Due to the weather forecasted for Overland Park, Kan. on Thursday, the MIAA Softball Championship Tournament will now begin on Friday at 2 pm. All teams are still slated to play two games on Friday, with the second starting at 4 pm. Games on Saturday are now slated to begin at 11 am and the championship is slated to begin at 9 am on Sunday. The format remains double elimination.

Fort Hays State plays Pittsburg State to open the tournament on Friday at 2 pm and then will play either Missouri Western or Truman at 4 pm. Catch the games with Jonathan Zweygardt on KAYS.

The Fort Hays State softball team is ranked No. 15 in the latest NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll, released on Wednesday (May 1). Fort Hays State moves down four spots from No. 11 last week after going 3-1 this past week in conference play. The Tigers enter the MIAA Tournament at 41-9 overall, the first 40-win season in FHSU softball history.

Fort Hays State is one of two schools from the MIAA referenced in the poll. Central Oklahoma, the MIAA regular season champion, moved up to No. 12 in the rankings this week after going 4-0 last week. The Bronchos were No. 21 in the poll last week. Missouri Western received votes for the poll once again.

Within the Central Region, Southeastern Oklahoma State remains the highest ranked team in the nation, up to No. 2 this week from No. 3 last week. Minnesota State-Mankato is also in this week’s poll at No. 23. Minnesota-Duluth and Winona State received votes.  Click on the photo to the left for a closer look at the rankings.