Fort Hays State (9-7, 0-0 MIAA) at
Missouri Western (10-4, 0-0 MIAA)
Saturday, March 9 - 12 p.m. - St. Joseph, Mo.

Fort Hays State at
Northwest Missouri State (9-9, 0-0 MIAA)
Sunday, March 10 - 12 p.m. - Maryville, Mo.

Fort Hays State Softball will begin conference play this weekend in Missouri. The Tigers play at Missouri Western on Saturday (March 9) and then Northwest Missouri State on Sunday (March 10). Both doubleheaders are slated to begin at 12 p.m. Live video will be available by subscription on The MIAA Network and live stats are also available to follow the games.
 
Fort Hays State enters conference play at 9-7 overall on the season. Missouri Western comes into the weekend at 10-4 overall, while Northwest Missouri State enters the weekend at 9-9 overall. Northwest Missouri will play Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday before meeting the Tigers on Sunday.
 
Fort Hays State is looking to snap a five-game skid going into Saturday. The Tigers started the season 9-2 before fighting some offensive struggles of late. The Griffons enter the weekend on a seven-game win streak after sweeping five games at the McKendree Invitational last weekend. The Bearcats are coming off a 2-2 performance at the William Jewell Tournament last weekend, falling twice to William Jewell but winning twice over Wayne State (Neb.).
 
Opponents
Missouri Western (10-4)
Series History: MWSU leads 27-13
-FHSU and MWSU split last year's conference doubleheader in Hays. MWSU won game one 8-2 and FHSU won game two 3-2.
-Emma Montoya threw a complete game in the 3-2 win last year, striking out eight. It was one of her two complete games for the season.
-Carly Stuke hit a 2-run home run in the 3-2 win last year, while Loren Beggs drove in the decisive run in the 5^th with a sacrifice fly.
-The Tigers are searching for their first win in St. Joseph since the 2008 season. MWSU has won 13 straight on its home field in the series.

Northwest Missouri State (9-9)
Series History: Tied 18-18
-FHSU and NWMSU split last year's conference doubleheader in Hays. FHSU won game one 2-1 before falling in game two 4-0.
-Savanah Egger threw a complete game in the 2-1 win with six strikeouts. She allowed only four hits.
-Jadyn Streigle threw a complete game shutout for NWMSU last year, allowing just three hits with one strikeout.
-Morgan Schmidt had 8 strikeouts against the Bearcats in game two last year in 4.1 innings of relief.
-FHSU scored both of its runs in the 5^th inning of the 2-1 win last year. Aubrey Martinez had an RBI triple, then Peyton Shepard had an RBI single. Shepard went 3-for-3 at the plate in that game.
-The teams have split the MIAA doubleheader each of the last two seasons. FHSU has won 5 of the last 6 meetings between the teams in Hays.
 
Tiger Notes

• Savanah Egger ranks 38^th nationally in WHIP at 0.93, while holding a 1.46 ERA.
• All Tiger pitchers have an ERA below 2.40 on the season. As a unit, they rank 15^th nationally as a team in ERA (1.77).
• Peyton Shepard leads FHSU with a .352 batting average. She has a team-high 19 hits on the season and leads the team in stolen bases, a perfect 6-of-6 on attempts so far.
• Loren Beggs leads the team in extra-base hits with five. She leads in home runs with two.
• Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson ranks 2^nd in the MIAA and 10^th nationally for sacrifice flies with three.
• FHSU ranks 15^th nationally and 3rd in the MIAA in WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched). The Tigers sit at 1.07 so far this season.
• FHSU is tied for 23^rd nationally in shutouts with four. Washburn leads the MIAA so far with eight.