Fort Hays State Softball locked up a spot in next week's MIAA Tournament by sweeping its final conference doubleheader of the season against Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday (Apr. 25) at Tiger Stadium in Hays. Down 7-1 in game one, the Tigers rallied back for a 9-8 win to clinch their tournament berth, then shutout the Lopers in game two 4-0.
 
The Tigers moved to 26-23 overall and finished 14-12 in the MIAA. Their seed in the MIAA Tournament will be determined with other games around the conference finishing up this weekend. Nebraska-Kearney dropped to 17-28 overall and 11-15 in the MIAA.
 
Game 1: Fort Hays State 9, Nebraska-Kearney 8
 
Needing just one win to make the conference tournament, FHSU found itself in a big hole early in game one. A Tiger error led to five unearned runs for UNK in the first, then after FHSU scored once in the bottom of the first, UNK tacked on two more runs in the second to lead 7-1.
 
The Tigers quickly clawed back into the game, putting their first two runners aboard in the second inning. After a walk loaded the bases, Rilee Krier drove home a run with an infield single to make it 7-2. Tori Beltz followed with an RBI single and then a Samantha Villarreal drove home her second run of the game with a sacrifice fly to make it 7-4. Amanda Vaupel capped a huge inning by the Tigers with a three-run home run to right center field, tying the game at 7-7.
 
Kate Ruwe, who had a three-hit game for UNK, put the Lopers back in front in the fourth with an RBI double. The Tigers were held scoreless for three innings until the sixth.
 
Erin Elmore and Paxton Duran both had infield singles to open the sixth. After Courtney Dobson sacrificed them into scoring position, Kylie Strand tied the game with an infield single that had odd spin with the ball going from foul to fair territory on the first base line. Krier then put the Tigers in front 9-8 with an RBI on a ball that was misplayed by the second baseman.
 
After struggling early, FHSU starting pitcher Paxton Duran held the Lopers scoreless over the last three innings, allowing just one hit in that span. She retired the side in order in the seventh to secure the win for FHSU, getting Emilee Jonas swinging on a strikeout to end the game. Duran moved to 11-13 on the season and struck out eight. Only three of the eight runs she allowed were earned.
Cassie Roessing took the loss for the Lopers in the circle, moving to 14-10 on the season. All nine of the runs she allowed were earned, allowing nine hits and three walks with three stirkeouts.
 
With the win the Tigers clinched a spot in the MIAA Tournament since Northeastern State lost its first game at Pittsburg State on Saturday.
 
Game 2: Fort Hays State 4, Nebraska-Kearney 0
 
Kelsey Kimminau kept the Lopers off balance at the plate in game two, grabbing her third shutout win of the season. She danced around trouble in the fifth and sixth innings, but kept the Lopers off the base paths in four of seven innings.
 
After a walk allowed with two outs in the first, Kimminau settled in to record 10 consecutive outs. She had a no-hitter through four innings until the Lopers had a pair of hits in the fifth. Madison Putman had a key assist from the outfield to cut down a runner at the plate to keep the Lopers off the scoreboard.
 
With FHSU up 2-0 in the sixth, UNK got runners to second and third with one out before Kimminau got a pair of groundouts on the infield to strand the runners on base. She retired the side in the seventh for the complete game win, moving to 13-9 on the season.
 
Tori Beltz put the Tigers in front in the third with her 10^th home run of the season, then Erin Elmore had a RBI single in the fifth. FHSU extended its lead to 4-0 after six innings as Putman scored on a wild pitch and Beltz smoked an RBI double against the center field wall.
 
Meg Housholder took the loss for UNK, going the distance in the circle. She allowed just one earned run on seven hits and three walks, while striking out three.
 
Kimminau, Putman, and Vaupel were all recognized between games for their accomplishments at Fort Hays State on Senior Day at Tiger Stadium.
 
The Tigers will play a non-conference doubleheader at Nebraska-Kearney on Sunday (Apr. 26) starting at 3 pm in the final regular season games of the season. The MIAA will release the MIAA Tournament bracket once all conference doubleheaders are completed.