The Fort Hays State softball team wins their first ever games as a nationally ranked team, sweeping Emporia State 7-1 and 6-3 at the Trusler Sports Complex Friday in Emporia. The Tigers have won four straight and nine of their last 10 and are now 17-3 overall and 2-0 in the MIAA. The Hornets fall to 10-7 and 0-2 in the MIAA. Fort Hays State plays two games at Washburn Saturday afternoon.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Emporia State 1
Danie Brinkmann hit one of the Tigers three-home runs, a two-run shot in the first inning, leading the Tigers to a win in their conference opener. The Hornets got a solo homer in the second to to pull within one. Fort Hays State then blew the game open with five in the seventh on a Madie Holub hit a two-run homer and three-run shot from Tori Beltz.

Madie Holub moved to 9-0 with the complete game victory, allowing the one run on two hits, striking out 10 and walking one.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 6, Emporia State 3
The Tigers jumped out to a 3-0 lead then held on the rest of the way to complete the sweep. Madie Holub drove in a run in the first on a sacrifice fly. Fort Hays State would add two unearned runs in the fifth scoring on an error and sacrifice fly.

The Hornets would get two in the bottom of the inning. Both teams scored a run in the sixth then the Tigers added two insurance runs in the seventh for the final margin.

Paxton Duran (6-3) allowed three runs, one earned, on three hits over 5 1/3 innings for the win. Madie Holub pitched the final 1 1/3 innings for the save.

Holub and Tori Beltz both had two hits.