FHSU Athletics
HAYS, Kan. — Fort Hays State picked up a split with Newman University on Friday at Fleharty Family Field. Newman took the first game 7-6 in nine innings before FHSU bounced back for a 10-8 win in game two. The Tigers are now 19-26 overall and 5-15 in the MIAA, while Newman moved to 8-34 overall and 3-13 in the MIAA.
Newman 7, Fort Hays State 6 (9 inn.)
Newman never trailed in the first contest of the day, even though FHSU tied the game three times. The Jets ultimately needed two extra innings to claim victory, scoring a run in the ninth. The Tigers had runners at second and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, but a groundout ended the game.
The Jets scored their first two runs in the first, but Audrey Gillespie countered that with an RBI in the bottom of the first. However, the Jets added two more in the third on an AJ Borja home run. Borja had all four RBIs for the Jets to that point.
The Tigers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third to tie the game at 4-4. Kaydawn Haag doubled and scored on a Peyton Shepard RBI single. Moments later, Shepard stole second to become the all-time leader in steals at FHSU with 73. An errant throw by the Newman catcher on the play allowed Ava Burgess to score from third, then Shepard crossed the plate later on another RBI groundout by Gillespie.
In the fourth inning, both teams scored a run each to make it 5-5. The Tigers saw Lilly Mohr, who led off with a single, score on a sacrifice fly by Haag.
Newman reclaimed the lead in the sixth inning after a sacrifice fly brought in a run, but Fort Hays State forced extra innings with a run in the seventh. Pinch runner Kory Schoenfeld, scored on a sacrifice fly by Green, which tied the game again at 6-6. A Newman error to open the inning set up the run-scoring opportunity.
Newman broke through in the ninth with the decisive run on an Audry Rumsey RBI single. Alexis Mohr singled and Ava Burgess doubled to put runners in scoring position, but a Hannah Green grounder was hit too sharply as the shortstop threw across to first for the final out. Burgess finished 3-for-3 at the plate in the game to lead FhSU.
Korryn Johnson started the game for Fort Hays State, pitching 2.1 innings. She allowed four earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts. Claire Kirby pitched 4.2 innings in relief and allowed two runs. Solana Carpenter closed the game by pitching two innings. She allowed one run, but took the loss.
Katelyn Westover picked up the win in relief for Newman, going 5.0 innings with just one run allowed (none earned). Taylor Palmer pitched the first 4.0 innings for the Jets and allowed five runs (three earned).
Game 2: Fort Hays State 10, Newman 8
Fort Hays State used decisive seven-run fourth inning to gain a split against Newman. FHSU initially trailed 2-1 after one inning, took the lead 3-2 in the third, but fell behind again 4-3 after the top of the fourth. The seven-run inning allowed the Tigers to rally past for good, despite a four-run seventh inning by the Jets to make the second contest interesting late.
After Newman scored twice to open the game, Hannah Green's bunt single and stolen base set her up to score on an Audrey Gillespie RBI groundout, much like the first inning of the first contest.
In the third inning, the Tigers took the lead with two runs. Back-to-back doubles by Kaydawn Haag and Ava Burgess tied the game. After a passed ball, a Green sacrifice fly brought Burgess home, making the score 3-2 for the Tigers.
After Newman took the lead for the last time at 4-3 following their turn to the plate in the fourth, a combination of walks, hits, and an error allowed seven Tiger runs to score in their half. A wild pitch coupled with a throwing error by the catcher back to home plate allowed two Tigers to score. FHSU was back on top 5-4. Green picked up an RBI on a bunt single, Peyton Shepard also collected an RBI single, and then Gillespie roped a 2-RBI double to left field making it 9-4. Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson capped the rally with an RBI single.
A bases-loaded walk and bases-clearing double produced Newman's four runs in the seventh, but Myah Wolfe entered to get the final two outs and pick up her second save of the season. She preserved the win for Solana Carpenter, who threw the first 6.1 innings and allowed eight runs.
MaKenna Majors was the losing pitcher for Newman, only throwing 0.2 innings. She allowed six of the seven runs to FHSU in the fourth inning. Kinyon DeCorte pitched the first 3.0 innings for Newman, allowing three runs (two earned), while Audry Rumsey pitched the final 2.1 innings and allowed one run.
Green led the Tigers with two hits, drove in two runs, and scored twice. Gillespie led the Tigers in RBIs with three. Haag and Burgess both crossed the plate twice in the game.
Fort Hays State returns to action on Saturday (Apr. 18) with its final home doubleheader of the season. The Tigers host No. 20 ranked Central Oklahoma. It will be Senior Day at Fleharty Family Field as three seniors are honored between games.