By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EMPORIA, Kan. – Fort Hays State Softball defeated both Missouri-St. Louis and Wayne State (Neb.) on Friday at the Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kansas, improving to 6-8 on the season. The Tigers produced 19 total hits over their two wins, downing UMSL 6-3 before edging WSC in the nightcap 2-1. The Tigers avenged a pair of losses to the same teams just a week earlier in Topeka and earned their first daily sweep of games this season.
Fort Hays State 6, Missouri-St. Louis 3
After allowing a run to the Tritons in the bottom of the first on an error, the Tiger offense sprung to life in the second inning for three runs and they led the rest of the game. FHSU added on a pair of runs in the fourth to build a 5-1 lead, then traded single runs back and forth from the bottom of the sixth to the end of the game for the 6-3 win.
In the three-run third, Elise Capra and Sarah Tiffany each had sacrifice fly RBIs, surrounding an RBI double by Katie Adler. Kristen Reed added a two-RBI double in the fourth. Adler added another RBI in the sixth with a bases-loaded single. Adler went 3-for-4 at the plate to lead the Tigers, while Jessica Espinoza logged two hits. Six other Tigers had one knock in the game.
Hailey Chapman went the distance in the circle for FHSU, allowing just two earned runs on three hits and three walks. She struck out five, moving to 3-2 on the season. Emily Price was tagged with the loss for UMSL, lasting just 2.2 innings. She allowed three runs before handing the ball to Mimi Bradley, who allowed three more runs in 4.1 innings of work.
Fort Hays State 2, Wayne State 1
Fort Hays State scored all the runs it would need in the first inning of another tight battle with Wayne State. Sara Breckbill knocked in the first run of the game with an RBI single, then Jessica Espinoza followed two batters later with a sacrifice fly RBI. FHSU had the potential of scoring many more runs in the game, leaving 12 runners on base. The Tigers left the bases loaded twice and had at least two on at the end of an inning four times in six offensive innings.
Michaelanne Nelson yielded only one run to the Wildcats on an RBI single by Kortney Buresh in the fifth inning. She stranded runners at second and third in that inning to keep the Wildcats from scoring any more runs. Nelson tossed a complete game with five hits and two walks allowed. She struck out six Wildcats. Sloan Cooksey took the loss for WSC, allowing eight hits and four walks, but just one earned run. Cooksey struck out eight Tigers.
Breckbill led the hit parade for the Tigers against Wayne State by going 3-for-4 at the dish. Sara Tiffany and Loren Beggs each produced a pair of hits, while Espinoza reached base in both her plate appearances with a single and a walk.
For the day, Nelson and Chapman combined for a 1.50 ERA in the pitching circle and a 0.93 WHIP with 11 strikeouts in 14 innings of work.
The Tigers look to carry their momentum into the start of conference play next week at Central Missouri in Warrensburg on Friday (Mar. 12). The following day the Tigers head to Jefferson City, Missouri for a doubleheader with Lincoln University.