HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State ran its win streak to six games with a 10-2 win in game one of a doubleheader with Newman on Friday at Tiger Stadium. However, the Jets built a five-run lead and held off a late charge by the Tigers to win game two 6-5 to split the doubleheader. FHSU is now 23-24-1 overall and 9-11 in the MIAA, while NU went to 18-26 overall, 9-13 in the MIAA.
The six game win streak by the Tigers was the longest in Adrian Pilkington's tenure as head coach at FHSU, which began in 2015. The Tigers had five-game streaks in both 2021 and 2019. The last time FHSU had won six in the row occurred in 2014 when they reeled off six straight in non-conference play early in the season.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 10, Newman 2
Game one remained scoreless until the Tigers put up a big five spot in the third to take a commanding lead. Newman cut the lead to 5-1 with a run in the fourth, but the Tigers added on three in the fifth to push their lead out to 8-1. Newman scored once in the sixth before the Tigers scored twice in the bottom of the inning to force the run rule by a score of 10-2.
All five of Fort Hays State's runs in the third inning came on a two-out rally. Adysen Burghart had already singled earlier in the inning, but a walk by Lindsey Kelly and then a wild pitch set up a big run scoring opportunity for the Tigers. Loren Beggs cashed that opportunity in with a two-RBI single. The Jets allowed the inning to continue when they dropped what would have been the third out of the inning, allowing another Tiger run. Regan Curry made them pay further with a two-RBI single.
In the fifth, Curry notched another RBI on a single and a fielding error by the outfielder allowed a second run to score. Late in the inning, twin sister Reese Curry drove in a run on a ground out. After Newman's second run in the top of the sixth, Loren Beggs and Sarah Tiffany each had RBI singles to force the run rule.
Both of the runs allowed by FHSU starter Savanah Egger were unearned. Both teams committed three errors in the game. Egger scattered five hits and struck out six, moving to 9-10 on the season. Madison Dewitt took the loss for Newman, allowing the first eight runs to the Tigers in 4.0 innings. However, only three of those runs were earned. Janine Gutierrez pitched the final 1.2 innings and allowed two runs (one earned).
Game 2: Newman 6, Fort Hays State 5
Newman took an initial 1-0 lead in game two on a solo home run by Lindsay Mayo in the first inning, but the Tigers matched that run in the bottom of the first when Lindsey Kelly walked, Loren Beggs doubled, and then Madison Pierce had an RBI ground out. The Tigers had another good opportunity to score, but could not do any further damage as they were caught stealing to end the threat.
A rash of messy defense by the Tigers allowed a pair of unearned runs to score in the second inning, giving Newman the lead back at 3-1. Then in the third, Newman rallied for three runs all with two outs to run its lead to 6-1.
The Tigers had run scoring opportunities in both the third and fourth innings, but could not cash in. They finally broke through in the fifth inning with a four-run rally to get back within a run at 6-5. Jessica Espinoza triggered the rally with a leadoff single, Lindsey Kelly was hit by a pitch, and then Loren Beggs singled to load the bases. Madison Pierce then drove in a run on a fielder's choice and a throwing error allowed Kelly to come around to score from second as well. Sarah Tiffany drew a walk to load the bases again, and then Sara Breckbill notched an RBI single and an extra run scored on that play as well due to a fielding error by Newman left fielder Mackenzie Anderson.
However, Anderson would get redemption just moments later when she bobbled a base hit by Elise Capra but recovered and made a strong throw to home plate to cut down the Tigers' potential tying run. That would turn out to be the biggest play of the game as the Tigers could not find a way to scratch out runs in the sixth or seventh to tie or win the game. Anderson also had what turned out to be the decisive hit in the game as her RBI single capped the three-run rally by Newman in the third.
Morgan Schmidt took a tough luck loss in her start, going 2.2 innings with six runs allowed. Only four of those runs were earned. She struck out five in her start. Bailey Carlson entered to keep the Jets scoreless for 2.1 innings, then Savanah Egger followed with two scoreless innings and a pair of strikeouts to keep giving the Tigers a chance to overcome the deficit. Megan Walz picked up the win in her start that lasted 4.1 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and three walks. She struck out two. Even though the Tigers scored two off Janine Gutierrez in 1.2 innings of game one, she kept the Tigers scoreless in 2.2 innings of relief in game two, allowing just two hits and striking out two. That gave Gutierrez her first save of the season.
The Tigers will play their final home doubleheader of the 2022 season at Tiger Stadium on Saturday when they host No. 4 ranked Central Oklahoma at 12 pm. It will be Senior Day, as four Tigers will be recognized for their accomplishments with the program between games. The Bronchos were ranked No. 2 in the country the last time they visited Tiger Stadium and the Tigers took a game off of them in that doubleheader during the 2019 season.