FHSU Athletics
WARRENSBURG, Mo. – Fort Hays State moved to 11-10 overall on the season by splitting its first two MIAA games of the season with Central Missouri on Friday (Mar. 13). The Tigers fell in game one 7-1 before bouncing back for a 3-2 win in game two. Central Missouri is now 15-7 overall and also 1-1 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Central Missouri 7, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers led the first contest initially with a run in the top of the first, but the Jennies scored seven unanswered runs from the third through fifth innings to win 7-1. UCM tied the game with a single run in the third, took the lead with another run in the fourth, then added on five in the fifth.
Three-straight singles opening the game gave FHSU its run-scoring opportunity. After Hannah Green, Peyton Shepard, and Audrey Gillespie all got on base by single, Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson drove in the only run for the Tigers on a fielder's choice. Shepard finished the game with a team-high two hits and scored the Tigers' only run.
Korryn Johnson threw the first 3.2 innings for FHSU and allowed two runs. Abbey Duarte surrendered four in 0.1 innings. Myah Wolfe allowed one in 2.0 innings of work.
Bailey Brumley of UCM had six strikeouts in a complete game for UCM. She also drove in two runs as a hitter, including the game-tying run in the third. Marisa Johnson led UCM with four RBIs in the game, all on a grand slam in the fifth.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 3, Central Missouri 2
Flipping the script in game two, Fort Hays State came from behind to win 3-2, scoring all three of its runs in the sixth inning. Central Missouri took an initial 1-0 lead after an inning, but the Tigers rallied past in the sixth and the Jennies managed only one run in their comeback attempt in the sixth.
Hannah Green led off the sixth inning with a triple to get the rally started. Peyton Shepard singled her home and then came in to score on the big two-run home run by Audrey Gillespie. Green led the Tigers with two hits in the game.
Solana Carpenter threw a solid game in the pitching circle, a complete-game effort with two runs allowed on six hits. She struck out five batters. Riley Bebb threw the first 5.0 innings for UCM and was charged with two of the runs allowed. Reliever Madelyn Ducheneaux gave up the homer to Gillespie and threw two innings.
Fort Hays State returns to action on Saturday at Missouri Western. The doubleheader is set to begin at 12 p.m.