Sioux Center, Iowa – After more than a month on the road in four different states, Minnesota Crookston softball will continue to stay on the road, but they will open up conference play in Sioux Center, Iowa this Sunday and Monday on the road for a pair of doubleheaders at Concordia-St. Paul and Southwest Minnesota State.
 
The pair of doubleheaders were pushed back to Sunday and Monday and were changed in location to Sioux Center, Iowa.
 
The Golden Eagles will open conference play this weekend after spending a week in the Sunshine State of Florida, where they went 5-5, including a 4-2 record over their last six games in Florida. Minnesota Crookston enters NSIC play with a 7-17 record
 
How to Follow
Minnesota Crookston @ Concordia-St. Paul
Sunday, March 24
2 / 4 P.M.
Location – Sioux Center, Iowa
Live Stats -- https://cspbears.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston @ Southwest Minnesota State
Monday, March 25
12 / 2 P.M.
Location – Sioux Center, Iowa
Live Stats -- https://smsumustangs.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston (7-17)
The Golden Eagles will open up conference play this weekend and although the weather might be a little different this weekend in St. Paul and Marshall than it did in Florida, the Golden Eagles will hope that the momentum and the offense continue to play well against the Golden Bears and Mustangs.
 
Freshman Rayna French (Fr., C, La Salle, Manitoba) really loved her time in Florida. French collected at least one hit in every game in Florida, including a pair of hits in the last game against Pittsburgh at Johnstown. French leads the Golden Eagle offense with a .316 batting average. Paige Shwaluk (Sr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) was on fire in Florida as well, hitting .393 in 10 games, including a .588 average in her last five games in Florida. Shwaluk also leads the team in stolen bases with eight.
 
Whitnee Curry (Jr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) is fourth on the Golden Eagles with a .269 average and had three multi-hit games in Florida and had three hit games in a pair of wins against College of Staten Island and Pittsburgh at Johnstown. Reagan Emerick (R-Jr., MIF, Macomb, Ill.) hit safely in six of ten games in Florida. Shaelyn Grant (Sr., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.) leads the Golden Eagles with 18 RBI.
 
In the circle, Alexa Guilford (So., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) has been sensational this season. The sophomore already has more wins than she did last year with three and has a 2.24 ERA on the season in 15 appearances. In six appearances in Florida, all of one being in relief, Guilford went 3-0 and struck out 13 hitters, while walking just four. Thayda Houser (Sr., P, Seymour, Iowa) leads the Golden Eagles in starts with seven and strikeouts with 26.
 
Concordia-St. Paul (18-6)
The Golden Bears are off to a really good start this season and lost two games in a row for the first time this past weekend against No. 13 Pittsburg State in a doubleheader. CSP played 12 games at the SPRING games and went 10-2. The Golden Bears and Golden Eagles did not meet in 2023.
 
Offensively, the Golden Bears have one of the best offenses in the Northern Sun, hitting .357 as a team on the season. Alexis Monty leads the way for the Golden Bears, hitting .547 on the season with 11 extra base hits and 23 runs knocked in. CSP has eight hitters, including Monty, who have driven in more than 10 runs on the season. Danni Sharum and Alexus Houston lead the Golden Bears in home runs, with two apiece.
 
In the circle, the Golden Bears have relied on two pitchers. Junior Erica McCullough and freshman Emmy Browne have been the only two Golden Bears pitchers to enter the circle this season. Browne leads the way with 16 appearances and 81 innings pitched, but she has given up seven home runs on the season. McCullough has a 3.03 ERA and is 10-2 on the season.
 
Southwest Minnesota State (9-14)
Much like Minnesota Crookston, the Mustangs have had a week to recuperate after their lengthy week-plus trip to Florida. SMSU enters this weekend with a 9-14 record and were swept by the Golden Eagles to close out the regular season last year.
 
The Mustangs are a very similar offensive team to the Golden Eagles. SMSU hits .257 as a team and has three separate .300 hitters, compared to two for the Golden Eagles. The Mustangs have hit just one home run and that came off the bat of Jillian Noel, who is hitting .354 with 16 RBI on the season. A pair of Abby's have also had good seasons offensively; Abby Russell and Abby Boxrud are each hitting over .300. Brynn Webber leads the Mustangs in stolen bases, going a perfect 10-10 on the season.
 
In the circle, the Mustangs have relied on Karlie Miller and Morgyn Otte. The juniors, both Minnesota natives, have accounted for more than 80 percent of their teams' innings and have combined to make 21 starts. Miller has eight complete games and 54 strikeouts in 78 innings of work. Opponents are hitting better than .280 off of the Mustangs 1-2 duo in the circle.