Fort Hays State softball had a rough start to the 2016 season on Friday (Feb. 12), dropping a pair of games. The Tigers were run-ruled in their first game by undefeated Southern Arkansas, 13-0, then fell 3-1 to Arkansas-Monticello.
 
Southern Arkansas 13, Fort Hays State 0
The Tigers recorded only three hits as a team in the first game against the Muleriders, as they went up against the current NFCA National Pitcher of the week Kaylee Garner. Claudia Vazquez, Madeline LaPolla, and Tori Beltz each had singles for the Tigers, but the rest of the offense struggled.
 
Fort Hays State surrendered 6 home runs. Starter Carrie Clarke lasted only a third of an inning, giving up two of those home runs and four runs before turning the ball over to Paxton Duran who threw the remainder of the game. She struggled as well, giving up nine runs in 3.2 innings.
 
Garner threw four innings and struck out eight Tigers, pushing her season record to 4-0 for SAU.
 
Arkansas-Monticello 3, Fort Hays State 1

The Tiger offense struggled again in game two of the day as they recorded just five hits against Arkansas-Monticello. Courtney Dobson had the only RBI of the day when she scored Rilee Krier with a single in the top of the fifth.
 
Fort Hays State stranded 10 runners on base, but failed to take advantage of several opportunities. The Tigers had runners reach base in every inning. A two-run double by UAM in the third was the decisive hit after a pair of walks loaded the bases. The Cotton Blossoms added an insurance tally in the fifth, right after the Tigers cut the 2-0 lead in half in the top half of the inning.
 
Arkansas-Monticello pitcher Elizabeth Delafield gave up all five hits to the Tigers, going 5.0 innings to pick up the win, before Alyson Finnigan worked 2.0 innings for the save. Paxton Duran took the loss, giving up five hits and five walks in 6.0 innings pitched.
 
The Tigers look to rebound tomorrow with two more games. They take on Minnesota-Duluth at 9 am and Arkansas Tech at 11 am.