By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State is now 10-12 overall on the season after picking up a split with Truman on Saturday afternoon (Mar. 5) at Gahnstrom Field. The Tigers led 2-0 in game one, but fell on a late rally by the Bulldogs by a score of 4-2. FHSU bounced back to win handily in game two by a score of 7-0.
Truman 4, Fort Hays State 2
Fort Hays State took a 2-0 lead in the first game of the day by hitting solo home runs in the third and fifth innings, coming off the bats of Kiana Blake and Sara Breckbill.
Savanah Egger had a potential shutout brewing for the second day in a row, but ran into trouble in the sixth. Truman got two aboard with singles and then Maria McGonegle hit a three-run home run to instantly put Truman in the lead 3-2. A double by the Bulldogs in the seventh set up an RBI single later in the inning, pushing their lead to 4-2.
Fort Hays State got one runner aboard in the seventh, but had no luck with a late rally. Egger struck out a season-high 12 batters even though she had to settle for the loss, now 4-5 on the season. She scattered nine hits and walked just one. Nicole Havel picked up the complete game win for Truman, finishing with six hits and seven walks allowed. She struck out five.
Fort Hays State 7, Truman 0
Fort Hays State took control of game two by scoring twice in the second, once in the third, and four times in the fourth. Bailey Carlson had another big effort in the pitching circle for a second-straight day. She threw a complete game with five strikeouts and allowed just four hits. She moved to 2-0 on the season with her first complete-game shutout.
Sarah Tiffany set up the scoring in the second with a leadoff double. Elise Capra then doubled her home and later came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Jessica Espinoza. In the third, Tiffany delivered an RBI double to make it 3-0.
The Tigers set up a big rally in the fourth when Espinoza led off with a single and then Lindsey Kelly and Kiana Blake drew walks to load the bases. Madison Pierce brought the first run home with a sacrifice fly, then Erika Flynn hit a two-RBI double. Tiffany capped the rally with an RBI single. Tiffany finished the game 4-of-4 at the plate.
The Tigers will begin MIAA play next weekend at Northwest Missouri State and Missouri Western.
Friday
TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State received strong
pitching efforts from Savanah
Egger and Bailey
Carlson and had some timely hitting to pick up a doubleheader
sweep of Missouri S&T on Friday at Gahnstrom Field. The Tigers moved to
9-11 on the season with the two wins, while the Miners came back to level at
6-6.
Fort Hays State 3,
Missouri S&T 0
Savanah
Egger tossed the first complete-game shutout of her collegiate
career and the Tiger bats did enough in the late going to secure a win. Egger
allowed six hits, all within the first five innings, and tied her season high
in strikeouts with nine. She allowed just two free passes and moved to 4-4 on
the season.
The Tigers generated their first run in the fifth inning when Sarah
Tiffany singled, stole a base, and then scored on an RBI
double by Jessica
Espinoza. FHSU added on in the sixth when Kiana
Blake led off with a double, Elise
Capra tripled her home, and Sara
Breckbill scored Capra on a sacrifice fly.
Bryn Wooldridge threw a complete game for the Miners, allowing the three runs
on five hits. She also struck out nine.
Fort Hays State 3,
Missouri S&T 2
Bailey
Carlson also had a strong effort in the circle for the Tigers.
The Tigers committed a pair of errors within the first four innings that led to
both Miner runs and their 2-0 lead after three and a half innings.
However, the Tiger offense lifted her to the good side of the decision line in
the fourth by scoring three runs and taking a 3-2 lead. Back-to-back doubles to
start the inning by Madison
Pierce and Sara
Breckbill gave the Tigers their first run. Later with two
outs, Regan
Curry had a clutch 2-out, 2-RBI single to put the Tigers in
front.
The Tiger defense remained sharp the rest of the way behind Carlson, not
allowing any more baserunners past first. Carlson allowed just five hits for
the game and both of her runs allowed were unearned. She struck out two and
walked one to pick up her first collegiate win.
Charlye Rowland took the loss for Missouri S&T in the circle. She
surrendered six hits and a walk, while striking out eight in six innings.