FHSU Sports Information
No. 15 Fort Hays State opened MIAA conference play with a doubleheader sweep over Central Missouri on Sunday. FHSU won the first game, 11-3 in six innings and took Game 2, 8-6.
FHSU (12-5, 2-0 MIAA) had 19 hits as a team and picked up 16 RBI in the victories.
The Tigers host Southwest Baptist for a doubleheader Monday (March 10) at Tiger Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Game 1: FHSU 11, UCM 3 (6 innings)
Fort Hays State used two big innings offensively to run-rule Central Missouri in Game 1 of first conference doubleheader of the season. FHSU scored seven runs in the second and four in the sixth, ending the game early.
Courtney Dobson (1-for-2), Samantha Vallerreal (2-for-4) and Any Dunn (2-for-2) each had two RBI for the Tigers. Dunn’s triple in the sixth was the Tigers’ final hit of the day as she drove in two runs to give FHSU an eight-run advantage.
Kelsey Kimminau improved to 5-1 on the season after throwing six complete innings with four strikeouts and three runs allowed.
Down 3-0 after the top of the second, Danie Brinkmann led off the second with a double to left center and moved to third on an illegal pitch during Dobson’s at-bat. Villarreal’s infield single put runners on first and third with one out – prior to Kelli Koehler pinch running for Brinkmann. During Amanda Vaupel’s s at-bat, Koehler came home and Villarreal moved to second on a passed ball. After Vaupel drew a walk, Dunn was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kellsi Olsen worked a free pass to push Villarreal home and put the Tigers down just one, 3-2.
Jenna Lang tied the game in a pinch-hit situation, taking a 1-2 pitch into center field to score Vaupel, keeping the bases loaded. With two down in the inning, Strand and Brinkmann put together back-to-back walks that brought Olsen and Lang home. Dobson’s RBI single to center closed out the scoring for FHSU in the inning, bringing home Rilee Krier (who earlier reached on a fielder’s choice) and Strand. FHSU led, 7-3 at that point.
Krier singled to lead off the sixth and stole second with no outs – moving to third base on Brinkmann’s ground out. Later in the inning, Dobson walked to put runners on the corners with two down, and Madison Putman (who pinch ran for Dobson) stole second. Villarreal followed with a single to left field that scored Krier and Putman. After Vaupel’s walk put runners on first and second, Dunn hit a bases clearing triple – driving home Villarreal and Vaupel to seal the win.
Game 2: FHSU 8, UCM 6
FHSU had 11 hits, including five for extra bases in the second game of the day – an 8-6 victory for the Tigers.
Paxton Duran (6-3) threw 4.1 innings for the win, scattering five hits and allowing five runs, though just one was earned. Katelyn Kern earned her third save of the season after throwing the final 2.2 innings and giving up just one run on three hits.
At the plate, Amanda Vaupel went 3-for-4 with a home run while Danie Brinkmann had two doubles and three RBI. Courtney Dobson reached base three times, going 2-for-3 with a walk.
FHSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, capitalizing on two hits with two outs. Kylie Strand singled through the left side and came around to score on Brinkmann’s first double of the game.
After UCM took a 2-1 lead in the second, FHSU answered with a five-run rally to regain control. Vaupel led off the inning with a single, advancing to third on Duran’s double that hit the left field wall. With one out, Rilee Krier reached on an error by UCM’s Jakki Prater that allowed Vaupel to score and push runners to second and third. With two outs in the inning, Duran came home and Krier reached third as Strand reached on an error by Jill Lucas. Brinkmann followed with her second double of the game (and third of the day) by taking a 2-1 pitch into left center, scoring Strand and Krier. Brinkmann came around to score on Dobson’s single to right.
With two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth, UCM climbed to striking distance, down 6-5, with two innings to play, but back-to-back home runs in the sixth for the Tigers shut the door for good.
In the sixth, Samantha Villarreal gave FHSU an insurance run with two outs, taking the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for the solo shot. Vaupel followed with a blast of her own, lining a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall.
UCM got one run back in the seventh, but it was too little, too late as Kern closed out the game.