CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team returns to action Fri., March 30 and Sat., March 31 as they hit the road to head to Aberdeen, S.D. to open Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play. The Golden Eagles will face Minnesota State University Moorhead Fri., March 30 at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. at the Presentation College (PC) Dome in Aberdeen, S.D. Minnesota Crookston will then take on Northern State University Sat., March 31 at 1 and 3 p.m. at the PC Dome.

The Golden Eagles return to action after a 13-day hiatus after last playing March 17 against University of Northwestern Ohio in Clermont, Fla. Minnesota Crookston has had their last three games rescheduled. The Golden Eagles enter the weekend with a 4-18 (0-0 NSIC) mark. Minnesota Crookston already has win over both of their foes this season as they upended Northern State 9-1 Feb. 11 and MSU Moorhead 10-1 Feb. 17. MSU Moorhead comes in with a 7-11 (0-0 NSIC) record. The Dragons have had a longer hiatus as they last played March 9 against Assumption College in Clermont, Fla. Northern State comes in with a 10-10 record. The Wolves last competed March 18 against University of Central Missouri in Maryville, Mo.

Minnesota Crookston vs. MSU Moorhead
Fri., March 30 – 6:30/8:30 p.m.
Aberdeen, S.D. – PC Dome
Live Stats - http://web.mnstate.edu/livestats/softball/xlive.htm

Minnesota Crookston at Northern State
Sat., March 31 – 1/3 p.m.
Aberdeen, S.D. – PC Dome
Live Stats - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/

Minnesota Crookston Projected Line-up
Sr. C 6 Gabriel Antolak, .303, 12 runs, 4 2B, 2 HR, 8 RBIs
So. 1B 29 Samantha Proctor, .269, 2 runs, 1 double, 1 RBIs
Sr. 2B 12 Jenna Boardman, .412, 10 runs, 8 2B, 2 3B, 9 RBIs
So. 3B 3 Rocky Bjorge, .278, 5 runs, 1 2B, 4 RBIs
or Jr. 3B 23 Maycee Trujillo, .391, 5 runs, 3 2B, 7 RBIs
So. SS 33 Mikaela Rodriguez, .347, 11 runs, 5 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBIs
Jr. LF/1B 26 Maggie Morales, .310, 6 runs, 7 2B, 13 RBIs
Sr. CF 25 Khailyn Neumayer, .227, 5 runs, 2 2B, 4 RBIs
Sr. RF 7 Victoria Bayliss, .224, 12 runs, 1 2B, 2 RBIs
Jr. DP/OF 1 Haley Strachan, .222, 8 runs, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 RBI
or Fr. C/OF 9 Taylor Allen, .302, 6 runs, 2 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBIs

Top Pitchers
Jr. RHP 22 Luisa Silvain, 1-3 2.89 ERA, 36.1 IP, 14 K, 3 BB
So. RHP 11 Paige Pitlick, 0-6 3.58 ERA, 29.1 IP, 15 K, 15 BB
Jr. RHP 8 Mikayla Jones, 3-3 4.44 ERA, 41.0 IP, 18 K, 19 BB

Minnesota Crookston heads into the weekend with a team batting average of .284. The Golden Eagles have 87 runs scored, 36 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 74 RBIs. The Golden Eagles have been led at the plate by Jenna Boardman (Sr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.), who is hitting .412 with 10 runs, eight doubles, two triples and nine RBIs. Mikaela Rodriguez (So., SS/2B, Laveen, Ariz.) comes in batting .347 with 11 runs, five doubles, two home runs and 15 RBIs. Maggie Morales (Jr., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.) comes into the weekend hitting .310 with six runs, seven doubles and 13 RBIs.

In the circle, Luisa Silvain (Jr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) paces the Golden Eagles with a 2.89 ERA with 14 strikeouts and three walks. Paige Pitlick (So., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) has posted a 0-6 mark with a 3.58 ERA with 15 strikeouts and 15 walks, while Mikayla Jones (Jr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) is 3-3 with a 4.44 ERA with 18 strikeouts and 19 walks. Minnesota Crookston has a team ERA of 4.08 on the season.

