Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team continues pre-season action this Friday through Sunday in Columbus, Georgia; taking part in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Wolves will face Carson Newman, Georgian Court, No. 17 Alabama Huntsville, West Chester, California PA, and Missouri Western. Full game details, including start times (central time) are noted below.
 
GAME & FAN INFORMATION

• Live video and the tournament information page are available above or on the full schedule on nsuwolves.com
• Live stats and audio for the contest versus West Chester are available on the schedule page
• Game results will be posted to nsuwolves.com as they become available

 
NORTHERN STATE STORYLINES

• The Wolves enter the weekend with a 4-0 record after opening the season two weeks ago from the Presentation College Dome
• Northern is hitting .321 with a .515 slugging percentage and .381 on base percentage
• They have 43 hits, including 14 doubles and four homeruns, 34 runs scored, 30 RBI, and five stolen bases
• The South Dakota freshman tag-team of Kyra Knudtson and Tevan Bryant led the team hitting .538 and .429 respectively
• Knudtson holds a team best seven hits, three doubles, and six runs scored, while Bryant and Avarie Eagle lead the team with six RBI each
• The pitching staff posts a 4.52 ERA through 31.0 innings of work with 27 strikeouts and a .266 opponent average
• Meghan Anderson and Lexi Chase each threw two wins from the PC Dome, with Anderson notching a team best 1.91 ERA and 15 strikeouts

 
CARSON-NEWMAN STORYLINES – FRIDAY @ 11:30 AM

• The Eagles enter the weekend with a 12-1 record this season; their lone loss coming against No. 16 UIndy
• Carson Newman is hitting .344 this season with a .570 slugging percentage and .416 on base percentage
• They have 116 hits, including 18 doubles, 16 homeruns, and five triples, 80 RBI, 92 runs scored, and 26 stolen bases
• Bailey Macauley leads the team with a .476 average, belting seven homeruns and six doubles in her 13 games played; she also leads the team with 24 RBI
• In the circle, the Eagles post a 3.02 ERA through 81.0 innings of work with 65 strikeouts
• Syerra Rogers leads the team with four wins, a 0.90 ERA, and 33 strikeouts this season
• CN is led by head coach Michael Graves in his 15^th season at the helm; he is just the second head coach in program history

 
LAST MEETING

• This will be the first meeting between the two programs

 
GEORGIAN COURT STORYLINES – FRIDAY @ 4:30 PM

• The Lions hold a 3-2 record overall this season
• Georgian Court is hitting .336 with a .470 slugging percentage and .410 on base percentage
• They have 134 hits, including 12 doubles and three triples, 33 runs scored, and 29 RBI
• Adriana Mungo leads the starters with a .444 averaging, notching a team best eight hits, two triples, and seven RBI
• The pitching staff posts a .407 ERA through 32.2 innings of work with a .284 opponent batting average and 19 strikeouts
• Sarah Clancy is 2-0 in three appearances this season, leading the staff with a 2.40 ERA, nine strikeouts, and .271 opponent batting average
• GCU is led by head coach Nicole Degenhardt in her eighth season at the helm

 
LAST MEETING

• The two teams last faced in 2019 with Georgian Court notching a 6-0 victory
• Northern is 1-4 all-time against GCU

 
#17 ALABAMA HUNTSVILLE STORYLINES – SATURDAY @ 2 PM

• The Chargers are 9-3 overall this season
• UAH is hitting .303 with a .442 slugging percentage and .418 on base percentage
• Huntsville has 96 hits, including 12 doubles, eight homeruns, and four triples, 77 runs scored, and 69 RBI in 2023
• Lawren Hayes has started every game this season and leads the team with a .500 average, 19 hits 15 runs scored, three doubles, and two triples
• The Charger pitching staff posts a 2.83 ERA through 84.0 innings pitched with a .269 opponent batting average and 69 strikeouts
• Katie Bracken and Megan Shurtz lead the team with three wins apiece, while Bracken posts a team best 0.85 ERA, 1.82 opponent average, and 33 strikeouts
• Huntsville is led by head coach Les Stuedeman, leading the team since the inaugural season in 1995

 
LAST MEETING

• Saturday will be the first meeting between the two teams

 
WEST CHESTER STORYLINES – SATURDAY @ 4:30 PM

• The Golden Rams kicked off their season two weeks ago and hold a 1-1 recorded
• West Chester is hitting .259 with a .500 slugging percentage and .333 on base percentage
• WCU recorded 14 hits, including six doubles, two triples, and one homerun, 11 runs scored, and nine RBI in their opening weekend
• Madison Melvin leads the team with a .667 average, knocking four hits with two triples, three runs scored, and one RBI
• The Golden Ram staff posts a 1.00 ERA through 14.0 innings of work with a .200 opponent batting average and 11 strikeouts
• Samantha Klug threw the win, notching five strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work without giving up an earned run
• WCU is led by head coach Diane Lokey in her 20^th season at the helm

 
LAST MEETING

• West Chester defeated Northern State 7-3 in 2015 in the only meeting between the two teams

 
CALIFORNIA PA STORYLINES – SUNDAY @ 8 AM

• The Vulcans kick off their season this weekend after going 22-13 in the spring of 2022
• They were picked third in the PSAC Preseason Poll behind Mercyhurst and Seton Hill
• California PA is led by head coach Rick Bertagnolli in his 30^th season at the helm

 
LAST MEETING

• Northern tallied an 8-3 victory over California PA in 2020
• NSU is 1-2 all-time versus CUPA

 
MISSOURI WESTERN STATE STORYLINES – SUNDAY @ 10:30 AM

• MoWest heads east with a 5-3 record thus far
• The Griffons are hitting .303 this season with a .491 slugging percentage and .388 on base percentage
• They tallied 71 hits, including 19 doubles, eight homeruns, and one triple, 42 runs scored, and 41 RBI through their first eight games
• Sydni Hawkins leads the starters hitting .483 with a team best 14 hits
• In the circle, MWSU posts a 2.13 ERA through 56.0 innings pitched with a .230 opponent batting average and 69 strikeouts
• Harley Pruetting is 3-1 on the year with a 0.68 ERA and .192 opponent average, while Sam Pederson is 2-0 with a 2.30 ERA and team best 34 strikeouts
• The Griffons are led by head coach Joe Yegge in his second season at the helm

 
LAST MEETING

• Northern went 1-1 versus Missouri Western a season ago
• The Wolves tallied a 9-2 victory in game one and fell 7-2 in game two
• NSU is 4-10 all-time versus MWSU