Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team kicks off the 2018 season this Saturday and Sunday with four games from the Presentation College Dome. The Wolves will face-off against Dakota Wesleyan, Valley City State, Minnesota Crookston, and Dakota State with games at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. each day.
 
NSU enters the 2018 season under the direction of new head coach Jenny Fuller, who joined the program over the summer. The Wolves are coming off a 29-26-1 season and a tenth place finish in the league, marking their third straight trip to the NSIC Tournament. NSU returns 13 from a season ago, and welcomes five new faces including one junior college transfer. NSIC Gold Glove winner, Kennady Thompson returns for the Wolves in 2018 after a breakout freshman campaign. Thompson hit .319 on the year and notched a .955 fielding percentage.
 
Jamie Fisher and Jenna Helgeson will be back in action this season, after being named the NSIC Players to Watch for the Wolves. Fisher returns to the mound in her third season as the team's ace. She appeared in 54 games a season ago, notching 12 wins with a 3.18 ERA. Fisher was also an asset offensively hitting .302 with eight doubles, 22 RBI, and 13 walks. Helgeson jumped into a starting role in 2017 and led the team hitting .364 with 63 hits, 15 doubles, eight homeruns, two triples, and 36 RBI. She tallied a .960 fielding percentage as the anchor in the Wolves outfield.
 
About Dakota Wesleyan (Sat. @ 10 a.m.)
- The Tigers open the season from the PC Dome after a 20-34 record in 2017 and 9-11 mark in the GPAC
- They welcome eight freshman to the 2018 roster
- DWU is led by head coach Ed Kieff in his sixth season at the helm
 
Last Match-up
- The Wolves and Tigers last faced off in 2005, with Northern notching the 12-4 victory
- NSU is 4-1 all-time against DWU
 
About Valley City State (Sat. @ 4 p.m.)
- The Vikings open the season from the PC Dome Invitation this weekend after four exhibition match-ups in the fall
- VCSU was picked third in the NSAA Preseason Coaches Poll after a 21-31 season in 2017
- Valley City adds seven freshmen in 2018
- The Vikings are led by head coach Michael Mook in his third season with the program
 
Last Match-up
- The Wolves defeated the Vikings 1-0 in extra innings from the PC Dome a season ago
- Jamie Fisher grabbed the win for NSU, improving to 2-0 on the year
- Madison Rutter led the team going 2-for-3
- Kennady Thompson notched the game winning hit and RBI, while Shayla Steinley scored the game winning run
- Northern is 12-8 all-time against Valley City State
 
About Minnesota Crookston (Sun. @ 10 a.m.)
- Minnesota Crookston was picked 16^th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll after a 12-35-1 record in 2017 and 2-23-1 mark in the league
- The Golden Eagles will also open the season this weekend from the dome
- Gabriel Antolak and Paige Pitlick were named as the team's players to watch in 2018
- UMC is led by head coach Don Stopa in his fourth season with the program
 
Last Match-up
- The Wolves went 2-0-1 against Minnesota Crookston in 2017, defeating the Golden Eagles in non-conference play and the opening game of the conference doubleheader
- NSU tallied 16-0 and 9-5 wins, as well as a 5-5 tie
- Katie Dawson led the team in the three outings going 6-for-10 at the plate with one run scored and three RBI
- Madison Rutter was second on the team going 3-for-7 with four runs scored and two RBI
- Jamie Fisher notched her first one of the season in the non-conference match-up
- The Wolves combined for 40 hits through the three games
- Northern is 30-5-1 all-time against Minnesota Crookston
 
Dakota State (Sun. @ 4 p.m.)
- The Tigers also open the season at the Presentation Dome Invitational
- Dakota State is coming off a 14-35 season in 2017, with a 5-21 conference record in the NSAA
- DSU welcomes ten freshman in 2018
- The Trojans are led by head coach Steven Kissel in his third season at the helm
 
Last Match-up
- The Wolves defeated the Trojans 10-2 from the PC Dome a season ago
- Missy Elkins grabbed the win on the mound giving up just two runs on three hits
- Jenna Helgeson and Madison Rutter each went 2-for-3 in the game
- Helgeson tallied two RBI and two runs scored, while Rutter notched one RBI and one run scored
- Helgeson and Katie Dawson grabbed two of the team's three homeruns in the win
- Northern is 8-5 all-time against Dakota State