The Golden Eagles are much improved at the plate and in the circle, but have struggled defensively through their first 22 games. Minnesota Crookston has posted just a .922 fielding percentage with 52 errors on the season. They are looking to clean up their defense as they open up conference play.

MSU Moorhead
Sr. C 14 Megan Asham, .200, 3 runs
Fr. 1B 9 Ashley McCance, .347, 12 runs, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBIs
Jr. 2B 19 Lexie Kennedy, .218, 4 runs,  4 2B, 9 RBIs
So. 3B 10 Emma Dummer, .275, 4 runs, 3 2B, 7 RBIs
Jr. SS 5 Taylor Roddie, .325, 9 runs, 3 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBIs
So. LF 17 Madison Paige, .411, 12 runs, 4 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBIs
Sr. CF 12 Aunica Novacek, .261, 7 runs, 1 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBIs
Fr. RF 2 Elizabeth Johnson, .317, 11 runs, 5 2B, 9 RBIs
So. DP 22 Payton Gaber, .269, 10 runs, 5 2B, 6 RBIs

Top Pitchers
Fr. RHP 18 Becky Barth, 6-4 4.13 ERA, 59.1 IP, 38 K, 31 BB
So. RHP 11 Tori White, 0-4 7.45 ERA, 31.0 IP, 11 K, 16 BB

The Dragons are hitting .293 entering the weekend with 83 runs, 31 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 76 RBIs. MSU Moorhead has looked to Madison Paige, who is batting .411 with 12 runs, four doubles, one home run and 13 RBIs. Ashley McCance comes in hitting .347 with 12 runs, two home runs and seven RBIs, while Taylor Roddie has posted a .325 batting average with nine runs, three doubles, one home run and eight RBIs.

In the circle, MSU Moorhead looks to Becky Barth, who is 6-4 with a 4.13 ERA in 59.1 innings pitched with 38 strikeouts and 31 walks. Tori White is 0-4 with a 7.45 ERA in 31.0 innings pitched with 11 strikeouts and 16 walks.

Defensively, the Dragons have a .941 fielding percentage with 30 errors.

Projected Line-Up
Northern State
So. C 15 Madison Rutter, .323, 6 runs, 4 2B, 6 RBIs
Sr. 1B 11 Katie Dawson, .351, 7 runs, 3 2B, 4 HR, 11 RBIs
Jr. 2B 7 Courtney Sjerven, .367, 9 runs, 4 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBIs
Jr. 3B 4 Cassidy Schaar, .320, 9 runs, 4 2B, 4 RBIs
So. SS 6 Anne Jonas, .000, 6 runs, 1 RBI
So. LF 1 Shayla Steinley, .300, 11 runs, 1 2B, 5 RBIs
Jr. CF 25 Jenna Helgeson, .377, 11 runs, 3 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBIs
Sr. RF 17 Katie Uittenbogaard, .303, 1 run, 2 2B, 5 RBIs
or So. RF/3B 28 Kaitlyn King, .216, 4 runs, 2 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBIs
So. DP/3B 19 Kennady Thompson, .424, 9 runs, 3 2B, 1 3B, 15 RBIs

Top Pitchers
Jr. LHP 3 Jamie Fisher, 6-5 2.63 ERA, 82.0 IP, 41 K, 22 BB
Fr. RHP 12 Makenzie Merritt, 4-4 8.36 ERA, 42.0 IP, 12 K, 24 BB
Northern State has been impressive at the plate with a .321 batting average with 97 runs, 33 doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 91 RBIs. Kennady Thompson guides the Wolves with a .424 batting average with nine runs, three doubles, a triple and 15 RBIs. Katie Dawson is the power hitter for Northern State with a .351 batting average, seven runs, three doubles, four home runs and 11 RBIs. Jenna Helgeson comes in hitting .377 with 11 runs, 3 doubles, one home run and eight RBIs.

The Northern State pitching staff looks to Jamie Fisher, who is 6-5 with a 2.63 ERA in 82.0 innings pitched with 41 strikeouts and 22 walks. Makenzie Merritt is 4-4 with a 8.36 ERA in 42.0 innings pitched with 12 walks and 24 strikeouts.

The Wolves have struggled defensively with a .938 fielding percentage with 37 errors on the season.