By The Hays Daily News

The Fort Hays State University softball team swept Missouri Southern State University in the final regular season doubleheader Sunday, 1-0 and 8-3, at Tiger Stadium. The Tigers already had earned the No. 3 seed for this week's MIAA postseason tournament.

Fort Hays tied the best finish in the school's six-year MIAA tenure and finished 29-17 overall, 13-7 MIAA.

Fort Hays will face No. 6 Pittsburg State University (11-9 MIAA), a team the Tigers defeated twice Saturday at home. PSU finished with the fourth-best record in conference play, but the seed was adjusted following a self-reported eligibility violation. In accordance with NCAA and MIAA policy a nullification penalty was applied to PSU's win-loss percentage. All four first-round matchups will occur at 6 p.m. at the Blue Valley Sports Complex in Overland Park.

Emporia State University earned the MIAA regular season crown with a 20-0 record. Last year, Fort Hays advanced to the conference tournament championship game before falling to University of Nebraska-Omaha.

Against Missouri Southern, Fort Hays scored one run in the second inning on a double from senior Adriana Wortley. She later scored on a wild pitch from losing pitcher Haley Pypes (10-10). Senior right-hander Maddie Holub (17-8) went a complete game, allowing one hit in seven innings with 15 strikeouts against one walk.

In Game 2, Fort Hays scored two runs in the first, one in the third, four in the fourth and one in the fifth. The top eight hitters in the lineup had at least one hit. Senior second baseman Taylor Nelson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and three RBIs.

Holub finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Holub pitched two scoreless innings to start the contest with four strikeouts against no hits or walks. Then, junior Kaitlyn Shattleroe (8-4) pitched five innings, allowing three runs (two earned) with six hits, two strikeouts and two walks.

Hannah Cooke (3-12) took the loss for Southern (16-35, 5-15 MIAA).