FHSU (5-6) is coming off a midweek doubleheader sweep over then-No. 13 Arkansas Tech, taking two 1-0 extra-inning games. Pitching and defense were on display in the wins pitchers Paxton Duran and Kelsey Kimminau each threw complete game shutouts. Duran leads the team this season with a 2.68 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched, while Kimminau is second in ERA (2.75), strikeouts (15) and innings pitched (28). Both pitchers are 2-3 on the year.
Offensively, the Tigers will look to break out of an early season slump that has the team hitting just .231 with only two individuals above the .300 mark. Samantha Villarreal leads the team with a .409 average to go with three doubles, while Tori Beltz (.355),Veronica Knittig (.250) and Amanda Vaupel (.235) each have two home runs.
UCM (4-5) is hitting .269 as a team through nine games, led by Lauren Mabe’s .389 average. Mabe is one of three Jennies with three doubles on the year (joining Ali Jo Rogers and Lindsey Dawson). Rogers is second on the team with a .367 average while Jakki Prater is hitting .324 with six RBI. In the circle, Prater is 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA, striking out 35 through 33.2 innings.
SBU (5-6) dropped two conference games earlier this season to Pittsburg State and enters the weekend with a 4.24 team ERA. Kacey Ayers has thrown a majority of the innings for SBU, posting a 3.67 ERA with a 3-3 record, notching 24 strikeouts with 10 walks. Catlin Evans has started all 11 games and is third on the team with a .368 average, hitting one home run and one double. The team’s RBI leader, Brittanie Halquist, has driven in eight on the year (tied with Caitlyn Cooner) and has a .361 average to go with for doubles and two home runs.