BY FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State had a tough start to MIAA play on Friday (Mar. 6) when it fell twice to Central Missouri in its first two conference games of the season. The Jennies won by scores of 5-2 and 4-3, moving to 9-4 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA. The Tigers are now 13-11 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Central Missouri 5, Fort Hays State 2
Michaelanne Nelson continued her strong recent performance in the pitching circle early by holding the Jennies to just one hit and scoreless for the first three innings of the game. Unfortunately, the Tigers were not able to generate anything offensively against UCM starter Paige Petefish, generating only one hit of their own.
Nelson looked as though she had the third out of the fourth inning with runners at first and second, but an error on a routine grounder allowed the first run of the game to come in to score from second. However, FHSU was able to respond in the bottom half of the inning by getting the bases loaded on a UCM error, then plating a run on a bases loaded walk by Grace Philop.
Nelson was unable to escape a jam in the fifth with runners at second and third with two outs. Ashlyn Cook untied the game with a 2-RBI single, putting the Jennies up 3-1. In the fifth, UCM loaded the bases to force Nelson out of the game. Megan Jamison entered and allowed a sacrifice fly RBI before a passed ball gave the Jennies another run. UCM led 5-1 going to the bottom of the sixth.
Katie Adler gave the Tigers their final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out RBI single. The Tigers went quietly in order in the seventh, which wrapped a complete game for Petefish. She allowed two runs (one earned) on seven hits and three walks to the Tigers, while striking out four. Nelson took the loss, now 7-4 on the year, going 5.1 innings with five runs allowed (three earned) on six hits and two walks. Nelson struck out five Jennies. Jamison had two strikeouts in her 1.2 innings of relief.
Game 2: Central Missouri 4, Fort Hays State 3
Central Missouri opened the scoring in the second game with a pair of runs in the first inning. Sydney Wellshear drove home a run with a single before scoring on a double by Bailey Fowler. The Tigers immediately cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first on RBI single by Alexis Velazquez. She drove home Lily Sale, who had a double earlier in the inning.
The Jennies extended their lead back to two with a run in the third. Makenzie Cooper brought home a runner from third with an RBI single. However, the Tigers rallied in the bottom half of the inning for two runs to tie the game 3-3. Loren Beggs led off with a single before coming in to score on a Velazquez RBI double. Elise Capra then tied the game with a sacrifice fly RBI a couple batters later.
Tiger miscues led to the winning run for Central Missouri in the fifth. A dropped ball on a steal attempt by UCM allowed the runner to go from first to third with two outs. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed the runner to cross the plate.
The Tigers had plenty of chances to get the leveling run in over the final three innings, but came up empty every time. FHSU loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth, but a grounder back to the pitcher ended the threat. Katie Adler led off the sixth with a single then moved up to second on a passed ball, but a strikeout and two infield pop ups ended the threat. Sara Breckbill led off the seventh with a walk before UCM turned the ball over to game one starter Paige Petefish to pick up the save. The Tigers could not advance the runner at all with two straight strikeouts and a flyout to left field to end the game.
Hailey Chapman threw a complete game for FHSU, allowing four runs (three earned) on 12 hits and two walks. She struck out six Jennies. UCM starter Alexa Bradley stayed in the game long enough to get the win, still in the game when her team gained the lead in the fifth. She threw 4.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks. Petefish picked up her second save of the year by getting the final three outs of the game.
FHSU looks to bounce back on Saturday (Mar. 7) when it plays host to Lincoln. The MIAA doubleheader begins at 12 pm inside Tiger Stadium.