HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State Softball fell in a pair of conference games to No. 11 ranked Rogers State on Monday (Apr. 7). The Hillcats won by scores of 12-5 and 13-3, improving to 30-11 overall and 12-8 in the MIAA, while the Tigers moved to 22-12 overall and 7-7 in the MIAA.
 
Rogers State 12, Fort Hays State 5
A three-error third inning allowed the first four runs of the game to score for Rogers State after the teams played to a scoreless tie through the first couple innings. The Tigers faced an uphill battle from that point, but managed to get within two runs with a four-run sixth inning. However, Rogers State pulled back away with a six-run seventh and FHSU countered with just one run in the final inning.
 
The Hillcats built a 6-0 lead through five and a half innings. The Tigers finally broke through offensively with singles from Madison Pierce and Regan Curry set up an RBI single by Lexi Mohr. Then Marisela Landa delivered a big blow with a pinch-hit 3-run home run, instantly cutting the score to 6-4. That chased Rogers State starting pitcher Harley Culie from the game, but Jade Sanders was able to do enough for a four-out save.
 
Morgan Schmidt pitched 5.0 innings in the game, allowing nine runs (five earned) on seven hits and three walks. She struck out three and moved to 10-5 on the season with the loss. Korryn Johnson relieved for 1.0 innings and allowed a run, while Erika Flynn pitched 0.2 innings and allowed two runs. Kylie Caspersen got the final out in the seventh. Pierce had a 3-hit game for the Tigers, while Curry had a pair of hits.
 
Culie finished with seven strikeouts in 5.2 innings of work, moving to 14-4 overall on the season. Sanders allowed a run and picked up her second save of the season.
 
Rogers State 13, Fort Hays State 3 (5 inn.)
Both teams scored one run each in the first inning and played to the 1-1 tie through three innings. However, the Hillcat offense caught fire with two outs in the fourth. They plated a run to break the tie and then added five more runs with two outs. RSU had seven hits in the inning. They remained hot the following inning, plating six more runs on six hits. RSU finished with 18 hits in the game and 30 for the day.
 
Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson and Madison Pierce had singles in the first to eventually set up an RBI groundout by Abbey Duarte. In the fifth, the Tigers got RBI singles from Kaydawn Haag and Jules Bosco. Haag led the Tigers with two hits in the game.
 
Savanah Egger pitched the first 4.1 innings for FHSU and had one strikeout. Korryn Johnson relieved for 0.2 innings and allowed two runs. Egger moved to 10-7 on the season. Jade Sanders threw 4.1 innings and moved to 11-6 with the win, allowing just one run. She struck out three. Torie Sandoval picked up the last two outs of the game, but allowed two runs.
 
Fort Hays State looks to bounce back on the road next week with doubleheaders at Newman and Central Oklahoma (Apr. 11-12).