FHSU Athletics
BETHANY and YUKON, Okla. – Fort Hays State Softball fell twice on Friday (Feb. 17) in the Raising Cane's Softball Festival. Home runs (one in walk-off fashion) pushed the opposition to wins in both contests as the Tigers moved to 3-3 overall on the season. The Tigers fell to Southern Nazarene 7-6 after holding leads twice in the game, then fell to No. 16 ranked Southern Arkansas 8-2.
Southern Nazarene 7, Fort Hays State 6
Playing on Southern Nazarene's home field in Bethany, the Tigers scored first to take a 1-0 lead after the top of the fourth. Lexi Mohr put down a sacrifice bunt to drive in the run after the Tigers benefitted from an error in the inning. However, starting pitcher Savanah Egger ran into some trouble in the fifth as SNU had a bases-clearing double and went on to score five in the inning and go up 5-1.
The Tigers fought right back in the sixth with four runs to tie the game. Madison Pierce got the rally started with a double, then Aubrey Martinez followed with a single and Regan Curry walked. With the bases loaded, Carly Stuke knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly RBI, then Mohr picked up her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly that was misplayed. With two outs, Sarah Tiffany proved clutch with a two-RBI hit to tie the game.
Tiger reliever Emma Montoya was able to hold the Crimson Storm scoreless in the sixth, which gave the Tigers the chance to go back in front in the seventh. They made good on that opportunity when Reese Curry walked with the bases loaded to put the Tigers up 6-5, set up by three singles from Loren Beggs, Martinez, and Regan Curry. But the hopes of a comeback win were dashed in the bottom of the seventh when Hailey Evans hit a two-run homer to win the game 7-6 for SNU.
Egger struck out six in her 4.1 innings of work, while Montoya took the loss in 1.2 innings of relief. Though she gave up the go-ahead run in the seventh, Olivia Hernandez got the win for SNU in an inning of relief.
Southern Arkansas 8, Fort Hays State 2
Southern Arkansas, ranked No. 16 in the latest NFCA Division II national poll, remained undefeated on the season at 11-0 with an 8-2 win over FHSU in Yukon, Okla. Four home runs powered the Muleriders, which also proved to be the difference in the game.
Southern Arkansas got off to a fast start in the first inning with four runs. After a Tiger throwing error, SAU had back-to-back RBI doubles and then a two-run homer to make it 4-0. After the Tigers picked up a run in the second, SAU hit a two-run homer in the fourth and a pair of solo homers in the seventh. The Tigers scored once more in the bottom of the seventh before the final out of the game.
Reese Curry had both RBIs in the game for FHSU on singles. Carly Stuke scored both times as she had a hit and a walk in the game to set up her run-scoring opportunities.
Bailey Carlson threw the first 0.2 innings before handing the ball to Morgan Schmidt, who went the final 6.1 innings. Only one of Carlson's four runs yielded were earned. Schmidt mowed down 11 batters by strikeout in relief.
Sydney Ward threw a complete game for SAU, striking out seven Tigers and scattering five hits.
The Tigers look to bounce back on Saturday with a pair of games in Yukon. FHSU faces East Central at 10:30 a.m. before taking on Arkansas Tech at 1 p.m.