FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State Softball dropped a road doubleheader to Arkansas Tech on Wednesday in Russellville, Ark. The Tigers fell in Game 1, 3-2, before losing the second contest, 8-2.
The Tigers dropped to 15-10 overall on the season while Arkansas Tech is now 10-12 overall.
FHSU continues its road trip on Friday (March 20) in Tahlequah, Okla., to face Northeastern State.
Game 1: Arkansas Tech 3, FHSU 2
Fort Hays State let an early lead slip away in the first game of the doubleheader, as Paxton Duran (8-5) threw six complete innings in the loss. Duran struck out eight batters for the second consecutive game, allowing three runs and four hits.
Bianca Adame led the team with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate, while Kylie Strand and Courtney Dobson had RBIs.
FHSU jumped ahead with a two-run first inning. Rilee Krier reached on a throwing error to start the game, and took second on the overthrow. Adame moved Krier to third on a bunt single before stealing second. Strand grounded out to the pitcher, but picked up the RBI as Krier came home and Adame reached third. Dobson followed with a two-out single, plating Adame.
In the third, Arkansas used a 2-run home run and three total hits to take a 3-2 lead for good.
Game 2: Arkansas Tech 8, FHSU 2
Kelsey Kimminau (6-3) threw 3.0 innings in the loss, allowing two runs on four hits with four strikeouts. Katlyn Kern entered in the fourth, throwing 1.2 innings and giving up five runs, though none were earned. Jordan Jones pitched the final 1.1 innings, giving up one run and two hits.
At the plate, Kylie Strand and Samantha Villarreal were 2-for-3, while Courtney Dobson had a double and Kellsi Olsen blasted a home run.
Arkansas Tech took a 1-0 lead in the first, using two hits to score a run before stretching the lead to 2-0 in the third.
FHSU cut the lead in half in the fifth, when Olsen took a two out, 3-0 pitch over the left field fence.
In the fifth, Arkansas Tech put the game out of reach with six runs on four hits – taking advantage of two Tiger errors.
In the sixth, Danie Brinkmann singled to center field with two outs before Kelli Koehler pinch ran for her. Koehler moved to third on Strand’s single to right field, and Villarreal drove her home with a single through the left side. That, however, was as close as the Tigers could climb.