HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State earned a split in its doubleheader with Lindenwood on Saturday at Tiger Stadium. Lindenwood scored eight runs in the first inning of Game 1 and held on from that point for an 8-6 win, but the Tigers took Game 2 by a score of 7-2 to salvage the split. FHSU moved to 7-19 overall, 3-5 in the MIAA, while Lindenwood went to 14-12 overall, also 3-5 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Lindenwood 8, Fort Hays State 6
Fort Hays State starting pitcher
Hailey Chapman struggled with command in the first inning, getting just one out before turning the ball over to
Carrie Clarke, who could not get an out against the four batters she faced.
Megan Jamison stopped the rally by getting the last two outs of the first, but not before Lindenwood plated all eight of its runs in the game. Chapman was charged with three runs and Clarke with four.
Jamison went on to have one of her best outings of the season in the pitching circle, holding the Lions scoreless for the next six innings. By the end of the game, she allowed just one run on four hits in 6.2 innings of work. She struck out five.
The Tiger offense began to gain momentum in the middle innings, scoring one in the third, two in the fourth, and three in the fifth.
Grace Philop put the Tigers on the board in the third with an RBI single. In the fourth,
Bailey Kennedy had an RBI double and
Tess Gray followed with an RBI single. In the fifth, Gray cleared the bases with a three-RBI double. The Tigers had runners reach second and third in the seventh, but a groundout ended the game.
Lindenwood starter Marina Esparza went 4.2 innings in the circle for Lindenwood, allowing all six runs (two earned). She still picked up the win as Sam Dean came in to earn the save over 2.1 innings of work, allowing just two hits.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 7, Lindenwood 2
Like Game 1, Lindenwood did all of its scoring in the first inning. The Lions plated two runs to gain an early 2-0 lead, but that was all they would get against
Sierra Rodriguez, who threw a complete game in the circle for FHSU.
The Tigers started their comeback in the second inning when
Bailey Kennedy scored on a wild throw from the Lindenwood centerfielder. Kennedy moved to third on a
Sara Breckbill single, but then came in to score after the throw sailed wide of home and to the backstop.
In the third inning, the Tigers jumped in front on a
Bailey Boxberger three-run homer to centerfield. Later in the inning, Breckbill had an RBI single to extend the lead to 5-2. The Tigers added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth when an error helped extend the inning.
Grace Philop had an RBI groundout and
Terran Caldwell followed with an RBI single.
Rodriguez settled in over the final six innings and in the end, finished with two runs allowed on seven hits and a walk. She struck out three.
Stormee Galka went the distance for Lindenwood in the circle, allowing seven runs (two earned) on 10 hits. She struck out one.
The Tigers head to Colorado for a pair of midweek doubleheaders on Tuesday (Mar. 20) and Wednesday (Mar. 21). The Tigers are at Metro State on Tuesday and Colorado Christian on Wednesday. The Tigers play another pair of conference doubleheaders in Hays next weekend when they host Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist.
