EDMOND, Okla. – Fort Hays State Softball went 1-1 on Saturday in a pair of games at the Edmond Regional Softball Festival. The Tigers dropped their first game of the day, 3-2, to St. Edward's University before winning their second contest by the same score over Chadron State. The Tigers are now 5-3 overall on the season.
St. Edward's 3, Fort Hays State 2
Poor execution plagued the Tigers throughout the first game of the day, leading to a 3-0 advantage by St. Edward's. The Tigers put together a late rally in an attempt to extend the game with a 2-out, 2-RBI double by Katie Adler in the bottom of the seventh, but it was too little, too late in a game full of Tiger miscues. St. Edward's escaped with the one-run victory.
Fort Hays State's struggles on offense through the first six innings stemmed from the inability to advance runners. FHSU had its first batter reach base in each of the first five innings, but squandered each chance. In the first, second, and third innings, the second batter of the inning struck out each time. The runner never advanced further than first each time. In the fourth, the Tigers ran into a double play when a sacrifice bunt turned into a double play as the runner tried to take an extra base. In the fifth, the Tigers opened with two straight singles, but a flyout made one out and another baserunning mistake made two outs. A strikeout ended any further threat.
Meanwhile, the Tigers struggled defensively throughout the game and were lucky to hold the Hilltoppers scoreless for four innings. In the fifth inning, a throwing error on a routine grounder to shortstop put two on with no outs. It blossomed into an unearned run for SEU, the first run of the game.
More sluggish defense turned into two more unearned runs for SEU in the sixth. A throwing error on a routine grounder to first base gave SEU an extra out and two outs later, a double brought home the second run of the game. SEU added another run two batters later with an RBI single.
Adler finally gave the Tigers the timely hit they needed in the seventh to plate a pair of runs, but unfortunately Kristen Reed, the top hitter for the Tigers entering the game, grounded out to end the game.
Michaelanne Nelson took a tough-luck loss without allowing an earned run. She scattered nine hits and walked one batter, while striking out five. McKenna Leamon picked up the win, though the two Tiger runs were her responsibility. Emily Klanika got the final three outs for SEU for her first save of the year.
Fort Hays State 3, Chadron State 2
The Tigers were able to shake off their sluggish performance in game one to hold on for a 3-2 win in the second contest of the day. The Tigers evened their record with Chadron State on the year after falling to the Eagles on the first weekend of play in Texas by a score of 4-1.
FHSU starting pitcher Hailey Chapman was able to dance around danger on the basepaths in three of the first six innings by stranding runners in scoring position. She nearly had a complete-game shutout until Chadron scored its only two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single. She got a flyout down the right field line to finish her complete game effort, striking out 10 batters en route to her third win of the season. She allowed four hits and four walks.
FHSU struggled to find timely hits with runners on the bases in the second, third, and fourth innings, but finally broke through in the fifth with all three of its runs. Katie Adler and Hannah Gates triggered the rally with back-to-back singles. With one out, Kristen Reed broke the scoreless tie with a two-RBI single up the middle. With two outs, Sara Breckbill put the third run on the board with an RBI double to the left-center gap.
Tia Kohl took the loss for Chadron State, falling to 2-3 on the year. She allowed seven hits and three walks, while striking out one in a complete-game effort.
The Tigers return to action again on Sunday (Feb. 16) for two more games to round out the weekend. They face Colorado Christian at 10 am, and Oklahoma Baptist at 2 pm. Both games are at Tom Heath Field, home of Oklahoma Christian University.
FHSU Sports Information