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Van Wetzinga Takes Reigns of Upper Iowa Softball Program
July 29 2010 | UIU Release 
Fayette, Iowa –Upper Iowa University Director of Athletics David Miller has announced that Anna Van Wetzinga has been selected as the new head coach of the Peacock softball program. Van Wetzinga comes to UIU and the Fayette community after spending the last three years at the helm of the Colorado School of Mines softball program.
“Anna Van Wetzinga is a proven leader, head coach, and mentor to student-athletes,” said Miller. “I am pleased and proud to have Anna as the head coach of the UIU Softball Program. We have an outstanding group of individuals in our softball program and I know our student-athletes will be excited and will play hard for Coach Van Wetzinga. They know she will challenge them on and off the field.”
The Peacocks compiled a 15-21 overall record in 2010 including a 10-16 record in NSIC play which was good enough for the ninth place finish in the conference standings. Last season marked the first time in UIU’s short, four-year Northern Sun Conference history that the softball team did not make the NSIC Tournament as they fell just a half game shy. The team graduated three quality veterans, but returned the bulk of their roster for the 2011 season and added six new players to the mix.
“I am excited for the opportunity to lead the Peacock softball program. My roots are in Iowa from my hometown, to my high school and college,” said Van Wetzinga. “Upper Iowa is a hidden treasure; and as the only NCAA Division II institution in Iowa, there are many opportunities for success.”
Over the last three years, Van Wetzinga led the Orediggers to an overall record of 101-64 while racking up a 73-38 record in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference. Fourteen All-RMAC performers developed under her guidance including the 2008 RMAC Freshman of the Year and two All-Americans. Van Wetzinga added, “The RMAC and the NSIC are very comparable when you look at talent level from top to bottom in the league. The difference between the two region conferences is that the RMAC is more offensive, while the NSIC’s strength is pitching and defense.”
Van Wetzinga will hope to bring that offensive attitude from the RMAC and combine it with the current pitching and defensive focus to find success in the NSIC. She pointed out that “offensive success comes from two major factors; consistency in our teaching approach and a variety of skill sets throughout the lineup from speed to power. You have to have speed on base to be aggressive when your power delivers hits into the gaps.” Colorado School of Mines twice finished in the top 10 in batting average in NCAA Division II.
In her second season (2009), Van Wetzinga led CSM to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history as the #3 seed in the Central Region. The Orediggers established a new single-season program record for victories with a 39-19 record, breaking the previous record (38) set during the 2008 season. CSM also set a single-season record for conference wins as they posted a 28-8 record in RMAC play. Van Wetzinga was named the RMAC Coach of the Year in 2008 after guiding Mines to the RMAC Regular Season Championship with a 38-19 mark overall and a 27-11 record in conference play.
“When we began this search, we were determined to find an individual who matched our philosophy on intercollegiate athletics and the value of a positive student-athlete experience,” commented Miller. “We found that in Coach Van Wetzinga. She aligned with all 18 profile characteristics we established that included successful head coaching experience at the collegiate level, NCAA Division II experience, knowledge and understanding of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, personal ties to the state of Iowa, and an individual who has been part of building a successful softball program.”
Prior to taking over at the Colorado School of Mines, Van Wetzinga spent two years (2006-07) as an assistant coach at Indiana State University. Van Wetzinga was also an assistant coach at St. Ambrose University in 2003.
A native of Bettendorf, Iowa and graduate of Central College in Iowa, Van Wetzinga was selected as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association's (NFCA) NCAA Division III Catcher of the Year as a senior in 2001. Van Wetzinga, who led the Dutch to a national runner-up finish in 2001, was a three-time All-Conference, four-time All-Region and two-time All-American selection during her time in Pella.
Van Wetzinga earned her Bachelor’s degree in General Studies with an emphasis on Exercise Science from Central in 2001 and then attained her Master’s degree in Recreation and Sport Management from Indiana State University in 2007.
2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II All-Americans
May 26, 2010 | NFCA Release
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The NFCA announced its 2010 Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-American teams at the NCAA Banquet of Champions on Wednesday night at Missouri Western State’s Fulkerson Center in St. Joseph. The NSIC had two first team members along with a second team and two third team selections.
