Fort Hays State fell at 28th-ranked Emporia State on Friday evening by a score of 13-8 in the series opener of a four-game series in Emporia, Kan. The loss puts FHSU at 10-13 overall and 8-10 in the MIAA.

Errors hurt the Tigers throughout the game as they led to five runs for the Hornets, which turned out to be the final margin. FHSU committed five errors in the game.

Ryan Busboom put the Tigers up early in the first with an RBI single that followed a Mace Krol double, but Emporia State responded for three runs in the bottom half of the inning to go up 3-1.

The Tigers set up a big inning in the second when the first three batters reached base to load the bases. Chris Santoscoy drew a walk to force a run in, then Nash Smith had a two-RBI double to give the Tigers the lead back. Sheldon Howell followed with a RBI single that also plated Smith on an error by the Hornet left fielder. JC Ochoa would triple home the final run of the six-run rally in the second that gave the Tigers a 7-3 lead.

A throwing error by Tiger third baseman Luke Kordsmeier led to two of three runs for the Hornets in the bottom of the second. ESU tied the game in the third at 7-7 on a throwing error by FHSU starting pitcher Shawn Lewick.

FHSU briefly took the lead back at 8-7 in the fifth on a Ryan Busboom solo home run, but the Hornets struck for three in the bottom half of the inning to go up 10-8, the big blow being a two-run homer by Beau Poston. ESU went on to score three more in the seventh, the final two runs of the inning on a throwing error by FHSU shortstop Sheldon Howell that should have ended the inning.

Lewick suffered his worst outing of the year on the mound. Seven of the 10 runs he allowed were earned. He gave up 11 hits, walked two, and struck out just one in 4.1 innings of work. He took the loss, moving to 2-2 on the season. Tyler Treinen pitched the final 3.2 innings for FHSU, allowing just three runs (one earned) on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts.

FHSU scored seven of its eight runs off of ESU starter Brandon Faulkner, who lasted just 1.2 innings. Reliever Keith Picht kept the Tiger offense at bay the rest of the way, going 7.1 innings and allowing just the solo homer to Busboom. Picht moved to 2-4 with the win.

– FHSU Sports Information –

The Fort Hays State softball team struggled to get in a groove offensively against No. 21 Missouri Western on Friday evening (March 30) in St. Joseph, Mo. The Tigers got just three hits and scored one run in the doubleheader, falling in the first game 3-1 and 8-0 in the nightcap. This marks the first series sweep this season against the Tigers, who fall to 20-10 (7-3 MIAA) on the year.

Game 1: No. 21 Missouri Western 3, Fort Hays State 1
The first game of the twin bill featured a pitching duel between the MIAA’s top two pitchers in wins and strikeouts. Maddie Holub was in the circle for the Tigers and did not give up a hit for the first five innings of the game. A leadoff walk in the sixth jump started the Griffons’ offense, which then got going and scored all three runs in the inning.

Callie Wright led off the fourth inning with a triple for FHSU and then scored on an error by Missouri Western. That would be the only hit in the game for the Tigers, who ended up stranding two runners in the inning.

Jackie Bishop was dominant from the circle for the Griffons, allowing just the one hit and one unearned run while striking out 12 FHSU batters. Holub also pitched well, but got the loss to fall to 11-6 on the year. She did reached a milestone in the game, notching her 500th strikeout in a Tiger uniform in the bottom of the second inning. Holub now has 504 strikeouts in her career, becoming the second player in FHSU history to record 500 strikeouts.

Game 2: No. 21 Missouri Western 8, Fort Hays State 0 (6 innings)
The Tigers were unable to regroup and get back on track in the second game. Taylor Nelson led off the game with a bunt single, but she was retired on the next play as Wright popped into a double play on the next at bat. The next five FHSU batters were retired before Madison Putman got the Tigers only other hit of the game in the top of the third inning.

