KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Fort Hays State Softball was picked 10^th in the 2026 MIAA Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll, released on Friday (Jan. 23). The Tigers tied for ninth place in the MIAA standings last year and produced their third-straight winning season, finishing 24-21. They qualified for the MIAA Tournament for a third-straight year as well.
 
Pittsburg State was the top pick among coaches going into this season, receiving 10 first-place votes. The Gorillas finished second in the MIAA regular season standings last year, but participated in the NCAA national tournament and finished 38-16 overall. Central Oklahoma, picked second in the preseason poll, was the MIAA regular season and tournament champion last year before advancing to the NCAA Championship site (final eight) last year in the national tournament, going 52-11 overall.
 
Missouri Southern and Rogers State each received a first-place vote in the poll, ranked third and fourth respectively. Both participated in the NCAA national tournament as well last year with the Lions finishing 39-19 and the Hillcats finishing 38-15.
 
The 2025 season was a strong one for the MIAA once again with eight teams finishing with 30 or more wins. All 10 teams that qualified for the MIAA Tournament had at least 23 wins for the season, and nine of the 10 had winning records overall.
 
Fort Hays State returns six of its regular starters from the lineup last year. Sisters Alexis and Lilly Mohr are the top returners on the team by batting average. Alexis hit .316 last year and Lilly hit .309. Lilly was the team leader in extra-base hits with 15 (7 doubles, 1 triple, 7 home runs). Alexis tied for the team lead in RBIs with 22. Paige Thexton, Lilliana Ramirez-Johnson, Kaydawn Haag, and Abbey Duarte all return, combining for 21 extra-base hits and 43 RBIs. The Tiger lineup will welcome the return of 2024 all-conference outfielder Peyton Shepard and Hannah Green, who both had their 2025 season ended by injury before it ever started. Several newcomers will be looking to contribute to the offensive effort this season.
 
Korryn Johnson and Myah Wolfe are the two returners for FHSU in the pitching circle, looking to fill the shoes of two pitchers who left a profound mark on the program's history (Savanah Egger and Morgan Schmidt). Johnson is the top returner as she recorded 13 strikeouts in 16.2 innings of work last year. Four newcomers will also look to make an impact in the circle this season.
 
The Tigers enter their 12^th season under head coach Adrian Pilkington, who goes into the 2026 season with 245 career wins.
 
Fort Hays State is scheduled to open the season in Tahlequah, Oklahoma on the weekend of February 13-15. The Tigers have three tournament weekends (two in the state of Kansas) on the slate before their first scheduled home doubleheader on March 4 against Bethany College.
 
The 2026 MIAA Coaches Preseason Poll is listed below.
 
2026 MIAA SOFTBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 141 points
2. Central Oklahoma [1] – 125 points
3. Missouri Southern [1] – 116 points
4. Rogers State [1] – 111 points
5. Central Missouri – 101 points
6. Washburn – 96 points
7. Missouri Western – 84 points
8. Emporia State – 65 points
9. Northwest Missouri – 49 points
10. Fort Hays State – 45 points
11. Nebraska Kearney – 43 points
12. Northeastern State – 26 points
13. Newman – 12 points 
[#] - First Place Votes