FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State Softball jumped to 14th in the latest version of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 rankings, released Wednesday (Feb. 19). The Tigers, unranked in the preseason poll, went 5-1 last weekend at the 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark.
FHSU is joined in the poll by MIAA opponent Emporia State (No. 24), while Central Oklahoma (previously No. 1) and Missouri Western are receiving votes.
The Tigers travel to Kansas City, Mo., on Friday (Feb. 21) for a doubleheader with Rockhurst before heading north for a five-game tournament in St. Paul, Minn. on Feb. 23-24. FHSU will face Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference members Minnesota-Duluth, University of Mary and Minot State at the tournament, hosted by UMD.
The complete NFCA rankings are below, with MIAA teams in bold…
| Rank | Team | Record | Points | Previous |
| 1 | Humboldt State (7) | 12-1 | 390 | 4 |
| 2 | West Texas A&M (8) | 11-0 | 382 | 8 |
| 3 | Alabama-Huntsville | 8-2 | 352 | 9 |
| 4 | Grand Valley State | 0-0 | 351 | 3 |
| 5 | Armstrong (1) | 7-3 | 344 | 5 |
| 6 | Texas Woman’s University | 12-3 | 292 | 14 |
| 7 | Tampa | 5-0 | 272 | 13 |
| 8 | Augustana (South Dakota) | 4-1 | 263 | 22 |
| 9 | California Baptist | 11-2 | 243 | |
| 10 | LIU Post | 0-0 | 232 | 11 |
| 11 | Missouri-St. Louis | 5-1 | 214 | 18 |
| 12 | North Georgia | 7-5 | 193 | 15 |
| 13 | UC San Diego | 8-2 | 163 | 21 |
| 14 | Fort Hays State | 5-1 | 162 | NR |
| St. Mary’s (Texas) | 10-3 | 162 | NR | |
| 16 | Barry | 7-2 | 151 | 24 |
| 17 | Wayne State (Michigan) | 5-1 | 119 | NR |
| 18 | Caldwell | 0-0 | 112 | 19 |
| 19 | Valdosta State | 9-5 | 107 | 6 |
| 20 | California (Pennsylvania) | 0-0 | 91 | 16 |
| 21 | Anderson (South Carolina) | 8-0 | 87 | 20 |
| 22 | Dixie State | 9-2 | 84 | 23 |
| 23 | Kutztown | 1-3 | 80 | 2 |
| 24 | Wingate | 8-0 | 75 | NR |
| 25 | Emporia State | 7-2 | 69 | NR |
Dropped Out: No. 1 Central Oklahoma (6-5), No. 7 Indianapolis (4-4), No. 10 Southeastern Oklahoma State (5-4), No. 12 St. Martin’s (2-5), No. 17 Angelo State (9-5), No. 25 Columbus State (9-4).
Receiving Votes: Angelo State (53), Indianapolis (32), Central Oklahoma (23), Missouri Western State (23), Southeastern Oklahoma State (14), Columbus State (11), Central Washington (9), Florida Tech (9), St. Edward’s (8), New Haven (7), Winona State (7), Molloy (5), Bloomsburg (3), Cal State Monterey Bay (3), Metro State (2), St. Martin’s (1).