First team selections went to Mollie Bjelland, led Winona State to a regional appearance this season and ended her season with a .371 batting average and a .755 slugging percentage. Bjelland drove in 51 runs on the season off of 59 hits with 17 doubles, four triples and 12 home runs. Selected at utility/non-pitcher was Dre Brunskill of U-Mary. Second team honors went to Kelsey Thompson (Catcher, Minnesota State) while third team went to Katie Goetzinger (Pitcher, Wayne State) and Kristin Danielson (Utility/Pitcher, University of Minnesota Duluth). Concordia-St. Paul's Anna Bjorlin was an at-large pick for her efforts at second base.
2010 Daktronics All-America Softball Team
May 26, 2010 | Daktronics Release
Rolla, Mo. – The 2010 Daktronics All-American Softball Teams were announced on May 26th. The NSIC had three All-Americans named with Kelsey Thompson of Minnesota State taking home second team honors. Wayne State's pitcher Katie Goetzinger, Concordia-St. Paul's second baseman Anna Bjorlin and U-Mary's Dre Brunskill were named to the honorable mention teams.
The team is sponsored by Daktronics, Inc., an acknowledged world leader in scoring, timing and programmable display systems for virtually every sport at every level of competition. The team is voted on by the members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).
NSIC Softball Weekly Release No. 15
Metro State Beats Wayne State 6-2 in Nine
May 22, 2010 | NSIC Release | Box Score | Tournament Site
Denver, Colo. - The 17th-ranked Wayne State College softball team was eliminated from the NCAA Division II Central Super Regional Saturday afternoon in Denver, Colorado, falling 6-2 in nine innings to the #4 Metro State Roadrunners at Auraria Field. Metro State wins the best of three series 2-0 and now advances to the NCAA Division II College Softball World Series next week in St. Joseph, Missouri with a 51-4 record while Wayne State ends the season with a mark of 43-14.
The game was scoreless until the fifth inning, but the Wildcats were aggressive early at the plate as WSC had several scoring chances and left six runners on base in the first three innings. In the second inning, the ‘Cats left the bases loaded failing to score. With two outs, Aeriell Earleywine reached on an error by Metro State third baseman Tara Mickelson. She then advanced to second on an illegal pitch. Brittany Greenwood walked and Amy Sandstrom was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but Metro State pitcher Christie Robinson got Kassie Nurton to ground out to third base on a close play to get out of the inning.
Metro State scored the game’s first run in the top of the fifth inning as Lauren Hainlen doubled to left field and pinch runner Jesse Minch later scored on Tara Mickelson’s single to left field to give the Roadrunners a 1-0 lead. WSC tied the score in the bottom of the sixth inning as Sam Earleywine led off with a walk and went to second on Jennifer Radley’s sacrifice bunt. Pinch runner Alesha Finkey replaced Earleywine at second base and advanced to third on Hannah Engelkamp’s ground out. Finkey scored when pinch hitter Amber Baird laced a solid single up the middle to even the score at 1-1. Aeriell Earleywine then singled to center field, but Brittany Greenwood grounded out to third to end the inning and the score remained tied at 1-1.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, WSC put two runners on base but could not score the game-winning run. Kassie Nurton beat out a roller to third base for her third hit of the game. Later in the inning, Sam Earleywine singled to put runners at first and second with two out, but Jennifer Radley grounded out to shortstop to end the threat and the game went into extra innings.
\Metro State erupted for five runs in the top of the ninth inning, recording four hits, to take a 6-1 advantage. After Lauren Hainlen opened the inning with a pop up to shortstop, Amber Roundtree was hit by the pitch. She scored when Sarah Rusch doubled to left center field, giving the Roadrunners a 2-1 lead. Mickelson then followed with a two-run homer to center field, putting Metro State in front 4-1. After Jennessa Tesone grounded out to third for the second out, Metro State scored two more runs as Molly Clark walked and scored on Aubree Maul’s double to right field and Maul scored on Kellie Nishikida’s single to left center field making the score 6-1.
