ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Fort Hays State bounced back on Friday (Feb. 19) with a big victory over No. 20 ranked Augustana (S.D.) by a score of 5-1. The Tigers dropped three straight games heading into the contest but look to use the win as a springboard to success after a slow start to the season.
Carrie Clarke earned her first win in the pitching circle as a Tiger and now sits 1-2 overall on the season. Clarke went the distance allowing just one run on eight hits, two walks while striking out four.
Despite not scoring until the fourth inning, the Tigers applied pressure early, as they had, at least, one runner reach base safely in every inning up to that point. FHSU had, at least, one runner reach in six of the seven innings in the game. Clarke also did her part out of the gate, sitting down the first seven Vikings to come to the plate.
The scoring started in the fourth inning when Kylie Strand led the Inning off with a double and advanced to third on a bunt base hit from Paxton Duran. After a fly out, Rilee Krier singled in Strand and the Tigers took a 1-0 lead. Claudia Vasquez roped a base hit up the middle that scored Krier and Madeline LaPolla delivered a two-out, two-RBI single up the middle extending the Fort Hays State lead to 4-0.
Augustana put two runners on in the fourth and the fifth, but Clarke and the Tiger defense were able to thwart the threat.
The majority of the game was quiet until the final inning when, for the third time in two games, Tori Beltz connected with a pitch and sent it over the fence giving the Tigers an insurance run and a 5-0 lead.
Augustana would not go down without a fight as the very first batter of the seventh inning, Kaylea Schorr, put the Vikings on the board with her first home run of the year. Clarke was able to get the next two batters via ground out and line out, but Augustana loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk. But Clarke got 2015 First Team All-American Sarah Kennedy to ground out ending the game.
With the victory, Fort Hays State moved to 2-5 on the season and Augustana dropped to 7-6.
The Tigers look to build off the victory as they play their final two games at the Kelly Lass Memorial Tournament on Saturday (Feb. 20). The first game will take place at 7 am when they take on Minnesota State-Mankato and the second will be a 9:30 am game against the host team St. Cloud State.