Fort Hays State Softball continues its road trip with MIAA action against Northeastern State and Central Oklahoma this weekend.  FHSU will face NSU in Tahlequah, Okla., on Friday (March 21) in a doubleheader at Noon before traveling to Edmond, Okla., to take on UCO on Saturday (March 22).  The doubleheader with UCO is scheduled for 1 p.m.

Paxton Duran holds an 8-5 record this season from the circle, throwing a team-high 69 innings with 67 strikeouts.  Duran has struck out eight in her past two starts and has a 3.25 ERA overall this season.  Kelsey Kimminau (6-3) has thrown 61.1 innings with a 3.42 ERA and 42 strikeouts.  Katlyn Kern (1-1) is second in the NCAA with four saves this season.  Kern has a 0.86 ERA and 10 strikeouts in 24.1 innings thrown.

Offensively, Duran's .406 average is a team-high to go with three doubles and a home run.  Courtney Dobson's 16 RBI leads the team as she is hitting .384 with seven doubles.  Bianca Adame is 13-of-15 in stolen base attempts and has two triples and a double while hitting .348.  Danie Brinkmann (.290 average) is tied with Dobson for the team-lead in RBI (16) and doubles (seven).

NSU (20-8, 7-1 MIAA) has won seven of its last eight and sits third in conference standings, behind UCO and Emporia State.  The Riverhawks' are led offensively by Madison Reed, who has a .414 batting average with two doubles, along with a perfect 14-of-14 stolen base performance.  Allyson Pogue is hitting .361 this season, adding three triples and four doubles.  Pitcher Kayce Woolridge sports a 2.32 ERA in 84.1 innings pitched, striking out 52 with a 9-4 record.
 
UCO (19-7, 8-0 MIAA) started the season slow, but has since won 11 straight is perfect in league play, hiting .354 as a team.  Kaylee Brunson leads the team with a .419 average, including 23 stolen bases while Ally Dziadula has seven doubles, four triples, two home runs and 24 RBI to go with a .415 average.  In the circle, Kalynn Schrock is 12-4 with a 1.29 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 92.1 innings pitched.