Missouri Western jumped on top in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs off of FHSU starter Abby Morrison, who left the game without recording an out. Kaitlyn Shattleroe relieved Morrison and allowed another run in the opening inning to put the Tigers in a 5-0 hole after one inning.

Shattleroe pitched well through the middle of the game, not allowing a run for the next three innings before giving up one in the fifth and two in the sixth, which ended the game as an 8-0 run-rule victory. Morrison picked up the loss, dropping her record to 2-3 on the year.

Fort Hays State has a quick turnaround before facing another ranked team on Saturday (March 31). The Tigers will take on No. 25 Emporia State in a 1:00 pm doubleheader in Emporia, Kan.

– FHSU Sports Information –

MIAA BASEBALL HITTER OF THE WEEK
JC Ochoa, 1B/DH, Fort Hays State
Ochoa batted .667 in a week that saw the Tigers knock off the nation’s top ranked team, Central Missouri, three out of four times. Against Central Missouri alone, Ochoa batted .643, going 9-of-14 in the series with 6 RBI and 7 runs scored. For the week, Ochoa recorded a .714 on-base percentage. The senior from Littleton, Colo., reached base safely in 18 of his 21 plate appearances throughout the week. In the series opener on Saturday with UCM, Ochoa had a2-RBI single in the fifth that gave FHSU extra insurance in a 6-1 win. In the second game Saturday, he drew a walk in the ninth inning and he came around to score the winning run from second on a walk-off single by Jay Sanders for an 8-7 win. Ochoa produced his most RBIs in a game for the series in the first game Sunday, driving in three of the team’s five runs. He  reached base safely in each one of his plate appearances on Sunday. He scored four of the five times he reached base in the 14-6 win against the Mules in the series finale. Ochoa scored a team-high 10 runs and 7 RBI for the week with 10 singles and two doubles. He was also a perfect 2-of-2 on stolen base attempts.

MIAA BASEBALL CO-PITCHERS OF THE WEEK
Shawn Lewick, LHP, Fort Hays State
Lewick threw a complete game against top-ranked Central Missouri in the series opener in Hays, allowing just one run in a 6-1 victory. The senior from Pretty Prairie, Kan., struck out seven, while scattering seven hits and walking five. He pitched six shutout innings before allowing the lone run in the seventh. Lewick worked around runners in scoring position in the first and second innings and got out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with just one out, getting a strikeout and an infield line out. He improved to 2-1 on the season with the win and continues to lead FHSU in ERA at 2.43.

Kerry Schachenmeyer, RHP, Washburn
Schachenmeyer pitched a com–plete-game shutout Saturday as Washburn won 11-0 against Southwest Baptist as part of a four-game sweep. The senior from Raymond, Neb., allowed just three hits and struck out four. In the fourth inning, he allowed a single and then walked two to load the bases. He got the next batter to fly out to end the inning and leave all three on base. He allowed just one batter the final three innings with a hit-by-pitch.

2012 MIAA Baseball Student-Athletes of the Week
2/21 – Hitter: Ashton McCoy, SS, ESU; Pitcher: Cody Griebling, RHP, MSSU
2/28 – Hitter: Ryan Abernathy, OF, NWMSU; Pitcher: Ryan Wheat, RHP, MSSU
3/6 – Hitter: Dane Kolkmeyer, CF, MSSU; Pitcher: Matt Stalcup, LHP, PSU
3/13 – Hitter: Drew Miller, C, SBU; Pitcher: Cody Griebling, RHP, MSSU
3/20 – Hitter: Tyler Christophel, OF, SBU; Brett Ash, RHP, WU
3/27 – Hitter: JC Ochoa, 1B/DH, FHSU; Pitcher: Shawn Lewick, LHP, FHSU, Kerry Schachenmeyer, RHP, WU   

– MIAA Media Relations –

Hays State junior pitcher Maddie Holub has been named the MIAA Softball Pitcher of the Week for the week of March 20-26, as selected by a conference SID panel. This is the second time this season, and in her career, that Holub has earned an MIAA weekly honor, but her first as a pitcher. She previously won the conference’s Hitter of the Week for the week of February 21.

