CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team will compete in The Spring Games – PFX Athletics Sun., March 11 to Sat., March 17 in Clermont, Fla., and Leesburg, Fla. The Golden Eagles will play 12 games in a seven-day span.

Sun., March 11 - Minnesota Crookston vs. Post, 3:30 p.m. C.T., Hancock Park – Field 3, Clermont, Fla.
Sun., March 11 - Minnesota Crookston vs. Charleston, 6 p.m. C.T., Hancock Park – Field 3, Clermont, Fla.
Mon., March 12 - Minnesota Crookston vs. Concordia (Mich.), 8 a.m. C.T., Sleepy Hollow – Field 6, Leesburg, Fla.
Mon., March 12 - Minnesota Crookston vs. Indiana-South Bend, 1 p.m. C.T., Sleepy  Hollow – Field 3, Leesburg, Fla.
Mon., March 12 - Minnesota Crookston vs. Southern Connecticut State, 3:30 p.m. C.T., Sleepy Hollow – Field 1, Leesburg, Fla.
Tues., March 13 - Minnesota Crooskton vs. Purdue Northwest, 1 p.m. C.T., Legends Way – Field 2, Clermont, Fla.
Tues., March 13 – Minnesota Crookston vs. Jefferson, 6 p.m. C.T., Legends Way – Field 3, Clermont, Fla.
Thurs., March 15 – Minnesota Crookston vs. Millersville, 7:30 a.m. C.T., Hancock Park – Field 1, Clermont, Fla.
Thurs., March 15 – Minnesota Crookston vs. Slippery Rock, 9:30 a.m. C.T., Hancock Park – Field 2, Clermont, Fla.
Fri., March 16 – Minnesota Crookston vs. Northwood, 1 p.m. C.T., Legends Way – Field 1 – Clermont, Fla.
Fri., March 16 – Minnesota Crookston vs. Salem, 3:30 p.m. C.T., Legends Way – Field 2 – Clermont, Fla.
Sat., March 17 – Minnesota Crookston vs. Northwestern Ohio, 8 a.m. C.T., Legends Way – Field 5 – Clermont, Fla.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/softball/
Video - https://www.flosoftball.com/live/4128-the-spring-games-2018-naia-preseason-tournament/signup?utm_campaign=2018thespringgamesnaiapreseasontourn&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=participatingschools&utm_content=participatingschools&rtid=15051&coverage_id=6057308

Minnesota Crookston comes into the week with a 3-7 as they have played in three dome tournaments so far on the 2018 season. The Golden Eagles have picked up wins over Northern State University, Minnesota State University Moorhead and Carroll College. The Golden Eagles have started out strong at the plate and in the circle. They are looking to clean up defensively as they have a .933 fielding percentage thus far.

The Golden Eagles comes into Sunday hitting an impressive .346 this season. Minnesota Crookston has been led by Maggie Morales (Jr., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.), who is hitting .462 with four runs scored, four doubles and nine RBIs. Jenna Boardman (Sr., SS/2B, Genoa, Wis.) comes in batting .424 with eight runs, five doubles, two triples and seven RBIs. Briar Cliff University transfer Mikaela Rodriguez (So., 2B/SS, Laveen, Ariz.) has been strong in her first 10 games. Rodriguez is batting .419 with five runs, four doubles, two home runs and 11 RBIs. Maycee Trujillo (Jr., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) comes in batting .414 with three runs, one double and three RBIs.

In the circle, Minnesota Crookston has been guided by Pima Community College transfer Luisa SIlvain (Jr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.), who is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in 18.2 innings pitched with five strikeouts and one walk. Mikayla Jones (Jr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) is 2-2 with a 4.87 ERA in 18.2 innings. Kassidy Klaphake (Sr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) has worked mostly in the bullpen and is 0-2 with a 3.68 ERA in 13.1 innings, while Paige Pitlick (So., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) is 0-2 with a 4.06 ERA in 10.1 innings pitched.

The Golden Eagles will play mostly Division II competition in Florida, a change from their Tucson, Ariz., schedule in past springs where they played mostly Division III and NAIA foes.

Minnesota Crookston opens up The Spring Games Sun., March 11 at 3:30 p.m. C.T. against Post University at Hancock Park – Field 3 in Clermont, Fla. Post is a NCAA Division II school in Waterbury, Conn. The Eagles officially lift the lid on the season against Minnesota Crookston. Post went 19-27 in 2017. Emily Schaffer leads the way after hitting .310 with 21 runs, nine doubles, three home runs and 21 RBIs. Skylar Devorin batted .295 last season with 36 runs, 10 doubles, three home runs and 16 RBIs. In the circle, the Eagles looked to Leslie Dennis, who was 9-11 with a 3.18 ERA in 132.0 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts and 36 walks.

The Golden Eagles will play University of Charleston Sun., March 11 at 6 p.m. C.T. at Hancock Park – Field 3 in Clermont, Fla. Charleston competes in the Mountain East Conference and is located in Charleston, W.V. The Charleston Golden Eagles are 9-3 on the 2018 season. Kendal Marshall has led Charleston at the plate, she is hitting .425 with seven runs, two doubles and five RBIs. Karli Pinkerton is batting .422 with nine runs scored, one double, three triples and six RBIs. In the circle, they have looked to Jessie Rowe, who is 5-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 43.0 innings pitched.

