TAHLEQUAH, Okla. – Fort Hays State picked up a win to close out its weekend at the Cherokee Nation D2 Softball Festival in Oklahoma. The Tigers defeated Harding University 5-2 to move to 2-3 overall on the season.
 
Hannah Green set up FHSU's first run-scoring opportunity with a leadoff single in the first. She stole a base, moved up to third, and then scored on an Abbey Duarte sacrifice fly. The Tigers led 1-0 through three innings.
 
The Tigers extended their lead with a four-run fourth inning, benefitting from a Harding error to open the inning. Ava Burgess generated a run by stealing third and forcing an overthrow. She came in to score, making it 2-0. Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson doubled home a run and she later came in to score on a wild pitch. Another Harding error off the bat of Green plated FHSU's final run of the inning.
 
Solana Carpenter had a strong day in the pitching circle, going the distance for the Tigers. She kept the Bisons scoreless through five innings before giving up a two-run double in the sixth to Alexis Boswell. Carpenter scattered nine hits, walked two, and struck out five, moving to 1-0 on the season. All seven hits for the Tigers were scattered among seven different hitters.
 
Fort Hays State goes to the Washburn Invitational next weekend, Friday through Sunday (Feb. 20-22). They are scheduled to play six games in Topeka, with five taking place at Gahnstrom Field, the home of Washburn University's softball team.