Holub threw two complete games over the weekend for Fort Hays State, picking up wins as the Tigers defeated Lincoln 6-2 and Lindenwood 7-0. She allowed just four hits and two runs in 14 innings of action and struck out 21 batters, leaving her with an ERA of 1.00 for the week. Against Lincoln, Holub allowed three hits and two earned runs, striking out 11. She followed that against Lindenwood by taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing the Lions their only hit, a leadoff single. She also added 10 more strikeouts against the Lions.

Holub, a Hays native, is having a stellar junior season. She has improved her record to 11-5 and tied the FHSU single-season record with three saves. Holub has struck out 10 or more batters in her last three starts and in 10 of 15 starts for the year. She has 176 strikeouts on the year, which is the second-most in a season in Fort Hays State history.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Fort Hays State split the final two games of a four-game series with No. 1 ranked Central Missouri on Sunday (Mar. 25), dropping the first contest 13-5, but rebounding to win game two 14-6. The Tigers took three of four games in the series with the top-ranked Mules, moving back into good position in the MIAA standings now at 9-11 overall and 7-8 in the MIAA.

Game 1: Central Missouri 13, Fort Hays State 5
Fort Hays State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first on a JC Ochoa RBI single. The Tigers could have had a big inning in the first, but two runners were caught stealing in the inning.

FHSU starter Connor Beer escaped a bases loaded jam in the first, but could not push through another tight situation in the second as the Mules scored four runs to take a 4-1 lead. They would never relinquish the lead from that point.

The Tigers made it interesting in the third, down 5-1 entering the inning. A run came across for FHSU on a Ryan Busboom ground ball that resulted in a double play. Later, back-to-back doubles netted RBIs for Ochoa and Brandon Hoefler, pulling the Tigers within one at 5-4.

The Mules would score eight unanswered runs from that point with three in the fourth, four in the fifth, and one in the sixth, before the Tigers picked up their final run in the seventh on another RBI single by Ochoa. Ochoa drove in three of the five runs for FHSU in the first game.

Beer took the loss for FHSU, dropping to 1-3 on the season. He allowed seven runs (six earned) in 3.1 innings of work. Casey Pierce allowed five runs in 0.2 innings of relief. The last UCM run came off Tyler Treinen, but it was unearned. He and Ethan Weber did not allow an earned run in three innings logged between the two of them.

Dane Krone picked up the win in relief for UCM, pitching 1.1 innings. He spelled the starter Chris Fitzpatrick, who gave up four runs to the Tigers. Ethan Gibbons got a save for UCM, pitching the final three innings, allowing just one run.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 14, Central Missouri 6
Central Missouri jumped on FHSU early with two runs in the first and second innings to take a 4-0 lead. An error comitted on the first batter of the game led to two Central Missouri runs in the first when the Tigers should have been out of the inning. Three consecutive singles in the second led to two more UCM runs.

The Tigers began their comeback charge in the second, plating three runs. A pair of singles and a walk set up a two-RBI single by Shane Wade to put FHSU on the board. Chris Sontoscoy followed later with another RBI single to put the Tigers within one at 4-3.

The Tiger offense errupted in the third inning for six runs to take a 9-4 lead, a lead they would not relinquish the rest of the way. After a single and double to start the inning, JC Ochoa tied the game with an RBI single down the right field line. The hit parade continued after UCM recorded the first out of the inning. FHSU had four consecutive singles, which netted RBIs for Wade and Brett Macari. Ochoa scored on a wild pitch between the RBIs by Wade and Macari. Sheldon Howell picked up an RBI by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 8-4. A sacrifice fly RBI by Mace Krol capped the six-run rally.

FHSU pushed its advantage to 10-4 in the fourth scoring on a bases loaded double play off the bat of Macari.

