FHSU Athletics
TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State moved back to .500, now 5-5 overall on the season with a pair of shutout wins on day one of the Washburn Invitational in Topeka. The Tigers ran away with their first contest, 13-0 over Minnesota Crookston, before taking their second contest 2-0 over Southwest Minnesota State. Emma Montoya threw a five-inning shutout, followed by a seven-inning shutout by Savanah Egger as the pair combined to punch out 16 batters over 12 innings.
Fort Hays State 13, Minnesota Crookston 0
Fort Hays State took an early 1-0 lead after an inning and then poured on six runs in both the second and third innings to put away Minnesota Crookston.
After Emma Montoya mowed down the first three Golden Eagles by strike out, the Tigers benefitted from a pair of wild pitches to score their first run. In the second inning, singles by Regan Curry and Lexi Mohr and a fielding error by UMC set the table for a big Tiger rally. The first run came in to score on a passed ball, then Peyton Shepard knocked a two-RBI double down the left field line. Madison Pierce picked up an RBI single and another fielding error allowed the Tigers to plate their fifth run of the inning. Mohr walked with the bases loaded to make it 7-0 after two innings.
Carly Stuke got the scoring started in the third by getting hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Aubrey Martinez followed with a 2-RBI single, Regan Curry added an RBI single, and then Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson had a 2-RBI single to account for all of the Tiger scoring.
UMC did not have a runner get past second base as Montoya finished with 10 strikeouts in just a five-inning run rule shutout. She allowed two hits and two walks, while picking up her first win of the season. Charlott Dombrowski took the loss for UMC, allowing seven runs (five earned) over 1.2 innings in her start.
Fort Hays State 2, Southwest Minnesota State 0
Savanah Egger retired the first nine batters she faced and the Tigers did all of their offensive damage for the game during that stretch. Regan Curry set the table for the first run in the second with a leadoff triple. Lexi Mohr put a sacrifice bunt down to score Curry. Carly Stuke added the second run in the third when she wheeled all the way around the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
Egger allowed her first hit in the fourth inning and went on to get five of the final six outs by strikeout over the sixth and seventh innings. She struck out six and allowed just three hits with no walks.
Fort Hays State plays a pair of games at Lake Shawnee Softball Complex on Saturday, which is the site of the MIAA Tournament this year. Both Tiger games will be on the South Field with contests at 9:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. The Tigers take on Rockhurst and Wayne State (Neb.).