Crookston, Minn.—The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team is back in the magic city this weekend for four games in the Minot State Dome. The Golden Eagles will do battle with three NSIC opponents, MSU Moorhead, Minot State and the University of Mary, as well as Valley City State University. All the games will be non-conference.
 
Under first year head coach Travis Owen, the Golden Eagles are off to their best start since 2017 at 3-5. The Golden Eagles will be back in Minot for the second time in two weeks.
 
The Golden Eagles offense has been much improved through eight games. Minnesota Crookston has three hitters batting .300 or better, including Mikaela Rodriguez (Jr., 2B/SS, Laveen, Ariz.), Malia Pula (Jr., UT, Gilroy, Calif.) and Jordan Peterson (So., C/UT, Lakeville, Minn.). Rocky Bjorge (Sr., 1B/3B, Prior Lake, Minn.), Maggie Marales (Sr., IF/OF, Tuscon, Ariz.) and Leah Macias (Fr., OF, West Covina, Calif.) are each hitting .275 or better as well.
 
In the circle, the Golden Eagles have been led by Paige Pitlick (Jr., P/1B, Jordan, Minn.) and Taylor Graven (So., P, Greene, Iowa). Pitlick has started in four games on the year and has a 1-4 win-loss record, but a very solid 2.63 ERA. Pitlick has 18 strikeouts compared to just five walks. Graven has appeared in five games, while starting in two. She has a 2.07 ERA and a 1-0 record on the young season.
 
Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons (0-4 Overall)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
First Pitch: 12:00 p.m.

• The Dragons started out the season 0-4 with four losses in St. Paul, Minn., last weekend. The Golden Eagles defeated the Dragons last week with a 6-5 victory in the West St. Paul Dome.
• Offensively, MSUM is led by Becky Berth, who is hitting .600 on the season with one homerun and has scored one run in two starts. Samantha Gjerde, Ashley McCance and Kaiya Sundeen have had solid starts to their season as well, each hitting over .300. Gjerde leads the team with five hits.
• In the circle, Berth has been a bright spot as well. Berth has appeared in all four games this season and has pitched 20.2 innings on the season, while striking out nine and walking seven. Anna Lang and Payton Garber could see some time in the circle this weekend as well.

University of Mary Marauders (0-4 Overall)
Date: Saturday, Feb. 23
First Pitch: 4:00 p.m.

• This weekend will be the first time the Marauders have seen another opponent since Feb. 3, when they lost 13-12 to Concordia University (Ore.) in Las Vegas, Nev.
• The Marauders are coming off of a 2018 season where they finished one game below .500 at 18-19. The Marauders swept the Golden Eagles last season by scores of 5-2 and 11-6.
• Through four games, Rebekkah Keller and Kasidy Chileen have been bright spots offensively for the Marauders. Keller and Chileen have hit .588 and .462 respectively this season. Hailey Berube has driven in seven runs as well for UMary this season.
• In the circle, Kaitlyn Alvarado and Brieann Backes have eaten up a majority of the innings for the Marauders. Alvarado has a 9.63 with four strikeouts, and has allowed five homeruns on the season. Backes enters the weekend with a 14.23 ERA with 10.1 IP and has struck out six hitters.

Valley City State University Vikings (8-0 Overall)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 24
First Pitch: 10:00 a.m.

• Coming off of a 39-12 season a year ago, the Vikings have started out the season on a blazing start. VCSU currently sits at 8-0 in the regular season and already has a win over an NSIC opponent, Northern State, 7-0 last Saturday afternoon.
• Offensively, Marissa Hawkins has had a solid start eight games throughout the season. Hawkins is batting .458 on the season with two homeruns and 11 RBI's on the season, as well as crossing the plate five times.
• The Vikings currently have three hitters with double digit hits on the season, including Joelle Aiello, Hawkins and Emily Smith.
• Smith appears to do it all. In the circle, Smith has appeared in seven games while starting in six, going 32.0 innings over the course of those six starts. Smith has allowed just three runs, while striking out 46 and walking just 10.

Minot State University Beavers (4-3 Overall)
Date: Sunday, Feb. 24
First Pitch: 12:00 p.m.

• The Beavers are a team who the Golden Eagles will be very familiar with by the time the regular season is over. These two teams have met twice already, with each team taking a game. The Beavers come into this weekend with a 4-3 record.
• Karlee Coughlin, Randi Wright and Maggie Mercer have been the most consistent Beaver hitters this spring, including Coughlin, who through six games has hit .400 with four doubles and three RBI's.
• Laura Mendez and Kylie Patrick have been solid in the circle this season for the Beavers. Mendez has a 3.56 ERA and has struck out 13 compared to just seven walks. Mendez has pitched 19.2 innings this season. The next highest Beaver has just 7.0 innings pitched.

The Golden Eagles will play doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday. Minnesota Crookston will play MSU Moorhead on Saturday afternoon at 12 p.m., followed by the Marauders at 4 p.m. First pitch with Valley City State is set for Sunday morning at 10 a.m. The Beavers and Golden Eagles will do battle at 12 p.m. Sunday afternoon.