By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
Fort Hays State Softball continues MIAA play this week on the road on Friday and Saturday (Apr. 11-12). The Tigers face Emporia State on Friday at 3 pm and then Washburn on Saturday at 1 pm. FHSU enters the weekend at 16-15 overall and 9-7 in the MIAA.
This is a big weekend for the Tigers as they continue to seek separation from the MIAA Tournament cutline. FHSU enters the weekend ranked sixth in the MIAA, but leads a cluster of four teams sitting two games back in the standings. The cluster includes Lindenwood, Missouri Southern, Pittsburg State, and Emporia State. Nebraska-Kearney is just one game back of FHSU in seventh at 8-8 in MIAA play. The top eight teams in the conference make the MIAA Tournament at the end of the season. Following this weekend, FHSU will have just three MIAA doubleheaders remaining with road games at Central Missouri and Southwest Baptist and home games against Nebraska-Kearney.
Fort Hays State is coming off a 2-2 mark in MIAA play at home last weekend. The Tigers lost a pair of games to Missouri Western before sweeping a pair from Northwest Missouri State. FHSU scored just two runs over two games against MWSU, but erupted for 22 in the two games against NWMSU.
Grace Philop continues to lead the Tigers in batting average at .375 for the season, while Bailey Boxberger leads in RBIs (27) and Sara Breckbill leads in runs scored (22). In the pitching circle, Hailey Chapman leads the Tigers in ERA (3.35), wins (9), innings pitched (100.1), and strikeouts (109).