After Tayler Davis pitched the first 2.1 innings, FHSU reliever Jesse Hart stepped in to give the Tigers five strong innings on the mound. He worked out of a bases loaded jam with one out in the third before the Tigers exploded for six runs to take the lead. He held the Mules scoreless in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings. He only earned run allowed was in the fifth on a single. He allowed one other run in the top of the eighth, but it was unearned.

FHSU pushed its lead back to six in the sixth at 11-5 with an RBI double by Wade. After a UCM run in the eighth, FHSU tacked on three more runs in the bottom half of the inning with an RBI groundout by Brandon Hoefler and a two-RBI double by Santoscoy.

Brett Macari picked up the final five outs of the game to seal the FHSU win and series win. He allowed Jesse Hart to pick up the win and move to 1-0 on the season. Hart allowed just three hits in his five innings of work, while walking five and striking out three.

– FHSU Sports Information –

The Fort Hays State softball team picked up their 20th win of the season on Sunday after splitting a doubleheader against Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Mo. The Tigers won the first game 7-0 but fell to the Lions in the second by a score of 9-3. Fort Hays State is now 20-8 (7-1 MIAA) on the year.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Lindenwood 0
Maddie Holub allowed a leadoff single in the bottom of the seventh inning, but the Lions got nothing else in the first game as the Tigers picked up their 20th victory of the season.

The teams were scoreless through the first three innings before the Tigers broke through in the fourth with an RBI single from Chelsey Rottinhaus to go on top 1-0. Adriana Wortley hit a two-run home run, her fifth on the year and second in as many days, in the top of the sixth before Rottinghaus hit an RBI triple, her first of the year, to put the Tigers ahead 4-0 after six.

Madison Putman led off the seventh with her first triple of the season and came around to score on a Taylor Nelson single as FHSU picked up some insurance runs in the top of the final inning. Nelson came around to score after a Lion error and Rottinghaus got her third RBI hit with a single later in the inning.

Holub was the real story of the game for the Tigers, allowing just one hit and striking out 10 batters and improving her record to 11-5 on the year.

Game 2: Lindenwood 9, Fort Hays State 3
The Tigers got on top early in the second game, with Nelson drawing a leadoff walk and coming around to score on a Lindenwood error to put FHSU up 1-0. The Lions came back with three runs in the bottom of the second inning off Tiger starting pitcher Katelyn Shattleroe to go up 3-1.

Morrison relieved Shattleroe in the second inning and retired the first eight batters she faced, allowing the Tigers to get back into the game. Nelson led off the fifth inning with a double and ended up scoring on an error by the Lions. FHSU would get another run on an Amanda  Vaupel RBI single, which tied the game at 3-3.

Lindenwood responded in the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs to go back on top 6-3. The Tigers mounted a rally in the sixth, getting runners on second and third with one out, but they were unable to push either across and cut into the deficit. The Lions added three insurance runs in the sixth for the final margin of 9-3.

Shattleroe started the game for FHSU, but lasted just 1.2 innings and allowed three runs before coming out. Morrison took the loss and drops to 2-2 on the year. She pitched the final 4.1 innings, allowing seven hits and six runs.

Fort Hays State, who is currently in third place in the MIAA standings, will meet the two teams that are ahead of them next weekend. The Tigers take on Missouri Western on Friday and travel to Emporia State on Saturday.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Fort Hays State continued its hot play of late to sweep the Saturday doubleheader from the nation’s top ranked team, Central Missouri, by scores of 6-1 and 8-7. The Tigers used a great pitching effort from Shawn Lewick in game one, then Jay Sanders delivered a walk-off single in the ninth inning of game two to lift the Tigers to a pair of victories.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 6, Central Missouri 1
Shawn Lewick threw a complete game to help the Tigers to a 6-1 victory in the series opener. Lewick blanked the Mules for six innings before finally allowing a run in the seventh.

Lewick worked around runners in scoring position for the Mules in the first and second innings. He then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth with one out, getting a strikeout and a lineout to third base to end the inning. With one out in the seventh, the Mules loaded the bases once again on Lewick, but he surrendered just a fielder’s choice RBI for the second out then ended the game with a flyout to short left field.

