CROOKSTON, Minn.-  The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team will head to St. Cloud, Minn. to face St. Cloud State University Wed., April 7 at 2 and 4 p.m. at Selke Field. The Golden Eagles are still seeking their first conference wins after coming close in games against Minnesota State University, Mankato and Concordia University, St. Paul on the weekend.

The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 4-26 (0-12 NSIC) mark overall. They are in their first season under Don Stopa and have already surpassed their win total from last season. The Golden Eagles come into Wednesday with a .275 batting average as a team. Victoria Bayliss (Fr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich./Elementary Education) comes in with a .396 batting average with 19 runs scored, five doubles, three home runs and 15 runs batted in (RBI's). In addition to Bayliss, Shelby Hollinger (Sr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan/Health Science) has had a strong season for the Golden Eagles, hitting .315 with a team-leading eight home runs.

In the circle, Bailey Braatz (So., RHP, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) has led the team with a 2-10 mark and a 5.81 earned runs average (ERA) in 78.1 innings pitched.

St. Cloud State enters the season with a 19-17 (5-7 NSIC) record. The Huskies have hit .283 as a team on the season. They have been led by Jessica Goerger, who is hitting .396 with 15 runs scored, nine doubles, four triples, four home runs and 20 RBI's. Taylor Thomas comes in hitting .326 on the season with 15 runs scored, four doubles, one triple and 16 RBI's.

The St. Cloud State pitching staff has been led by Kelly Franks, who has been dominant, with a 7-3 mark and a 2.79 ERA in 82.2 innings pitched.
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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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.