FHSU Athletics
SHAWNEE, Kan. – Fort Hays State fell twice on Saturday at the Top Gun Midwest Classic. Winona State topped FHSU 11-0 in five innings before Minnesota Duluth rallied past the Tigers late by a score of 8-7. Fort Hays State moved to 7-8 overall on the season.
Winona State 11, Fort Hays State 0 (5 inn.)
Winona State used a big third inning to run away with a run-rule victory in the first contest of the day. The Warriors scored one in the first on a home run, then eight in the third to take a firm 9-0 lead. They scored two more in the fifth for their final two runs. The Warriors had three home runs overall.
Peyton Shepard had the only hit for the Tigers in the fourth inning. She also stole a pair of bases following the single, but she was left stranded on third.
Izzy Howe threw the one-hit shutout for the Warriors, finishing with six strikeouts. Korryn Johnson pitched 2.0 innings in her start for the Tigers, allowing five runs (four earned). Mackenzie Hudson relieved for 0.2 innings and allowed four runs. Kamaya Soniea-Harris threw 2.1 innings and allowed two runs. Johnson and Soniea-Harris each had one strikeout.
Minnesota Duluth 8, Fort Hays State 7
Fort Hays State held a lead three times in the nightcap, but Minnesota Duluth rallied past with runs in the sixth and seventh to win in walk-off fashion in the seventh. The Tigers went scoreless over the final three innings after scoring once in the second, twice in the third, and four times in the third. The game was a back-and-forth battle throughout as Minnesota Duluth pulled even three times before ultimately picking up the win in the final inning.
Lilly Mohr provided the first run of the game with a solo home run in the second, but the Bulldogs matched it with a solo home run in the bottom half of the inning. Audrey Gillespie blasted a two-run homer in the third, but then UMD blasted a two-run homer in the bottom half of the inning to match the Tigers once again.
The Tigers benefitted from a UMD error early in the fourth inning to score four unearned runs. Kaydawn Haag doubled home a run, Abbey Duarte knocked in two with a single, and Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson also had an RBI single. The Bulldogs nearly matched the Tigers again, but this time scored just three runs in their half of the inning as the Tigers led 7-6 after four innings.
Minnesota Duluth moved to level with the Tigers again in the sixth on a bases-loaded walk. Then in the seventh, a pair of singles led to a walk-off double by Morgan McMillan.
Myah Wolfe threw the first 2.2 innings for FHSU and allowed three runs. Claire Kirby relieved for 1.0 and allowed three runs as well. Solana Carpenter pitched the final 2.2 innings and allowed two runs, while striking out four. She moved to 3-3 on the year with the loss.
Minnesota Duluth reliever Emmie Sylvia-Cochran moved to 6-0 on the season by pitching the final 5.0 innings. She did not allow an earned run in the game, though her line included four Tigers scoring in the fourth. She struck out five. UMD starter Maddy Walsh threw the first 2.0 innings and allowed three runs.
Fort Hays State will see its first home action of the season on Wednesday (Mar. 4) when it welcomes Bethany College (Kan.) to Fleharty Family Field in Hays. The doubleheader between the Tigers and Swedes will begin at 2 p.m.