Aberdeen, S.D. – After clinching a pair of victories in their first NSIC contests, the Northern State University softball team will hit the road for two double-headers versus Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. The Wolves are currently 17-9 overall and 2-0 in conference play with a sweep over MSU Moorhead. Due to field conditions in Crookston the Saturday series with the Golden Eagles has been moved to Bemidji State.
NSU took down the Dragons 8-1 in game one and 3-2 in the game two after a walk-off hit from sophomore
Jenna Helgeson in the bottom of the seventh. The Wolves combined for 24 hits in the two games, improving their team batting average to .318 on the year.
Helgeson continues to lead the offense with an average of .382, including 19 RBIs, five homeruns and five doubles. Freshmen
Shayla Steinley and
Kennady Thompson have followed up with batting averages of .368 and .362 respectively, while junior
Katie Dawson leads the team with 23 runs batted in.
From the mound,
Missy Elkins and
Jamie Fisher have each collected seven wins a piece. Fisher enters competition with a 1.77 ERA with 44 strikeouts in 59.1 innings pitched. Elkins has tossed nine complete games with two shutouts.
The Wolves will face Minnesota Crookston at 3 and 5 p.m. on Saturday and take on Bemidji State at 12 and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
About Minnesota Crookston
- The Golden Eagles are currently 10-13 overall on the year and 0-2 in conference play with two losses against Bemidji State.
- Minnesota Crookston is batting .285 as a team with an average of 4.3 runs scored per game.
- Victoria Bayliss is atop the team with an average of .370 from the plate, including a team-high 27 hits and 14 runs scored.
- From the mound, Baily Braatz has earned eight wins with an ERA of 3.03.
- Don Stopa is in his third season as Minnesota Crookston's head softball coach.
Last Match-Up
- The Wolves defeated Minnesota Crookston 16-0 at the PC Dome Invite earlier this season.
- NSU combined for 17 hits in 31 at bats with three doubles and three homeruns.
- Lauren Kunz and Courtney Sjerven led the team with three hits each.
- Jamie Fisher notched her first shutout of the season, holding the Golden Eagles to just two hits in five innings pitched.
About Bemidji State
- The Beavers are 12-5 overall and 2-0 in league play early in the 2017 season.
- Bemidji State has gone .327 as a unit from the plate, averaging 5.5 runs per game.
- Alayna Krejci leads the Beavers with 23 hits and 12 RBIs, followed by Alexandria Ripka with six doubles.
- Jessica Yost has nine wins from the mound with an ERA of 1.06.
- Rick Supinski is in his fifth season with the BSU softball program.
Last Match-Up
