FHSU Athletics
PUEBLO, Colo. – Fort Hays State picked up a doubleheader sweep at CSU-Pueblo on Wednesday (Mar. 15) by scores of 6-3 and 5-2. Sarah Tiffany racked up six RBIs over two games, including four on a grand slam in game one, while Savanah Egger and Bailey Carlson went the distance in each game for the Tigers. FHSU moved to 16-10 overall, while CSU-Pueblo fell to 8-17 overall.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 6, CSU-Pueblo 3
Fort Hays State took an early 1-0 lead with a run in the first inning. Peyton Shepard and Sarah Tiffany started the game with a pair of singles and Shepard eventually scored on a Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson RBI single.
The Thunderwolves evened the score in the second when a leadoff triple and a sacrifice fly produced their first run of the game. CSU-Pueblo then moved into the lead with a run in the fourth.
Sarah Tiffany delivered the decisive blow in the top of the fifth. Adysen Burghart reached by an error, Lexi Mohr walked, and a fielder's choice off the bat of Peyton Shepard where everyone was safe left the bases loaded for Tiffany. She promptly unloaded the bases with a grand slam over the left field wall, the second of her career and both have occurred in her home state of Colorado. It also matched the school record for most grand slams in a career, joining head coach Adrian (Mohr) Pilkington and Kristy Roethemeyer. The Tigers turned a one-run deficit into a three-run lead at 5-2.
The teams traded runs in the sixth and seventh inning. The Thunderwolves grabbed a run with two outs in the sixth to cut the lead to two, but Burghart and Reese Curry singles to open the seventh set up an RBI single by Shepard to extend the lead back to three, making the eventual final of 6-3.
Savanah Egger threw a complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk. She struck out one batter, moving to 7-4 on the season. Lucy Carney took the loss for CSU-Pueblo, throwing five innings and allowing five runs. Jacelynn Trujillo pitched the final two innings and allowed a run.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 5, CSU-Pueblo 2
CSU-Pueblo took an early 1-0 lead in the second contest, manufacturing a run in the first inning with a leadoff single, stolen base, and eventually an RBI sacrifice bunt.
The Tigers finally broke through in the third inning and flipped the game in their favor with a three-run rally. A Lexi Mohr single and then walks by Peyton Shepard and Carly Stuke loaded the bases. Sarah Tiffany tied the game with an RBI groundout, then Loren Beggs pushed the Tigers into the lead with a 2-RBI double to right center field.
The Thunderwolves moved back within one run with a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the third, but Bailey Carlson would hold them scoreless the rest of the way. She allowed just two hits over the final four innings.
The Tigers tacked on insurance runs in the fourth with the help of a dropped fly ball on the infield with two outs. Giving the Tigers an extra out ballooned into a Shepard bunt single, a Stuke RBI single, and a Tiffany RBI single to make the eventually final score of 5-2.
Carlson moved to 5-3 on the season with the complete-game win, surrendering just four hits and one walk. She struck out two batters. Marissa Robertson pitched the first four innings and took the loss, allowing all five runs (three earned). Jacelynn Trujillo pitched the final three innings and did not allow a hit, while striking out four.
The Tigers bring their three-game win streak back to Hays to take on Colorado School of Mines in a four-game series next week on Tuesday and Wednesday (Mar. 21-22).