#4 Central Oklahoma (31-3) at Fort Hays State (20-12)
Friday, April 6, 2:00 pm (DH) - Hays, Kan.
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Northeastern State (17-15) at Fort Hays State (20-12)
Saturday, April 7, 12:00 pm (DH) - Hays, Kan.
Live Stats
FHSU Season Statistics: StatCrew I XML |
The Fort Hays State softball team will step out of conference play this weekend and face two teams who will be joining the MIAA for the 2013 season. On Friday (April 6), the Tigers will host one of the hottest teams in the country in No. 4 Central Oklahoma, who previously knocked off FHSU 9-1 in tournament play on March 3, before facing Northeastern State on Saturday (April 7).
Friday afternoon's games start at 2:00 and will be broadcast on 1400 AM Radio (KAYS) in the Hays listening area, or online at the link provided above. The Saturday series will begin at 12:00 pm, but will not be broadcasted.
Fort Hays State will be looking to snap a five-game losing skid this weekend after falling to nationally-ranked Missouri Western and Emporia State last weekend. The Tigers are 20-12 (7-5 MIAA) on the year and in fourth place in the MIAA standings. FHSU will be facing a Central Oklahoma team that leads NCAA Division II in batting average, scoring and home runs per game and moved up to No. 4 in the latest NFCA Top 25 Poll. The Bronchos will be the first Top-10 team to visit Tiger Stadium since April 30, 2010, when FHSU swept a doubleheader against No. 9 Emporia State. Fort Hays State is 4-11 all-time against Top-10 teams, with all four wins coming against ESU.
The Tigers are 7-1 in games at Tiger Stadium this season, with the lone loss coming in the first game against Southwest Baptist on March 17. Fort Hays State has been led by junior pitcher
Maddie Holub, who last weekend recorded her 500th strikeout as a Tiger and now, with 513 in her career, ranks second in FHSU history. Holub, a two-time MIAA Player of the Week this season, has also tied the single-season school record of 190 strikeouts, which was set by
Kayla Rupa in 2009.
Holub has also been strong at the plate, leading the team with a .365 batting average. The Tigers, who rank sixth in the MIAA in batting, have four other players batting over .300, including freshman
Amanda Vaupel. Vaupel is batting .357 for the year and ranks third on the team with 18 RBI.
Adriana Wortley is hitting .316 for the year and has hit five home runs, giving her 23 for her career, which is a Fort Hays State career record.
Taylor Nelson leads the team with seven doubles, two triples and 20 RBI and is hitting .307 from the leadoff spot while
Chelsey Rottinghaus is batting .300 with six doubles and two home runs in her first year with the team.
Following these games, the Tigers will hit the road for the final time this season. They will head to Nebraska-Kearney on Tuesday (April 10) before getting back into MIAA play against Truman and Northwest Missouri State over the weekend.
