Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
The Fort Hays State softball team opened up play at the MIAA Softball Tournament on Friday afternoon (May 6th) at the Blue Valley Recreation Complex in Overland Park, Kan. The Tigers started the tournament hot with a 9-1 run-rule victory over No. 2 seed Emporia State in 5 innings, but followed that up with a 4-0 loss to the No. 3 seed Nebraska-Omaha.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 9, Emporia State 1 (5 inn.)
Box Score
All-MIAA catcher
Malinee Powell blasted a three-run home run over the left field fence in the top of the first inning to help propel the Tigers to a tournament opening victory. Emporia State would get their only run in the bottom of the third on an RBI double from Andrea Piezuch to cut the deficit to 3-1.
The Tigers would do the rest of the damage in the top of the 4th inning.
Taylor Nelson and
Maddie Holub each had RBI singles in the inning, but the dagger came two batters later on a grand slam from
Danie Brinkmann which put Fort Hays State ahead by the final margin of 9-1.
Fort Hays State had to work out of a jam in the bottom of the 5th to secure the run-rule victory. Holub struck out the side in the fifth, but had to work around a pair of Tiger errors and a bunt single by the Hornets. Holub struck out Amanda Self of Emporia State with the bases loaded to end the game.
Game 2: Nebraska-Omaha 4, Fort Hays State 0
Box Score
In a quick-moving and low scoring second game, the Tigers could only muster up five hits and fell to Nebraska-Omaha by a score of 4-0. Fort Hays State's only real threat came in the first inning with back-to-back singles from Brinkmann and Powell with two outs.
Britney Workman was unable to keep the rally going and UNO responded with two runs in the bottom of the first, highlighted by an RBI triple from Katelyn Hinton.
The Mavericks tacked on another pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth on a two-run home run from Lauren Larson. That would be all the help that Lindsey Slocum needed, as she would shut the Tigers offense down, striking out 12 in total.
Kayla Rupa would take the loss for FHSU after giving up six hits and striking out four batters. Rupa falls to 14-14 on the year for the Tigers.
Fort Hays State will now move to the consolation side of the tournament bracket where they will face the winner of a consolation game between Northwest Missouri State and Washburn. That game will be played tomorrow at 11:00 am.
