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Tiger offense sputters on senior day at Tiger Stadium
4/24/2008
By CONOR NICHOLL
cnicholl@dailynews.net
The Fort Hays State University softball needed to salvage at least a split with Pittsburg State University on Wednesday's Senior Day to clinch a berth in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association postseason conference tournament.
However, the Tigers' inconsistent, struggling offense prevented the automatic bid. Fort Hays, which left 19 runners on base, lost 7-3 and 5-3 to the Gorillas at Tiger Stadium.
"We just didn't get it done at the plate today," Fort Hays coach Tonja Hadley said. "It kind of comes down to that. We have shown really some signs of some really explosive offense this year and we are aggressive and we attack and then we turn in performances like we just did and we don't attack."
The Tigers, beset by an inconsistent offense throughout the season, are 30-24 overall and finished conference play with a 7-11 record, a year after they went 11-7 in the MIAA.Still, with a Southwest Baptist loss, the Tiger earned the eighth seed in the postseason conference tournament.
"Kids just didn't compete today, sometimes that happens and when that happens, you are going to get beat," Hadley said.
One win, because the Tigers hold the tiebreaker over Truman State (Mo.) University, would have automatically put Fort Hays in the tournament.
However, the two losses mean the Tigers didn't control their own destiny.
"Kids wanted to win the conference at the beginning of the season, so obviously we are disappointed with where we are at," Hadley said. "It is kind of out of our hands now, so we have to get a little help from our friends and hope that some teams can take care of Southwest Baptist."
The offense has been the major problem for Fort Hays, especially against MIAA pitching. Last season, the Tigers produced 11 conference wins off 78 runs.
A year later -- with virtually the entire roster back -- Fort Hays scored 51 runs against conference teams.
"It has just been inconsistent, kind of like this whole year has been," junior Alex Eaton said.
The Tigers had just one winning streak longer than two games in conference play. After a 7-1 start, Fort Hays is 23-23.
With the exception of sophomore catcher Jessika Anastos, enjoying perhaps the greatest season in Tiger history, and senior Anna Herl, all of the returning Fort Hays players have seen their offensive numbers drop from 2007.
In the past 16 games, Fort Hays has scored more than three runs four times.
"We show signs of being such a great hitting team, of really being able to play some good softball and then we turn around and we play like this," Eaton said. "It's frustrating, but we do it to ourselves."
That happened in Game 1 against Pittsburg State (21-24 overall, 9-6 MIAA) on a windy, overcast day. The Tigers fell behind 5-0 after the first three innings against sophomore right-hander Tiffany Swanson. Hadley preaches an aggressive approach at the plate and didn't think her team was often swinging early in the count.
"The first girl (Swanson) that they had in was 90 percent first-pitch strikes," Hadley said. "That is something that you have to jump on."
With two outs in the fourth, Fort Hays strung four straight hits together, including a two-run double down the left-field line by Eaton, the first double and second extra-base hit she has delivered this year.
The Tigers put their leadoff man on in the sixth and had two on with two out in the seventh, but couldn't score. Senior Emily Rockefeller (9-7) took the loss for Fort Hays.
The problems continued in Game 2. The Tigers put at least one baserunner on in every inning, but only scored three runs. It marked the third time they have had at least 11 hits and scored fewer than four runs.
"Offensively, we just didn't make the adjustments that we needed to make and it showed," Eaton said.
The Gorillas took another 5-0 lead and senior left-hander Stephanie Moore, using her off-speed pitches effectively, stayed out of trouble. Fort Hays had two on in the first inning and a runner each in the second, third and fourth without scoring runs.
They had the bases loaded in the fifth but freshman Chelsea Luther popped out to Moore to end the threat. They tallied three runs in the sixth on three straight singles. A walk, wild pitch and an error scored the runs.
With the tying run on base, junior infielder Hallie McMillen grounded into a forceout. In the seventh, Fort Hays again had the tying run on base before a popup and a strikeout ended the game. Freshman Kayla Rupa (12-10) took the loss.
"We have been off and on all year," Hadley said. "It is kind of one of those things where we just didn't do enough to get it done today."
| Scoreboard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | Date | Opponent | Score |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | W 17-5 |
| BB | 5/04 | Pittsburg State | L 4-3 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 15-7 |
| BB | 5/03 | Pittsburg State | L 5-4 |
| SB | 5/02 | Central Missouri | L 3-1 |
| SB | 5/02 | Missouri Western | W 3-2 |
| SB | 5/01 | Pittsburg State | W 6-0 |
| SB | 5/01 | Emporia State | L 11-0 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 14-1 |
| BB | 4/30 | Kansas Wesleyan | W 12-2 |
