HAYS, Kan. – The Central Missouri Jennies (8-8, 0-2 MIAA) dropped both games of a doubleheader with the Fort Hays State Tigers (10-4, 2-0 MIAA) by final scores of 6-5 and 5-4 on Saturday, March 8, in the opening games of MIAA play from Fleharty Family Field in Hays, Kan.
The Jens return to the diamond on Sunday, March 9, as they continue MIAA play on the road against the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (8-8, 0-0 MIAA) for a doubleheader with game one's first pitch slated for 12:00 p.m. from Dryden Park in Kearney, Neb.
Game 1: Fort Hays State 6, Central Missouri 5
The Jens had runners on first and second with two outs in the top of the second when
Morgan Shields hit a three-run homer to left field (her second of the season, scoring
Aly Hageman and
Marisa Johnson), giving UCM a 3-0 lead. The Tigers quickly responded in the bottom of the inning with a solo shot of their own before taking the lead with three runs in the fourth and adding an insurance run in the fifth making it 5-3 FHSU.
Down to their final out with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, Central Missouri's
Jadyn Sheffield drove in the tying runs before the Tigers walked it off in the bottom of the inning as Shields paced the Jens offensively going 2-for-3 with two runs scored as five batters collected a hit in the ballgame.
Game 2: Fort Hays State 5, Central Missouri 4
The Jens opened the scoring in the top of the third with back-to-back RBI doubles from
Taylor Thompson (scoring
Lexi Blackmon) and
Bailey Brumley (scoring Sheffield, Thompson, and Johnson) making it a 4-0 advantage. FHSU evened the game in the bottom of the fifth before taking the lead with a run in the sixth and never relinquished en route to their 10
th win of the season.
Siebeneck (3-2) suffered the loss in the circle in relief of
Emily Brouse who struck out five Tiger batters in 4 1/3 innings while Sheffield paced UCM offensively going 3-for-4 at the plate for good measure.
