Fort Hays State (22-13, 11-5 MIAA) at Missouri Western (22-14, 7-7 MIAA) Friday, April 4 - St. Joseph, Mo. - Griffon Softball Field - 4 and 6 p.m. Live Stats Fort Hays State (21-13, 11-5 MIAA) at Northwest Missouri State (14-18, 7-7 MIAA) Saturday, April 5 - Marysville, Mo. - Bearcat Field - Noon and 2 p.m. Live Stats

Fort Hays State Softball hits the road this weekend for the first of three trips away from Tiger Stadium in April, taking on Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State.  The Tigers will battle MWSU in St. Joseph, Mo. on Friday, April 4 in a doubleheader at 4 p.m., before taking on NWMSU in Marysville, Mo., on Saturday, April 5.  The NWMSU doubleheader is set for Noon.
 
FHSU (22-15, 11-5 MIAA) will look to get back on track offensively this weekend after watching the team's season average dip below .300 for the first time this year.  At the top of the charts, Courtney Dobson is hitting .387 with seven doubles and 19 RBI, drawing 11 walks.  Bianca Adame's .336 batting average is second on the team as the speedster has 20 stolen bases (24 attempts), a double and three triples. 
 
In the circle, Paxton Duran is 13-5 with a 2.48 ERA.  The sophomore has struck out 96 and allowed just 26 walks, holding opponents to a .222 batting average in 104.1 innings pitched.  Duran has thrown a complete game in her last five starts, including a no-hitter earlier this season at Northeastern State.  Katlyn Kern has four saves on the season with a 3.12 ERA while Kelsey Kimminau is 8-6 overall and has 56 strikeouts.
 
Missouri Western (22-14, 7-7 MIAA) is .500 in the conference and sits tied for seventh in the conference standings.  On offense, the Griffons are led by Tiffany Gillaspy, who is hitting .368 with seven doubles, eight home runs and 28 RBI, and Bre Fleshner (.318 average, seven doubles, two home runs, 13 RBI and 16 walks).  Jackie Bishop's 0.92 ERA is a team-best, as she has posted a 14-6 record with 166 strikeouts in 145.1 innings pitched.  Janie Smith (3.52 ERA) is 8-8 this season with 45 strikeouts in 97.1 innings.
 
Tied for seventh in the conference with MWSU, Northwest Missouri State (14-18, 7-7 MIAA) has two players – Chantel Adams and Stephanie Mark - with seven home runs and 31 RBI at the top of the offense.  Adams leads the team with a .373 average and eight doubles, and Mark has a .347 average and six doubles.  Taylor Blackford's 3.12 ERA is a team best mark, but at 2-0 has thrown just 24.2 innings.  Sarah Baldwin is 7-7 this season, striking out 73 and holding opponents to a .252 batting average against with a 4.53 ERA.