FHSU Athletics
TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved to 4-5 overall on the season with a 7-4 win over Minnesota State to close out the Washburn Invitational on Sunday. The Tigers never trailed and Solana Carpenter threw a complete game in the pitching circle.
The Tigers opened up a 4-0 lead through two innings. They benefitted from an error in the first inning and Abbey Duarte had an RBI double to put the Tigers on top. A Kaydawn Haag walk to open the second led to a Peyton Shepard RBI single. Audrey Gillespie and Abbey Duarte followed with back-to-back RBI doubles.
Minnesota State picked up its first run in the fourth on a Tiger error. The Mavericks scored one more in the fifth on an RBI single to cut the FHSU lead in half. However, the Tigers picked up a run in the bottom of the fifth on a throwing error by the Mavericks. FHSU added two more in the sixth with a 2-RBI double by Gillespie, going up 7-2.
The Mavericks plated two more runs in the seventh on a Tiger miscue, but Carpenter finished the game to pick up her third complete game of the season. She moved to 2-1 on the season by scattering five hits with four walks, while striking out three. Only one of the four runs she allowed was earned.
Jorey Fry took the loss for Minnesota State, surrendering four runs in 1.2 innings. Maddie Oetzmann threw the final 4.1 innings and allowed three runs, while striking out six.
Duarte had a 4-for-4 game at the plate, the first 4-hit game by a Tiger since Alondra Dominguez on February 9, 2024. Gillespie had three RBIs in the game off her two doubles. Shepard crossed the plate three times in the game.
Fort Hays State will head back down I-70 to the east again next week (Feb. 27-Mar. 1). The Tigers are scheduled to play six games in the Top Gun Midwest College Classic in Shawnee, Kan., just outside of Kansas City. The Tigers have a lineup of teams to play from the NSIC and GLVC in the event.