MINOT, N.D. –  The Minot State softball team returns to action Friday, Feb. 18, at 5:00 p.m. against the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles to begin the Bubble Invite II in the Air-Supported Dome. On Saturday, Feb. 19, the Beavers host the University of Mary at 2:00 p.m. and Montana State University Billings at 7:00 p.m. before concluding the weekend on Sunday, Feb. 20, against Bemidji State University at 1:00 p.m.

Last Time Out
Minot State (7-2 overall, 0-0 NSIC) enters weekend play winners of three straight games. The Beavers last played in Tucson, Ariz. in the Desert Stinger Classic, dropping their first two games before coming out victorious in their final three games. Along the way, Minot State defeated the Academy of Art University 10-1, Western Washington University 1-0 and Saint Martin's University 7-6.

Leading the Way
NSIC Player of the Week Jamie Odlum sparked the Minot State offense, going 10-for-15 in the Desert Stinger Classic with multi-hit performances in every game of the tournament. Odlum's Desert Stinger All-Tournament Team performance leaves her with the most hits, runs batted in and total bases in the NSIC.

Maggie Mercer and Kiera Shwaluk also helped the Beavers offense with 10 hits and three RBIs between the pair. Sophomore outfielder Izzy Penner got in on the action by blasting two home runs in the 10-1 victory over the Academy of Art University.

Senior pitcher Trinity Valentine continued her early success, picking up two wins on the mound and improving her record to 4-1. Valentine earned the victory against the Academy of Art pitching five innings of one-run ball, followed by a six-strikeout performance on her way to her second win of the weekend over Western Washington University.

Weekend Competition
University of Minnesota Crookston (4-4 overall, 0-0 NSIC) enters the weekend coming off losses in four of their last five games. The Golden Eagles started their season winning the first three games of the Bubble Invite I before falling to Minot State 3-0 to conclude the weekend. Junior infielder Alina Avalos leads the Minnesota Crookston offense with 10 hits and 15 total bases in eight games this season.

The University of Mary Marauders (0-4 overall, 0-0 NSIC) enter play losers of all four of their contests in the Bubble Invite I. The Marauders dropped their first game of the year to Minot State 10-5 to begin the 2022 season. Junior middle infielder Kaylee Kannegiesser leads the University of Mary offense with nine hits and a .625 on base percentage.

Montana State University Billings (4-8 overall, 0-0 GNAC) also appeared in the Desert Stinger Classic, winning their first two games before dropping their final three contests of the tournament. Senior second basemen Morgan Quimby and Junior catcher Maycen O'Neal lead the way for the MSUB offense, both with 10 hits and an identical .303 batting average.

Bemidji State University (1-4 overall, 0-0 NSIC) enters the weekend coming off of an 8-4 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University after dropping their first four contests of the season in the Kelly Laas Softball Tournament. In their three meetings last season, Minot State swept the season series over Bemidji State. Freshman outfielder Alexa Christenson leads the Bemidji State offense with eight hits and a .500 batting average over five games. 

Next Time Out
Following the Bubble Invite II, Minot State returns to action Sunday, Mar. 6, with a doubleheader against the Golden Eagles of Minnesota Crookston starting at 1:00 p.m. The Beavers then hit the road for nine games in six days starting on Monday, Mar. 14, in The Spring Games Tournament in Winter Haven, Fla.