Minot, N.D.—The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team can probably say that this season, they have slept in hotel beds, more than their own comfy cushions. The Golden Eagles will hit the road one final time this week when they travel to the Magic City, Minot, N.D., for a doubleheader with the Beavers of Minot State.
 
The Golden Eagles head into the midweek series with the Beavers sitting at 13-35 overall (2-22 NSIC).
 
The Golden Eagles will look to halt a season high 13 game losing streak, when they travel to take on the Beavers. These two programs are no strangers to one another, including this season. The Golden Eagles and Beavers have matched up five times already on the season, with the Beavers winning four out of five games, all in nonconference play.
 
Minnesota Crookston at Minot State
Wed., April 24—1/3 p.m.
Minot, N.D.
South Hill Softball Complex
Video-- https://portal.stretchinternet.com/minotstate/
Stats-- https://msubeavers.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
History-- https://msubeavers.com/opponent-history/softball/university-of-minnesota-crookston/9/3
Minnesota Crookston Preview
Projected Starters
Fr. C 10 Allison Martinson, .179, 1 runs, 1 2B, 1 RBIs
Sr. 1B 3 Rocky Bjorge, .274, 11 runs, 8 2B, 3 HR, 20 RBIs
Jr. 2B 17 Malia Pula, .298, 23 runs, 9 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 23 RBIs
Sr. 3B 26 Maggie Morales, .270, 10 runs, 7 2B, 3 HR, 24 RBIs
Jr. SS 33 Mika Rodriguez, .259, 30 runs, 8 2B, 8 HR, 19 RBIs
Fr. LF 22 Leah Macias, .233, 13 runs, 10 2B, 1 HR, 10 RBIs
Sr. CF 1 Haley Strachan, .289, 15 runs, 2 RBI
Fr. RF 7 Hannah Macias, .258, 17 runs, 4 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBIs
Jr. DP/C 29 Samantha Proctor, .243, 7 runs, 5 2B, 9 RBIs

Top Pitchers
Jr. RHP 11 Paige Pitlick, 6-18, 4.53 ERA, 8 CG, 117.1 IP, 90 K, 48 BB
So. RHP 15 Taylor Graven, 5-10, 4.47 ERA, 120.1 IP, 77 K, 40 BB
 
Offensively, the Golden Eagles are hitting .254 with 312 runs scored on 57 doubles and 21 homeruns. The Golden Eagles have driven in 136 runs as a team. The Golden Eagles have been offensively by Malia Pula (Jr., UT, Gilroy, Calif.) and Haley Strachan (Sr., OF, Phoenix, Ariz.). Pula, the Golden State native has been a pleasant surprise for Travis Owen in his first season as head coach. Pula is second on the team in batting average at .298, just two percentage points below .300. Strachan, the native of Phoenix, Ariz., is having a solid final season wearing the maroon and gold. Strachan is third on the team in batting average and has 33 hits on the season, which is tied for fifth on the team. Strachan will look to finish her career strong in this final week. Maggie Morales (Sr., 3B, Tuscon, Ariz.) and Rocky Bjorge (Sr., 1B/3B, Prior Lake, Minn.) will also look to close out their career on a high point in the final week of the regular season.
 
In the circle, the Golden Eagles have struggled as of late, but have to be excited about the future that Paige Pitlick (Jr., P, Jordan, Minn.) and Taylor Graven (So., P, Greene, Iowa) have had solid seasons as the 1-2 combo for the Golden Eagles. Both underclassmen have under five ERA's, with Graven leading the team with a 4.47 ERA, while Pitlick has a 4.53 ERA. Between the two righties, they have a combined 13 complete games and have pitched over 235 innings on the season. Graven is 5-10 on the season, while Pitlick is 6-18 for the Golden Eagles. Graven has 90 strikeouts on the season, which leads the Golden Eagle pitching staff.
 
Minot State
Projected Starting Lineup
Fr., RF 2 Kiera Shwaluk .344, 20 R, 2 3B, 8 RBI
Fr., SS 13 Maggie Mercer .323, 32 R, 1 3B, 14 RBI
Fr., 1B 10 Jamie Odlum .324, 14 R, 1 HR, 12 RBI
Sr., CF 14 Lauren Cowden .417, 36 R, 9 2B, 7 3B, 2 HR, 28 RBI
Jr., 3B 22 Karlee Coughlin .392, 20 R, 11 2B, 3 HR, 43 RBI
Fr., C 6 Alina Gonzalez .240, 11 R, 5 2B, 18 RBI
Jr., 2B 11 Julia Suchan .292, 24 R, 8 2B, 2 3B, 17 RBI
Jr., LF 19 Rebekkah Withouse .100, 2 R
Sr., DH 4 Melissa Estrada 6 R
 
Top Pitchers
Sr., P 12 Laura Mendez 3.95 ERA, 9-10, 9 CG, 2 SV, 95.2 IP, 50 SO
Fr., P 24 Zoya Robbins 4.53 ERA, 7-6, 9 CG, 94.1 IP, 38 SO
 
The Beavers come into the midweek series with the Golden Eagles right in the thick of things in the NSIC. The Beavers are currently 22-19 overall and 11-13 in NSIC, which is 10^th in the NSIC. The top ten teams in the conference make the conference tournament.
 
Having faced the Beavers five times already on the season, the Golden Eagles probably know what they will be facing while they're in the field. The Beavers have six hitters that hit better than .300, including Lauren Cowden, who hits .417, with seven triples and 28 RBI's. Karlee Coughlin, the junior native of Live Oak, Calif., is also a force to be reckoned with in the batter's box. Coughlin is fifth in the entire conference in RBI's with 44 and she will look to drive in runs in the doubleheader against the Golden Eagles.
 
In the circle, the Beavers are a lot like the Golden Eagles, where they will rely on a reliable duo to try and get the job done. Laura Mendez and Zoya Robbins have 34 combined starts and each have nine complete games. Mendez leads the pitching staff in wins, ERA, innings pitched and strikeouts, while freshman Zoya Robbins is second on the team in all of those categories. These two will look to carry the momentum into the push to the NSIC playoffs.