Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team earned the tenth seed in the NSIC Tournament, which opens tomorrow in Rochester, Minnesota. The Wolves will face seventh seeded Southwest Minnesota State at 10 a.m. from the RYFSA Complex.
 
GAME INFORMATION

• Fans will be permitted into the facility, with masks and social distancing required
• One day and tournament passes are available
• Full spectator guidelines can be found HERE
• Live stats and live video are also available at the link above
• The new NSIC Network is now live; search "NSIC Network" on your favorite device to download the app and watch the Wolves all season long

 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• The Wolves enter the tournament with a 22-18 record overall and 13-13 mark in the NSIC
• Northern is hitting .310 this season with 339 hits, 51 doubles, four triples, 30 homeruns, 17 2RBI, and 191 runs scored
• Ashley Fauske leads the starters with a .375 average, followed by Kennady Thompson hitting .365
• Rachel Reinke has as team high 40 hits and 33 runs scored on the year, while seven of the starting nine are hitting above .300
• The NSU pitching staff posts a 3.72 ERA through 256.0 innings pitched with 299 strikeouts and a .270 average
• Meghan Anderson and Elyse Cuttic each have double figure wins this season, holding 3.38 and 3.46 ERA respectively
• Anderson leads the staff with 168 strikeouts and a .246 opponent batting average

 
SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE STORYLINES

• The Mustangs closed out the regular season with a 26-18 record overall and 17-13 mark in the NSIC
• SMSU is hitting .312 with 382 hits, 69 doubles, ten triples, 22 homeruns, 193 RBI, and 218 runs scored
• Kali Tomlinson and Emma Grote lead the team hitting .397 and .377 respectively this season, with a combined 117 hits, 76 runs scored, and 58 RBI
• The Mustang pitching staff has a 3.81 ERA through 283.0 innings pitched with 217 strikeouts and a .300 opponent batting average
• Megan Cull leads the team with a 12-7 record, 3.48 ERA, and 94 strikeouts in 2021
• SMSU is led by head coach Bailey Bouman in her third season at the helm

 
EARLIER THIS SEASON

• The Wolves and Mustangs split twice in 2021 in non-conference and conference play
• In the non-conference series, Northern tallied a 2-1 game one victory and an 11-3 game two loss
• In NSIC play, Southwest took game one with a score of 10-7 and Northern took game two, 6-4
• Northern is 23-60 all-time versus Southwest Minnesota State