Story by MAYAN PAZ Photos by PARKER NISBETH
Tiger Media Network
Going into Saturday’s series against Nebraska-Kearney, the FHSU softball team knew a berth in the MIAA Tournament was on the line. On the last day of the regular season, the Tigers started the day with a 4-1 loss, putting pressure on the players to win game two of the doubleheader.
Coming down to the season’s final regular-season game, the Tigers benefited from a strong start in the second game to prevail 6-3 and clinch the ninth seed in the MIAA Tournament. This is the third year in a row that FHSU is in the conference tournament.
Madison Pierce, who led the team in batting average for the season, said there was pressure on the team and herself as a senior, going into Saturday’s games.
“It’s always good pressure, but for us seniors, we always do it for our team, and our team always does it for us,” she said. “We’re just always backing each other up. So whether it’s good pressure or bad pressure, we’re always working together and getting that win together.”
In the first game, after four scoreless innings, the Lopers scored three runs in the top of the fifth to open the scoring. The Tigers answered with a score, but after another run from the Lopers in the sixth, the Tigers couldn’t find a way back and lost 4-1.
The second game started much better for the Tigers, as they scored five runs in the first three innings. Pierce opened the scoring with a run from third base with Lexi Mohr at bat in the first inning, then Jules Bosco starred in the second, batting in two RBIs and following by completing a run herself to give the Tigers a strong 4-0 start. Going into the last inning with a 6-1 lead, the Tigers experienced some moments of distress, as Morgan Schmidt allowed a two-run double, allowing UNK to pull within three, 6-3.
With the pressure on and one Loper at second base, Schmidt struck out the opponent’s batter, assuring the win for the Tigers.
“I did feel a lot of pressure, because that’s on me for kind of leaving some pitches too close in the zone when the game’s almost over,” she said. “So I was just trying to hit my spots and remind myself to keep my mechanics and everything.”
Fortunately for the Tigers, she did, and the Tigers finished with a 6-3 win, guaranteeing a postseason tournament spot at the last moment. FHSU Head Coach Adrian Pilkington said the Tigers made some adjustments between the games to get the win.
“I think we just did a little better job playing cleaner defense and minimizing some offensive hits or base runners that they were able to get on base,” she said. “I think we just did a little better job shutting it down on the defensive side of the ball.”
Schmidt also said that the players improved their mentality going into the second game, which helped them secure the win.
“I think our energy was definitely higher in the second game, and we kind of all worked together, showing hits better in the second game,” she said. “And I think we had the second game on a walk, so everyone is focused on what we needed to do to get done.”
Hays is the host site for this year’s MIAA Tournament. FHSU will play Emporia State at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Fleharty Family Field. More information about the tournament can be found here.