MIAA Tournament – May 1-4
Edmond, Okla. – Gerry Pinkston Stadium
Quarterfinals – Thursday, May 2 – 6:30 p.m.
#10 seed Fort Hays State (27-24, 10-16 MIAA)
vs.#2 seed Pittsburg State (49-5, 23-3 MIAA)
Winner moves on to face either #3 Central Oklahoma or #6 Emporia State in the semifinals Friday
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After picking up their first MIAA Tournament win since 2014 with a 2-1 win over Missouri Western State Wednesday night, the Fort Hays State softball team will face MIAA regular season co-champ Pittsburg State in Thursday's quarterfinals at Gerry Pinkston Stadium in Edmond, Okla. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
#2 seed – Pittsburg State (49-5, 23-3 MIAA)
Series Record: FHSU leads 24-22
-The Gorillas earned a share of the MIAA regular season title with Rogers State. It was the first MIAA regular season title for the Gorillas in 30 years, last earning a share of the MIAA title in 1994.
-Pittsburg State reached a new single-season program record for wins in a season with 49, passing its former high set in 1994 with a record of 48-15.
-The Gorillas were the No. 1 ranked team in the NCAA Central Region rankings released on April 24. The MIAA has the top-three regionally ranked teams and four teams in the top six of the region rankings.
-The Gorillas are ranked No. 4 in the latest NFCA national rankings going into the MIAA Tournament.
-Pittsburg State swept the regular season doubleheader with FHSU in Pittsburg by scores of 8-0 (6 inn.) and 4-1. It snapped a 7-game win streak FHSU had in the series going into the doubleheader.
-Fort Hays State owns a 4-0 record against Pittsburg State in the MIAA Tournament. The last meeting occurred in 2013 when FHSU defeated PSU in the opening round as Maddie Holub threw one of her six no-hitters that season for FHSU in an 8-0 (5 inn.) win. That meeting was in Overland Park, Kan.
-FHSU leads the NCAA Division II series history between the schools at 24-22.
-PSU's last neutral site win over FHSU was in 2010 in Maryville, Mo. by a score of 2-0.
-Ava Laurent leads PSU pitching with a 1.97 ERA and 18-1 record. She has 192 strikeouts in 149.1 innings pitched, while throwing seven shutouts and 15 complete games this season. She has one no-hitter this season, which occurred in an 8-0 (5 inn.) win against Truman on March 3. PSU has two no hitters thrown this season, the other by Chelsea Beville in an 8-0 (5 inn.) win against Rockhurst on February 25.
-Heather Arnett leads the MIAA in hitting with a .452 batting average. She and Hannah Burnett are both hitting north of .400 for the season. Maddie Fernandez and Paxtyn Hayes each have 11 home runs on the season and both have driven in at least 50 runs.