Goodland, Kan. – The Knights swept Fort Hays Tech Northwest Sunday night in their last regular season doubleheader.
North Platte 11 Fort Hays Tech Northwest 7
North Platte got on the board first with three runs in the second inning. A walk, error, and ground out would all plate one run as the Knights took an early lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Victoria Arellano doubled to right field to score Afia Hunt from second base to extend the lead. The Tigers rallied back over the next two innings to cut the margin to 4-3 headed into the sixth.
North Platte managed to add to their lead in the top of the sixth inning, as a single by Sarah Perez and an error by the left fielder stretched the lead to 7-3. North Platte would go on to add four more runs in the top of the seventh inning, while holding off a late rally by the Tigers to clinch game one.
Perez tossed all seven innings for the Knights. She allowed seven runs on 10 hits and struck out two.
North Platte 13 Fort Hays Tech Northwest 2
The black and gold wasted no time jumping out to an early lead in the second inning. A double by Wren Herrick kick started the offense before the bases were loaded with back-to-back walks. A Hunt single plated the first run, before three straight hits from Alieze Moreno, Arellano and Heaven Hutchison gave the Knights a 6-0 lead.
In the top of the third, the Knights continued their offensive dominance with four runs on just one hit. A triple to right field by Arellano scored two runs, before an error by the shortstop stretched the margin to 10-0.
Fort Hays Tech Northwest went on to add one run in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings, but doubles from Moreno, Hutchison and Perez in the top of the fifth helped lock up the 13-2 run-rule win.
Arellano claimed the win in the circle while pitching all five innings. The freshman only allowed two runs on five hits and struck out one.
Knights (7-21) will look to carry their momentum into the postseason as they open the Region IX Tournament on May 3 in Lincoln.
