Grand Forks, N.D. – Fresh off a Sunday sweep of UMary, giving the Golden Eagles the most NSIC wins in program history, the Golden Eagles will make some more history on Wednesday afternoon, just 20 miles away from campus. The Golden Eagles will take on their first Division I opponent in program history when they head to Apollo Park to take on the University of North Dakota.
 
The game against the Fighting Hawks will be just one seven inning game.
 
How to Follow
Minnesota Crookston @ University of North Dakota
Wednesday, April 24
3 P.M.
Grand Forks, N.D. / Apollo Park
Live Stats -- https://fightinghawks.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
 
Minnesota Crookston (14-34, 7-17 NSIC)
Heading into a massive final week of the season, the Golden Eagles are still fighting for their playoff lives, looking to make the conference tournament for the first time in program history. The Golden Eagles are 12^th in the NSIC and the top-10 teams in the NSIC make the playoffs. The Golden Eagles will have a good tune-up for a massive four game conference slate this weekend on Wednesday against the Fighting Hawks.
 
Whitnee Curry (Jr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) leads the Golden Eagles with her .341 average and 43 hits on the season. Rayna French (Fr., C, La Salle, Manitoba), who was recently named the Newcomer of the Year at the second annual 'Regal's Choice Awards', is second on the team with a .284 average and is second on the team with 22 RBI. Paige Shwaluk (Sr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) and Reagan Emerick (R-Jr., MIF, Macomb, Ill.) have been outstanding table setters near the top of the order. Shwaluk needs just six runs in the final five games to break her own single season record for most runs in a season. Shaelyn Grant (Sr., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.), who is the single-season record holder with 10 home runs, is also in top-five with her 28 RBI and counting on the season.
 
The Golden Eagles have gone to senior Thayda Houser (Sr., P, Seymour, Iowa) for 22 appearances and 18 starts on the year. Houser is 6-12 on the season with 60 strikeouts. Her six wins and 60 strikeouts lead the Golden Eagle pitching staff. Alexa Guilford (So., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) has been really good, mostly in a relief role this season. The sophomore is 4-5 on the year and is tied for the program record with two saves on the year.
 
North Dakota (12-36, 5-7 Summit League)
The Fighting Hawks have struggled offensively this season, hitting just .215 as a team on the season, which is the ninth worst average in NCAA Division I. UND has been playing well as of late, winning five of their last six games, including a three-game sweep of their in-state rival, North Dakota State, over the weekend.
 
Angie Dumlao leads the Fighting Hawks offense, hitting .313 on the season, with 11 RBI. Johanna Rodriguez is the second best hitter on the Fighting Hawks in terms of average, hitting .288 on the year. Katelyn Neumayer has three home runs and is tied for the team lead with 14 RBI. Fifth-year Fighting Hawk Cassie Castaneda was named the Summit League Peak Performer of the Year after hitting .714 against the Bison this past weekend.
 
Expect one of Jackie Albrecht or Makaela Carr to start in the circle on Wednesday. Albrecht and Carr have combined for 10 wins on the year and 35 starts, with Albrecht leading the staff with 23 starts and ten complete games. Albrecht earned the start against Minot State last week and earned the win in five innings, while striking out four. She did pitch 14 innings against NDSU, both wins, last weekend.