By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
LIBERTY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Softball improved to 11-5 overall on the season by sweeping a doubleheader at William Jewell College on Saturday (Mar. 4). The Tigers recorded their sixth shutout in the last seven games with a 2-0 win in game one, then held on for a 4-3 win in game two for the sweep.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 2, William Jewell 0
Savanah Egger continued her dominant scoreless streak, now at 26 consecutive innings after a complete game shutout in the first contest. It marked her fourth-straight shutout going back to last week when she had three at the Washburn Invitational.
The Tigers spotted Egger a run early when Peyton Shepardlegged out an infield hit to start the game, stole a base, moved up to third on a ground out, then scored on Loren Beggs’ groundout to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. FHSU added its other run in the fifth when Regan Curry led off with a single, moved up to second on a groundout, then came in to score from second on a fumbled cutoff throw following a single by Lexi Mohr.
Egger’s streak was tested in the fourth when the Cardinals led off the inning with a single and double. But Egger responded with a pop up, a strikeout, and another pop up to dance out of danger. She scattered six hits for the game and allowed just one walk, while striking out six. She moved to 5-2 on the season.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 4, William Jewell 3
William Jewell took an early 1-0 lead in the second contest with a home run in the first inning, but the Tigers responded with three in the fourth and one in the fifth to take a 4-1 lead. William Jewell made things interesting late getting pair of runs in the seventh before Emma Montoyaentered to get the last two outs, holding off a potential tie or walk-off.
Carly Stuke led off the fourth with a single and came in to score on an Aubrey Martinez RBI double. Lexi Mohr singled before a Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson RBI groundout gave the Tigers the lead. A throwing error by the pitcher on a grounder off the bat of Peyton Shepard allowed Reese Curry to motor around to score from second. Madison Pierce set up the single run in the fifth with a double. Sydnee Hoffman pinch ran for her and came in to score on an RBI single by Stuke.
Morgan Schmidt was motoring along with another high-strikeout performance until running into some trouble in the seventh. She tied her career high for strikeouts with 12 over 6.1 innings, but handed the ball to Emma Montoyawho preserved Schmidt’s win by getting the final two outs of the game.
William Jewell already scored two runs against Schmidt in the seventh and then had runners at second and third before Montoya came in to stop the rally. Montoya got a strikeout, allowed a free pass that loaded the bases, but then got a pop out to end the game. Schmidt allowed only four hits to 24 batters faced and moved to 2-1 on the season.
The Tigers will play at home for the first time this season on Monday with a doubleheader against Northwestern Oklahoma State. First pitch at Tiger Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.