FHSU Sports Information
The Tiger softball team split a doubleheader with Lindenwood on Sunday (March 30) in Hays, Kan. Fort Hays State took Game 1, 5-2, before dropping the second game, 10-3.
FHSU (22-13, 11-5 MIAA) hits the road next weekend with conference doubleheaders at Missouri Western (Friday, April 4) and Northwest Missouri State (Saturday, April 5). FHSU will be on the road for the next month, returning to Tiger Stadium on April 26 against Nebraska-Kearney.
Game 1: FHSU 5, Lindenwood 2
Fort Hays State picked up its third consecutive victory with a 5-2 topping of Lindenwood on Saturday in Game 1 of a conference doubleheader.
Paxton Duran improved to 13-6 on the season with her fifth consecutive complete game, scattering seven hits for two runs and striking out five.
Courtney Dobson led the offense with three hits and a run while Danie Brinkmann, Jenna Lang and Kellsi Olsen were 1-for-3. Amanda Vaupel went 1-for-2 with the Tigers’ lone extra base hit (a double) and an RBI.
LWU jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first, using a solo home run from leadoff hitter Courtney Opich. That lead was short lived, however, as FHSU answered in the second with two runs of its own.
Samanthe Villarreal started the inning with a single to right, and after Kelli Koehler subbed as a pinch runner, Kellsi Olsen reached on a bunt to the pitcher. During Vaupel’s at-bat, Koehler and Olsen executed a double steal, moving both into scoring position with one out. Vaupel followed with a squeeze bunt, reaching safely as Koehler beat the play at the plate, and as it deflected off catcher Brittany Rozier’s glove, both Vaupel and Olsen were able to move up a base, giving the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
LWU tied the game in the third with a run on Katy McAllister’s RBI double, but that was it for the Lions as FHSU pulled away in its half of the third. Dobson and Brinkmann started the inning with a single and fielder’s choice, respectively, putting runners on first and second before Lang’s bunt single loaded the bases. Olsen’s ground ball to third base scored Dobson to give FHSU the lead for good.
In the fifth, Brinkmann led off the inning with a single before Rilee Krier replaced her as a pinch runner. During Lang’s at-bat, Krier stole second and moved to third as the throw kicked away from LWU’s Courtney Kitson. Lang’s ground ball to short scored Krier, pushing the Tigers’ lead to two (4-2).
The Tigers’ final run of the day came in the sixth, started by a one-out bunt single from Biance Adame (though she would reach second on an overthrow). After stealing third during Duran’s at-bat, Adame came home on a ground ball to second from Duran.
The win was head coach Erin Kinberger’s 100th career victory.
Game 2: Lindenwood 10, FHSU 3
Fort Hays State fell behind early and couldn’t recover, dropping a 10-3 contest to Lindenwood in Game 2 of a conference doubleheader.
Kelsey Kimminau (8-5) started the game, tossing 1.2 innings and allowing four unearned runs on seven hits. Katlyn Kern entered in the second, tossing 5.0 innings and allowing six runs (four hits) on seven hits and striking out two. With two outs in the seventh, Paxton Duran entered to close out the inning.
Bianca Adame was 3-for-4 with two RBI at the plate while Courtney Dobson, Duran and Callie Wright all went 2-for-3. Wright and Duran each had doubles.
After falling behind 3-0 in the top of the first, FHSU answered with a run in the bottom half to cut the lead to two. Adame led off the inning by reaching on a bunt single before stealing second. Dobson followed with a single up the middle, taking second on a throw to the plate that cut down Adame. After Danie Brinkmann and Samantha Villarreal drew walks, Paxton Duran singled through the left side to plate Dobson.
LWU added another in the second, but again the Tigers answered with a run of their own. Wright doubled to left center, and with one out, was pinch ran for by Rileee Krier. Adame’s single to left field was deep enough to score Krier and cut the lead back to two (4-2).
Down 5-2 after three innings, the Tigers continued to chip away with a run in the bottom of the fourth. Wright picked up her second hit of the game – a single to left center – before taking second on Adanda Vaupel’s ground out. With one down, Adame’s triple to right center scored Wright, but Adame was tagged out in a rundown between third and home.
After adding a run in the fifth, the Lions put the game out of reach with four runs in the seventh.