HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Softball picked up a big doubleheader sweep of Pittsburg State on Friday (Apr. 2) in the first home contests of the season at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers held the Gorillas in just a run in each contest, picking up 7-1 and 5-1 wins. The Tigers leveled their overall record on the season at 12-12 and improved to 6-2 in the MIAA. The Gorillas fell to 10-18 overall and 4-6 in the MIAA.
 
Game 1: Fort Hays State 7, Pittsburg State 1
Michaelanne Nelson gave the Tigers another strong outing in the pitching circle, not allowing an earned run in her third of four conference starts this season. The Tigers gave Nelson plenty of run support, building a 7-0 lead by the fifth inning. Pittsburg State scored its only run in the sixth on a Tiger error.
 
Fort Hays State benefitted from a fielding error by Pitt State in the first inning. The error and then a hit batter loaded the bases for the Tigers. Grace Philop brought in a run by drawing a walk and Jessica Espinoza added an RBI single.
 
Sara Breckbill and Philop started a rally for the Tigers in the third. Breckbill singled and then came all the way around to score on a double by Philop that sliced into the left field corner. After Espinoza singled and stole second, Lily Sale drove in two runs with a single to center field.
 
The Tigers capped their scoring in the fifth, triggered by a Sale double. A dropped fly ball off the bat of Sarah Tiffany put runners at second and third with just one out. Katie Adler and Loren Beggs made the Gorillas pay for their error. Adler recorded a single that deflected off the PSU pitcher to bring home Sale. Beggs knocked in Tiffany on a sacrifice fly.
 
Nelson never allowed any Gorilla baserunners past second base prior to the fifth inning. She stranded runners at second and third in the fifth. Pitt State had runners at first and third in the sixth when Elise Capra tried a pickoff attempt at third and the ball went down the left field line to allow PSU to score its only run. Nelson blitzed through the seventh with a 1-2-3 inning to end the game.
 
Nelson scattered six hits and walked just one. She struck out 10 Gorillas, moving to 6-7 on the season.
 
Game 2: Fort Hays State 5, Pittsburg State 1
Fort Hays State did all of its offensive damage in the second inning of game two. Kristen Reed and Jessica Espinoza led off the inning with walks, then Lily Sale placed a perfect bunt for a single to load the bases. Terran Caldwell drove home two runs with a single to center field. A walk by Katie Adler loaded the bases again. Grace Philop knocked in two more with another single, chasing Pittsburg State starter Taylor Compton from the game. A Sara Breckbill single loaded the bases again and the Loren Beggs drove home a run with a grounder to second base.
 
Tiger starter Hailey Chapman escaped bases-loaded jams in both the second and third innings to keep the Gorillas scoreless. Pitt State's only run came in the sixth when Bella Konieczka drove home a run with a single. Chapman scattered eight hits and walked three, while striking out four. She moved to 6-4 on the season with the win.
 
The Tigers look for more success on Saturday at home when they play host to Missouri Southern at 12 pm. The Lions enter at 14-10 overall and 5-3 in the MIAA.