Topeka, Kan. – February is quickly coming to a close, which means that conference season is soon to commence. Before the Golden Eagles kick off play in the ultra-competitive NSIC, they have 17 non-conference games to gear up for the conference play, starting this weekend in Topeka, Kan., for the Washburn Invitational, hosted by Washburn University. This will be the sixth straight season that the maroon and gold have attended the Washburn Invite.
 
The Golden Eagles will see five opponents this weekend. The Golden Eagles have played all five of their opponents this weekend at least once in program history.
 
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Sunday
Minnesota Crookston vs Newman
Topeka, Kan. / Lake Shawnee 3 Complex
2 P.M.
Live Stats -- https://wusports.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston vs Central Missouri
Topeka, Kan. / Lake Shawnee 2 Complex
4 P.M.
Live Stats -- https://wusports.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Monday
Minnesota Crookston vs Fort Hays State
Topeka, Kan. / Washburn Rural
10 A.M.
Live Stats -- https://wusports.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston @ Washburn
Topeka, Kan. / Washburn Complex
4 P.M.
Live Stats -- https://wusports.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Tuesday
Minnesota Crookston vs Northwest Missouri State
Topeka, Kan. / Washburn Complex
10 A.M.
Live Stats -- https://wusports.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston
The Golden Eagles have had a solid start to the Ashton Sangster era through ten games. The Golden Eagles are 4-6 on the season heading into the Washburn Invitational and are coming off a 10-7 win over Briar Cliff, the most runs the maroon and gold have scored this season.
 
Offensively, the Golden Eagles have been led by a variety of freshmen. Chayse Doering (Fr., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) leads the Golden Eagles in home runs (one), average (.480), hits (12) and OPS (1.272). The freshman has a hit in every game she has started this season. Hannah Trzinski (Fr., P/1B, Stevens Point, Wis.) is hitting .391, while Madison Yandle (Fr., SS, Lakeville, Minn.) is hitting .296 in nine starts. Yandle collected a career-high four hits in the win over Briar Cliff, while Jocelyn Hernandez (Fr., OF, Tracy, Calif.) collected three hits, also a career watermark.
 
In the circle, Charlotte Dombrowski (Jr., P, Valparaiso, Ind.) and Sydney McMurdie (Fr., P/UT, Boise, Idaho) have both been fantastic. The duo have combined for five starts and have two complete games. Dombrowski has struck out 17 hitters in 16.2 innings of work.
 
Newman University (2-8)
Newman enters the Washburn Invite looking to turn things around after a tough start to the season. Their two wins came against Arkansas Tech (6-3) and East Central University (3-2), both teams that handed the Golden Eagles early losses this season.
 
In their two wins this season, AJ Borja has been a key factor. In their win over Arkansas Tech, Borja went 2-2 and scored 3 runs for the Jets. In their win over East Central Borja went 2-4 with a double and an RBI. Borja is hitting .346 on the season, second on the team behind Gianna Navarro. Navarro is hitting .397 on the season with 12 hits in 31 at-bats. The senior leads the team in RBIs with 8. 
 
The Jets have 3 pitchers who have seen significant time in the circle. These include Kinyon DeCorte (17.2 IP), Katelyn Westover (21.0 IP), and Paola Zamacona (15.2 IP). Statistically, Kinyon leads the charge posting an ERA of 4.36 in her 7 appearances for the Jets. 
 
 
University of Central Missouri (4-2)
The Golden Eagles will face the Jennies in their second game of the tournament. The Jennies are 4-2 on the season and are currently riding a 2-game win streak. One of their wins this season was against the Maryville Saints. 
 
Offensively, Marisa Johnson has been a force, hitting an impressive .550 with 11 hits in 20 at-bats, driving in seven runs. Taylor Thompson has also been a difference-maker, batting .429 and leading the team with 11 RBIs.
 
The Jennie's pitching staff is led by Emily Brouse. Brouse has thrown 18.1 innings for the Jennies and posted an ERA of 4.96. Andi Siebeneck also has contributed, throwing 10.2 innings for the Jennies with a 4.59 ERA.
 
 
Fort Hays State University (3-3)
The Golden Eagles will close out the tournament against Fort Hays State, which enters the tournament 3-3. The Tigers' most recent win came against Southern Arkansas, a team that made the NCAA Tournament last season.
 
At the plate, Madison Pierce has been their most reliable hitter, posting a .438 average with seven hits. Lexie Mohr leads the team with five RBIs, while Regan Curry has crossed the plate four times.
 
In the circle, Morgan Schmidt leads the way. Just last week, Schmidt was named MIAA pitcher of the week. The senior pitched up a complete-game win in her only start last week, helping her team take down Southern Arkansas. Schmidt has logged 21 innings, striking out 23 batters while maintaining a 2.00 ERA.
 
Washburn University (7-4)
The Ichabods, the host of the tournament, will meet the Golden Eagles for the sixth time and the fifth time since 2020. The 'Bods have allowed just four runs combined in those five meetings.
 
Washburn's offense has been fantastic, hitting .303 as a team, led by Alexis Tanguma and Erin Boles, who are each hitting over .400. The Golden Eagles have four hitters hitting above .300, as well. Kaylee Wagner is hitting .382, while Kate Ediger was recently named the MIAA Offensive Player of the Week and leads the way with four home runs and 12 RBI. Makenzie Sais is hitting .333, while Mariah Wheeler leads Washburn with 16 RBI.
 
Pitching has been led by Sadie Walker and Ava Boyd, who combined, have made every start this season for the Ichabods and each have ERA's of sub-four. Walker has three complete games on the year and has struck out 34 in 34 innings of work.
 
Northwest Missouri State University (4-5)
The final game for the Golden Eagles will be against the Bearcats of Northwest Missouri State. These two teams met a year ago and it was a tight one; NMSU won by a run.
 
Alexis Brown has been unreal for the Bearcats, as she leads the Bearcats with a .529 average and 18 hits. She has also struck out just three times in 34 at-bats. Skylar Pieper is hitting .400 with a home run on the year. Omara Love has loved stepping into the batter's box, as she is hitting .353 with five extra base hits. Lillie Filger and Annie Gahan are also hitting above the .300 mark. Northwest Missouri State has a team average of .316.
 
 
The Bearcats also have a solid pitching staff, as they have a 3.64 team ERA in nine games. Erika Gore has made a pair of starts, while Olivia Moyer has made three starts, but is 0-3 on the year.
 
 
The Bearcats have lost two games in a row.