FHSU Athletics
Fort Hays State (24-20, 9-15 MIAA) vs.
Emporia State (30-22, 10-14 MIAA)
Wednesday, April 30 ⦁ 3 p.m.
Hays, Kan. ⦁ Fleharty Family Field
Radio: KJLS (103.3) CLICK HERE TO LISTEN
Video: MIAA Network: CLICK HERE TO WATCH ($)
Fort Hays State Softball will open the 2025 MIAA Tournament on Wednesday by taking on Emporia State at 3 p.m. in the first game of the MIAA Tournament, which is taking place at Fleharty Family Field this year in Hays. The Tigers are the No. 9 seed in the tournament, while the Hornets are the No. 8 seed. Fort Hays State enters with a record of 24-20 overall, while Emporia State is 30-22 overall. The tournament is a 10-team single elimination format, a format that started in 2024.
With the lower seed in the matchup, the Tigers will play as the visitor even though the game is on their home field. The winner of the FHSU vs. ESU opening round game moves on to Thursday's quarterfinal game against No. 1 seed Central Oklahoma, which is set for 11 a.m. If the Tigers advance to the semifinals, they will play at 12 p.m. on Friday, and if they advance to the championship game, they will play at 12 p.m. on Saturday.
Fort Hays State jumped back into the win column by defeating Nebraska-Kearney 6-3 in the final game of the regular season. The result snapped a seven-game losing streak. The Tigers needed that win to get into the MIAA Tournament, tying for ninth place in the regular season standings with Nebraska-Kearney. It kept Northwest Missouri State out of the tournament, which also finished in the tie for ninth with FHSU and UNK.