FHSU Athletics
PITTSBURG, Kan. – Fort Hays State Softball fell twice to No. 24 ranked Pittsburg State on Friday. The No. 24 ranked Gorillas swept the doubleheader by scores of 7-1 and 7-3, moving to 37-11 overall and 18-4 in the MIAA. The Tigers moved to 23-19 overall and 8-14 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Pittsburg State 7, Fort Hays State 1
Pittsburg State methodically pulled away for a win in the first contest of the day, scoring runs in each inning from the first through fifth, building a 7-0 lead. The Tigers struggled to get much going offensively against Ava Laurent, who took a no-hitter into the fifth inning before Paige Thexton and Kaydawn Haag had back-to-back hits. Madison Pierce generated the only Tiger run with a solo home run in the sixth.
A two-run homer gave the Gorillas an early 2-0 lead through one inning. They added single runs in the second, third, and fourth, then tacked on two more in the fifth. Savanah Egger kept the Gorillas scoreless in the sixth and finished the game with six strikeouts in a complete-game loss.
Laurent threw the first six innings for the Gorillas and recorded six strikeouts. She allowed just three hits and walked one, moving to 16-4 overall for the season. Chelsea Belville threw the final inning and recorded one strikeout.
Game 2: Pittsburg State 7, Fort Hays State 3
Pittsburg State jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one inning, but the Tigers put together a strong rally in the fourth inning to pull even with three runs of their own. But, the stalemate was short lived as the Gorillas scored four runs in the bottom half of the inning to take the lead back 7-3 and went on to win by that score.
Three-straight singles by the Gorillas to open their half of the first inning set up the opportunity for their early burst of runs. Amaya Snyder singled home the first run and then a pair of bases-loaded walks plated another pair of runs.
A bases-loaded situation for the Tigers fueled their run-scoring opportunity in the fourth. Lilly Mohr walked then Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson and Regan Curry both singled. Paige Thexton drove home the first Tiger run with a single, Ramirez-Johnson came in to score on a wild pitch, and then Jules Bosco tied the game with an RBI single through the left side. Both teams had three runs and six hits at that point in the contest.
The Gorillas put the pressure right back on the Tigers with a leadoff double to start their half of the fourth. Alleyna Rushing pushed the Gorillas back in front with an RBI single, then later in the inning with two outs Snyder delivered the big blow with a three-run home run. PSU went hitless over its final two innings at the plate, but the Tigers mustered only one hit the rest of the way.
Morgan Schmidt threw a complete game for the Tigers, striking out two batters. Jayden Standeford picked up the win in relief for the Gorillas, benefitting from her team taking the lead in the bottom of the fourth. She picked up the final two outs of the FHSU half of the fourth. PSU starter Aydenne Brown pitched 3 1/3 innings and allowed all three runs, while Lexi Franklin threw two innings of relief work and Chelsea Beville threw one.
Fort Hays State is now in a four-way tie for eighth place with Nebraska-Kearney, Northwest Missouri State, and Northeastern State in the MIAA standings going into the final week of play. The top 10 teams will qualify for the MIAA Tournament, which will be hosted by Fort Hays State University at Fleharty Family Field in Hays. Fort Hays State hosts Nebraska-Kearney in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 26 to wrap up regular season play.