Fort Hays State used a balanced attack of eight hits and strong pitching to knock off Concordia-St. Paul, 9-2, on Friday (Feb. 20) at the Kelly Laas MIAA/NSIC Memorial Softball Invite, held at the Husky Dome.
 
Paxton Duran (1-2) picked up her first win of the season in a complete game performance, striking out 13 with four walks allowed in seven innings.  Duran kept CU's bats silent until the fifth, when a single broke up her no-hitter.
 
Tori Beltz led the Tigers with a 2-for-2 effort at the plate, racking up a home run, two walks and three RBI on the day.  Additionally, Amanda Vaupel (2-for-4) had a home run and two RBI, while Erin Elmore went 2-for-4 with a double.
 
With one out in the first, Vaupel singled up the middle before moving to third on Erin Elmore's double.  From there, Beltz drove a 2-2 pitch over the center field fence to give FHSU a 3-0 lead.
 
After a scoreless second, the Tigers added two more runs in the third off four hits, though they left two on base.  Vaupel led off the inning with a solo shot to right center and was followed by two straight singles from Elmore and Beltz.  After Kylie Strand reached on a fielder's choice (moving Elmore to third), Samantha Villarreal singled up the middle to drive Elmore home at give the Tigers a 5-0 advantage.
 
FHSU added one run in both the fourth and fifth innings to lead 7-0 and put the game on the verge of a run-rule contest.  Rilee Krier reached on an error to lead off the fourth, and after stealing second, moved to third on a ground out.  From there, Vaupel hit a deep fly ball to right brought Krier home on the sacrifice.  In the fifth, the Tigers loaded the bases with one out, eventually seeing Villarreal come home as Krier drew a walk.
 
Leading by seven headed into the seventh, FHSU used a one-out pinch hit single from Jenna Lang to score two.  Madison Putman led off the inning with a walk and after stealing second, saw Gabrielle Sandoval earn a free pass as well.  During Lang's at-bat, the Tigers put a double steal in motion and moved both runners up a base before Lang drove both runners home on a 2-1 pitch.
 
Though CU got two runs back in its half of the seventh, FHSU's lead was too much for the Golden Bears and the Tigers took the win, 9-2.
 
FHSU returns to the Husky Dome for two more games on Saturday (Feb. 21.  The Tigers are scheduled to take on St. Cloud State at 5 p.m., and Minnesota State-Mankato at 7 p.m.