MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State softball team hit the road for a hugely successful trip as the Beavers opened NSIC play with a pair of doubleheader sweeps last weekend.
That fast start to league play put Minot State (9-7 overall, 4-0 NSIC) into first place early in the season, and now the Beavers look to maintain their spot atop the NSIC standings.
Challenging Minot State's grip on the league lead will be the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs (11-16, 2-2), who visit "The Bubble" on the MSU campus Friday for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m., then the Beavers entertain Minnesota State, Mankato (22-8, 2-2) on Saturday starting at 11 a.m. in another twinbill.
A special note for fans coming out to enjoy the action, the Beaver concession stand will be open with hot food and cold beverages for sale while you enjoy the Minot State softball.
Both Beaver opponents bounced back strong after dropping their league-opening doubleheaders as Southwest Minnesota State lost twice to Bemidji State on Sunday but regrouped by sweeping two games from Minnesota Crookston on Monday. The Mavericks fell twice on Friday to Minnesota State Moorhead then regrouped to beat Northern State twice on Saturday.
The Mavericks come into the weekend with the best pitching staff in the NSIC based on ERA at 1.81, and boast the fifth-best hitting lineup with a .310 batting average, presenting a formidable foe.
The Beavers rank fifth in ERA (2.81) and are one spot behind the Mavericks as a hitting lineup with a .280 team batting average.
As for the Mustangs, they ranked No. 10 in ERA (3.51) and No. 12 in batting average (.266).
Senior infielder Jillian Noel and junior infielder Abby Russell lead the way for the Mustangs as Noel has team-highs of 23 RBIs and a .377 batting average, while Russell is hitting .329 and leads the team with 16 runs scored.
In the circle, junior righties Karlie Miller (6-8, 3.02 ERA) and Morgyn Otte (5-6, 3.12 ERA) have been the Mustangs' two go-to pitchers.
As for the Mavericks, senior outfielder Kylie Sullivan and sophomore infielder Gianna Lara have been powering the offense as both have four home runs, while Sullivan is hitting .370 with 16 RBIs and Lara is batting .356 with 28 RBIs.
As for that No. 1 pitching staff, freshman righty Maddie Oetzmann is 11-1 with a minuscule 0.85 ERA and right-handed graduate student McKayla Armbruster is 9-4 with a 1.85 ERA, a commanding one-two punch.
Looking at the Beavers, it's been a total team effort leading them to the top of the NSIC standings with all four Minot State pitchers earning at least a win and teaming up for that 2.81 Beaver ERA.
Gabi Dawyduk leads the way with a 3-3 record and a 1.35 ERA, while
Kierra Fournier also had 3 wins and shares the team lead in strikeouts with 22 with
Reegan Floyd (2-2).
While pitching has been a team effort, the same can be said of the offense as 10 players are hitting over .300, including
Brooklyn Morrison, who is batting .368 with 2 home runs, 7 RBIs, and is on a 10-game hitting streak.
Taryn Bennett had been the big run-producer with a Beaver-best 17 RBIs, along with a .318 batting average, while
Lauryn DeGuzman is hitting a team-leading .409, and
Abby Lohse has added a .306 average at the plate with 2 homers, 9 RBIs, and a team-leading 10 runs scored.
This weekend's Easter action in "The Bubble" starts a six-game homestand for Minot State which wraps up a busy stretch hosting the University of Mary on Tuesday in another NSIC doubleheader in "The Bubble" starting at 4 p.m.
