FHSU Sports Information
The Tiger softball team drew a split with Metro State to start its weeklong homestand on Tuesday (March 25). Fort Hays State won Game 1, 2-0, on a walk-off home run before dropping the second contest, 6-1.
FHSU moved to 19-12 overall on the season while Metro State is now 13-7. The Tigers return to action Wednesday (March 26) in a non-conference doubleheader with Colorado Christian at Tiger Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.
Game 1: FHSU 2, Metro State 0
After six innings of scoreless play, FHSU walked off on a two-run home run from Kellsi Olsen to win, 2-0, over Metro State in Game 1.
Paxton Duran (11-5) threw her third consecutive complete game, narrowly missing her second no-hitter of the season after allowing just one hit (the lone base runner) while striking out five. Duran has been dominant of late, giving up only one run and four hits in her last 21 innings pitched.
FHSU had six hits on the day, shutting out Metro State for the first time this season. Olsen led the team with a 2-for-2 performance at the plate with two RBI while Amanda Vaupel was 2-for-3 with one run.
In the seventh, Vaupel led off with a single through the left side before moving to second on Kylie Strand’s sacrifice bunt. With one down, Olsen took a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall for the win.
Game 2: Metro State 6, FHSU 1
Four runs in the second inning proved too much for Fort Hays State to overcome as it fell, 6-1, to Metro State in the doubleheader finale.
Kelsey Kimminau dropped to 7-5 with the loss, throwing two innings and allowing five runs (though just two were earned) on three hits. Sarah Cochran threw the final five innings in relief, scattering five hits for just one run earned.
At the plate, Jenna Lang finished 2-for-2 with an RBI, while Danie Brinkmann went 1-for-2 with a walk. Bianca Adame tripled to lead off the game, finishing 1-for-4 offensively.
Down 5-0 after three innings, FHSU answered with one run in the fourth, but that was it for the Tigers. With one out, Brinkmann earned a walk and moved to second on Amanda Vaupel’s single through the left side. After Madison Putman replaced Brinkmann as a pinch runner, Paxton Duran grounded into a fielder’s choice that put runners on first and third with two outs. Lang singled on a 2-1 pitch to center field in the next at-bat, plating Putman.
MSU added one more in the seventh, closing out the win.