Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score

Photo Gallery

DENVER – No. 15 Metro State's softball team split a doubleheader for the third straight year with Fort Hays State (Kan.), losing game one 6-5 before rebounding for an 11-7 victory in game two. It was the season opener for the Roadrunners, while the Tigers moved to 3-1 this season after the split.

The two teams split doubleheaders in the season-opening weekends of the 2009 and 2010 seasons as well.

GAME ONE
It was a pitcher's duel for six innings as the two teams went into the seventh inning tied at 1-1. The Roadrunners pushed the tying run across in the bottom of the fifth with a double by Molly Clark (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood H.S.) that scored Amber Roundtree (Lakewood, Colo./Faith Christian H.S.) from first base after FHSU took the lead with an unearned run in the top of the inning.

Metro State got two quick outs in the seventh, but things unraveled after that. A booted ground ball by the third baseman allowed the go-ahead run to score. After a hit batter loaded the bases, Sara Tani doubled down the left field line to put the Tigers up 4-1. Erin Dyok then hit a two-run single to center to break the game open for a 6-1 lead.

The Roadrunners did not go quietly in the final frame. A leadoff walk by Sam Talmich (Colorado Springs/Rampart H.S.) scored on a double to right-center by Roundtree. After a flyout, Jennessa Tesone (Longmont, Colo./Niwot H.S.) double to right-center to cut the lead to 6-3. Following a foul out, Julia Diehl (Littleton, Colo./Dakota Ridge H.S.) drilled a two-run home run over the left-center fence to cut the lead to one. Lauren Hainlen (Parker, Colo./Chaparral H.S.) then doubled off the right-center fence, but a strikeout ended the game with the tying run on second.

Diehl pitched a gem for the Roadrunners, scattering five hits in seven innings. Unfortunately, four errors led for all six runs being unearned. Roundtree and Hainlen each had two hits.

GAME TWO
The Roadrunners got off to a slow start in game two, trailing 5-0 after the top of the third. Talmich led off the bottom with her first career hit and scored on a two-out double by Roundtree to get the team on the board.

After giving a run back in the top of the fourth, the offense exploded in the bottom of the fourth. Tesone led off with a single through the left side before Aubree Maul (Fort Collins, Colo./Rocky Mountain H.S.), Diehl and Hainlen hit back-to-back-to-back home runs to cut the lead to 6-5. This time it was FHSU's defense that made mistakes as the Tiger committed dropped consecutive fly balls with Brittney Padilla (Pueblo, Colo./Pueblo Central H.S.) scoring on the second to tie the game. Molly Clark (Lakewood, Colo./Lakewood H.S.) made the errors more costly as she ripped a triple to right field, scoring Roundtree and Chelsea Brew (Colorado Springs/Rampart H.S.). Tesone followed with a double down the left field line and later scored on a throwing error by the FHSU shortstop, capping the nine-run inning.

Roundtree led off the sixth with a double and scored on an error with two outs for an insurance run to put Metro State up 11-6.

The Tigers got a two-out home run in the top of the seventh for their final run.

Maul earned the win, settling down to allow three runs after the first inning. Offensively, Roundtree, Clark, Tesone and Diehl each had two of the team's 11 hits.

Metro State will host Southwest Minnesota State at noon on Friday.