FHSU (9-10, 4-4 MIAA) takes a break from conference play for the two games, hoping to climb back over .500 after going 4-4 last weekend at home. The Tigers swept their doubleheader with Missouri Southern before falling in both games to Pittsburg State. On the season, FHSU is hitting .236 as a team with a 2.91 ERA, holding opponents to a .279 average through 19 games.
Samantha Villarreal is hitting .343 on the season with three doubles while Tori Beltz leads the way for the Tigers in the power categories, slugging .667 with five home runs, three doubles and 13 RBI to go with a .333 average. Amanda Vaupel has seen her average rise to .259 through 19 starts as the senior ranks second on the team in home runs (three) and runs batted in (10).
Pitchers Kelsey Kimminau (2.83 ERA) and Paxton Duran (2.84 ERA) lead the Tigers’ rotation with identical 4-5 records. Kimminau has thrown 54.1 innings and seven complete games in nine appearances, striking out 21 and allowing 17 walks. Duran leads the team with 71 strikeouts through 56.2 innings, giving up 25 walks on the season.
Metro State (16-6, 8-2 RMAC) has won six straight entering Tuesday’s doubleheader and is receiving votes in the NFCA Division II poll. As a team, the Roadrunners are hitting .328 with 33 doubles while holding opponents to a .301 average with a 3.80 in the circle. Individually, Lani Redmond leads the team with a .478 average and is second on the team in doubles (six) and triples (three), driving in 17. Mary Towner’s .426 average is second highest while she leads the team in home runs (three), doubles (nine) and RBI (23). Pitcher Kenzie mattey has 43 strikeouts on the year to go with a 7-2 record and a 2.92 ERA.
Colorado Mines (2-21, 1-10 RMAC) picked up its second win of the season this weekend in a doubleheader with Black Hills State and is hitting .269 as a team this season with a combined ERA of 8.00. Dana Gallegos’ .395 average is a team-best, while Sonoma Toot leads the team with seven doubles and is one of four Orediggers to hit a home run. In the circle, Hallie Smith’s 6.90 comes with two wins and 45 strikeouts in 67 innings this season.