FHSU Athletics
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – After winning by shutout in the first contest of the day, Fort Hays State rallied past Lincoln late in game two for a doubleheader sweep. The Tigers won game one 4-0 and then rallied from three runs down over the final two innings for a 7-6 win in game two. FHSU moved to 27-18 overall and 9-9 in the MIAA, while Lincoln fell to 6-34 overall and 2-20 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 4, Lincoln 0
Savanah Egger threw her MIAA-leading eighth shutout of the season in a 4-0 win by the Tigers in the first contest of the afternoon. She scattered five hits and struck out two, moving to 12-8 on the season.
The teams combined for just four hits through the first four innings, three by the Tigers and one by the Blue Tigers. Egger retired eight straight batters after allowing a double with two outs in the first and did not surrender another hit until the fifth, when Lincoln led off with a pair of singles. However, Egger escaped danger by getting a pair of pop ups on the infield to get out of the jam, stranding the runners in scoring position.
The Tigers came through on their similar opportunity in the top of the sixth. Sarah Tiffany opened the inning with a single and moved up to third on a pair of passed balls. Loren Beggs followed with a walk and then Madison Pierce sacrificed her up to second to give FHSU runners in scoring position with just one out. Carly Stuke then broke the scoreless tie by lacing a double down the right field line, scoring Tiffany and Beggs.
Fort Hays State added on to its lead in the seventh with another extra-base hit to score a pair of runs. After Reese Curry doubled and Adysen Burghart singled to open the inning, Tiffany tripled to right field clearing Curry and Burghart off the paths.
Jordan Galliher took the loss for Lincoln, allowing the first two runs in 5.1 innings of work. She allowed five hits and two walks. Joss Marriott relieved for the final 1.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 7, Lincoln 6
Fort Hays State held control of game two until a big rally by Lincoln in the fifth inning turned the tables. The Tigers went from up 3-1 to down 6-3 going into the sixth inning. But, Fort Hays State found a way to rally past Lincoln over the final two innings with a run in the sixth and three in the seventh. Bailey Carlson shut the door on the Blue Tigers, retiring the final seven batters she faced after relieving for Morgan Schmidt in the fifth.
The Tigers opened the game's scoring in the second inning when Adysen Burghart had a sacrifice fly to score Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson, who reached by double earlier in the frame.
FHSU benefitted from a fielding error by Lincoln in the third. Carly Stuke delivered a two-out RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0. Lincoln manufactured its first run in the bottom of the inning. After a single to open the inning, a two-out stolen base and then an RBI single cut the FHSU lead in half. But, Fort Hays State stretched its margin back to two in the fifth on an RBI single by Madison Pierce to make it 3-1.
Lincoln turned the tide in the bottom of the fifth with a single to open the inning, and then a one-out single to put runners at first and third. A stolen base put two runners in scoring position and Leslie Callahan tied the game with a two-RBI single to center field. At that point, Carlson relieved Schmidt, who threw the first 4.1 innings of the game. Trouble grew even bigger for the Tigers when the next two batters each had weak contact placed perfectly in front of the plate. The second of the sequence was a fielder's choice RBI to give Lincoln the lead. The Blue Tigers were able to tack on two more and lead 6-3 before FHSU recorded the final out of the inning.
Fort Hays State started its comeback push in the sixth when Burghart had a one-out double. She moved up to third on a passed ball and then came in to score on an RBI ground out by Peyton Shepard. Pierce triggered a big Tiger rally in the seventh with a double down the right field line. Carly Stuke and Regan Curry then both jumped on the doubles train as Stuke knocked home Pierce and Curry knocked home Stuke to tie the game. Reese Curry drew a one-out walk and Burghart was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Shepard came through in the clutch with her second RBI of the game by punching a ball to the left side where Lincoln's only play was the force at third base and Regan Curry scored on the play. FHSU snagged the lead back at 7-6.
Carlson slammed the door on any hope of a Blue Tiger rally in the bottom of the seventh, getting a strikeout, ground out, and another strikeout to end the game. She moved to 10-6 on the season getting the win in her 2.2 innings of work.
Ashton Stalling allowed the first five FHSU runs, going 6.0 innings in her start and surrendering 12 of FHSU's 14 hits in the game. Reliever Maddie Welker did not record an out against the two batters she faced and was charged with the loss, allowing the go-ahead run to reach base. Joss Marriott recorded the final three outs for the Blue Tigers.
Fort Hays State hits the road one more time next weekend for MIAA doubleheaders at Newman and Central Oklahoma on Friday and Saturday (Apr. 21-22).