Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Fort Hays State softball team split a wild conference doubleheader at Pittsburg State on Saturday (Apr. 9). The Tigers rallied from a 10-9 deficit in the last inning to win game one 16-10, but could not repeat the feat in game two falling 7-6. Fort Hays State is now 19-17 overall and 5-9 in the MIAA.

Game 1: FHSU 16, Pittsburg State 10

Box Score

Pittsburg State looked to be running away with the first game early. The Gorillas scored four in the first inning to take a 4-0 lead, but the Tigers countered with four runs in the top of the second all on doubles. The first double by Adriana Wortley made it 4-1, then Taylor Nelson drove home two with her double to make it 4-3, and Sara Tani's double tied the game.

The Gorillas erased the second-inning effort by the Tigers by scoring five in the bottom of the second to take a 9-4 advantage. All five runs were earned.

FHSU starting pitcher Kayla Rupa took her lumps early, but beared down to hold the Gorillas scoreless in the third, fourth and fifth innings.

In that stretch, the Tigers hung a five spot in the fourth to tie the game once again. Nelson knocked the first run in with a RBI sacrifice fly. Tani got another RBI on her second consecutive double. Erin Dyok had a 2-RBI single, then Malinee Powell capped the rally with a RBI sacrifice fly.

Pittsburg State took the advantage back in the sixth on a solo home run, which forced the Tigers to rally in their last at bat.

The Tigers responded quickly with two consecutive doubles by Nelson and Tia Irwin to start the inning and tie the game. The flood gates opened from their. Tani reached on an error, which was followed by an RBI single by Dyok to put the Tigers in front 11-10. With the bases loaded, Britney Workman knocked in two on a single and Wortley had another RBI on a single. Irwin picked up her second and third RBIs of the inning with a RBI single to cap the rally.

Even with all the offense Rupa pitched a complete game to earn the win, despite allowing 10 runs (nine earned). She allowed just one walk and struck out eight.

Game 2: Pittsburg State 7, FHSU 6

Box Score

Fort Hays State trailed by one heading into their last at bat in game two, but could not replicate their feat in game one. The Tigers had runners at first and second with one out, but could not come up with the clutch hit late.

FHSU took an early 1-0 lead in the first on a solo home run by Danie Brinkmann. After the Gorillas scored two in the bottom of the first on a two-run homer to take a 2-1 lead, Adriana Wortley countered with a two-run home run in the second to give the lead back to FHSU at 3-2.

The Tigers looked as though they were going to pull away with the offense remaining hot in the third, scoring three more on a 2-RBI double by Wortley and a RBI single by Taylor Nelson. The Tigers were up 6-2.

That lead shrunk immediately as Pittsburg State countered with three runs in the bottom of the third on a two-run homer and RBI single. The Gorillas took the lead for good in the fifth on a timely two out single that plated two runs with the bases loaded.

Kayla Rupa was in the pitching circle again in game two due to the absence of Maddie Holub from the Tiger lineup in both games. Rupa threw another complete game, this time taking the loss to move to 11-11 on the season. She allowed 10 hits, two walks, and struck out three.

The Tigers have seven non-conference games on the slate next week, playing a doubleheader at Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday (Apr. 12) and then five games at the MIAA North Crossover Tournament in Kirksville, Mo. The Tigers have just four conference doubleheaders remaining on their schedule in the race to make the conference tournament in Kansas City.