FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State Softball used a strong offensive showing to sweep Missouri Southern in a conference doubleheader Friday, taking the first contest in eight innings, 9-5, before winning the finale, 5-1.
The Tigers (25-16, 14-8 MIAA) had 23 hits on the day, including four home runs, outscoring MSSU (14-30, 7-13 MIAA), 14-6 in the doubleheader.
FHSU closes out the weekend’s action with a doubleheader at Pittsburg State on Saturday (April 12). First pitch in Pittsburg, Kan., is set for Noon.
Game 1: FHSU 9, MSSU 5 (8 innings)
5.
Paxton Duran improved to 15-7 on the season with a complete game performance, striking out eight and allowing five runs (four earned) on 12 hits.
At the plate, Danie Brinkmann (four RBI, three-run home run) and Amanda Vaupel (triple, run scored) went 3-for-4, and Courtney Dobson 5 with two RBI. Callie Wright had two hits on the day, including a solo home run that gave the Tigers a lead in the eighth.
Bianca Adame, Dobson, Brinkmann, Kylie Strandhit performances.
Kellsi Olsen led off the third with a single down the left field, and moved to second on Bianca Adame’s sacrifice bunt. Dobson singled to put runners on first and third with one out, and after Dobson stole second, Brinkmann’s sacrifice fly to center was deep enough to move both runners up, plating Olsen. With two outs, Samantha Viullarreal reached on an error by MSSU’s Michala Wood that allowed Dobson to score and give FHSU a 2-0 lead.
Vaupel’s single up the middle started things in the fourth for FHSU, followed by Wright’s bunt (scored a fielder’s choice as the throw to second was late) that put two on with no out. Later in the inning, after Vaupel and Kelli Koehler (who pinch ran for Wright) moved up on a passed ball, Adame’s bunt single loaded the bases with one out. Dobson followed with an RBI single through the left side that scored Vaupel and Koehler, putting the Tigers ahead, 4-0.
Fort Hays State took a 5-0 lead in the fifth, starting with Strand’s line drive to center. After stealing second base, Strand scored on Duran’s double that found the right center gap.
MSSU climbed back to with one (5-4) in the fifth, taking advantage of Dawn Grass’ two-RBI double and Kathryn Goins’ two-run home run. In the sixth, MSSU’s Michala Wood scored on an error, tying the game at 5-all. MSSU came close to taking the lead with two outs in the sixth, but Madison Putman’s throw from right beat Chloe Brown to the plate for the third out.
Tied 5-5 after the seventh, Wright gave the Tigers a lead in the eighth with a lead off solo home run to left center. Wright’s home run, her first since 2012, put the Tigers back in control. From there, Olsen reached on an error by MSSU’s Brooklyn Farrell, and took second on Adame’s bunt single. With one out, Brinkmann worked a 3-2 count before launching a line drive over the left field fence for a three-run home run. The blast was Brinkmann’s second of the season, giving the Tigers insurance runs before closing out the win.
Game 2: FHSU 5, MSSU 1
Fort Hays State closed out the doubleheader sweep with a 5-1 win in Game 2, racking up seven hits
Kelsey Kimminau (9-6) was credited with the win, throwing a complete game and giving up just one run on seven hits, striking out seven – a career-high mark for the junior. After giving up an RBI single in the second inning, Kimminau retired 13 straight MSSU batters, a streak that lasted into the sixth inning.
Offensively, Kylie Strand was 2-for-3 with a home run and Danie Brinkmann finished 1-for-3 with a two-run home run. Samantha Villarreal was 1-for-3 with an RBI.
FHSU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, using Bianca Adame’s speed for the run. Adame walked to lead off the game, stole second base, and after taking third on Courtney Dobson’s groundout, scored on a passed ball during Brinkmann’s at-bat.
MSSU tied the game, 1-1, in the second, scoring a run on three singles, but the Tigers struck back in the third.
Dobson led off the top of three with a single through the left side before moving to second as Danie Brinkmann laid down the bunt, but reached safely as MSSU’s Kathryn Goins’ was tagged with a throwing error. Villarreal followed with an RBI single into center field, scoring Dobson as the second baseman beat the throw to the plate.
Strand extended the Tigers’ lead to two (3-1) in the sixth, crushing a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence for the solo shot – her third of the season.
In the seventh, Adame singled with one out and stole second later in the inning before Brinkmann put the game away, taking a 0-1 pitch high over the left center field fence for a two-run shot, giving the Tigers a 5-1 lead.