Fort Hays State Softball plays its first home games of the season this week when it plays host to Rockhurst University on Wednesday (March 13) and Bethany College on Thursday (March 14). Doubleheaders are scheduled for both days, each starting at 1 p.m. at Fleharty Family Field. Fort Hays State enters the week 9-11 overall. Rockhurst holds a record of 5-7, while Bethany is currently 7-7.
 
Live stats and streaming video will be available for both doubleheaders. Streaming will be on The MIAA Network.
 
The Tigers already played about 40 percent of their season before getting to see their first action at home in 2024. The Tigers are looking to shake off a cold spell they have been in for a few weeks now after a 9-2 start to the season.
 
Though the Tigers have started conference play already, Rockhurst will be entering GLVC play after its doubleheader with the Tigers on Wednesday. Bethany, a member of the NAIA, will be playing an NCAA opponent for the first time this year when it meets FHSU on Thursday.
 
The Opponents
Rockhurst (5-7)
Series Record: FHSU leads 5-3
-FHSU and Rockhurst split a pair of meetings last year at neutral sites. Rockhurst won 2-1 in Wichita Falls, Texas and FHSU won 2-0 in Topeka, Kan.
-A two-RBI double by Rockhurst in the first inning of last year's game in Wichita Falls was enough to hold off the Tigers. The only run for FHSU came in the second inning on a throwing error.
-Savanah Egger was the Tiger starting pitcher in both meetings with Rockhurst last year and she threw complete games in both contests. She struck out 10 in the 2-1 loss and then struck out 12 in the 2-0 win in Topeka. The 12 strikeouts is her career high, which she has accomplished four times.
-FHSU and Rockhurst are meeting in Hays for the first time since 2014, when FHSU swept a doubleheader by scores of 9-0 and 6-4.
 
Bethany (7-7)
Series Record: FHSU leads 11-0
-FHSU is undefeated against Bethany in its NCAA Division II history.
-FHSU won both games of a doubleheader between the teams in Hays in 2022 by scores of 10-1 and 8-0.
-Savanah Egger threw the first 1.2 innings of the 10-1 win in 2022 before handing the ball to Morgan Schmidt for the final 3.1 in a five-inning run-rule win for the Tigers. Egger struck out four and Schmidt struck out six to pick up the win in relief.
-Bailey Carlson threw a complete game in the 8-0 win in 2022, going six innings with six strikeouts in a run-rule win. Sarah Tiffany had a 3-for-3 game at the plate in that contest.
 
Tiger Notes
·  Savanah Egger ranks 19^th nationally in complete games with 8.
·  The FHSU pitching staff ranks 34^th in NCAA Division II for WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched) at 1.20. They currently rank 5^th in the MIAA.
·  Peyton Shepard leads FHSU with a .388 batting average. She has a team-high 26 hits on the season and leads the team in stolen bases, a perfect 9-of-9 on attempts so far. She enters the week with a team-best four-game hitting streak.
·  Loren Beggs leads the team in extra-base hits with six. She also leads in home runs with two.
·  Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson ranks 2^nd in the MIAA and 16^th nationally for sacrifice flies with three.
·  FHSU had a record of 3-2 in non-conference home games last year.