The Fort Hays State softball team continued a swing of non-conference games on Tuesday afternoon against Nebraska-Kearney. The Tigers, who dropped three of four games over the weekend, rebounded huge against the Lopers and picked up wins by scores of 6-2 and 7-4. The wins improve the Tigers’ record to 23-15 as they resume MIAA play this weekend.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 6, Nebraska-Kearney 2
The first game of the doubleheader was a pitcher’s duel early, with neither team plating a run in the first four innings of the game. All of the scoring occurred in a wild fifth inning and the Tigers took advantage of three Loper errors to score their six runs.
Madison Putman and Taylor Nelson both reached on UNK errors and were standing on second and third base, respectively, when Callie Wright came through with an RBI double to the left center gap. Wright then stole third and came around to score after the catcher’s throw went into left field. Maddie Holub and Adriana Wortley both walked and would also come around to score on an Amanda Vaupel RBI single and Kellsi Olsen RBI double.
Holub went the distance for the Tigers in the circle, striking out 10 and allowing four hits and two runs. She pushes her record to 13-8 on the year with the win.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 7, Nebraska-Kearney 4
Fort Hays State got the bats going early in the second game, scoring four runs in the opening inning. They were once again aided by Loper miscues, however, as UNK had three errors in the inning. Holub and Vaupel each picked up RBI’s in the inning as the Tigers took a 4-0 lead after half inning.
Nebraska-Kearney picked up a run in the bottom of the first and two in the bottom of the second to make it interesting, but Katelyn Shattleroe and Abby Morrison combined to shut the Lopers down between the third and sixth innings.
The Tigers added three runs in the fifth inning on a sac fly from Holub and a two-run double by Adriana Wortley to extend the lead to 7-3 going into the final two innings. UNK picked up a run in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 7-4, and they would get two runners on in the bottom of the seventh, but Holub returned to the circle for the final inning and picked up her fourth save of the season.
Shattleroe started the game for the Tigers, pitching the first three innings and allowing five hits and three runs. Morrison pitched the next three innings and picked up the win, moving to 3-4 on the year. Holub came in to finish the game and picked up her fourth save of the season, setting a new Fort Hays State single-season record.
Fort Hays State will resume conference play this weekend, heading to Truman on Friday and Northwest Missouri State on Saturday for conference doubleheaders.
– FHSU Sports Information –