Lewick finished the game with seven strikeouts. He allowed seven hits and walked five. The only run he allowed was earned.

Mace Krol put the Tigers on the board early with a sacrifice fly RBI in the first inning. Anthony Salinas pushed the lead to 2-0 in the second with an RBI single. Krol returned to the plate in the third and delivered a two-run home run to right field to give FHSU a 4-0 cushion. JC Ochoa gave the Tigers even more insurance in the fifth with a two-RBI single to make it 6-0.

Kurtis Schulyer took the loss for Central Missouri, going 4.2 innings in his start. Five of the six runs he allowed were earned.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 8, Central Missouri 7
Central Missouri looked to be methodically pulling away with game two, leading 5-0 after 4 1/2 innings. However, the Tiger bats finally came to life in the bottom of the fifth with three runs to make it an interesting game the rest of the way.

Sheldon Howell sparked the rally with an RBI single to make it 5-1, followed by a Mace Krol sacrifice fly RBI to make it 5-2. A Ryan Busboom RBI double pulled the Tigers within two at 5-3 going to the top of the sixth.

FHSU tightened the screws a bit more in the seventh when Krol delivered an RBI single to make it 5-4, but the Tigers ended the inning with a runner at third on a line drive double play, with the runner getting doubled off first base.

Central Missouri pushed its lead back to three in the top of the eighth with two more runs to make it 7-4 on a Kevin Gratza RBI double and Ben Cox RBI single.

BrandonHoefler delivered a huge blow for the Tigers in the bottom of the eighth with a two-run home run. An error by the Mule third baseman allowed the runner to get on before the Hoefler blast. The Mule third baseman then committed another error to allow Shane Wade to reach base. A sacrifice bunt by pinch hitter Chris Santoscoy set the table for an Anthony Salinas RBI single that tied the game.

After a leadoff walk by the Mules in the ninth against FHSU reliever Tyler Treinen, head coach Steve Johnson went to the pen for the fifth time in the game to get closer Brett Macari. Macari worked around the walk, getting the last two batters of the inning for UCM to strikeout swinging stranding  the runner on second.

After Ryan Busboom nearly hit a ball out of the park to right-center field to open the Tigers’ half of the ninth, JC Ochoa drew a walk and Brandon Hoefler singled to put runners at first and second with one out. Hometown product Jay Sanders delivered the walk-off game winning single to left field as Ochoa just beat the tag attempt of the catcher on a throw that was to the first base side of home plate. The game-winning hit came off reliever Aaron Baker, who entered the game just before Sanders’ at bat. The game-winning run belonged to UCM reliever Travis Unthank.

Even in the 8-7 win, the Tigers worked around 15 Central Missouri walks in the game. The Mules stranded 17 baserunners in the second game.

Macari picked up the win in his one inning of relief. He is now 2-0 on the season. Travis Unthank took the loss for UCM, allowing the final two runs of the game to FHSU. Just one of the runs (the game-winner in the ninth) was earned.

– FHSU Sports Information –

The Fort Hays State softball team picked up two wins over Lincoln on Saturday afternoon (March 24) in Jefferson City, Mo. The Tigers, who have now won 10 of their last 12 games, got the wins by scores of 6-2 and 4-1 to improve their record to 19-7 (7-1 MIAA) on the year.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 6, Lincoln 2
Fort Hays State jumped on top early in the first game, scoring three runs in the first two innings to take command. Amanda Vaupel had an RBI in the first while Taylor Nelson plated two on a single of her own in the second to put the Tigers up 3-0 after two.

The Tiger offense added two more runs in the top of the fourth after a two-RBI double from Callie Wright pushed the lead to 5-0. Lincoln battled back for their only two runs in the bottom of the inning, but FHSU added an RBI from Kellsi Olsen in the fifth to push the lead back to four at 6-2.

