fifth when Tramel doubled down the left line, but FHSU struck back with on in the bottom of the sixth to get on the board.
Beltz led off the sixth with a double to right center, scoring on the next at-bat when Samantha Villarreal singled into center. On that play, UCO’s Kaylee Brunson mishandled the ball in center and allowed Beltz to score on the error.
That was it for the Tigers, however, as UCO hung on for the win and sealed the doubleheader split.