Softball | 4/3/2025 3:32:00 PM

Mankato, Minn. – Mother Nature has forced some more changes to Minnesota Crookston softball. Instead of continuing their home stand, Golden Eagle softball will instead do a site-reversal and head to Minnesota State on Saturday and Winona State on Sunday.
 
How to follow
Minnesota State vs Minnesota Crookston
Saturday, April 5
4:30 / 6:30 P.M.
Mankato, Minn.
Live Stats -- https://msumavericks.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
Watch Live -- https://nsicnetwork.com/
 
Winona State vs Minnesota Crookston
Sunday, April 6
12 / 2 P.M.
Winona, Minn.
Live Stats -- https://winonastatewarriors.com/sidearmstats/softball/summary
Watch Live -- https://nsicnetwork.com/winonastatewarriors/
 
Minnesota Crookston (13-22)
The Golden Eagles are looking to make a move in the NSIC standings this weekend. They currently hold a 1-7 conference record and a 13-22 overall mark. 
 
At the plate, Hanna Trzinski (Fr., P/1B, Stevens Point, Wis.) has been a key contributor, leading the team with a .355 batting average. She has recorded 33 hits in 93 at-bats and leads the team with 17 RBIs. Chase Doering (Fr., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) has also been a steady presence, hitting .302 with 26 hits in 86 at-bats. Madisen Yandle (Fr., SS, Lakeville, Minn.) and Rayna French (So., C/OF, La Salle, Manitoba) have added depth to the lineup, hitting .280 and .278, respectively. Meanwhile, Irelyn Spencer (R-So., IF, Rapid City, S.D.) has provided production with 15 RBIs.
 
In the circle, the Golden Eagles have relied on a deep pitching rotation, with nine different players seeing time in the circle. Leading the staff is Delaney Penner (Fr., P, Winkler, Manitoba), who has thrown 43 innings and holds a 4-3 record, the most wins on the team. Alexa Guilford (Jr., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) has been a reliable arm as well, posting an impressive 2.06 ERA over 34 innings pitched.
 
Minnesota State Mavericks (26-12)
Minnesota State Mankato enters the weekend as one of the top teams in the NSIC, sitting at 10-2 in conference play. Historically, the Golden Eagles have struggled in this matchup, winning just one of 20 games. However, their lone victory was a memorable one, as the Maroon and Gold came back from a 10-0 deficit in 2023 to secure their first-ever win over the Mavericks.
 
At the plate, the Mavericks are led by Finley Anderson, who leads the NSIC in batting average at .446. As a team, MSU ranks fifth in the conference with a .293 average and has six hitters hitting over .300. Their lineup is packed with run producers, featuring four players with at least 20 RBIs and five players who have scored 20 or more runs this season.
 
The Mavericks also bring one of the strongest pitching staffs in the NSIC, ranking second in the conference with a 1.97 ERA. They have used six pitchers this season but rely heavily on a trio of standouts in Maddie Oetzmann (1.35 ERA), Brianne Stone (1.62 ERA), and Sailor Hall (1.88 ERA), all of whom rank in the NSIC's top 10. Oetzmann has been particularly dominant, earning national recognition with a ranking of 19th in the country.
 
 
Winona State (28-7, 9-1 NSIC)
Minnesota Crookston softball will head to Winona to face the Warriors who currently sit first in the NSIC. The double header will be played at the Maynard R. Johnson Field, in Winona MN, on Sunday, April 6^th.

The Warriors are no strangers when it comes to dominating NSIC softball. Reaching the final game of the NSIC Championship tournament in 2021 and semifinal in 2022, the Purple and Black will look to make a statement this year and return to their championship caliber ways.

The Warriors have the best batting average in the conference with an average of .339 with Ashlee Chantos (Jr., OF, St. Charles, Ill.) leading the way with a percentage of .436. Standout freshman, Braelee Jodarski (Fr., IF,  Oshkosh, Wis.), has been a threat for the Winona State squad with 45 RBI's and 15 home runs leading both categories for her side. The Warriors swept the Northern State University Wolves in their last outing on Saturday, March 15^th.

The stellar pitching duo of Izzy Howe (Jr., St. Charles, Ill.) and Jayda Berg (So., Coon Valley, Wis.) have been lights out this year. Howe has Started 18 out of 19 games played, posts a 1.96 ERA, and has won 14 games. Berg has started 17 out of the 20 games she has participated in, holds a 2.38 ERA, and has 13 wins in the season. They both have 14 completed games this season.  

Don't miss any of the Golden Eagle action as they attempt to throw a thorn in this excellent season of Warriors Softball. The Golden Eagles will face the Bemidji State Beavers in their next matchup on Wednesday, April 9^th in Bemidji, MN at 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.