Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team will open NSIC play this weekend from the Presentation College Dome. NSU is set to face Bemidji State at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. on Friday, and Minnesota Crookston at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday.

The Wolves enter the doubleheaders with a 10-10 record overall. NSU is hitting .321 as a team this season with 168 hits, 97 runs scored, 33 doubles, one triple, nine homeruns, and 91 RBI. Northern holds a .938 field percentage with 380 putouts, 180 assists, and 37 errors. The NSU pitching staff has a 4.90 ERA through 126.2 innings pitched with a .277 opponent batting average and 53 strikeouts.

Kennady Thompson leads the team hitting .424 on the year, while 12 Wolves have posted a .300 or better batting average. Thompson has tallied 25 hits and a team high 15 RBI. Katie Dawson is hitting .351, and leads the team with a .614 slugging percentage and four homeruns. Jamie Fisher leads the Wolves with a 6-5 record, notching a 2.63 ERA. The junior has made 14 appearances, throwing 82.0 innings, with a .227 opponent batting average, three shut-out victories, three saves, and 41 strikeouts.

About Bemidji State
- BSU enters the weekend with an 11-11 record overall and 0-0 mark in league play
- The Beavers are hitting .265 as a team with 155 hits, 85 runs scored, 27 doubles, four triples, 13 homeruns, and 77 runs scored
- Defensively they hold a .945 fielding percentage with 438 putouts, 134 assists, and 33 errors
- The pitching staff has a 2.78 ERA through 146.0 innings pitched with 101 strikeouts and a .258 opponent batting average
- Makayla Pagel leads four hitters above .300 this season with a .384 average, including a team high 28 hits, four homeruns, and 16 RBI
- Stephi Dullum leads the staff with a 6-5 record and 2.31 ERA. She has thrown 60.2 innings with 47 strikeouts and a .250 opponent batting average
- BSU is led by head coach Rick Supinski in his seventh season at the helm

A Season Ago
- Northern went 0-2 against Bemidji State in 2017, falling 9-1 and 8-0
- Jenna Helgeson grabbed one of the team's two hits in the game one loss
- Steinley, Dawson, Fisher, and Thompson recorded the four team hits for the Wolves in game two
- NSU Is 30-16 all-time versus Bemidji State

About Minnesota Crookston
- The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 4-18 record overall and 0-0 mark in the NSIC
- Crookston is hitting .284 as a team this season with 173 hits, 87 runs scored, 36 doubles, five triples, four homeruns, and 74 RBI
- They have a .922 fielding percentage with 417 putouts, 195 assists, and 52 errors on defense
- The Golden Eagle staff has thrown 139 innings with a 4.08 ERA, 50 strikeouts, and a .315 opponent batting average
- Jenna Boardman is hitting a team high .412 on the year, as six women are hitting above .300
- Mikaela Rodriguez leads the team with 25 hits and 15 RBI, while hitting .347
- Mikayla Jones leads the team with a 3-3 record, while Luisa Silvain has a team leading 2.89 ERA
- UMC is led by head coach Don Stopa in his fourth season with the program

Earlier this Season
- NSU fell to UMC 9-1 from the PC Dome in early February
- Seven Wolves tallied hits in the game, led by Madison Rutter with a double
- The Wolves are 30-6-1 all-time versus the Golden Eagles