Maddie Holub took care of things from there, allowing just three hits and two runs as she improved her record to 10-5 on the year. Holub, who entered the week ranked No. 4 in NCAA Division II in strikeouts, notched 11 more against the Blue Tigers, giving her 166 for the year.

Game 2{ Fort Hays State 4, Lincoln 1
The Tigers got another strong pitching outing in the second game, this time from freshman Abby Morrison. Morrison threw her first complete game of the season and picked up her second straight victory after allowing four hits and one run, which was unearned. She also struck out three Blue Tigers and improved her record to 2-1 on the year.

The Fort Hays State offense managed two hits in the first three innings before Adriana Wortley put the Tigers ahead with a solo home run in the top of the fourth inning. FHSU put together a two-out rally in the fifth inning after Madison Putman eached on a Blue Tiger error. Nelson and Wright came through with back-to-back RBI doubles to make Lincoln pay and put FHSU up 3-0. Putman drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth inning for an insurance run and a 4-0 Tiger lead.

Lincoln scored their lone run in the bottom of the sixth, but that would be all that Morrison allowed.

Fort Hays State will play in Missouri again on Sunday. The Tigers will meet future-MIAA member Lindenwood in St. Charles, Mo., in a doubleheader starting at 11:00 am.

– FHSU Sports Information –

Fort Hays State defeated Bethany College (Kan.) in a single non-conference game by a score of 16-5 on Tuesday (Mar. 20) at Larks Park in Hays, Kan. The win improves FHSU to 6-10 overall on the season and pushes its winning streak to four games.

The Tiger bats put the game away early with six runs in the first and five in the second, leading 11-2 after two innings. FHSU tagged Bethany starter Boston Draper for nine runs, all earned, in 1.1 innings of work.

FHSU starting pitcher Alex Ellison left the game with an arm injury after throwing just three pitches. Kyle Leroy entered in relief and allowed two runs in his two innings of work. Leroy picked up the win to move to 1-0 on the season. He allowed four hits, struck out two, and walked one. Also seeing relief appearances in the game for FHSU were Jesse Hart, Nathan Zimmerman, Tayler Davis, Matt Patzner and Logan Downing. Davis, Patzner, and Downing did not allow a run over the last four innings of work.

Four FHSU players recorded three hits in the game, which included Nash Smith, Brandon Hoefler, Ryan Busboom and JC Ochoa. Smith, Anthony Salinas and Jay Sanders all tied with a team-high three RBI. Busboom recorded two RBI and Ochoa, Hoefler, and Shane Wade all had one.

The Tigers had five doubles in the game, led by Salinas with two. Busboom, Ochoa, and Sanders all had one. The 13 other hits collected by the Tigers were all singles. FHSU had a total of 18 hits in the game.

Fort Hays State now prepares for a four-game conference weekend series in Hays against the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA Division II, Central Missouri. The Mules enter the weekend at 16-1 overall and 11-1 in the MIAA. Fort Hays State is 4-7 in the MIAA, coming off a three-game sweep at Lincoln University this past weekend in Jefferson City, Mo.

– FHSU Sports Information –

The Fort Hays State baseball team takes both games of their doubleheader at Lincoln Sunday. The Tigers (5-10, 4-7) win the opener 15-3 then won game two 14-1 for a sweep of the rain-shortened series. Junior left fielder Ryan Busboom had a big day with four hits, two of the them home runs and 10 RBI’s. The fourth game of the series will not be played due to conference rules that state a four-game series must be played in a three-day window. Saturday’s scheduled doubleheader was rained out.

Game 1: Fort Hays State 15, Lincoln 3
After falling down 2-0 through two innings, the Tiger offense finally came to life in the third inning. Anthony Salinas drove in the first run for the Tigers on a fielder’s choice. He would later score, along with Sheldon Howell and Mace Krol on a bases-clearing double by Ryan Busboom to give FHSU a 4-2 lead. It was just the start of an eventual 10-RBI day for Busboom.

