Fort Hays State 2 Wayne State 1

            For the fifth time in the young season, the Wayne State College softball team suffered a one-run loss as the Wildcats fell to Fort Hays State 2-1 Friday evening at the Emporia State Tournament in Kansas.  WSC is now 1-7 on the season with the Tigers moving to 6-8.
            The contest was a pitchers' duel as both players fired complete games – Sloan Cooksey for Wayne State and Michaelanna Nelson for Fort Hays State.
            The Tigers scored both of their runs in the bottom of the first inning on three hits, one walk and one Wildcat error to take a 2-0 advantage.
            The score stayed 2-0 until the top of the fifth inning when the Wildcats scored their lone run of the contest.  Michaela Smith opened the inning with a single to left field and scored on a two-out single to center field by Kortney Buresh. 
            The 'Cats had runners at second and third to potentially take the lead but Kim Vidlak struck out to end the rally.
            WSC got runners on second and third again in the seventh inning as Smith singled and Katie Humburg walked, but the 'Cats could not get the extra base hit for a second straight inning and suffered a 2-1 setback.       
            Wayne State had five hits in the game as Smith went 2 for 3 with one run scored while Buresh ended 2 for 4 with an RBI.  Humburg had the other Wildcat hit.
            Cooksey (0-2) suffered the hard luck loss with a complete game effort in the circle, striking out eight batters with four walks while allowing just eight hits and two runs (one earned.)
            Wayne State will play two games again Saturday at the Emporia State Tournament, battling Southwest Baptist at 3 p.m. and Washburn in a 5:30 p.m. contest.