FHSU Sports Information Department
HAYS, Kan. – Fort Hays State swept Nebraska-Kearney for the second straight day on Sunday (Apr. 24), only this time in non-conference play. The Tigers took game one 2-1 before claiming game two in run-rule fashion 10-0 in five innings. The Tigers finished the regular season at 21-28 overall, while the Lopers finished their season at 18-28 overall.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 2, Nebraska-Kearney 1
Fort Hays State hopped on the board early thanks to a pair of seniors. Rilee Krier led off with a single to right, then moved to second on a steal and third on a groundout. Tori Beltz put FHSU up 1-0 with a sacrifice fly RBI to center field.
Nebraska-Kearney evened the score in the third. A lead-off walk and a double put runners on second and third. Courtney Dobson made a great diving grab in foul territory, but the runner on third tagged to score while Dobson was trying to get to her feet quickly. A throw to the plate was just a bit late.
A sixth-inning spurt of offense put the Tigers back in the lead, 2-1. Beltz led off the inning with her second double of the game to right center. Then, with pinch runner Chermayne Yago on third base, Paxton Duran helped her own cause with a RBI double to left, giving the Tigers the lead.
The Lopers flirted with a comeback as they had the game tying run in scoring position after a walk and a stolen base, but Duran was able to get the final batter with a strikeout.
Duran picked up her 15th win, the third time she has reached that mark in her career, throwing her 25th complete game of the season. She allowed just one run on five hits, with four strikeouts and two walks. Duran moved to 15-17 on the year.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 10, Nebraska-Kearney 0
The Tigers started game two the same way they started game one and led 1-0 after the first inning. Krier led off the inning with a single to third base, then swiped two bags. Claudia Vazquez drove her in with an RBI sacrifice slap to the pitcher.
The Tiger offense exploded in the third inning, pushing six runs across the plate. With the bases loaded, Kylie Strand rifled a ball to right center for a two-RBI double. Then after Erin Elmore was hit by a pitch, Krier made the game 4-0 with an RBI single to left. Vazquez extended the Tiger lead to 7-0 when she cleared the bases with a double to center, giving her four RBI for the game.
The offense continued their output the following inning with three more runs. The Tigers loaded the bases with no outs, with a pinch-hit single from Ashley Beavers and back-to-back walks from Courtney Dobson and Paxton Duran. Strand once again delivered with a hard single through the left side to plate a run, then the Lopers helped plate two more with a fielding and throwing error on the same play. UNK had no answer in the top of the fifth, allowing the game to end by run rule in the fifth inning.
Carrie Clarke picked up the win for the Tigers in her first complete game shutout of the year. She went 5.0 innings, allowing five hits and four walks with a strikeout.
Tiger seniors were honored between games, which included Erin Elmore, Rilee Krier, Courtney Dobson, Tori Beltz, and Paxton Duran.
Next up for the Tigers is the MIAA Tournament in Oklahoma City. As the No. 7 seed, FHSU faces No. 2 seed Northwest Missouri State in the opening round on Thursday night (Apr. 28) at 5 pm. The tournament is being held at the ASA Hall of Fame Stadium complex.