Minnesota Crookston will begin play Mon., March 12 at 8 a.m. at Sleepy Hollow – Field 6 in Leesburg, Fla. versus Concordia University (Mich.), a NAIA school located in Ann Arbor, Mich. The Cardinals are 1-6 on the 2018 season. Sam Capuzzi, who is hitting .353 with one RBI, has led Concordia. Megan Laib is hitting .333 with one run, one home run and four RBIs. In the circle, Samantha Eubanks, who is 0-2 with a 0.55 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched with four strikeouts and seven walks, lead the Cardinals.

The Golden Eagles then move on to play Indiana University-South Bend Mon., March 12 at 1 p.m. C.T. at Sleepy Hollow – Field 3 in Leesburg, Fla. The Titans compete in NAIA and are located in South Bend, Ind. Indiana-South Bend comes into the tournament with a 0-2 mark. Brittany Probasco is hitting .500 with one run, one home run and one RBI. Mackenzie Shields is also hitting .500 with one run. In the circle the Titans look to Becca Stevens with a 0-1 mark and a 12.60 ERA in five innings pitched.

Minnesota Crookston wraps up Mon., March 12 by taking on Southern Connecticut State at 3:30 p.m. C.T. at Sleepy Hollow – Field 1 in Leesburg, Fla. Southern Connecticut State competes in NCAA Division II and is located in New Haven, Conn. They officially open the season March 11 in Florida. The Owls went 8-27 on the 2017 season. Sara Buscetto hit .268 last season with nine runs, two doubles, four triples, one home run and five RBIs. In the circle, Southern Connecticut State returns Victoria Ceballos, who was 3-9 with a 3.55 ERA in 75.0 innings pitched.

The Golden Eagles continue tournament play Tues., March 13 at 1 p.m. C.T. at Legends Way – Field 2 in Clermont, Fla., against Purdue University Northwest, a NCAA Division II school in Hammond, Ind., and Westville, Ind. The Pride recently transitioned to NCAA Division II. They are 5-4 thus far in 2018. They have looked to Kyleigh Paine, who is hitting .458 with four runs, one double, five triples and four RBIs. Samme Miller is batting .345 with seven runs, three doubles and eight RBIs. In the circle, Purdue Northwest looks to Mia Stevens with a 2-0 mark and a 1.40 ERA in 10.0 innings pitched.

Minnesota Crookston moves on to face Jefferson University Tues., March 13 at 6 p.m. C.T. at Legends Way – Field 3 in Clermont, Fla. Jefferson, a combination of Philadelphia University and Thomas Jefferson University), competes in NCAA Division II and is located in Philadelphia, Pa. The Rams are 1-1 on the 2018 season. Jefferson looks to Jovanna Alfonsi, who is hitting .500 with two runs scored. In the circle, the Rams are led by Stephanie Pepper, who is 0-0 with a 3.50 ERA in four innings pitched.

After an off day March 14, the Golden Eagles return to play Millersville University Thurs., March 15 at 7:30 a.m. C.T. at Hancock Park – Field 1 in Clermont, Fla. Millersville is a NCAA Division II school in Millersville, Pa. The Marauders have put up a 6-1 mark to start the 2018 season. Millersville is paced by Faith Willenbrock, who is hitting .625 with 10 runs, three doubles, two triples, three home runs and 12 RBIs. Megan McCurdy is batting .412 with seven runs, one double, one home runs and five RBIs. In the circle, Millersville looks to Catherine Johnson, who is 2-0 with a 4.47 ERA in 15.2 innings pitched.

Minnesota Crookston continues play Thurs., March 15 at 9:30 a.m. C.T. at Hancock Park – Field 2 against Slippery Rock University in Clermont, Fla. Slippery Rock is a NCAA Division II school located in Slippery Rock, Pa. Slippery Rock is 7-3 on the 2018 season. The Rock is guided by Kailey Myers, who is batting .464 with five runs, one double, one triple, one home run and 11 RBIs. In addition, Megan Brown is hitting .333 with two runs and one RBI. In the circle, Slippery Rock looks to Camie Shumaker with a 2-0 record and a 0.43 ERA in 16.1 innings pitched.

The Golden Eagles face Northwood University Fri., March 16 at 1 p.m. C.T. at Legends Way – Field 1 in Clermont, Fla. Northwood is a NCAA Division II school in Midland, Mich. The Timberwolves have put up a 1-2 mark on the 2018 season. The Timberwolves look to Sydni Pauley with a .500 batting average, three runs, four doubles and three RBIs. Tara Gross is hitting .444 with three runs and two RBIs. In the circle, Makenzie Norton leads Northwood with a 0-1 mark and a 7.00 ERA in nine innings pitched.

Minnesota Crookston plays Salem University Fri., March 16 at 3:30 p.m. at Legends Way – Field 2 in Clermont, Fla. Salem is a NCAA Division II school in Salem, W.V. The Tigers are 0-6 on the 2018 season. Salem returns Rosey Romick, who hit .333 last season with 14 runs, two doubles, one triple and 12 RBIs. In the circle, the Tigers return Kayla Lynch, who was 10-12 with a 3.71 ERA last season.

The Golden Eagles wrap up The Spring Games Sat., March 17 at 8 a.m. C.T. against University of Northwestern Ohio at Legends Way – Field 5 in Clermont, Fla. The Racers are 6-0 on the 2018 season. Northwestern Ohio looks to Kelly Merkle with a .786 batting average with five runs and seven RBIs. Carson Baymiller is batting .429 with two runs on the season. In the circle, the Racers look to Aubrey Brunst with a 2-0 mark and a 3.38 ERA.