Crookston, Minn.—It's pretty hard to believe, but softball is just around the corner. The green grass, the warm weather and a quality NSIC schedule awaits first year Minnesota Crookston coach Travis Owen and his Golden Eagles softball program. Owen takes over a program that won just six games last season, really likes what he sees from his team as they gear up for their first four games of their season this weekend.
"Looking forward to seeing our team compete hard and continually learn and adjust," Owen said. "We seem competitive-minded so I am looking forward to seeing that drive flow into our improvement each game."
The Golden Eagles started practice in January and will finally be able to play some different teams this weekend. The Golden Eagles will depart for Minot, N.D., tomorrow afternoon and play two games each on Saturday and Sunday against Minot State and Black Hills State.
 
Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles
Last Season: 6-40 (2-22 NSIC)

• The Golden Eagles are in a new era. Head coach Travis Owen comes to Minnesota Crookston from the University of Northern Colorado. Owen is familiar with the NSIC, who was with Northern State as a graduate assistant.
• The Golden Eagles will be young, but senior first/third baseman Rocky Bjorge will look to carry the load offensively for Minnesota Crookston. A year ago, Bjorge hit .323 in 35 games, while driving in 17 runs and scoring eight. Bjorge will look to start the season on a high note this weekend in the Minot Dome.
• The Golden Eagles have dealt with their fair-share of injuries in the circle this off-season, but Mikayla Jones has been the key healthy piece. Jones, who has also dealt with some injuries in her career in maroon and gold will look to eat some innings this season. Jones started seven games last season, while coming in relief for 18 games. Jones went 3-5 with a 5.84 ERA. Jones expects to play a key part in the success for the Golden Eagles this season.
• This weekend the Golden Eagles will play four games in Minot, N.D. The Golden Eagles will be taking highway two to Minot plenty this season, having a total of 14 games scheduled to be played in Minot this season

Minot State Beavers
Last Season: 25-24 (12-14 NSIC)

• The Beavers finished last season one game over .500. The Beavers big win last season was a 17-14 victory over #5 ranked Humboldt State. In 2019, the Beavers are currently 1-2, with their lone victory coming over California State University Monterey Bay.
• Through three games, Minot State has three hitters batting over .400. Maggie Mercer is off to a blazing start so far this season. Mercer leads the Beavers in hits with five and at-bats with 12. Mercer also has scored four runs and has seven total bases through three games. Lauren Cowden and Zoya Robbins are also key components in the Beaver lineup.
• Freshman Alina Gonzalez has made a pretty good impression in her first season in the red and green. The freshman from Citrus Heights, Calif., had an excellent debut, going seven innings and allowed just three hits in her first career start. Expect the Golden Eagles to see Gonzalez at least once this weekend.

Black Hills State Yellow Jackets
Last Season: 9-31 (9-23 RMAC)

• Much like the Golden Eagles, the Yellow Jackets are gearing up for their first games of the 2019 season. Lane Leedy enters her third season at the helm of the Yellow Jackets, who will look to improve on their nine wins last season.
• The Yellow Jackets return an impressive young infielder in Maddi Fiddler. The sophomore hit .350 last season with eight homeruns and 24 RBI's for Black Hills State. Fiddler will look to have a solid sophomore campaign this season.
• The Yellow Jackets had their share of struggles in the circle last season, but will look to change that this year. Black Hills State return senior Alex Wiley and sophomore Melissa Gellerman. Both Wiley and Gellerman combined for all nine wins on the season. Gellerman went 5-15 with a 5.51 ERA while striking out a whopping 105 strikeouts in 133.1 innings pitched. Both Gellerman and Wiley will look to be the 1-2 punch for the Yellow Jackets in the circle this season.

The Golden Eagles will play the Beavers at 11 a.m., Saturday morning, while first pitch with the Yellow Jackets is set for 1 p.m. Saturday from the Minot Dome. The Golden Eagles will play the exact same teams at the exact same time on Sunday morning.