Nebraska-Kearney (12-26, 9-15 MIAA) at Fort Hays State (26-17, 15-9 MIAA) Saturday, April 26, 2014 - 2 and 4 p.m. (DH) - Senior Day Hays, Kan. - Tiger Stadium Live Stats I Listen Live Fort Hays State (26-17, 15-9 MIAA) at Nebraska-Kearney (12-26, 9-15 MIAA) Sunday, April 27 - 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (DH) Kearney, Neb. - Dryden Park Live Stats

The Fort Hays State Softball team closes out its regular season action this weekend with home and away doubleheaders against Nebraska-Kearney, April 26-27.  The Tigers will host UNK in a pair of conference games on Saturday at 2 and 4 p.m., for Senior Day before traveling north to Kearney, Neb., on Sunday for a non-conference doubleheader at 11 a.m. 
 
FHSU (26-17, 15-9) has clinched a spot in the MIAA postseason, but is fighting for seeding in the final weekend.  The Tigers are fourth in the MIAA standings currently and one-half game back of Missouri Western for third.  MWSU has two conference doubleheaders this weekend at Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State.  UNK (12-26, 9-15 MIAA) is currently No. 11 in the standings with two conference games to play.
 
The Tigers, idle since April 12, have won four of their last five games, led by five players hitting above .300 during that span.  Over the last five games, Bianca Adame leads the team in hitting with a .389 average, stealing four bases (in four attempts) and scoring five runs.  Amanda Vaupel and Callie Wright are each hitting .375, as Vaupel has a double, a triple and an RBI in 16 at-bats and Wright, with a .978 slugging percentage, has three doubles, two home runs (both extra inning go-ahead efforts) and five RBI.  Courtney Dobson (batting .353) has five RBI to tie with Wright for second on the team over the last five games, behind Danie Brinkmann (.333 average, seven RBI, two home runs).
 
In the circle, Paxton Duran (16-7) has won three straight, throwing two complete games and making four appearances with a 3.15 ERA in that span.  Duran's 123 strikeouts (a career-best), 2.79 total ERA and 133 innings pitched this season paces the team.  Katlyn Kern (1-1) has thrown 32.2 innings with four saves and a 3.00 ERA, while Kelsey Kimminau (9-7) is holding opponents to a .285 batting average against with 69 strikeouts in 103 innings.
 
UNK's Kate Ruwe is batting .375 with 11 doubles, four home runs and 29 RBI to lead the Lopers, while Erin Dwyer's seven doubles and .339 average is second best for the team.  Pitcher Taryn Trosper is 3-13 this season with a 4.51 ERA and 50 strikeouts, just ahead of Brittnie Kreiser, who holds a 6-8 record with 41 strikeouts and a 4.78 ERA.
 
Senior Day recognition will take place in between games on Saturday.  FHSU has seven seniors playing in their last regular season game at Tiger Stadium:  Adame, Brinkmann, Amy Dunn, Jordan Jones, Kern, Kellsi Olsen and Wright.