FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. – It came down to the final game of the regular season to solidify a spot in the MIAA Tournament, but Fort Hays State came through in the clutch for a split with Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday. UNK won game one 4-1, but FHSU punched its ticket with a 6-3 win in game two. FHSU moved to 24-20 on the season and finished 9-15 in MIAA play, while UNK moved to 23-26 and also 9-15 in the MIAA. Both teams finished in a three-way tie for ninth with Northwest Missouri State, but FHSU and UNK had the tiebreaker to claim the final two spots in the conference tournament.
Fort Hays State has been predesignated to host the MIAA Tournament this next week, April 30 through May 3 at Fleharty Family Field, the home of Tiger Softball. The Tigers are one of ten teams to qualify for the tournament and will play on the first day of the tournament.
Game 1: Nebraska-Kearney 4, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers and Lopers played to a scoreless tie through four innings of the first contest. The Lopers broke through with some small-ball luck and an overturned call off replay in the fifth. A single, followed by a bang-bang play at first base on a bunt where replay overturned an out call with the batter barely beating the throw. Another bunt single then loaded the bases for the Lopers. That set up a 3-run inning, which included an RBI single by Alyssa Fortik and a 2-RBI double by Addy Deal.
The Tigers got on the board in the bottom half of the fifth when a deep fly by Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson was dropped by the center fielder, allowing her to get all the way to third. Lilly Mohr drove her in with an RBI single.A throwing error by the Tigers in the sixth allowed the Lopers to get a run back and lead by three once again, which would be the final margin. Savanah Egger went the distance for the Tigers in the circle with a nine-strikeout complete game. Three of the four Loper runs were earned. Daniella Morillas threw a complete game for the Lopers, scattering just five hits with one strikeout.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 6, Nebraska-Kearney 3
Knowing a win was most likely needed to get into the MIAA Tournament, the Tigers came out swinging in game two putting a run up in the first, three in the second, and one in the third to build a 5-0 lead. UNK scored its first run in the fourth, but FHSU countered with a run in the sixth. The Lopers built a little bit of a rally in the seventh, but it was not enough as the Tigers jumped into the MIAA Tournament and ended Northwest Missouri State's season with the result.
The Tigers built a two-out rally in the first when Madison Pierce singled, Abbey Duarte doubled, Lilly Mohr walked, and her sister Lexi Mohr drove in a run with a single. Loper miscues helped the Tigers in the second. Paige Thexton and Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson singled and then Jules Bosco drove in a run with another single. A bad throw from the outfield by UNK allowed a second run to score on the play. Pierce followed that with a sacrifice fly RBI to make it 4-0. Lilly Mohr capped the five-run Tiger burst to open the game with a solo home run to left-center field in the third.
A two-out RBI single put the Lopers on the board in the fourth, but small ball helped the Tigers create their final run in the sixth. Kaydawn Haag had a well-placed bunt for a single and the Loper catcher threw the ball down the right field line, allowing Haag get all the way to third. Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson drove her in with an RBI sacrifice fly.
The Lopers scored their final two runs on a one-out, two-RBI double in the seventh, but Morgan Schmidt shut the door on any hope of a UNK comeback. She got a pop up out of UNK's best hitter and followed that with a strikeout looking to end the game. Schmidt threw a complete game with six strikeouts, while scattering six hits with three walks. UNK starter Jerzie Schindler lasted just 1 1/3 innings in her start and two of her three runs allowed were earned. Madeline Janssen threw 4 2/3 innings of relief and only one of her three runs allowed were earned.
The Tigers are the nine-seed in next week's MIAA Tournament and will open Emporia State in the first round on Wednesday at Fleharty Family Field.