FHSU Athletics
CLAREMORE, Okla. – Fort Hays State fell to Rogers State twice on Saturday by scores of 5-2 and 5-3. The Tigers had leads in both games, but could not hold on as they moved to 18-25 overall and 4-14 in the MIAA, while the Hillcats went to 27-13 overall and 11-7 in the MIAA.
Rogers State 5, Fort Hays State 2
Most of the scoring damage was done in the first inning of the game. Fort Hays State initially took a 2-0 lead after loading the bases three batters in. Hannah Green singled, Peyton Shepard walked, and Audrey Gillespie singled to fill the bags. Green eventually came in to score on a passed ball and Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson had an RBI single to cap the scoring for FHSU.
Rogers State did all of its scoring in the game off home runs, hitting three in total. Saylor Brown flipped the game in RSU's favor by hitting a 3-run homer in the first. Raylin Morgan immediately followed with solo homer to make it 4-2 Hillcats after one inning.
Korryn Johnson pitched the first inning of the game, but then handed the ball to Claire Kirby at the beginning of the second. Kirby limited the Hillcats to just two hits for the final 5.0 innings, while striking out five. One of those two blemishes was a solo homer by Jaden Jordan in the fifth.
Harlie Culie pitched a complete game for the Hillcats, scattering seven hits and a pair of walks with six strikeouts.
Rogers State 5, Fort Hays State 3
Just like the first game, the Tigers took an early 2-0 lead only to see the Hillcats rally past for a 5-3 win. This time, the big inning for the Hillcats came later when they produced a four-run fifth on two outs. The Tigers picked up a run in the sixth, but could not find a way to flip the game back in their favor late.
Hannah Green and Peyton Shepard helped manufacture the first pair of runs for the Tigers. Green led off the game with a single, stole second and advanced to third on an error. Peyton Shepard walked and then stole second, setting up run scoring opportunities for the Tigers. Green came in to score on a wild fielder's choice play where the Hillcats got one out and then Abbey Duarte brought Shepard in with a sacrifice fly RBI. The Hillcats responded with a run of their own in the bottom of the first, but the Tigers held a 2-1 advantage all the way to the fifth inning.
Rogers State broke through in the fifth when they had a runner reach third base with two outs. A pair of free passes loaded the bases and then Raylin Morgan unloaded the bases with a 3-RBI double down the left field line. Raelle Gorman followed with an RBI single to put the Hillcats up 5-2.
Audrey Gillespie and Duarte singles in the sixth set up a run-scoring opportunity for the Tigers. They plated a run thanks to a wild pitch. The Tigers had two runners reach with one out in the seventh, but could not find a way to extend the game.
Solana Carpenter pitched the first 4.2 innings and was charged with all five runs. Myah Wolfe threw a third of an inning and Claire Kirby pitched the final inning. Kinsley Hill picked up the win for RSU, throwing 6.1 innings with five strikeouts. Erica Ross picked up a save for the final two outs.
Green had two of the six hits in the game for FHSU. With her stolen base in the first inning, Peyton Shepard notched her third steal of the doubleheader and pulled even with Bianca Adame for the career stolen bases record at FHSU, now with 72. Shepard has 33 stolen bases for the season.
Fort Hays State will be back at home next weekend to host Newman and Central Oklahoma in MIAA play (Apr. 17-18).