Aberdeen, S.D. -- Minnesota Crookston softball will head down south to Aberdeen S.D. for a double header against the Northern State University Wolves to wrap up their regular season play. The double header will be played at the Koehler Hall of Fame Field in Aberdeen, S.D.
 
The Maroon and Gold are looking for a big weekend against teams who rank lower than them in the NSIC conference standings. Depending on results from other teams, they will look to punch their tickets to the NSIC conference tournament for the first time in program history.  
 
How to Follow
Minnesota Crookston @ NSU Wolves
Saturday, April 26th
1 / 3 P.M.
Live Stats -- https://nsuwolves.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
Watch Live -- https://nsicnetwork.com/nsuwolves/ 
 
Minnesota Crookston @ MSU Moorhead
Sunday, April 27^th
1/3 P.M.
Watch Live -- https://nsicnetwork.com/msumdragons/
Live Stats -- https://www.msumdragons.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
 
Minnesota Crookston (20-30, 8-14 NSIC)
The Golden Eagles will start their last weekend of the regular season in Aberdeen S.D. with a double header against the Wolves. After a weekend of record-breaking performances, season vets Irelyn Spencer (R.-So., IF, Rapid City, S.D.) and Whitnee Curry (Sr., 2B/SS, Lincoln, Neb.), will try to lead their squad to a first postseason berth for the program. In 47 games played, Spencer leads the team in RBI's with 26 while averaging .259 at the plate. Curry, the new Golden Eagle hitting queen, is averaging .293 on the year and with 34 hits and 13 RBI's while being walked 22 times in 46 games played. The UMN Crookston young guns keep shining in their inaugural season. Hannah Trzinski (Fr., P/1B, Stevens Point, Wis.) has been constantly hitting over .300 this season and currently holds a .333 average while having 34 hits, 17 RBI's and 12 runs. Her batting average is the best among the team, and she has started 34 of the 40 games she has appeared in. Her freshman class teammate, Chayse Doering (Fr., OF, Shakopee, Minn.), leads the team in runs with 25 while averaging .277 at the plate and running in 10 RBI's in 44 games.  
In the circle, the Golden Eagles will look to shut down the Northern State offence with their Canadian duo of Delaney Penner (Fr., Winkler, Manitoba) and Alexa Guilford (Jr., P, Crystal City, Manitoba). The freshman, Penner, has started 14 games of 14 this year while boasting an ERA of 2.81. Her 4 complete games and 48 strikeouts are the best among the Maroon and Gold pitchers. Guilford's 3 saves, with her 2.86 ERA have been a crucial part of this late Golden Eagle success. She holds a 5-2 record in 21 games. The senior, Evie Stuck (Sr., Papillion, Neb.), could be a deciding factor as she has been utilized a bit more in relief this season. Her 21 strikeouts and 4.2 ERA is good for a 3-2 record while playing in 17 games. 
The Golden Eagles will look to grab a few wins and do it for their coaching staff who brought home the coaching staff of the year award at the Regal's Choice Award banquet that happened last Tuesday, April 22^nd. Depending on the other team's results, the Golden Eagle will need at least a couple of wins to punch their ticket to the 2025 NSIC conference tournament. 
 
Northern State University Wolves (10-35, 4-20 NSIC)
The Wolves come into this series with a 6 game losing streak and will look to salvage their season by ending it on a good note by playing spoiler to the Golden Eagles playoff hopes while hosting the Golden Eagles.
This year, the Wolves story has been that they have good offense from their team but lack the pitching crew to back it up. Northern State has 4 ladies that are hitting over .300 at the plate (2 PA/G and 75% of games played). The rising star, Aune Boben (Fr., P/UTL, Hibbing, Minn.) is averaging .333 while leading the team in 3 categories such as runs (32), hits (49), and doubles (10). Her catching partner, Emma Owens (C, Jr., Bismarck, N.D.), is having a season of her own while hitting for .298 while having 20 runs and 36 hits. 
The Golden Eagles will have to take advantage of the lack of pitching excellence from the Wolves bullpen. Abby Raux (Sr., Hawley, Minn.), has been the most utilized pitcher for the Wolves. She has played 33 games while being given the starting pitcher position 23 times. This has led her to have 19 complete games which ranks her 3^rd in the conference among most games completed. She boasts a 5.67 ERA with 99 strikeouts. 
This last weekend of regular season play will be a great test for the Golden Eagles to see if they can rewrite the Golden Eagle softball history books and snatch that last spot to qualify for the 2025 NSIC conference tournament.
 
MSU Moorhead (16-35, 8-16 NSIC)
After wrapping up their series against Northern State, the Maroon and Gold will hit the road once again, this time heading to Moorhead, Minnesota, to take on the MSUM Dragons. It's a matchup that hasn't historically favored the Golden Eagles, who hold a 14-35 record against the Dragons. That said, the Golden Eagles have found their stride lately and are looking to ride that momentum into the weekend with hopes of clinching a spot in the NSIC Tournament for the first time in program history. The Dragons come into the matchup just one spot behind Minnesota Crookston in the NSIC standings, currently sitting at 12th in the highly competitive conference.
Offensively, theDragons are led by Avery Steffen, who's been a standout all season with a .387 batting average. In 168 at-bats, she's racked up 65 hits and crossed the plate 43 times, both team highs, and is good for 7th in the NSIC. Annika Norman has also been a reliable presence at the plate, hitting .335 with 22 RBIs to her name.
In the circle, MSUM has used a committee of six pitchers this season, with Teagan Clemmons leading the way. She's logged 96.2 innings and holds a team-best 3.91 ERA. Steffen and Brynna Farmna have also contributed significantly to the mound.