By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State dropped a pair of games at No. 5 ranked Central Oklahoma on Saturday (Apr. 22). Slip-ups defensively by the Tigers in the latter portion of both games and a lack of runs ultimately kept the Tigers from a chance of upsetting the Bronchos. UCO moved to 39-6 overall and 19-3 in the MIAA, winning by scores of 5-1 and 4-1. FHSU is now 29-20 overall, 11-11 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Central Oklahoma 5, Fort Hays State 1
Central Oklahoma used a two-run home run in the third inning and then a Tiger error followed by three straight singles for three runs in the fifth to take the first contest of the day. Shayla Harper broke a scoreless tie between the Tigers and Bronchos with the two-out homer in the third. UCO’s rally in the fifth was all on two outs as well after a dropped foul ball that should have been the end of the inning.
The Tigers picked up their only run in the sixth inning when Loren Beggs led off with a double and Madison Pierce followed with a single. Carly Stuke then hit a ball up the middle that ricocheted off the pitcher perfectly to the shortstop, who stepped on second and threw Stuke out at first on a double play that killed a potential big inning for the Tigers. Beggs scored on the double play. The Tigers had six hits in the game, led by Peyton Shepard with two.
Morgan Schmidt went 4.2 innings in her start and struck out four. She allowed seven hits and walked five and now has a record of 4-3 on the season. Only two of her runs allowed were earned. Emma Montoya threw the final 1.1 innings and recorded a strikeout. Jordyn Pipkin, now 17-3 overall, threw a complete game for UCO. She scattered the six Tiger hits, while recording two strikeouts with a walk.
Game 2: Central Oklahoma 4, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers struggled to score runs once again in the second contest of the afternoon. They plated their only run in the first inning and their would-be second run to tie the game in the fourth was waved off the board by a game-altering umpire decision. After plating two in the third to take the lead, UCO added runs on Tiger mistakes in the fifth and sixth innings.
The Tigers opened the game with four singles in the first inning. Peyton Shepard led off with an infield single, but then was called out for leaving first early on a successful stolen base attempt. With two outs, the Tigers fought back into a run-scoring opportunity on three straight singles by Loren Beggs, Madison Pierce, and Carly Stuke. Regan Currythen drew a bases loaded walk to give the Tigers a 1-0 lead. Unfortunately, the Tigers did not add on any more runs as a ground out ended a potential big inning.
Shayleigh Odom of UCO tied the game by leading off the third with a solo home run. The Bronchos jumped into the lead moments later when Rylee Lemos doubled and then came in to score on an RBI single by Emily Deramus.
The Tigers worked their way into good position to pull even with the Bronchos in the top of the fourth. Lexi Mohrdoubled down the left field line and Adysen Burghartsingled to put runners at first and third with just one out. Then the crucial call that kept the Tigers from tying the game was made with Shepard at the plate. She was ruled out of the box when contacting the ball she grounded to the right side of the infield. UCO dropped the potential force out throw at second base, while pinch runner Reese Curry crossed the plate on the delayed dead ball situation. So instead of a 2-2 game with runners at second and first with one out, the call coupled with the UCO coach’s decision made two outs and the runners had to return to first and third. A ground out then ended the inning.
The Bronchos got add-on runs in the fifth and sixth. In the fifth, a wild pitch with two outs allowed a run to cross the plate. In the sixth, an error with two outs allowed another run to come in to score.
Bailey Carlson took a tough loss, despite her complete-game effort. She scattered seven hits, walked one, and struck out one. Terin Ritz of UCO allowed eight hits and walked four, while striking out just two. She was able to strand 11 Tigers on base throughout the game to escape with victory.
Fort Hays State returns home for two big doubleheaders against Rogers State and Northeastern State next weekend in Hays (Apr. 28-29). The games wrap up the regular season as the Tigers will be battling for a spot in the eight-team MIAA Tournament.
Friday
WICHITA, Kan. – Fort Hays State picked up its 14th and 15thshutouts of the season on Friday (Apr. 21) in a doubleheader sweep at Newman University. The Tigers won by scores of 7-0 and 3-0, improving to 29-18 overall and 11-9 in the MIAA. Newman fell to 15-35 overall, 3-17 in the MIAA. Bailey Carlson picked up her third shutout of the season in game one, a contest that was scoreless all the way until a big Tiger rally in the seventh, then Morgan Schmidt made history once again this season with her second no-hitter of 2023 in game two.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Newman 0
Game one was a scoreless pitching and defensive battle all the way up to the seventh inning, when Fort Hays State broke through in a big way. A Peyton Shepard single to lead off the final inning ballooned into a seven-run rally for the Tigers as they went on to pick up their 14th shutout of the season.
The Tigers managed just two hits off of Newman starter Madison Dewitt through the first six innings before finally getting runners into scoring position with the rally in the seventh. Shepard led off the seventh with a single up the middle and Sarah Tiffany followed with a single to left field. Loren Beggs then dropped down a nice bunt in front of the plate for a single to load the bases. Madison Piercebattled her way to a full count, fouled off some pitches, and eventually drove a ball into the right field corner for a two-RBI double, scoring Shepard and Tiffany to break the scoreless tie. Regan Curry drew a one-out walk to load the bases once again, and Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson made it 4-0 in favor of FHSU with a two-RBI single up the middle. That brought Dewitt’s outing to an end as she lasted 6.1 innings, recording four strikeouts. Four of the six runs she was charged with were earned. Megan Walz took over in the circle the rest of the way.
A Newman error helped load the bases for a third time and Shepard eventually picked up an RBI single to make it 5-0. Tiffany capped the Tiger rally with another two-RBI single up the middle, extending the lead to seven.
Bailey Carlson limited Newman to five hits and walked just one the way to her third shutout of the season. She stranded runners at third base in both the second and third innings with ground ball outs. Carlson struck out three, moving to 11-6 on the season.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 3, Newman 0
Morgan Schmidt became just the second player in FHSU softball program history to throw more than one no-hitter in a career, shutting down Newman to help the Tigers to a doubleheader sweep. The Tigers collected all of their runs and hits in the fourth on their way to a 3-0 win.
Schmidt hit Newman’s leadoff batter on just her second pitch of the game, but after that she had electric stuff and dominated her way to 21 consecutive outs. The hit batter was all that kept Schmidt from throwing a perfect game, but she was perfect after the little blip to open the game. Schmidt finished with five strikeouts and induced plenty of weak contact throughout the game as the Tiger defense remained flawless behind her.
Loren Beggs opened the fourth with a single and moved up to second base. Madison Pierce then broke the scoreless tie between the teams, just like she did in game one, with an RBI single up the middle to score Beggs. With two outs and runners at second and third, Lexi Mohr came through with a big two-RBI double to the wall in left field.
Schmidt moved to 4-2 on the season with the win. She threw her other no-hitter this season at Southwestern Oklahoma State back on March 28 in Weatherford, Okla. She walked just one batter and struck out three in that contest.