By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Softball moved to 14-12 overall on the season by splitting a pair of games with Colorado School of Mines on Wednesday afternoon in at Fleharty Family Field. The Tigers had a late rally in game one that came up a run short in a 4-3 loss, but bounced back for a 7-1 win in the second contest. Colorado School of Mines moved to 12-14 overall for the season.
Game 1: Colorado School of Mines 4, Fort Hays State 0
Fort Hays State had a tough time solving Colorado School of Mines starter Sadriena Rodriguez through the first six innings, scratching out just three hits in that span. The Orediggers built a 4-0 lead with a run in the first, two in the second, and one in the fifth, and it proved to be just enough for a win as FHSU rallied for three runs in the seventh.
Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson started the seventh-inning rally with a single and Madison Pierce followed with a hit to put runners at second and third. After a second out was recorded, the Tigers really made the game interesting with a big two-out rally. Audrey Gillespiedoubled home a pair of runs and then Peyton Shepardnotched an RBI single to make it 4-3. Sarah Tiffanywalked and then Carly Stuke sent a laser single to left field that was hit too sharply to score Shepard and loaded the bases. Unfortunately, a pop out left the potential tying and winning runs stranded in scoring position.
Rodriguez lasted 6.2 innings for the Orediggers before handing the ball to Allison Westbrook, looking to get the final out. Westbrook struggled to get that last out, having to face four batters to get it and record her first save of the season. Rodriguez picked up the win with three strikeouts.
Morgan Schmidt allowed three runs in 1.2 innings before handing the ball to Bailey Carlson, who allowed just one run in 5.1 innings of relief. Carlson struck out four and allowed just two of Colorado School of Mines’ seven hits in the game.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 7, Colorado School of Mines 1
The late-inning success at the plate from game one carried over to game two for the Tigers. They pounded out 13 hits to aid Savanah Egger in another complete-game effort in the pitching circle.
The Tigers grabbed an early lead in the first when a wild pitch scored Sarah Tiffany, who was hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. FHSU broke the game open in the third with four runs. The rally began with a Carly Stukesingle followed by a Loren Beggs double. That set up an RBI single on the infield by Alondra Dominguez as her ball was tough to reach for the shortstop. Madison Pierce loaded the bases with a single, then Regan Curryhad a funny spinning ball to the right side for a hit that drove in another run. Audrey Gillespie followed that with a two-RBI single.
The Tigers added on in the fourth when three-straight singles by Beggs, Dominguez, and Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson set up a pair of run scoring opportunities. A passed ball plated one run, then a sacrifice fly RBI by Pierce plated another.
Peyton Shepard led the Tiger hit parade with three in the game, while Beggs, Dominguez, and Gillespie all had two.
Egger struck out four Orediggers and scattered just four hits in the game. She moved to 8-5 overall on the season with the complete game.
Fort Hays State hits the road this weekend for a conference doubleheader at Nebraska-Kearney. Originally scheduled for Saturday, the teams will now play on Friday (March 22) due to weather forecasted for the Kearney area this weekend. The games begin at 1 p.m.