SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Fort Hays State picked up its first win of its weekend schedule of games in San Antonio on Saturday. The Tigers split a pair of games, falling 2-0 to Eastern New Mexico before winning their nightcap 5-3 over St. Edward's. The Tigers are now 2-5 overall on the season.
 
Eastern New Mexico 2, Fort Hays State 0
 
The Tigers found themselves on the short end of a well-pitched ballgame in a 2-0 loss to Eastern New Mexico. Hailey Chapman had a solid performance in the pitching circle for the Tigers for the second straight day, throwing a complete game on four hits and seven strikeouts. Unfortunately, the offense did not come up with any timely hits.
 
The Greyhounds outhit the Tigers 4-3 in the game, but it was the timeliness of the hits that were the difference. Chapman had a no-hitter going through three innings, but ENMU opened the fourth with three consecutive doubles. That sequence plated the Greyhounds' two runs and it was all their pitcher #9 Reyes needed as she held the Tigers scoreless.
 
Fort Hays State had runners reach scoring position at second base in the first, second, and fourth innings, but could never find a clutch hit to plate a run. All three of the Tiger hits in the game were singles, two by Candace Bollig and one by Jeni Mohr. Reyes retired the final 10 Tiger batters in the game.
 
Reyes allowed just one walk besides the three hits in the complete game shutout effort, striking out four Tigers. Chapman struck out seven and did not walk any batters, but all four of her hits allowed in the game were doubles.
 
Fort Hays State 5, St. Edward's 3
 
The Tigers took an early lead and never let it go to gain a split of their two games on Saturday. FHSU defeated its one opponent from the Heartland Conference this weekend, knocking off St. Edward's 5-3.
 
The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, a rally started by three straight hits with one out. Candace Bollig and Grace Philop each singled, which set up Tess Gray for an RBI single to put the Tigers in front. Veronica Knittig followed with an RBI on a fielder's choice to plate the second run of the inning.
 
Again, with one out in the third inning, the Tigers used a similar sequence as Gray and Knittig singled. Bailey Kennedy reached base on an error, loading the bases for Sara Breckbill. A single by Breckbill plated two runs and the Tigers led 4-0.
 
St. Edward's benefitted from a pair of errors by Tiger third baseman Candace Bollig to open the bottom of the third. Both batters that reached by error came in to score, slicing the Tiger lead to 4-2. However, Bollig atoned for her mistakes in the top of the fourth when she pushed the lead to three with an RBI triple.
 
Sierra Rodriguez threw five innings before turning the ball over to Hailey Chapman in the sixth. The Hilltoppers threatened in the sixth by loading the bases with one out, but Chapman got out of the jam, limiting damage to just a sacrifice fly RBI. She stranded runners at second and third by getting another fly out to end the inning.
 
Rodriguez worked around seven hits and a walk allowed in her start, picking up the win. She struck out two and did not allow an earned run. Chapman allowed three hits to go with a strikeout over the final two innings to earn her second save this season. All three Hilltopper runs were unearned, all a result of Fort Hays State's three errors in the game.
 
Reagan Carter took the loss for St. Edward's, allowing four runs (three earned) in just 2.1 innings of work. She allowed six hits and struck out two. Olivia Burdick relieved for the final 4.2 innings, allowing one run on five hits with one strikeout.
 
Fort Hays State plays its final game of the weekend on Sunday against Texas Woman's University at 12:15 pm.