By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Fort Hays State dropped both games of its MIAA-opening doubleheader at Missouri Western on Monday afternoon (Mar. 14). The Tigers mustered only one run for the afternoon and fell by a shutout, 2-0, and by run-rule, 9-1. FHSU is now 10-14 overall and 0-2 in the MIAA, while MWSU went to 7-11 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Missouri Western 2, Fort Hays State 0
The Tigers struggled to get much going offensively against Sydney Rader in the first contest. Aside from back-to-back singles by Sarah Tiffany and Betsy Parmley to open the second inning, Rader retired 15 straight Tigers from the second through sixth innings. The Griffons committed a pair of errors in the seventh to allow two Tigers to reach base, but the Tigers ran into the final out of the game trying to score on a wild pitch. Rader finished with nine strikeouts in her complete-game shutout effort against the Tigers.
Savanah Egger allowed just one earned run of the two surrendered to Missouri Western. She scattered five hits and walked two, while striking out five. The Griffons plated their first run in the first by benefitting from a passed ball that set up a sacrifice fly. In the fifth, they plated another run on a sacrifice fly after a pair of singles to open the inning.
Game 2: Missouri Western 9, Fort Hays State 1
Missouri Western took an early lead once again in the second contest of the day, scoring twice in the first inning. The Tigers countered in the top of the second with a solo home run by Sarah Tiffany to cut the lead in half, but that was all of their run scoring for the day. Missouri Western went on to plate four runs in the second, breaking the game open on a three-run home run. The Griffons added one in the fourth and then two in the fifth for a run-rule victory of 9-1.
Natalie Kissinger pitched the whole game for Missouri Western, allowing just three hits. She struck out two. Bailey Carlson started for the Tigers and pitched 1.1 innings, allowing five runs. Morgan Schmidt relieved for 1.2 innings allowing two, and Erika Flynn followed for one more inning allowing two more. Savanah Egger recorded one out before the Griffons pushed the winning run across the plate. Schmidt had the most strikeouts of the Tiger pitchers with four.
The Tigers will host Oklahoma Baptist in a non-conference doubleheader on Wednesday (Mar. 16) at Tiger Stadium in Hays. First pitch is scheduled for 11 am in FHSU’s first home games of the season.