Fort Hays State Softball returns home to Tiger Stadium this week for an eight-game homestand, beginning Tuesday (March 25) with a doubleheader against Metro State.  Game time for MSU is set for 2 p.m., followed by a Wednesday (March 26) doubleheader with Colorado Christian, set for Noon.
 
FHSU (18-11, 8-4 MIAA) sits fourth in the MIAA standings after going 3-1 in conference play (and 3-3 overall) last week, including a win over defending national champion Central Oklahoma in which FHSU snapped the Bronchos' 35-game home winning streak.  Additionally last week, pitcher Paxton Duran threw her first career no-hitter against Northeastern State, shutting out the RiverHawks with seven strikeouts and not allowing a runner past first base. 
 
Duran is 10-5 this season with a 2.78 ERA, leading the team with 78 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched.  The sophomore from Brighton, Colo., has thrown seven complete games this season while limiting opponents to a .240 batting average.  Katlyn Kern's 1.91 ERA in 25.2 innings (with four saves) leads the team, and Kelsey Kimminau (7-4, 3.26 ERA) has started 13 games and thrown 73 innings.
 
At the plate, Courtney Dobson leads the team with a .388 average that includes seven doubles, picking up 18 RBI along the way.  Dobson is tied with Danie Brinkmann (.296 batting average, 20 RBI) and Amanda Vaupel (three home runs, 12 RBI) for the team lead in doubles (seven), while Rilee Krier (.340 batting average) and Bianca Adame (.327 batting average) have combined for 20 stolen bases (Adame has 13) at the top of the lineup. 
 
Metro State (12-6, 8-5 RMAC) is fourth in the RMAC conference standings currently, hitting .369 as a team – led by Kelsey Tillery's .477 average.  Tillery has 15 doubles (first on the team) and 24 RBI (second on the team) in 18 starts.  Mary Towner (.460 average) leads the team with 26 RBI and four home runs, in addition to seven doubles and a .762 slugging percentage.  Pitcher Cassidy Smith is 6-2 with a 3.71 ERA this season, striking out 19 but allowing just 12 walks in 54.2 innings pitched.  Aubree Maul (4-2) has a 4.24 ERA in 38 innings pitched with 23 strikeouts.
 
Colorado Christian (10-15, 6-8 RMAC) is led offensively by Jessica Romine, who is hitting .341 with three doubles, two triples and a home run in addition to putting forth a 6-of-7 effort on stolen base attempts.  Hannah Rapoport leads the team with nine doubles, hitting .308 while going 6-of-6 in stolen bases.  Danielle Romine and Sarah Rasmussen are tied for the team lead with 23 RBI each.  In the circle, Mariah Bledsoe sports a 4.69 ERA and a 5-8 record in 16 appearances (13 starts), striking out 23 and walking 39 in 86.1 innings pitched.
 
FHSU continues its home stand this weekend (March 29-30) with conference doubleheaders against Lincoln (Saturday) and Lindenwood (Sunday).