The Fort Hays State softball team picked up a conference series split with Truman on Monday afternoon at Bulldog Field in Kirksville, Mo. The Tigers took the first game by a score of 10-2 before dropping the night cap 9-3. FHSU is now 24-16 (8-6 MIAA) on the year with three regular season series’ remaining.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 10, Truman 2
Fort Hays State exploded in the opener with 11 hits and 10 runs on their way to the 10-2 victory. The Tigers jumped on top with two runs in the first inning and three in the second for a 5-0 lead that they would not look back from.
Taylor Nelson opened the game by reaching on a Bulldog error and she was joined on the base path by Maddie Holub, who drew a walk two batters later. Both would come around to score on a two-out RBI single from Amanda Vaupel which put the Tigers on top 2-0. Kellsi Olsen doubled to lead off the second inning and she, along with Madison Putman, came around to score on a three-run home run from Nelson. It was the fifth home run hit by Nelson this season, tying her for the team lead.
Christine Moses opened up the fourth inning with the first home run of her career, a solo shot over the center field fence which extended the lead to 6-0. Callie Wright added an RBI in the inning, scoring Putman and pushing the lead to 7-0, which is where it would stay through five innings.
Moses again led off for the Tigers in the sixth inning, and once again she came through, this time with a double to right center field. Yasnaya Susoeff pinch ran for Moses and came around to score two batters later when Nelson hit a double to left center. Maddie Holub then came through with a single to bring Nelson around extend the lead to 9-0, giving the Tigers a chance for a run-rule after six innings.
The Bulldogs would not go down that way, however, pushing across two runs in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 9-2 and send the game to the final inning. The Fort Hays State offense once again manufactured a run in the seventh, Olsen coming across to score in the inning on a fielder’s choice from Nelson to set the final mark at 10-2.
Nelson had a huge game offensively, finishing with 5 RBI to go along with her two hits and three runs scored. Vaupel, Olsen and Moses were the other Tigers with multiple hits in the game.
Holub pitched the first five innings of the game, allowing a single hit and no runs while striking out six Bulldog batters. Abby Morrison would relieve Holub for the final two innings of the game and allow three hits and two runs. Holub picked up the victory and improved her record to 14-8 on the year.
Game 2: Truman 9, Fort Hays State 3
Things started promising for the Tigers in the second game after Wright, the second batter of the game, sent a home run over the left field fence and give FHSU an early 1-0 lead. The Tigers would not hold the lead long, however, after Truman pushed across five runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 5-1 lead.
From there the Tiger offense went away and produced just one hit over the next three innings and allowed Truman to extend the lead to 9-1 after a four-run fourth inning that had FHSU on the verge of taking a run-rule loss.
Olsen would provide the final run production for Fort Hays State, leading off both the fifth and seventh innings with solo home runs and making the final margin 9-3. These marked the first and second home runs of Olsen’s career as a Tiger. FHSU finished the game with three runs and six hits, but all of the runs came across on solo home runs.
Morrison started the second game from the circle and she allowed eight hits and nine runs to the Bulldogs before being replaced by Kaitlyn Shattleroe in the fourth inning. Shattleroe pitched the final 2 2/3 innings and allowed two hits and no runs. Morrison took the loss for FHSU, dropping her record to 3-5 for the year.
Fort Hays State will continue the road trip Tuesday with an 11:00 am game against Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo.
– FHSU Sports Information –