FHSU Sports Information Department
JOPLIN, Mo. – Fort Hays State Softball split a pair of MIAA games with Missouri Southern on Saturday (Mar. 12) and now sits at 9-12 overall and 3-5 in the MIAA. With the split the Lions are now 11-14 overall and 1-3 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Missouri Southern 2, Fort Hays State 1 (9 inn.)
The Tigers got on the board first in game one in the third inning when Tori Beltz singled in Courtney Dobson in the third inning and led 1-0 until the sixth.
The Lions then tied the game in the bottom of the sixth when Angel Badalamenti singled home Abi Corbett.
It took three more innings to decide a winner as the fans in Joplin, Mo., were treated to free softball. In the bottom half of the ninth, the Lions managed to load the bases with one out after a walk, single, and a hit batter. Kylie Westbrooks gave MSSU the walk-off victory as she drove in the game-winning run with a single through the left side.
Paxton Duran took the loss on the mound going 8.1 innings and allowing two runs on nine hits, with 10 strikeouts and a walk. With the loss Duran now has a 6-7 record on the season.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 4, Missouri Southern 1
In game two the Tigers used an explosive fourth inning to earn the 4-1 victory and the doubleheader split.
With one out Tori Beltz singled and then scored on a Samantha Villarreal double. Dobson then gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead when she tripled in Villarreal from second. Mackenzie Villarreal then plated Dobson with a single and pinch runner Madeline LaPolla gave the Tigers the 4-0 lead when she scored on an RBI single from Rilee Krier.
That was all the offense the Tigers needed as the Lions managed to get a run in the bottom half of the seventh but nothing more.
Carrie Clark went the distance for the Tigers and picked up her third win of the year in the circle. Clarke looked dominant all day as she only allowed four Lion hits in the game with half of those coming in the final two innings.
The Tigers are at it again on Tuesday (Mar. 15) when they head to Denver for a non-conference doubleheader against Metro State.