TAHLEQUAH – Northeastern State softball closes its regular season with a pair of MIAA doubleheaders starting with Nebraska-Kearney Friday and then Fort Hays State Saturday.  Following the Fort Hays State contests, NSU will honor its Senior Class on the field. 

The RiverHawks' magic number is one, with the team holding a four-game lead on Fort Hays State and Newman, who are the first teams outside of the top-8 in the MIAA standings.  As far as seeding, that depends on how the RiverHawks do this weekend.  With the way things sit heading into the weekend, NSU is seventh but could climb as high as fourth. 

This year's MIAA tournament is on May 4-7 in Edmond and is hosted by Central Oklahoma. 

Nebraska-Kearney (23-21, 13-9 MIAA) is a game ahead of the RiverHawks in the MIAA standings.  Northeastern State has faced UNK once this season in a non-conference meeting in Springfield, Mo., with the RiverHawks edging the Lopers 6-5.  Statistically, the teams mirror each other at the plate, fielding,  and in the circle.  Both teams have swept each other in their home ballpark in the previous four meetings.  The RiverHawks are 7-1 at home against the Lopers and lead the overall series 11-6. 

Fort Hays State (23-26-1, 9-13 MIAA) needs plenty of things to go their way this weekend to qualify for the MIAA Tournament.  The Tigers will have to win at least three games, sweep the RiverHawks, have Emporia State lose three games, and have Newman lose two.  They will visit Rogers State Friday, which is 12-0 at home this season.  Fort Hays State is ranked sixth in the MIAA, batting .287 and seventh in pitching with a 3.61 earned run average. 

The RiverHawks are 14th nationally in home runs (52), with Chloe Bohuslavicky fourth in the MIAA with 11 homers.  Gail Young is ranked tenth across all divisions of NCAA softball with 751 innings pitched and fifth with 83 complete games.

First pitch Friday is scheduled for 1 p.m., and Saturday's start time is noon.