Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team looks to close out conference play this week with a six-game home stand. The Wolves will face Minot State, Winona State and Upper Iowa from the Moccasin Creek Softball Complex on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Northern is currently 27-20-1 overall and 12-11-1 in the NSIC.
NSU came away with three victories in six conference match-ups last week, including a sweep on the road versus Concordia- St. Paul. The Wolves combined for eight doubles, two homeruns and 17 RBIs as a team on the week, going 34-of-160 from the plate for a team average of .213.
Lauren Kunz led the Wolves from the plate, connecting for two homeruns, a double and a team-high eight runs batted in.
Rachel Albright,
Missy Elkins and
Jamie Fisher held opponents to 3.50 earned runs each game. Fisher led the team with two wins, while Elkins collected a shutout against the Golden Bears.
As a unit, NSU is hitting .297 with an average of 4.77 runs scored per game. The Wolves have surpassed the single season team double record and are approaching numerous
Northern will begin action on Thursday at 2 and 4 p.m. versus Minot State, and continue into the weekend with double headers against Winona State at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Upper Iowa at 12 and 2 p.m. on Sunday.
On Saturday, NSU will host the annual World's Largest Softball Tailgate where there will be food and games for fans in attendance. The Wolves will celebrate
Missy Elkins,
Ashley Clapp,
Rachel Albright,
Lauren Kunz,
Katelynn Dilts, Kaitlyn Szeles and
Jess Vernon on Sunday for Senior Day.
About Minot State
- The Beavers are currently 20-17 overall and 12-12 in conference play.
- As a unit, Minot State is hitting .317 and averaging 5.30 runs per game.
- Jordan Grant leads the team with an average of .517 from the plate, while Ashley Hill is atop the team with nine homeruns and 38 runs batted in.
- The Beavers pitching staff as a combined ERA of 4.53. Jenn Spencer leads the squad with 11 wins and 80 strikeouts on the year.
- Minot State is led by head coach, Bill Triplett, who is in his tenth season with the program.
About Winona State
- The Warriors sit second in the NSIC with a record of 21-3 and 40-9 overall in the 2017 season.
- Winona is currently batting .340 as a team with an average of 6.0 runs each game.
- Lani Van Zyl leads the team with an average of .423 and 15 doubles from the plate, while Mariah Schultz has six homeruns and 31 runs batted in.
- McKenna Larsen leads the pitching staff with 18 wins and an ERA of 0.93.
- Greg Jones is in his 17th season with the Warriors. Jones has compiled a 650-236-4 (.737) record overall with the program.
About Upper Iowa
- The 2016 NSIC Champions are currently 17-29 overall and 9-14 in conference play on the year.
- Upper Iowa is batting .281 as a unit with an average of 3.65 runs scored each game.
- Sammy Garrett leads the team with a batting average of .358 and 30 runs batted in.
- Emily Kisch leads the Peacock pitching staff with an ERA of 4.13 and seven wins from the mound.
- Amanda Bradberry is in her fifth season with the UIU softball team. As head coach in 2015, Bradberry set the school record for conference wins in a season.
