HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State was one out away from gaining a split on Friday (Mar. 23), but a two-run triple turned the tables and gave Central Missouri a sweep of an MIAA doubleheader. The Jennies took Game 1, 7-1, before using the late rally to take Game 2, 2-1. The Jennies ran their win streak to seven games, improving to 16-14 overall, 5-1 in the MIAA, while the Tigers fell to 7-25 overall, 3-7 in the MIAA.
Game 1: Central Missouri 7, Fort Hays State 1
Leaving runners on base was in issue for the Tigers all afternoon. The Tigers stranded 13 runners in the first game and could not capitalize on opportunities against UCM starting pitcher Alexa Bradley. After scoring one run in the first, the Tigers left the bases loaded to end a potential rally. In three more innings, the Tigers had runners reach second and third, and then in the final inning another runner reached third.
The Tigers had no problem collecting hits with 12 in the game, but could not find the key hit when they needed it. Bradley threw 5.0 innings against the Tigers, allowing just one run on 10 hits with two strikeouts before handing the ball to Katie Giacone, who threw the final 2.0 innings. Giacone allowed two hits and a walk, while also striking out two.
The Jennies had 14 hits in the game against FHSU pitcher
Hailey Chapman, who allowed seven runs (six earned). She also walked two, but struck out six.
Central Missouri grabbed an early 2-0 lead with five hits in the first inning. After the Tigers sliced the lead in half in the bottom of the first, the Jennies added a single run in the fourth and then two runs each in the sixth and seventh innings.
Fort Hays State's only run came on a
Candace Bollig RBI single in the first inning with the bases loaded.
Game 2: Central Missouri 2, Fort Hays State 1
The Tigers were just one out from victory in Game 2 with a 1-0 lead, but a well-placed hit to right field by Allie Dishinger turned the tables on the Tigers as a pair of runners came in to score from second and first.
Grace Philop dove in an attempt for a game-winning catch, but instead of keeping the ball in front of her, the gamble turned costly as the ball got by and turned into a triple for Dishinger.
Sierra Rodriguez had the Jennies baffled through six innings, throwing scoreless ball up to that point. After getting a routine ground out to open the seventh, she gave up her first walk. Head coach
Adrian Pilkington opted to go to
Hailey Chapman to close the game. Chapman had two strikes on the first batter she faced, but then hit the batter, putting runners at first and second. After getting a lineout to left field for the second out, Dishinger flared her well-placed hit on a 1-0 count to give UCM the advantage in the blink of an eye.
The Tigers scored their lone run in the fifth inning on a Philop double to the left center gap to take a 1-0 lead.
Rodriguez went 6.1 innings for the Tigers in the circle, allowing just three hits and a walk with two strikeouts. She was responsible for just the first run scored by the Jennies. Chapman took the loss in 0.2 innings of work.
Katie Giacone picked up the win for UCM in 3.0 innings of relief work. She allowed only two hits and a walk, moving to 6-5 on the season. Starter Sarah Brown lasted 4.0 innings and was responsible for the run scored by the Tigers. She allowed three hits and a walk.
Fort Hays State returns to action on Saturday (Mar. 24) when it hosts Southwest Baptist in another MIAA doubleheader. Games are set to begin at 12 pm.
