CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team will take on Minnesota State University Mankato and Concordia University, St. Paul in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) road games this weekend. The Golden Eagles will take on the Mavericks Fri., April 3 at 1 and 3 p.m., and will battle the Golden Bears Sat., April 4 at 12 and 2 p.m.

The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 4-22 (0-8 NSIC) record. UMC is coming off a pair of losses Tuesday to Minot State University. Minnesota Crookston has been led on the season by Victoria Bayliss (Fr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich./Elementary Education), who is hitting .395 with 15 runs scored, nine doubles and nine runs batted in (RBI's). Allison Foley (Jr., SS, Lockport, Ill./Accounting) has also had a strong year as she is hitting .367 with 16 runs scored and 10 RBI's. Shelby Hollinger (Sr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan/Health Science) has added power to the line-up for UMC, hitting .338 with a team-leading seven home runs. She has a team-high 18 runs scored and has 14 RBI's on the year.

In the circle, Bailey Braatz (So., RHP, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) has paced UMC with a 2-9 mark and a 5.69 earned runs average (ERA) in 67.2 innings pitched.

Minnesota State is 19-13 (4-2 NSIC) entering Friday. The Mavericks have been led by Tatum Klein, who is hitting .414 with 30 runs scored, three triple and 11 RBI's. Jess Meidl has been a power for Minnesota State, with a .340 batting average, 22 runs scored, six doubles, five tripes, one home run and 17 RBI's.

In the circle, NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Coley Ries has had a good start to 2015 with a 10-10 mark and a 2.44 ERA in 120.2 innings pitched. Libby Bernis has also been strong as she has posted a 9-2 record and a 2.87 ERA in 87.2 innings pitched.

Concordia-St. Paul enters the weekend with an 8-21 (2-4 NSIC) record. The Golden Bears have been led by Nicole Thompson, who is hitting .415 with 18 runs scored and six RBI's. Jamie Fleischhacker has also been strong, with a .329 batting average, 16 runs scored, six doubles, two home runs and a team-leading 24 RBI's.

The Golden Bear pitching staff has been led by Stephanie Kappes, who is 4-11 with a 4.12 ERA in 85 innings pitched.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.