The No. 11 Fort Hays State softball team scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Northeastern State 6-5 in game two of their doubleheader with Northeastern State and gain a split Friday afternoon at Tiger Stadium. The Riverhawks, who had lost 11 of 13 entering the doubleheader, won the first game 2-0 in eight innings. The Tigers are now 23-5 overall and 4-1 in the MIAA. Northeastern stands at 10-16 and 1-4 in the conference.

Game 1: Northeastern State 2, Fort Hays State 0 (8 innings)
Northeastern used a single, sac bunt and hit by pitch to get two base runners in the eighth. They scored what proved to be the game-winning run on a fielding error by Tiger left fielder Bianca Adame following a single off the bat of Madison Reed. They scored the second run when a runner was caught trying to steal.

The Tigers were retired in order in their half of the eighth.

Maddie Holub (12-1) went the distance in the circle for Fort Hays State, suffering her first loss of the season after allowing the two runs on four hits while striking out 11 and walking three.

Game 2: Northeastern State 5, Fort Hays State 2
Trailing 5-2 through six innigs, Kellsi Olsen led off the seventh with a homer. Paxton Duran’s two-out single to right drove in Amanda Vaupel to make it a one-run game. After Courtney Dobson walked, Tori Beltz singled to right driving in Katlyn Kern and Maddie Holub with the game winning runs.

Beltz finished 2-for-4 with three RBIs.

Paxton Duran (8-3) went the distance for the Tigers, allowing five runs, four earned, on nine hits. She struck out eight and walked two.