FHSU Sports Information
No. 14 Fort Hays State swept its first doubleheader of the season on Friday, taking down Rockhurst 9-0 (six innings) in Game 1, and 6-4 in Game 2.
FHSU, which hit .370 as a team, is now 7-1 overall this season and has won six straight. Rockhurst dropped to 2-6 with the losses.
FHSU hits the road this weekend for a five-game tournament in St. Paul, Minn., on Feb. 23-24. FHSU will face Minnesota Duluth and Minot State twice and University of Mary once.
Game 1: FHSU 9, Rockhurst 0 (6 innings)
Fort Hays State’s Paxton Duran (4-0) threw a complete game, striking out seven and allowing just four hits to win her fourth game of the season. Duran didn’t walk a batter and dropped her season ERA to 2.05.
At the plate, FHSU’s Danie Brinkmann was 2-for-2 with an RBI while Tori Beltz (1-for-2) and Duran (2-for-3) each had multi-RBI home runs.
With both teams scoreless through the first three innings, FHSU got things started in the fourth with a lead-off single from Brinkmann. After Kelli Koehler entered to pinch run for Brinkmann, Beltz took the first pitch she saw over the fence in left center, sending FHSU ahead, 2-0.
The Tigers’ largest run sequence came in the fifth, starting with Duran’s lead-off single up the middle. During Kellsi Olsen’s at-bat, Duran reached second, and a walk for Olsen put runners on first and second with no outs. Biance Adame’s single up the middle sent Duran home and moved Olsen to second. Next, Rilee Krier laid down a bunt single to load the bases, but a throwing error on RU’s Bridgette Sappington allowed all three runners to move up, scoring Olsen. Brinkmann’s second hit of the day – a single – scored Adame to put FHSU ahead, 5-0. During Beltz’s at-bat, Brinkmann was caught stealing, but the play allowed Krier to come home for the sixth run of the day.
In the final inning, two straight singles from Amanda Vaupel and Kylie Strand set up runners on first and second with no outs for Duran. On the first pitch of her at-bat, Duran blasted a three-run shot to left field, ending the game early with a run-rule.
Game 2: FHSU 6, Rockhurst 2
Kelsey Kimmiau (2-1) threw into the sixth inning with four strikeouts for the win, while Latlyn Kern’s two scoreless innings earned her the save. Kimminau allowed six hits on the day and Kern walked just one batter.
Courtney Dobson went 2-for-3 with two doubles and two RBI, and Vaupel (1-for-2) had a home run with two runs scored. Samantha Villareal picked up two RBI in a pinch hitting role, going 1-for-1 with a single.
The Tigers jumped out to a two-run lead in the first, using back-to-back two-out walks from Brinkmann and Beltz to start the offense. Dobson’s first double of the day followed, bouncing off the wall in center to score both runners.
Rockhurst tied the game, 2-2 in the fourth, as Demi Plathe led off with a double and later came around to score. All told, RU had three hits in the inning with two runs scored.
In the bottom of the fourth, though, FHSU took control back for good. Dobson led off the inning with a double, and moved to third on Vaupel’s sacrifice bunt – which Vaupel reached safely on due to a fielder’s choice. Strand’s ground ball moved Vaupel to second, and with one out, a walk from Amy Dunn loaded the bases. Kellsi Olsen’s sacrifice fly pushed all Tigers up a base and scored Dobson. With one out, Villarreal pinch hit for Adame, and sliced a ball into center to score Vaupel and Dunn.
The Hawks answered again in the fifth, but scored just one run on an RBI-double from Plathe, putting the game at 5-3. In the sixth, RU’s Rachel Evans hit a sacrifice fly into left that scored Alex Hill and shrunk FHSU’s lead to just one (5-4).
That, however, was as close as RU could climb, as Fort Hays State tacked on one more run in the sixth – a solo shot from Vaupel to lead off the inning.