Softball | 1/23/2026 10:03:00 AM

Burnsville, Minn. -- Minnesota Crookston softball was picked to finish 14th in the annual NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released by the conference office earlier today.

Minnesota Crookston finished a program best 12th in the NSIC in 2025.

Perennial power Augustana received 12 first place votes and was chosen as the Preseason NSIC Champions. Winona State received four first place votes and was picked second, while Minnesota State, Minnesota Duluth and St. Cloud State rounds out the top-five.

Desi Cuevas of Augustana was voted as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, while Izzy Howe of Winona State was voted as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

A pair of sophomores are expected to lead the way this season for the Golden Eagles. Sophomore infielder Hannah Trzinski (So., P/1B, Stevens Point, Wis.) was selected as the Player to Watch for the Golden Eagles, while classmate Delaney Penner (So., P/OF, Winkler, Manitoba) was chosen as the Pitcher to Watch.

Heading into her second season at the helm of the Golden Eagles and fourth overall in the program, Ashton Sangster is thrilled to see all the work her team has done in the fall to carry over into the spring.

"I am most excited to see all the work we have put in this fall, in live action. We have a vast amount of experience returning this year, along with a few incoming players who are key contributors to the competitiveness this team brings," mentioned Sangster. 

"These players are eager to contribute to and be part of the continued growth and success our program has built over the past few years. I have been very fortunate to have players who look to compete and grow each and every day, and I am excited to watch their dedication and hard work pay off during the upcoming season," Sangster continued.

A season ago, Trzinski was put right into the heart of the Golden Eagle lineup and didn't disappoint. The sophomore hit a team-high .327 on the season, while driving in 19 runs and had an OPS of over .750. Trzinski had eight multi-hit games, including a career-high 3-3 in a win over Ursuline College.

"Hannah is a very high-character player. She embodies many characteristics that not only make her the player that she is, but the leader that any team would be lucky to have. She leads our team through her confidence, maturity, work ethic, competitiveness, and the true desire to see each of her teammates succeed," says Sangster about her sophomore infielder. "Hannah is an offensive threat on the field and can make a difference in multiple positions on defense. She is also an excellent student who looks to compete in the classroom and on different committees throughout campus."

In the circle, Penner had one of the best freshman seasons a Golden Eagles has had as a pitcher. Penner finished the season with a 6-9 record in 17 appearances, all starts. The sophomore led the Golden Eagles pitching staff in innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA, wins and complete games.

Sangster knows how important her young arm is to her team this season.

"Delaney is a major asset to our team; she leads in the circle with a confident presence that brings a sense of calmness to the players behind her. She learned many valuable lessons in the pitching experience she got last year as a freshman, which has brought immense growth to both her and our staff. She is a player that you can always trust, who brings great energy, and has proven to be a vital part of this program."

Along with Trzinski, Minnesota Crookston brings back a number of quality bats, including sophomores Chayse Doering (So., OF, Shakopee, Minn.), Madisen Yandle (Fr., SS, Lakeville, Minn.), Riley Blake (So., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.), Bryanna Decker (So., OF, Roseville, Calif.) and Jocelyn Hernandez (So., OF, Tulare, Calif.). Juniors Rayna French (Jr., C, La Salle, Manitoba) and Irelyn Spencer (R-Jr., IF, Rapid City, S.D.) are also projected to both be big parts of the lineup.

Alongside Penner in the circle, Minnesota Crookston will look to Sydney McMurdie (So., P/UT, Twin Falls, Idaho) and potentially another underclassmen to make an impact, as well.

The Golden Eagles open up their season exactly one week from today in Branson, Mo., with a game against Central Oklahoma.