Pair of wins for Tiger softball
By CONOR NICHOLL
During the spring, the Fort Hays State University softball team generally plays a doubleheader three to four times a week. However, the last few weeks is an anomaly for the Tigers. From March 1 to March 16, the Tigers had one contest. In comparison, rival Emporia State University played eight times during the stretch. The 15-day break yielded multiple postponements, including a rainout against University of Nebraska-Kearney and a doubleheader against Bethany College.
"When you get out to the field for a game, it's like rained out, snowed out," second-year Tiger coach Julie LeMaire said. "We all had rain, sleet and snow all at the same exact time on our game day the other day. It's been tough because we've had beautiful days when we are at practice."
Wednesday, the Tigers played for the first time since March 8 and the second time since Feb. 28 in a doubleheader makeup against Bethany.
Fort Hays produced two flawless performances, sweeping the Swedes 8-1, 6-1. Freshman Maddie Holub and junior Kayla Rupa each threw complete games, while senior Adrian Mohr hit a three-run home run in the first game and delivered a two-run double in Game 2. Defensively, the Tigers didn't make an error all day.
"We have really been trying to preach too staying together, playing together," LeMaire said. "I think that finally this was just like their opportunity to just really bust open together, which ended up being a great day for them. We didn't look this good last year against Bethany for sure."
Fort Hays, which also had two tournaments, including its own Crossover Tournament, postponed in February, moved to 8-5 overall. The 13 games is the fewest of any Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association team. Missouri Southern State University and Emporia State have each played more than 20 and every squad has had at least 16 games.
"Not getting games in, it gets frustrating for everybody," Mohr said. "It gets a little bit tedious. I think we came out today and we had a lot of enthusiasm. We were just really ready to go because it's been awhile since we got games in."
In Game 1, Holub, a four-year all-state player and state record-setter at Thomas More Prep-Marian, worked seven innings, allowing one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and three walks. Holub (4-2) had struggled this season, posting a 7.81 earned-run average and a 25/19 strikeout to walk rate in 26 innings entering Wednesday.
"She is facing a lot more disciplined batters now," LeMaire said. "It's a whole different ballgame. They are going to let the junk go by that's high and out of their zone and then when they get an opportunity where you miss, they are going to jump on it, especially in the MIAA.
The batters are waiting for your mistake," she said. "Whereas before, Maddie has has the luxury of pitching against some kids that are swinging out of their shoes. That's something she knew coming in, that that would be the case. ... It's a different mindset and a different mentality and I think that is something she has just been struggling with a little bit."
Fort Hays scored all its runs in the first three innings, tallying three in the first, four in the second and one in the third. Mohr, the team's most experienced player and lone senior who sees consistent playing time, bumped her average up to a team-leading .444 with a three-run homer off a 1-2 pitch in the first inning against Bethany starter Stephanie Tyler. In the second inning, Mohr added a run-scoring single.
"I just try to stay relaxed in my approach to the plate," Mohr said. "When you get down like that, you just want to stay short and see ball, hit ball. Really my goal today was to keep my weight back. The pitching was a little bit slower."
In Game 2, Fort Hays scored four runs in the first and two in the fifth. In the first, junior leadoff hitter Sara Tani singled and Holub walked.
Then, Mohr launched a two-run double to left-center on another 1-2 pitch, her team-leading seventh double and 13th extra base hit.
"She is aggressive from the start and some batters sit there and wait for the perfect pitch, whereas she likes to jump out early," LeMaire said. "Usually she has an advantage because if she has a strike or two, she has already taken a cut or two on those strikes. They are not usually looking."
Sophomore Adriana Wortley followed with a double off the left field wall and freshman catcher Malinee Powell followed with a sacrifice fly. That was all Rupa needed, who moved to 3-3 with seven solid innings. The left-handed Rupa, a three-year starter, has struggled with confidence the last few weeks and carried a 4.88 ERA entering the doubleheader. LeMaire labeled Wednesday's performance Rupa's best complete game of the season as Fort Hays finally returned to the field.
"All-around we played really good from the offense, defense, to the mound," LeMaire said.
The Tigers are scheduled to play against Missouri Western State University today in Emporia, then play both Truman State (Mo.) University and University of Nebraska-Omaha tomorrow in Emporia.