Minot, N.D. – It may seem like Winter outside, but Golden Eagle softball will kick down the door on the 2022 season and a new era in Golden Eagle softball in the Minot State Bubble with four games this weekend. The Golden Eagles will play one game against Valley City State on Friday, two against Dakota Wesleyan and the University of Mary on Saturday and finish out the weekend with one game against Minot State on Saturday afternoon.
 
Minnesota Crookston vs Valley City State
Fri., Feb. 4
7:30 P.M.
Minot, N.D. / Minot State Bubble
Live Stats - https://msubeavers.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston vs Dakota Wesleyan
Sat., Feb. 5
11:30 A.M.
Minot, N.D. / Minot State Bubble
Live Stats - https://msubeavers.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston vs UMary (Non-Conference)
Sat., Feb. 5
4:30 P.M.
Minot, N.D. / Minot State Bubble
Live Stats - https://msubeavers.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston vs Minot State (Non-Conference)
Sun., Feb. 6
2 P.M.
Minot, N.D. / Minot State Bubble
Live Stats - https://msubeavers.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston (10-32 in 2021)
Head Coach Nick Weinmeister will start his Golden Eagle career by playing one of the best teams in all of NAIA in Valley City State. Minnesota Crookston will look to improve on their 10 win season in 2021.
 
Offensively, the Golden Eagles have a number of key pieces returning, including upperclassmen Dana Zarn (Jr., IF, Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Jordan Peterson (R-Sr., UT, Lakeville, Minn.). Both Peterson and Zarn were the only two hitters to hit above the .300 threshold a season ago, while Zarn led the way with a .325 batting average. Alina Avalos (Jr., IF, Chino, Calif.) and Shaelyn Grant (So., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.) are both back as well and could make a key contribution in the Golden Eagle lineup this season.
 
In the circle, the Golden Eagles will have to replace Katie Humhej, who they lost to graduation. The Golden Eagles do bring in freshman Evie Stuck (Fr., P, Papillion, Neb.) and sophomore transfer Thayda Houser (So., P, Seymour, Iowa), who follows coach Weinmeister from Southwestern Community College in Iowa. Kamryn Frisk (Sr., P/1B, Anchorage, AK) is also back and should give the Golden Eagles some quality innings in the circle.
 
Valley City State (35-7 in 2021)
The Vikings are going to be a tough out for the new look Golden Eagles. VCSU went 35-7 a season ago, including a 17-game winning streak near the end of the regular season. The Vikings fell to Dickinson State, 4-3 in the NSAA Championship game and missed out on the National Tournament.
 
Offensively, the Vikings have a dangerous lineup, one through nine. As a freshman, infielder McKenzee Stone led the Vikings by hitting .450 with five home runs and 36 RBI's and seven stolen bases. Riley Perryman is back as well after leading the Vikings with 12 home runs, which was third in the NSAA, as is Jessica Husband, who hit .395 with 24 RBI's. Andrea Rodriguez, one of three Texan's on the VCSU roster is also back after driving in 19 runs. Stone also won Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year in the conference last season as well.
 
In the circle, the Vikings lose two of their top pitchers from a season ago and only return two pitchers in Joelle Lamontagne and Brooke Gaudry. Lamontagne finished with a 1-2 record in over 25 innings pitched.
 
Mark Mattson won the NSAA Coach of the Year last season and is back for his third season at the helm of the Vikings.
 
Dakota Wesleyan (10-28 in 2021)
The Tigers struggled through much of last season, but do return some nice pieces in the field, including Allison McElveny and Hailey Linke, who return after being two of the more consistent Tigers hitters in 2021. Megan Daffern is also back after hitting two home runs and driving in 11 runners a season ago.
 
Alyssa Burke, who was tied for the team lead with 31 appearances and led the team with 76.1 innings pitched and finishing with a 6.88 ERA. Daffern is also back after 31 appearances last season and finishing with a 5.76 ERA, which led the team. As a staff, the Tigers finished with a 7.09 ERA a season ago.
 
UMary (9-32 in 2021)
Much like the Golden Eagles, the Marauders will also open up a new era this weekend as Andrea Frantz returns to her alma mater after a decorated playing career to take over as Head Coach for Steph Roan.
 
Offensively, the Marauders hit just .254 as a team, but seniors Eryn De Jonge is back after leading the UMary offense a season ago. Kaylee Kannegeisser is back after being tied for the team lead in RBI's with 18 a season ago. Brook McLure is a senior transfer from Middle Tennessee State who could help the Marauder bats as well. The offense will be a new look for Marauder fans in 2022.
 
In the circle, UMary struggled as a staff in 2021. Their team ERA was one of the highest in the conference at 9.00 and they gave up 394 hits and 300 runs as a staff. Nicole Eckhardt is the only returning pitcher back for the new look Marauders. Howard University transfer Emari Evans will come in and most likely pitch quality innings for the Marauders.
 
Minot State (22-22 in 2021)
The Beavers have a pretty good offense returning for third-year Head Coach Nat Wagner. Morden, Manitoba native Jamie Odlum is back after leading the Beavers in a number of categories, including batting average (.423), hits (55) and on-base percentage (.507). Jazmin Karanungan and Maggie Mercer are back in the fold after each hitting over .300 a season ago. As a team, the Beavers hit .313 and hit 12 home runs.
 
Pitching wise, the Beavers return almost all of their main arms, including Las Vegas, Nev., native Trinity Valentine and Winnipeg native Gabi Dawyduk, who each finished with a sub-5.00 ERA last year. Valentine started 23 games, completing 10, while striking out 127 in 135.2 innings pitched. The Beavers pitching staff could be even better this season.