By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Fort Hays State Softball dropped a pair of MIAA contests to 17th-ranked Rogers State on Thursday (Mar. 12). The Tigers fell by a score of 2-0 in each game, moving to 15-13 overall and 2-4 in the MIAA. Rogers State improved to 21-8 overall and 4-2 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Rogers State 2, Fort Hays State 0
Fort Hays State struggled to get offense generated against Rogers State starter Andrea Morales, who improved to 15-2 overall on the season with the shutout win. Morales gave up just a pair of singles in separate innings, while striking out 13 Tigers and walking just two.
Rogers State plated its runs in the third and fourth innings on RBI doubles by Sabrina Anguiano and Abigail Taylor. FHSU starter Michaelanne Nelson scattered six hits and allowed just one earned run, while striking out three in her six-inning complete-game effort. Nelson moved to 7-5 on the season.
Terran Caldwell and Grace Philop were the only Tigers with hits, while Lily Sale and Loren Beggs each drew a walk.
Game 2: Rogers State 2, Fort Hays State 0
Rogers State did all of its damage in the first inning of the second contest. A throwing error by the Tigers with two outs in the inning plated a pair of runs, which turned out to be the decisive play in the game.
The Tigers outhit the Hillcats 7-5 in the game, but struggled to push runs in when getting runners on base. The Tigers had runners in scoring position with less than two outs in both the third and fourth innings, but could not capitalize on the opportunities.
Hailey Chapman received a tough-luck loss with just one earned run on five hits and two walks. She struck out five Hillcats and now has a record of 6-8 on the year. M’Kayla Hillman picked up the win for Rogers State in a complete-game shutout effort, allowing seven hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Hillman moved back to the break-even mark at 6-6 on the year.
Katie Adler had a three-hit game for the Tigers, while also picking up a stolen base.
Due to the cancellation of NCAA Winter and Spring Championships based on the evolving COVID-19 public health threat, the MIAA and its member institutions announced the suspension of all MIAA intercollegiate sports activities (practice and competition) indefinitely effective at 11 pm, March 12, 2020. The indefinite suspension applies to all institutional practices and competitions in any MIAA sport, regardless of season, until further notice. All spring sports are suspended indefinitely at this time.
Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available in the days ahead.