FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State had to settle for a split in a doubleheader with Wayne State (Neb.) on Tuesday (Mar. 1) at Tiger Stadium in Hays. The Tigers took the first game 8-4 before falling in the second game 7-3. FHSU moved to 6-7 overall on the season, while Wayne State is now 1-5 overall.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 8, Wayne State 4
Fort Hays State jumped out to a 4-0 lead after one inning and cruised to an 8-4 win in the first game of the doubleheader. Wayne State cut the lead in half in the second, but a run in the third and three in the fifth extended FHSU’s lead to 8-2. Wayne State plated a pair of runs in the final inning.
Samantha Villarreal got the Tigers on the board in the first with a sacrifice fly RBI. Kylie Strand followed with an RBI single and then Rilee Krier dropped in a bloop single to left field that plated runners from second and third. Krier added another RBI in the third inning with a bunt single.
In the fifth, a run scored for FHSU on a Wayne State error, then Courtney Dobson drove home two with a double.
Paxton Duran went the distance in the circle for FHSU, allowing four runs on 10 hits with three strikeouts. She did not allow any walks, moving to 5-3 on the season.
Cassy Miller took the loss for Wayne State, giving up eight runs (five earned) on seven hits and four walks. She struck out three in 4.1 innings of work before handing the ball to relief pitching.
Game 2: Wayne State 7, Fort Hays State 3
After touching up Cassy Miller for eight runs in the first contest of the day, the Tigers struggled against her in game two notching only three hits. She baffled Tiger hitters through three innings before allowing a hit in the fourth, an RBI single by Tori Beltz.
The first hit and run unfortunately came just a half inning after Wayne State tacked four runs on the board. Carrie Clarke held the Wildcats scoreless through the first three innings, but gave up five hits in the fourth and hit a batter that allowed the big inning.
Wayne State widened its lead in the fifth with a pair of runs against Paxton Duran working in relief. But the Tigers got a pair of sacrifice fly RBIs in the bottom half of the inning from Erin Elmore and Chermayne Yago.
The Tiger offense provided little resistance in the sixth and seventh, while the Wildcats tacked on an insurance run in the final inning.
Clarke took the loss for FHSU, moving to 1-4 on the season. She allowed seven hits and struck out two. Duran also allowed seven hits and struck out four.
Miller went the distance for Wayne State, striking out six to go with three hits and four walks allowed. Miller also moved to 1-4.
Fort Hays State opens conference play on Friday with Central Missouri at 12 pm in Hays. The Tigers will then play Southwest Baptist on Saturday at 1 pm.