By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State and No. 4 ranked Central Oklahoma battled to a 2-2 tie through five innings in the opening round of the MIAA Tournament on Wednesday (May 3) at the Envista Softball Complex. However, a game-changing home run in the sixth allowed the No. 1 seeded Bronchos to pull away late, winning 8-2 over the No. 8 seeded Tigers. UCO improved to 44-6 overall on the season, while the Tigers moved to 31-23 and will battle to stay alive in the tournament on Thursday morning.
The Tigers cashed in on a shaky performance in the circle by Jordyn Pipkin at the beginning of the game. Peyton Shepard drew a walk to open the game, moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Sarah Tiffany, stole third base, then came in to score on a wild pitch. FHSU drew three walks in the inning, but was unable to find a hit to do further damage and led 1-0 after a half inning.
UCO evened up the game in the bottom of the second on a solo home run by Shayla Harper, but Loren Beggsresponded in the top of the third with a solo blast of her own to put the Tigers back on top 2-1. A Regan Currydouble chased Pipkin from the pitching circle, as Terin Ritz relieved her the rest of the way. The Tigers had a tough time solving Ritz the rest of the way as a Reese Currysingle in the fourth was the only hit she surrendered. Ritz retired the final 11 Tigers she faced in the game.
Miscommunication in the outfield allowed UCO to get the score knotted at 2-2 in the bottom of the third. What should have been the third out of the inning with no runs allowed turned into an RBI triple with a ball falling between Tiger defenders near the wall.
UCO broke through with a big blow in the bottom of the sixth when a seeing-eye single up the middle and a swinging dribbler that was just effective as a bunt put two on for UCO. Mikayla Rutland followed with a three-run homer pushing UCO ahead by three at 5-2. Bailey Carlsonrelieved Savanah Egger at that point, but eventually surrendered three straight singles with two outs and a pair of bases loaded walks that allowed the lead to grow to the eventual final of 8-2.
Egger struck out two in her 5.2 innings of work. She moved to 14-9 on the season. Ritz got the victory in 4.2 innings of relief for UCO, now 18-1 on the season.
Fort Hays State will face Washburn on Thursday morning (May 4) at 11 a.m. in the first elimination game of the tournament. The Ichabods are the No. 5 seed in the tournament and fell in the opening round to No. 4 seed Central Missouri.