An error by Lincoln in the fourth led to the flood gates opening, as the Tigers scored seven unearned runs. Howell triggered the scoring with a sacrifice fly RBI. Brandon Hoefler and Krol each followed with an RBI singles. Busboom cleared the bases once again with a three-run home run to push the FHSU lead to 10-2. Brett Macari capped the rally with an RBI double.

The Tigers tacked on two more in the fifth with another sacrifice fly RBI by Howell and RBI single by Hoefler. Salinas produced a single run in the sixth on an RBI double and JC Ochoa produced the Tigers’ lone run in the seventh on an RBI single.

Andy Lewton picked up the win for FHSU in six innings of work. He scattered six hits and allowed three runs, while striking out three and walking two. He moved to 2-2 on the season with the win. Tyler Treinen pitched a scoreless seventh with two strikeouts to preserve the win.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 14, Lincoln 1
FHSU kept the offense going early in the second game, scoring three times in the first to take a 3-0 lead. After loading the bases with the first three batters of the game, Ryan Busboom had an RBI on a walk, JC Ochoa had an RBI on a groundout, and Brandon Hoefler had a sacrifice fly RBI.

After getting a single to start the third inning, Busboom would later score on a wild pitch to put FHSU up 4-0.

The Tigers put the game away via the big inning in the fifth. Shane Wade and Anthony Salinas each drove in runs on RBI singles, then each later scored on wild pitches. A fielding error off the bat of Mace Krol plated two more runs, which should have been the end of the inning. Busboom made Lincoln pay for the error by knocking a two-run homer, his second home run of the game and third of the series.

Busboom capped his stellar offensive weekend in the seventh with an RBI single for his 10th RBI of the day. Hoefler also produced an RBI single in the final inning.

Connor Beer had a great outing on the mound for FHSU, pitching six strong innings. The only run he allowed in the third was unearned. He allowed just three hits and struck out three with no walks, moving to 1-2 on the season. Andy Hammeke pitched a scoreless final inning of relief with two strikeouts.

– FHSU Sports Information –

The Fort Hays State softball team was handed their first conference loss of the season in the first game against Southwest Baptist on Saturday, but they rebounded to win the second game and gain the series split. The Tigers dropped the first game 2-0 before taking game two 6-1. FHSU is now 17-7 (5-1 MIAA) on the year.

Game 1: Southwest Baptist 2, Fort Hays State 0
Fort Hays State was unable to mount much offense in the first game, recording three base hits and getting shut out for just the second time this season.

Maddie Holub had a strong outing from the circle, striking out 13 Bearcat batters and allowing just four hits. However, Southwest Baptist strung three hits together in the top of the sixth inning and used two Tiger errors to push across both of their runs. Holub took the loss, falling to 9-5 on the season.

The Tigers best chance to score was in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Nelson reached on an error by SBU and got to third after a sacrifice bunt by Callie Wright. FHSU was unable to push Nelson across, however, after Holub grounded out to the third baseman to end the inning.

Game 2: Fort Hays State 6, Southwest Baptist 1
After falling behind 1-0 in the first inning, the Tigers rallied with a four-run third inning before adding two more in the fifth to put away the Bearcats in the second game.

Putman started the third with a single and advanced to third on consecutive sacrifice bunts by Christine Moses and Kellie Olsen. The Tigers then started a two-out rally with a Nelson single that scored Putman. Wright followed with a single of her own then stole second to give FHSU two runners in scoring position. Holub came through with a two-RBI single to left field before coming around to score on a single by Chelsey Rottinghaus.

Rottinghaus added a two-run double in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the Tigers ahead by the final margin of 6-1.

Kaitlyn Shattleroe pitched a complete game for Fort Hays State, allowing just three hits and one run. She also struck out four Bearcats and improved her record to 7-1 on the year.
The Tigers are out of action until next weekend when they travel to Lindenwood on Friday (March 23) and Lincoln on Saturday (March 24).

– FHSU Sports Information –