By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
DENVER – Fort Hays State Softball fell in both games of a doubleheader at MSU Denver on Wednesday (Feb. 28). The Tigers fell 6-0 in the first contest, then 5-3 in the second game. MSU Denver improved to 15-5 overall for the season with the two wins, while FHSU moved to 9-7 overall.
The matchup on Wednesday pitted an MSU Denver team hitting .346 as a team and averaging 6.2 runs per game against one of the nation’s top pitching staffs in FHSU, which entered with a team ERA of 1.46. Despite outhitting MSU Denver 9-8 in the first contest of the day, the Tigers were unable to score in key moments with golden opportunities. The Tigers matched the Roadrunners in hits in game two, each with six, but came up short in the runs column as MSU Denver did most of its damage in the fourth inning.
Game 1: MSU Denver 6, Fort Hays State 0
Savanah Egger held the potent MSU Denver offense scoreless for the first three innings, but the Tigers were unable to cash in a great opportunity in the fourth and the Roadrunners broke through with the game’s first runs in the fourth. FHSU went scoreless in Egger’s third-straight start and MSU Denver added on insurance runs in the sixth.
Both teams had just one hit through the first three innings, but the Tigers started the fourth with a pair of singles and had runners at second and third with no outs after a passed ball. The Tigers’ lead runner trying to score was cut down on the next play on a fielder’s choice on the infield, and a strikeout and ground out followed leaving a pair of runners stranded in scoring position.
A hit batter and a single for MSU Denver in the fourth set up a 2-RBI double by pitcher Jenna Medhus to break the scoreless tie. The Tigers had another great chance to respond in the top of the fifth after three singles in the inning loaded the bases, but a groundout ended the threat. Four hits by the Roadrunners in the sixth helped plate the first two runs, but then a Tiger error aided two more runs in scoring to make it 6-0.
Egger threw the first 5.1 innings before handing the ball to Morgan Schmidt for the final 0.2. Egger struck out a season-high nine batters, but scattered eight and two walks, while hitting two batters.
Medhus moved to 5-0 on the season in the circle for MSU Denver by throwing the first five innings of the game. She struck out three. Cheyenne Prieto picked up a save over the final two innings, entering when the game was just 2-0 in favor of the Roadrunners.
Peyton Shepard, Sarah Tiffany, and Lexi Mohr all had a team-high two hits in the game.
Game 2: MSU Denver 5, Fort Hays State 3
MSU Denver took an early 1-0 lead in game two, but the Tigers knotted the score with their first run of the day in the second inning. With runners at first and third and no outs, a ground ball double play at second and first drove in the Tigers’ first run.
Bailey Carlson settled in to keep the Roadrunners scoreless in the second and third innings, but ran into a snag in the fourth when the Roadrunners led off with a double. A walk and then a throwing error by the Tigers allowed the first of four runs in the inning to score. A 2-RBI double followed the error to make it 4-1 and then a two-out RBI single made it 5-1. Morgan Schmidt then relieved Carlson for the remainder of the game and held the Roadrunners scoreless the rest of the way.
The Tigers cut the four-run lead in half in the fifth with a pair of runs. With the bases loaded and no outs, Lexi Mohr drove in a run on a fielder’s choice. As MSU Denver tried to turn a double play, the throw to first sailed high and the Tigers scored another run on the error. After that, the Roadrunners recorded eight straight outs to keep the Tigers scoreless the rest of the way.
Carlson took the loss in 3.2 innings of work, allowing six hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Schmidt threw a hitless 2.1 innings of relief with a walk, while striking out three.
Maddy Wilson picked up a win for the Roadrunners, going 5.0 innings in her start. Natalie Romero recorded a save holding the Tigers scoreless over the final 2.0 innings.
Fort Hays State will have a little over a week off before opening MIAA play at Missouri Western on March 8.