By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State was picked 11th in the 2023 MIAA Preseason Softball Coaches Poll, released on Friday (Jan. 20). FHSU finished in a tie for ninth in the conference standings last year and enters its ninth year under head coach Adrian Pilkington.
Leading the preseason poll is defending national champion Rogers State. The Hillcats finished 58-10 in 2022, closing the year on a 10-game win streak. Even though they took third in the MIAA regular season standings, the Hillcats won the MIAA Tournament before going 11-1 in NCAA postseason play. The Hillcats fought off elimination on their home field in the Central Regional with three straight wins before sweeping Central Oklahoma in a best-of-3 super regional. They completed their run to the national title with a 5-0 performance at the Division II Championship site. Rogers State received seven first-place votes in the preseason poll.
Defending regular 2022 MIAA regular season champion Washburn was picked second and received five first-place votes. The Ichabods went 45-15 in 2022 and were knocked out of the regional round of the NCAA tournament hosted by Rogers State. Central Oklahoma, also an NCAA Tournament participant in 2022 with a record of 48-13, received two first-place votes in the poll. The Bronchos hosted the other four-team NCAA Central Regional site and advanced to the super regional at Rogers State, where they were eliminated. The 2022 season was the first since 2017 when the MIAA had multiple teams reach the 40-win plateau in a season.
Fort Hays State is coming off a 23-30-1 record in 2022. Sarah Tiffany is the top returning hitter by average for the Tigers after posting a .352 average. She was the only All-MIAA selection for the Tigers last year. Loren Beggs led the Tigers in extra-base hits with 18 last year and hit .312. Madison Pierce is the top returning home-run hitter from last year with seven and Regan Curry is the top returner in RBIs after posting 30. Tiffany, Beggs, Pierce, and Curry combined for 110 of the team’s 203 RBIs last year. Savanah Egger led the Tiger pitching rotation in ERA (3.17), wins (9), complete games (17), saves (4), innings pitched (157), and strikeouts (143) last season. All four Tiger pitchers from last season return and three more join the Tigers this year that could be utilized at the position.
The Tigers have eight newcomers who join the mix this season, which includes seven freshmen and one transfer. FHSU is scheduled to play 22 times at home this season all in the form of doubleheaders on 11 dates. Bethel College will be the first opponent at home on February 28, which serves as the first doubleheader on the new artificial turf at Tiger Stadium. FHSU opens its season in Wichita Falls, Texas, February 10-11, with four games against region opponents. The Tigers are slated to play 16 games before their first home date.
Below is the 2023 MIAA Preseason Softball Coaches Poll.
2023 MIAA Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Rogers State – 161 Points [7 First Place Votes]2. Washburn – 158 Points [5 First Place Votes]3. Central Oklahoma – 151 Points [2 First Place Votes]4. Missouri Western – 125 Points
5. Missouri Southern – 114 Points
6. Central Missouri – 102 Points
7. Northeastern State – 101 Points
8. Nebraska-Kearney – 86 Points
9. Pittsburg State – 69 Points
10. Emporia State – 65 Points
11. Fort Hays State – 57 Points
12. Northwest Missouri State – 37 Points
13. Newman – 35 Points
14. Lincoln – 13 Points