FHSU Athletics
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Fort Hays State fell twice to No. 12 ranked Rogers State on Saturday in the final doubleheader of the regular season. The Hillcats won both contests by shutout, 7-0 and 5-0, to claim a share of the MIAA regular season title with Pittsburg State. The Tigers closed the regular season at 26-24 overall, 10-16 in the MIAA, while the Hillcats improved to 40-10 overall, 23-3 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Rogers State 7, Fort Hays State 0
The Hillcats took an early 2-0 lead on a first inning two-run home run by Abbey Rogers and never looked back as they tacked on four runs in the fourth and one in the sixth to win 7-0. Rogers went on to finish with two home runs and five RBIs in the game. FHSU scratched out four hits, but never got a runner into scoring position. The four hits were split among four players.
Sara Lllamas-Howell picked up the win for Rogers State, throwing the first 5 2/3 innings of the game. She allowed just two hits and struck out nine. Harley Culie relieved for the final 1 1/3 innings, allowing the other two hits with one strikeout. Llamas-Howell moved to 19-6 on the season with the win.
Savanah Egger threw 3 2/3 innings for FHSU and allowed six runs on 10 hits. Bailey Carlson relieved for 2 1/3 innings and struck out two, while allowing three hits. Egger moved to 14-11 on the season with the loss.
Game 2: Rogers State 5, Fort Hays State 0
The Hillcats used a similar recipe to win game two as they did in game one, using a home run in the first inning to take control. Kaylee Lyon drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to start the scoring, but Callie Yellin followed with a three-run homer to instantly make it 4-0. Lyon tacked on an insurance run for the Hillcats in the third with a solo home run.
Jade Sanders threw a complete game shutout for the Hillcats, allowing just three hits and a walk. She struck out five batters to move to 15-3 on the season. Morgan Schmidt took the loss for FHSU, allowing five runs in 3 innings of work with three strikeouts. She allowed four hits and a walk. Emma Montoya relieved for the final 3 innings and held RSU scoreless with just one hit allowed. She struck out four batters. FHSU's three hits in the game were distributed among three players.
Fort Hays State finished alone in 10th in the MIAA standings and will await the announcement from the MIAA for pairings in the MIAA Tournament starting next week in Edmond, Okla. The Tigers will play in the opening round on Wednesday, facing the No. 7 seed.