CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston athletic department announced Maggie Morales (Sr., 3B/1B, Tucson, Ariz.) of the softball program, and Dalton Grose (R-So., LHP, Waterville, Minn.) as their UMC Teambackers Student-Athletes of the Month for March. Morales and Grose are first-time honorees for the 2018-19 season.

Morales hit .423 in March with six runs scored, five doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs. Morales had a .635 slugging percentage on the month with a .464 on-base percentage. She reached on four walks and had one stolen base. Morales was 3-of-4 with one RBI and a run scored against Bemidji State University. She went 2-of-3 with three RBIs and a run scored in a win over Concordia University Ann Arbor. Morales was 2-of-3 with an RBI in a victory over American International University.

Grose was outstanding in relief in March for the Golden Eagles. He went 1-0 with a 2.65 ERA in nine appearances. Grose had six saves in March to move into the lead in the NSIC in saves. He pitched 17 innings with 17 strikeouts and nine walks. Opponents were held to a .190 batting average in the month. Only three people had extra base hits off Grose on the month.

The UMC Teambackers Student-Athlete Award is in the third season as a monthly award. It was made a monthly award during the 2016-17 season after being awarded on a weekly basis the prior three years.

March – Dalton Grose (BASE) and Maggie Morales (SOFT)
February – Harrison Cleary (MBB) and Malia Pula (SOFT)
January – Harrison Cleary (MBB) and Isieoma Odor (WBB)
December – Harrison Cleary (MBB) and Isieoma Odor (WBB)
November – Harrison Cleary (MBB) and Isieoma Odor (WBB)
October – Skyler Quinn (FB) and Whitney Fenna (Western Equestrian)
September – Andy Groebner (FB) and Maggee Hodgdon (WSOC)