FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. - The Fort Hays State softball team split a doubleheader with Missouri Western on Sunday (March 9), falling in the opener 8-0 before taking the second contest 4-1. The Tigers are now 11-5 overall and 3-1 in MIAA action while the Griffons move to 12-7 on the year and 1-1 in conference play.
Paige Thexton and Morgan Schmidt carried the Tigers in the nightcap, with Thexton driving in all four FHSU runs including a three-run home run while Schmidt tossed another complete game to earn the win. Jules Bosco had three hits on the day while reaching base a total of five times.
Next up for the Tigers is eight-straight non-conference matchups starting Tuesday (March 11, 1 p.m./noon MT) when FHSU heads to Colorado Springs, Colo. to take on UC-Colorado Springs.
Game 1 - Missouri Western 8, Fort Hays State 0
Missouri Western's Sydney Rader controlled the opener, allowing just three hits and issuing two walks in a complete-game shutout. The Griffons broke through with four runs on three hits in the second before adding one run in the third and three more in the seventh.
Trailing 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth, the Tigers had their best chance to score with the bases loaded and only one out. But Rader was able to get out of the jam with two strikeouts to maintain the shutout.
Bosco reached base three times, singling, drawing one walk and reaching on an error. Lexi Mohr and Madison Pierce also picked up singles in the opener.
Savanah Egger (5-3) took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits over 6.0-plus innings of work, striking out four. Korryn Johnson came on to finish the game, allowing two more runs to score.
Game 2 - Fort Hays State 4, Missouri Western 1
Fort Hays State shook off the loss in the second contest thanks in large part to Schmidt and Thexton. Schmidt puzzled the Griffon bats all game, scattering four hits and two walks while allowing one run and striking out seven in a complete game. She did not allow more than two baserunners in any inning.
The home team pushed its first run across in the bottom of the second after Lexi Mohr doubled to left center. Thexton later delivered a two-out single to right, driving in Mohr and giving FHSU a 1-0 lead.
Thexton then delivered another clutch two-out hit in the home half of the fourth when she crushed her first home run of the season, driving in three runs. Pierce had led off the inning with a double before Regan Curry legged out a bunt single. The next two Tiger hitters were retired, but Thexton was able to come through when she drilled a 3-2 pitch soaring over the fence in left field.
The Griffons responded with two base hits in the top of the fifth, scoring to close within 4-1, before Schmidt (6-2) retired eight in a row to close out the win.
Thexton was 2-for-2 with four RBI and one run, while Bosco also collected two hits.