FHSU Sports Information
Fort Hays State softball was tabbed eighth in the NCAA Division II Central Region Rankings, released Wednesday (April 16). This is the first of three versions of the rankings, released weekly leading up to the NCAA Division II Softball Selection Show, set for March 5 at 10 a.m. ET. The eight teams selected will advance to the NCAA Regional, set for May 9-11.
The Central Region is made up of teams from the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and the Great American Conference, with three automatic bids being given to winners of the conference tournaments. The other five slots in the NCAA Regional are awarded on an at-large basis, with the top two seeds serving as tournament hosts. The winner of each regional site will advance to the NCAA Super Regional, May 16-17. The NCAA Championships will take place May 22-26 in Salem, Va.
Minnesota State-Mankato sits first in the regional rankings with a 32-6 Division II record and a 27-4 regional record. FHSU defeated MSU-Mankato earlier this season at the 8-State Classic on Feb. 16, 11-3 in five innings. The Mavericks are currently tied for first in the NSIC Standings with Wayne State (ninth in the Central Region rankings).
MIAA opponent Emporia State is second in the rankings with a 36-9 record against Division II opponents and a 35-9 in-region record. ESU swept the Tigers at home in a mid-March doubleheader, and is currently first in the MIAA standings, just ahead of Central Oklahoma.
Rounding out the top five is Augustana (31-8 DII, 25-8 In-Region), UCO (35-11 DII and In-Region) and Winona State (26-6 DII, 16-6 In-Region). FHSU split with UCO earlier this season in Edmond, Okla., snapping the Bronchos’ 35-game home winning streak with a 4-1 win in Game 1 of a doubleheader. The Tigers were scheduled to play Winona State at the Teri Mathis Tournament earlier this season, which was canceled due to wintry weather.
GAC leader Southeastern Oklahoma State is sixth in the rankings, posting a 29-13 record in the region and against DII opponents, just ahead of Missouri Western (31-15 overall and in-region), which is seventh. FHSU dropped a doubleheader with MWSU earlier this month on the road, but the Tigers are battling with the Griffons’ for the third slot in the MIAA standings.
FHSU is eighth in the rankings after going 24-16 against Division II opponents this season, all of which has been in-region competition. FHSU closes out the regular season with home and away doubleheaders against Nebraska-Kearney, April 26-27, respectively. Senior Day for the Tigers is Saturday (April 26) with games at 2 and 4 p.m.
Closing out the rankings at No. 9 and No. 10 are Wayne State (Neb.) and East Central. Wayne State (29-10 DII, 23-8 In-Region) is tied with MSU-Mankato for first in the NSIC standings, and East Central (25-20 DII, 25-20 In-Region) sits fifth in the GAC.
Below are the complete Central Region Rankings for April 16…
| Rank | Team | DII | In-Region |
| 1 | Minnesota State-Mankato | 32-6 | 27-4 |
| 2 | Emporia State | 36-9 | 35-9 |
| 3 | Augustana (S.D.) | 31-8 | 25-8 |
| 4 | Central Oklahoma | 35-11 | 35-11 |
| 5 | Winona State | 26-6 | 16-6 |
| 6 | Southeastern Oklahoma | 29-13 | 29-13 |
| 7 | Missouri Western State | 31-15 | 31-15 |
| 8 | Fort Hays State | 24-16 | 24-16 |
| 9 | Wayne State (Neb.) | 29-10 | 23-8 |
| 10 | East Central | 25-20 | 25-20 |