FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State swept its second straight MIAA doubleheader on Saturday (Apr. 9) with a pair of wins over Washburn. The Tigers took game one 6-5 with a pair of bases-loaded walks, then took game two by the score of 3-0. With the sweep, the Tigers improved to 17-26 overall and 11-13 in the MIAA while the Ichabods dropped to 17-21 overall and 7-13 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 6, Washburn 5
Down 5-4 entering the bottom of the seventh, Fort Hays State took advantage of control issues from Washburn reliever Marina Quimby to pull off a comeback 6-5 win in game one. Courtney Dobson set the tone with patience, drawing a walk to open the inning, the Erin Elmore reached on an infield single putting two runners on base. A walk to Kylie Strand loaded the bases with two outs and another walk to Rilee Krier tied the game at 5-5. Then with a 3-2 count, Claudia Vazquez worked the third consecutive walk as the Tigers claimed the walk-off victory 6-5.
Washburn opened the scoring in the game with a single and a double to generate a run in the first inning. The Ichabods extended their lead to 2-0 in the second inning when they pushed another run across the plate with a two-out RBI single. Washburn extended the lead to 5-0 in the third inning, once again with two outs. An RBI single and a dropped fly ball by the Tigers allowed two more runs to score.
The Tigers began their comeback in the bottom half of the third, cutting the lead to 5-2 with a pair of runs on two outs. Tori Beltz plated Krier on a single up the middle, and then Samantha Villarreal plated Beltz with a single of her own.
The Tigers got one run each in the fourth and fifth innings making it a one-run game, 5-4. Krier and Paxton Duran each had two-out RBI singles to pull the Tigers within one.
Carrie Clarke started in the circle for the Tigers and did not pick up a decision. She lasted just 2.2 innings and gave up five runs (three earned) on seven hits, with three walks and a strikeout. Paxton Duran entered to get the last out of the third inning with the bases loaded and shut down the Ichabods in 4.1 innings of relief, giving up just three hits with five strikeouts and a walk to pick up the win.
Quimby took the loss for Washburn, allowing two runs on a hit and four walks in 1.2 innings of work. She relieved Samantha Carson who allowed four runs (one earned) over five innings in the start.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 3, Washburn 0
In game two, the Tigers did all their damage in the third with three runs. Rilee Krier led the inning off with a hustle triple to left center then scored the game’s first run on an errant throw at first base by Washburn’s pitcher. The Tiger lead to grew to 2-0 when Claudia Vazquez came around to score on a single by Samantha Villarreal. Mackenzie Villarreal made it a three-run game when she plated pinch runner Chermayne Yago with a RBI single.
Paxton Duran went the distance for the Tigers and recorded her second win of the day, and her 12th of the season. Duran limited the Ichabods to just four hits with five strikeouts and a walk, on the way to her fourth shutout of the year and second of the weekend. Duran went 4-0 in the circle for the weekend, posting two 3-0 shutout wins. She had three wins in starts and one in relief, posting an 0.83 ERA for the week.
Ashley Wills of Washburn took the loss in the circle, throwing 6.0 innings in a complete game effort. She allowed three runs (one earned) on eight hits with one strikeout.
The Tigers vaulted up in the MIAA standings with the two doubleheader sweeps on the weekend. At 11-13 in the conference, the Tigers are now seventh with just two conference games to play. The Tigers have the upcoming week off from conference play, while the rest of the conference picture shapes up prior to the final week of conference play. The top eight teams in the conference will qualify for the MIAA Tournament in Oklahoma City.
The Tigers look to stay hot on Tuesday (Apr. 12) when they head to Edmond, Okla. for a non-conference doubleheader against Oklahoma Christian.