CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team will head down U.S. Highway 2 to Duluth, Minn. for a mid-week doubleheader against University of Minnesota Duluth. The Golden Eagles will play the Bulldogs Wed., April 11 at 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium.

Minnesota Crookston comes into Wednesday with a 5-23 (1-5 NSIC) record. The Golden Eagles have been competitive in their first six games including a 7-4 win over Minnesota State University Moorhead to open up conference play. The Golden Eagles have lost three games by three runs or less.

Minnesota Duluth comes into the mid-week doubleheader with a 25-8 (7-3 NSIC) mark. The Bulldogs are coming off a pair of wins over defending NCAA Division II National Champion Minnesota State University, Mankato last Sunday.

Minnesota Crookston at Minnesota Duluth
Wed., April 11, 12:30/2:30 p.m., James S. Malosky Stadium
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umd/softball/xlive.htm
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/umd/

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Sr. C 6 Gabriel Antolak, .318, 14 runs, 5 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs
Jr. 1B/LF 26 Maggie Morales, .333, 13 runs, 8 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBIs
or So. 1B/C 29 Samantha Proctor, .241, 2 runs, 1 2B, 4 RBIs
Sr. 2B 12 Jenna Boardman, .381, 10 runs, 9 2B, 2 3B, 10 RBIs
So. 3B 3 Rocky Bjorge, .309, 7 runs, 3 2B, 12 RBIs
So. SS 33 Mikaela Rodriguez, .333, 13 runs, 8 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBIs
Fr. LF/DP 9 Taylor Allen, .270, 11 runs, 4 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBIs
Sr. CF 25 Khailyn Neumayer.286, 8 runs, 3 2B, 6 RBIs
Sr. RF 7 Victoria Bayliss, .279, 16 runs, 1 2B, 3 RBIs
Jr. LF/DP 1 Haley Strachan, .217, 9 runs, 1 2B, 2 3B, 1 RBI

Top Pitchers
Jr. RHP 22 Luisa Silvain, 1-4 3.18 ERA, 39.2 IP, 15 K, 3 BB
So. RHP 11 Paige Pitlick, 1-7 3.76 ERA, 41.0 IP, 19 K, 20 BB
Sr. RHP 99 Heather Cunningham, 0-0 4.42 ERA, 12.2 IP, 1 K, 2 BB
Jr. RHP 8 Mikayla Jones, 3-4 5.35 ERA, 51.0 IP, 23 K, 22 BB

Minnesota Crookston has been swinging their bats well early on as they have a .290 batting average with 110 runs, 47 doubles, five triples, four home runs and 90 RBIs. The Golden Eagles have looked to senior Jenna Boardman (2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.) who is hitting .381 with 10 runs, nine doubles and 10 RBIs. Mikaela Rodriguez (So. SS/2B, Laveen, Ariz.) is hitting .333 on the season with 13 runs, eight doubles, two home runs and 14 RBIs. Rocky Bjorge (So., 1B/3B, Prior Lake, Minn.) has also made great strides on the season as she is hitting .309 with seven runs, three doubles and 12 RBIS.

In the circle, the Golden Eagles have shown vast improvement as a staff with a 4.54 ERA on the season. Luisa Silvain (Jr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) paces Minnesota Crookston with a 3.18 ERA in 39.2 innings pitched with 15 strikeouts and just three walks. Paige Pitlick (So., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) has also been strong with a 3.76 ERA in 41.0 innings pitched with 19 strikeouts on the season.

Minnesota Duluth
Fr. C/DP 21 Jessica Bren, .402, 32 runs, 5 2B, 1 3B, 14 HR, 40 RBIs
or So. C 10 Lexi Janigo, .222, 9 runs, 3 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBIs
Jr. 1B/RF 11 Kalynn Tilton, .295, 15 runs, 8 2B, 4 HR, 25 RBIS
Sr. 2B 3 Natalie Wright, .374, 32 runs, 10 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 31 RBIs
So. 3B 22 Lauren Oberle, .278 29 runs, 5 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 20 RBIs
Sr. SS 9 Becky Smith, .357, 30 runs, 9 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 40 RBIs
Jr. LF 8 Sammi Sadler, .404, 24 runs, 10 2B, 1 3B, 19 RBIs
Sr. CF 5 Hannah Schmoll, .465, 42 runs, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 26 RBIs
So. RF 13 Lauren Greeder, .270, 14 runs, 2 RBI
Fr. DP/1B 12 Jordyn Thomas, .339, 13 runs, 3 2B, 7 HR, 24 RBIs

Top Pitchers
So. RHP 26 Breanne Swint, 13-2 2.62 ERA, 93.1 IP, 49 K, 34 BB
Jr. RHP 20 Valerie Hohol, 10-4 3.57 ERA, 84.1 IP 58 K, 34 BB
Minnesota Duluth currently sits in a tie for fourth in the NSIC standings entering Wednesday's games. The Bulldogs are one of the best power hitting teams in the league as they come in hitting .344 with 44 home runs and 318 doubles. Hannah Schmoll is an excellent leadoff for UMD as she is hitting .465 on the season with 42 runs and 26 RBIs. Jessica Bren is off to a fantastic freshman season as she is hitting .402 and leads the team with 14 home runs and 40 RBIs. Becky Smith is batting .357 with eight home runs and 40 RBIs.

In the circle, the Bulldogs look to Breanna Swint with a 13-2 mark and a 2.62 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 34 walks. Valerie Hohol is also off to a strong start for UMD. She is 10-4 with a 3.57 ERA in 84.1 innings pitched with 58 strikeouts and 34 walks.