Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Photo Gallery

Video Highlights and Interviews with Nishikida, Roundtree and Fisher

DENVER, Colo. - The No. 16 Metro State softball team split a doubleheader on Saturday against Fort Hays State, falling 5-3 in game one, before responding with a 10-2 thrashing in five innings at home.  The Roadrunners are now 3-1 on the year, while FHSU is 2-2.

Game One
Metro State jumped out to a 3-0 lead after three innings, but was unable to put the Tigers away.  Jessica Haab (Colorado Springs, Colo./Pine Creek H.S.) ripped a two-run single into the right-center gap, scoring Jennessa Tesone (Longmont, Colo./Niwot H.S.) and Lauren Hainlen (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) in the second inning.  Kellie Nishikida (Pearl City, Hawaii/Pearl City H.S.) added a solo home run to lead off the third inning to put Metro State in front 3-0.

But the Tigers went to the bullpen after Nishikida's blast and reliever Kayla Rupa dominated the final five innings.  The lefthander scattered six hits and one walk, while striking out two as Metro State stranded eight runners in the game.

Meanwhile, Brittany Moss (Northglenn, Colo./Northglenn H.S.) was spectacular on the mound for the Roadrunners as she did not allow a hit until one out in the fourth inning.  But the sophomore wore down in the sixth inning, allowing five runs on six hits before giving way to Julia Diehl (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge H.S.) with two outs.

Moss surrendered a three-run home run to left field to Maddie Holub with nobody out to tie the game.  Trisha Holzman chased Moss from the game with a two-out, two-run single up the middle.  Rupa retired Metro State in order in the bottom of the sixth and seventh to secure the Tiger victory.

Nishikida provided a pair of hits for the Roadrunners, as did Hainlen, to lead the offense.  Five others had one hit apiece as Metro State outhit FHSU 9-7.

Game Two
Metro State's bats came alive in game two, due in part to patience at the plate as it drew eight walks.  Diehl pitched all five innings and surrendered just two runs for the victory.

Amber Roundtree (Lakewood, Colo./Faith Christian H.S.) led off the bottom of the first with a walk and scored on Sarah Rusch (Westminster, Colo./Standley Lake H.S.)'s double two batters later to put the Roadrunners in front early.  They added to the lead in the second and third with another run each inning for a 3-0 lead after three innings.  Molly Clark (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood H.S.) was hit by a pitch and stole second and third base, before advancing home on a wild pitch in the second inning.  Tara Mickelson (Wheat Ridge, Colo./Wheat Ridge H.S.), who had 22 home runs last season, led off the third with her first of 2010 in an eight-pitch at bat.

Metro State broke the game open in the fourth with four runs on three hits.  Haab led off with a single and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Danni Hedstrom (Fort Collins, Colo./Fort Collins H.S.).  The Tigers threw to second to try to force out pinch runner Kristen Gertner (Arvada, Colo./Ralston Valley H.S.), but the junior beat the throw to put runners on first and second with nobody out.  Roundtree then reached on an infield single to score Gertner from third following a wild pitch.  Nishikida then drilled a two-run triple to right field and she later scored on a sacrifice fly by Mickelson.

FHSU finally got to Diehl in the top of the fifth.  Following Malinee Powell's leadoff single, Holzman hit a home run to center, though video replay showed the ball actually bounced through a hole in the fence.  But the call on the field remained a home run, cutting Metro State's lead to 7-2.

Nishikida then ended the game on the eight-run mercy rule with a three-run home run in the fifth as she ripped the ball well over the center field fence.  She finished the game going 2-for-3 with five runs batted in, two runs scored and a home run and a triple.

Metro State was scheduled to host Emporia State on Sunday, but forecasted snow in Denver has canceled that game.  The Roadrunners will now be in action next on Friday, Feb. 19, against Minnesota State, Mankato.