TOPEKA, Kan. – Fort Hays State Softball improved to 8-2 on the season after sweeping its first two games of the Washburn Invitational on Friday (Feb. 23) at the Lake Shawnee Softball Complex. Strong pitching continued for the Tigers with no earned runs allowed on the day. The Tigers defeated Minnesota Crookston 2-1 and then Maryville 3-1. UMC moved to 2-3 on the season, while MU moved to 2-9 overall.
Fort Hays State 2, Minnesota Crookston 1
Bailey Carlson made her first start of the season in the pitching circle and tossed a complete-game, three-hit gem to turn away Minnesota Crookston. Her only run of the game allowed was unearned due to a Tiger error in the sixth inning. She worked around three walks in the game and struck out one, moving to 1-0 on the season.
The Tigers produced their two runs in the second inning when a
Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson double started a rally with one out.
Carly Stuke followed with an RBI single and then
Regan Curry doubled to set up an RBI on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Peyton Shepard. Ramirez-Johnson recorded a team-high two hits in the game as FHSU collected seven as a team.
Fort Hays State 3, Maryville 1
Fort Hays State methodically worked its way out to a 3-0 lead in its second contest of the day and
Savanah Egger shut the door on the Saints late for another complete-game effort in the pitching circle. She moved to 5-0 on the season with a five-strikeout performance, scattering seven hits with no walks.
FHSU generated its first run in the first inning when
Peyton Shepard and
Sarah Tiffany executed the double steal of second and home. In the third, an
Alondra Dominguez walk to open the inning set up a two-out RBI double by
Carly Stuke. The Tigers plated their final run in the fourth when a Shepard walk and stolen base set up an RBI single by Dominguez.
Shepard finished the game with two hits to lead the Tigers. The team had six knocks in the game.
The Tigers return to action on Saturday with games against Wayne State (Neb.) and Sioux Falls. Both games will be on Field 1 at the Lake Shawnee complex, beginning at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
