Complete recaps of Friday’s action is below.
No. 15 Emporia State 2, Fort Hays State 1
Despite holding the 15th-ranked Lady Hornets to just two runs in the first game of the day, FHSU was limited to just one score in a 2-1 loss.
Paxton Duran (10-9) was dealt the loss, tossing six innings with two strikeouts while allowing four walks, six hits and two runs.
Tori Beltz was 2-for-3 in the game with a double and a walk, while Erin Elmore finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
In the first, ESU took a 1-0 lead behind Kaitlyn Caston’s RBI single and held that advantage until the top of the fifth, when an RBI single from Erin Elmore scored Paxton Duran from third. Duran singled to start the fifth, moving around on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. With two down, Elmore sent a 2-1 pitch in right field for the game-tying hit.
ESU took back the lead (2-1) in its half of the fifth off Caston’s second RBI of the day, this time coming on a squeeze bunt play.
Down to its last chance in the top of the seventh, FHSU put runners on the corners with two outs, but couldn’t force a continuation in the game.
ESU 4, FHSU 1
The Tigers could not overcome an early deficit, falling 4-1 to the Lady Hornets in the second game of the doubleheader.
Kelsey Kimminau (10-8) saw her four-game winning streak snapped in the loss. Kimminau tossed all six innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on seven hits, walking four with two strikeouts.
Beltz drew two walks in the game while Rilee Krier was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Elmore, Samantha Villarreal, Amanda Vaupel and Mackenzie Villarreal also had hits for the Tigers.
The Tigers again fell behind early, trailing 2-0 after the first and 3-0 headed into the fourth, when FHSU struck back with one. Beltz led off the inning with a walk, moving to second on a groundout. From there, Vaupel’s single put runners on the corners with one out and Mackenzie Villarreal reached on an error to lead the bases. Krier drove in Beltz for the first Tiger run of the game, singling a 1-2 pitch into center field.
ESU added another in the fourth off Danielle Sprinkle’s RBI single, making it 4-1, where it stayed for the rest of the night.