St. Cloud, Minn.—After losing two games on Wednesday to Bemidji State and the University of Jamestown, the Golden Eagles softball team will head back down the Interstate to the Husky Dome for four games this weekend. The Golden Eagles will play Truman State twice on Friday and then will turn around and play two on Saturday, once against Northwestern College (IA) and Viterbo College (Wis.)

The Golden Eagles struggled at the plate in the West St. Paul Dome in their first two games of the season. Minnesota Crookston was able to muster just one run in two games, coming off the bat of Dana Zarn (So., 3B, Winnipeg, Man.), who drove in Gabriella Blomdahl (So., OF, Duluth, Minn.). Zarn also collected the only hit in game two against Jamestown.

Coach Owen has to like what he saw in the circle for the Golden Eagles. Newcomer Katie Humehj (Sr., P, Surrey, British Columbia) went 5.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs, while striking out six. In game two, Sofia Gombos (Fr., P, Salinas, Cal.) was also really good, going 7.0 innings, giving up six hits and three earned runs. The Golden Eagles have to like the 1-2 punch they have in the circle.

How to Follow
Truman State vs Minnesota Crookston
Fri., Feb. 12
Husky Dome / St. Cloud, Minn.
5:30 P.M. / 7:30 P.M.
Live Stats - https://scsuhuskies.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston vs Northwestern College
Sat., Feb. 13
1 P.M.
Live Stats - https://scsuhuskies.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston vs Viterbo College
Sat., Feb. 13
3 P.M.
Live Stats - https://scsuhuskies.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Opponent Outlook
Truman State
This will be the first games of the 2021 season for the Bulldogs of Truman State. This will also be just the second meeting between the Bulldogs and the Golden Eagles. These two programs met on Mar. 16 of 2007, with TSU getting an 11-1 win over Minnesota Crookston. Before the season was halted last year, Truman State was 5-7.

Offensively, the Bulldogs were led by a pair of underclassmen in McKenzie West and Emma Walbert. West hit .432 on the season, while also leading TSU with three home runs as a freshman. Walbert hit .400 on the abbreviated season with four RBI's. Cameryn Patterson is also a name to watch at the dish for the Bulldogs.

Much like the Golden Eagles, Truman State also has a pretty good 1-2 punch in the circle. Racheal Kernich led the way for the Bulldogs with a 2.84 on the season in five appearances with two starts. Kernich struck out nine in 12.1 innings of work. Breianna Klein finished last season with a 3.21 ERA in six appearances, with four starts. In 24.0 innings, Klein gave up just 11 hits and struck out five.

Northwestern College (IA)
These two teams met a season ago, with the Raiders taking a 7-3 victory over Minnesota Crookston. Last year, the Raiders were off to a hot start, going 14-6 through their first 20 games. This season, the Raiders are 2-0, with both wins coming over Viterbo College, the Golden Eagles other opponent this weekend.

Although it's abbreviated, Northwestern College has gotten a lot of contributions at the dish this season. The Raiders have five players hitting .400 or greater, including Kamryn Etherington, who is hitting .600, albeit in just five plate appearances. Etherington does have a homerun as well on the season. As a team, the Raiders have scored 18 runs in just two games.

Etherington also gets it done in the circle. In two appearances and one start on the young season, the freshman from Algona, Iowa has a 1.80 ERA in 5.0 innings pitched, while giving up just three hits. Samantha Ubben has a 1.50 ERA in 6.0 innings pitched, while striking out ten.
Viterbo College (Wis.)
The V-Hawks come into this weekend at 0-2 on the season. Viterbo was 3-9 a season ago before it was halted, including a 9-6 loss to the Golden Eagles.

The V-Hawks are coached by sixth-year coach Brandi Alonzo. Offensively, the V-Hawks lose arguably their best hitter in Sonya McCormick, who graduated. Taylor Pacana is back to pace the Viterbo offense, after being second on the team a season ago with seven RBI's. Autumn Olson will also help lead the way offensively, hitting .356, while driving in seven runs.

In the circle, Kenosha, Wis., native Kendall Schine will most likely be the ace for Viterbo. The senior appeared in eight games a season ago, starting in seven. However, fellow seniors Caitlyn Almberg and Brooklyn Ottelien earned the starts in the first two games this season.