Sioux Falls, S.D. – The record-setting Golden Eagle softball team will head back on the road this Sunday and Monday for a pair of NSIC doubleheaders against nationally-ranked Augustana and Wayne State College. Due to this weekend being a site-reversal, the Golden Eagles will be the home team for all four games.
 
The Golden Eagles are coming off of a split against Minot State, winning their program-best 14^th game of the season.
 
How to Follow
Augustana vs Minnesota Crookston
Sunday, April 24
12 / 2 PM
Sioux Falls, S.D. / Bowden Field
Live Stats -- https://goaugie.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Wayne State College vs Minnesota Crookston
Monday, April 25
12 / 2 PM
Wayne, Neb. / Pete Chapman Softball Complex
Live Stats -- https://wscwildcats.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary?path=softball
Watch Live -- https://nsicnetwork.com/wscwildcats/
 
Minnesota Crookston (14-29, 5-13 NSIC)
The last time the Golden Eagles took the field, they split with one of the top teams in the NSIC, Minot State and were walked-off in game one against the Beavers, after they put up four runs in the bottom of the seventh.
 
The Golden Eagles offense has been much improved and are on pace to have one of their best team averages in school history. Alina Avalos (Jr., IF, Riverside, Calif.) leads the Golden Eagles with a .364 average, 48 hits and has 20 extra base-hits this season. Dana Zarn (Jr., UT, Winnipeg, Manitoba) leads the Golden Eagles with a 1.005 OPS and is second on the team with 27 RBI. Shaelyn Grant (So., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.) is hitting .271 with 21 runs knocked in and has hit a career-high three home runs as well. Freshmen Whitnee Curry (Fr., IF, Lincoln, Neb.) and Sydney Huwe (Fr., UT, Carver, Minn.) have combined for 24 RBI in 55 combined starts.
 
In the circle, Evie Stuck (Fr., P/OF, Papillion, Neb.) and Thayda Houser (So., P, Seymour, Iowa) have both been solid in their first seasons as Golden Eagles. Houser tossed her first career shutout on Thursday afternoon in the 3-0 victory over the Beavers and has allowed seven earned runs in her last 14.2 innings of work. Stuck is 7-13 on the season and leads the team with over 112 innings of work. Both Houser and Stuck have struck out 61 hitters this season.
 
No. 12 Augustana (34-7, 18-2 NSIC)
As of right now, the Vikings are kind of like a big boulder going downhill; they are tough to stop. The Vikings are currently on a 15-game winning streak and have scored double-digit runs in 10 of those 15 wins.
 
A big part of the Vikings and their outstanding record is the fact that they hit .367 as a team. Gracey Brink and Tori Chute are each hitting over .430 on the season and have 39 and 34 RBI, respectively. Delaney Young is hitting .402 and has 10 home runs and 50 RBI on the season. All-American Mary Pardo is the straw that stirs the Vikings drink, however. The Andover, Minn., native has 19 home runs and 54 RBI on the season and has a 5-5 with four runs scored game earlier this season against Walsh. After earning All-America honors a season ago, she should be well on her way to garnering similar accolades this season.
 
To go along with a strong offense, the Vikings have a 2.00 team ERA spinning the ball this season. Amber Elliot and Ashley Mickschl lead the Augustana staff and each have a 14-2 record in the season in 37 combined starts. Both also have ERA's of under 1.75. Hailey Houston and Olivia Hazelbaker have each been good in relief, combining for 28 relief appearances and have given up just 17 earned runs in almost 50 innings of work.
 
Wayne State College (11-30, 8-12 NSIC)
The Wildcats have just 11 wins on the season, but they have gone 3-3 in their last six games, including a sweep against Northern State last Saturday.
 
Kim Vidlak leads a Wildcat offense, hitting .371 and an OPS of 1.004, both of which lead the offense. She also has 11 doubles and 31 runs knocked in, which also lead WSC. Kourtney Burish and Riley Homberg are both hitting over .350 and have combined for 29 stolen bases on the season. As a team, WSC is hitting .276.
 
In the circle, the Wildcats struggle. WSC has a team ERA of 6.57. Hadley Chvatal has started 18 games on the season and is 2-15 with a 7.45 ERA and has struck out 66 hitters, but has also walked 62 opponents. Callie Carraher and Samantha Felt have combined to make 20 starts and are a combined 8-11 in the circle.