Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team opens the 2021 season this Saturday and Sunday at the Minot Air Supported Dome Tournament. The Wolves will match-up against Minnesota Crookston and Minot State at 7 and 10 a.m. on Saturday, and UMary and Bemidji State at 7 and 10 a.m. on Sunday.  
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Fans are not permitted in the Air-Supported Dome
• Family members of the student-athletes may attend the games and must wear masks while in attendance
• Social distancing is required and seating is only allowed beyond the outfield fence
  • All family members are permitted to bring their own chairs
• Live stats are also available at the link above

 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• The Wolves were picked seventh in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll earning 146 points
• Northern State produced one of their best starts in program history in 2020, holding a 15-4 record when the season was canceled due to COVID-19
• Kennady Thompson and Meghan Anderson were picked as the team's player and pitcher to watch for the 2021 season
• Thompson hit .345 with 20 hits, 21 RBI, four homeruns, and one triple a season ago
• Anderson went 10-1 in 13 appearances in 2020. She recorded a 1.15 ERA through 67.0 innings pitched with 68 strikeouts in her true freshman campaign
• Northern returns 15 from the 2020 roster and welcomes nine incoming freshmen and transfers

 
MINNESOTA CROOKSTON STORYLINES

• The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 1-5 record overall, notching one win over Viterbo last weekend
• Minnesota Crookston was picked 14^th with 46 points in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
• Cassie Querry and Katie Humhej were picked as the team's player and pitcher to watch for the 2021 season
• UMC is hitting .209 as a team with 23 runs scored
• The pitching staff holds a 4.42 ERA with a .268 opponent batting average
• Crookston is led by head coach Travis Owen in his second season with the program

 
MINOT STATE STORYLINES

• Minot enters the weekend with a 3-1 record, opening the season at the Presentation College dome with wins over Briar Cliff, Jamestown, and Presentation
• The Beavers were picked in eighth, one spot behind Northern State, in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll
• Isis Cabral and Trinity Valentine were picked as the team's player and pitcher to watch for the season
• Through four games, Minot is hitting .348 with 27 runs scored and a 4.23 team ERA
• The Beavers are led by head coach Nat Wagner in his second season at the helm

 
UNIVERSITY OF MARY STORYLINES

• UMary will also open the season in Minot facing Northern State, Minot State, and Bemidji State
• The Marauders were picked 11^th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, earning 85 points
• Madelynn Trout and Kaitlyn Alvarado were picked as the team's player and pitcher to watch for the 2021 season
• The Marauders are led by first year head coach Steph Roan

 
BEMIDJI STATE STORYLINES

• BSU enters the weekend with a 1-1 record, notching an 8-1 victory over Minnesota Crookston on February 10
• Bemidji State was picked 12^th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, notching 61 points behind UMary
• Lisa Kossan and Stephi Dullum were picked as the team's player and pitcher to watch for the 2021 season
• The Beavers are hitting .250 as a team with 13 runs scored and a 2.69 team ERA
• Bemidji State is led by head coach Brittany Gomez-Olson in her first season at the helm

 
LOOKING BACK TO 2020

• Northern tallied wins over UMary, Minnesota Crookston, and Minot State from the dome a season ago
• The Wolves defeated the Marauders 10-2, the Golden Eagles 4-2, and the Beavers 13-12
• NSU last matched up with Bemidji State in 2019, recording a league game split with a 3-2 win and 9-5 loss