By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
LUBBOCK, Texas – Fort Hays State Softball opened its 2021 season on Friday (Feb. 5) at the Lubbock Sports College Invitational. The Tigers won their season opener 6-3 over Texas-Permian Basin before falling 4-1 in their nightcap against West Texas A&M.
Fort Hays State 6, Texas-Permian Basin 3
The Tigers opened the year with a roaring start in the first inning as Sarah Tiffany hit a solo homer in her first collegiate at bat. Sara Breckbill followed with an RBI double to give FHSU a 2-0 advantage. Singles from Kristen Reed and Loren Beggs set up the run-scoring hit by Breckbill.
A rash of Tiger errors in the bottom of the first allowed UTPB to knot the score at 2-2, but FHSU moved back in front by a run in the third on a Grace Philop RBI single with two outs that plated Reed. Philop pushed the lead to 4-2 with another RBI single in the fifth, set up by Breckbill’s second double of the game.
Reed put a cap on the offensive effort for the Tigers in the seventh with a two-run homer, giving her a 3-for-4 effort at the plate. Tiffany scored on the bomb after doubling right in front of Reed.
Hailey Chapman went the distance in the pitching circle with four strikeouts. She allowed five hits and did not walk any batters. Abby Cousins took the loss for UTPB, allowing four runs in 5.2 innings of relief work.
West Texas A&M 4, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers struggled to find run-scoring opportunities after a golden opportunity in the first inning. The Tigers had the bases loaded with one out, only to see a double play end their threat. Sarah Tiffany generated the only run of the game for FHSU in the third. She had a double to lead off the inning and later came in to score on a wild pitch. Sara Breckbill was the only Tiger with a multi-hit game, producing a pair of singles.
West Texas A&M took a 1-0 lead in the first inning by executing a double steal of second and home. A two-run homer by Maddie Geidel in the fourth broke a 1-1 tie between the teams. Shanna McBroom added a solo homer for WTAMU in the fifth, capping the scoring between the teams.
Michaelanne Nelson took the loss, throwing 4.0 innings. She allowed four hits and four walks, while striking out three. Megan Jamison gave the Tigers a solid relief effort of 3.0 innings with four strikeouts and just one hit allowed. Jamison got the Tigers out of a bases-loaded no-out jam in the fifth with a strikeout and then a ground ball double play. Kyra Lair was the winning pitcher for WTAMU, throwing a complete game with seven strikeouts.
The Tigers will face Lubbock Christian at 1 pm and Midwestern State at 5 pm on Saturday (Feb. 6) to close out their weekend trip to Texas