WSC did not give up and scored one run in the ninth and got the tying run to the plate before Metro State finally registered the last out. Kassie Nurton reached base on a Metro State error and advanced to third when Blaire Kuhl reached on a fielder’s choice and throwing error by Metro State. Sam Earleywine then followed with a single up the middle that scored Nurton. Jennifer Radley singled through the right side to load the bases and bring the tying run, Hannah Engelkamp to the plate. But Metro State’s Christie Robinson got Engelkamp to fly out to right field to end the game as Metro State hung on for the 6-2 win.
Wayne State had 10 hits in the game to nine for Metro State. Freshman designated player Kassie Nurton finished 3 for 5 with a run scored to pace the Wildcats at the plate. Sam Earleywine was 2 for 2 with a pair of singles while Sandstrom, Blaire Kuhl, Radley, Amber Baird and Aeriell Earleywine each singled to round out Wayne State’s 10 hits.
Katie Goetzinger (32-10) suffered the pitching loss. The junior fireballer from Harlan, Iowa allowed six runs on nine hits with 12 strikeouts and six walks. Her 12 strikeouts allowed Goetzinger to break her own single season record for strikeouts, finishing this season with 358 strikeouts breaking last year’s mark of 347. And she accomplished the feat by throwing 30 less innings this year compared to last.
The game marked the final contest for Wayne State’s lone senior, centerfielder Amy Sandstrom.
Metro State Uses Walk-off HR to Defeat Wayne State
May 21, 2010 | Box Score | Tournament Site
Metro State’s Jennessa Tesone hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the #4 Roadrunners a 2-1 win over #17 Wayne State in the opening game of the NCAA Division II Super Regional Softball Tournament held at Metro State’s Auraria Field in Denver, Colorado. Metro State is now 50-4 on the season with Wayne State 43-13 entering Saturday’s second game of the best of three series starting at 1:00 p.m. Central Time.
The game was a pitcher’s duel between two of the top pitchers in the Central Region, Katie Goetzinger of Wayne State and Christie Robinson of Metro State. Wayne State had the game’s first scoring chance in the fourth inning as Blaire Kuhl opened the inning with a bunt single in front of the catcher. Sam Earleywine’s sacrifice bunt moved to Kuhl to second. Jennifer Radley then walked and the two runners advanced to second and third respectively on Hannah Engelkamp’s ground out to shortstop. But Katie Goetzinger lined out to right field to end the inning as WSC left two runners in scoring position.
Meanwhile, Wildcat pitcher Katie Goetzinger was settling into a groove and retired 11 straight batters from the third inning through the sixth inning to keep the Wildcats in the game.
Wayne State snapped the scoreless tie in the sixth inning scoring one run on four hits. Kassie Nurton led off the inning with an infield single deep in the hole at shortstop. Kuhl then beat out a slow roller to Metro State shortstop Amber Roundtree to give WSC runners at first and second with no one out. Sam Earleywine then grounded into a double play, sending Nurton to third on the play. First baseman Jennifer Radley then came through with a one-hop line drive off the right center field fence for a single, scoring Nurton to give WSC a 1-0 lead. Hannah Engelkamp then followed with another single to right field, putting runners at first and second with two outs. But Metro State pitcher Christie Robinson got Katie Goetzinger to pop up to third base to end the inning.
The score remained 1-0 until the bottom of the seventh inning. Goetzinger, who had retired 11 straight batters entering the seventh inning, allowed a lead off walk to cleanup hitter Tara Mickelson following a 10-pitch at bat. The next batter, left fielder Jennesse Tesone, followed with a home run over the center field fence on a 2-2 count to give the host Raodrunners the dramatic 2-1 win over the Wildcats.
Wayne State had seven hits in the game to just three by Metro State. Freshman designated player Kassie Nurton was 2 for 3 at the plate with a run scored while junior second baseman Blaire Kuhl was also 2 for 3. Jennifer Radley, Hannah Engelkamp and Brittany Greenwood each singled to round out Wayne State’s seven hits. Metro State had singles by Kellie Nishikida (first inning) and Amber Roundtree (third inning) along with Jennesse Tesone’s game-winning homer in the seventh inning.
The winning pitcher was Metro State’s Christie Robinson, who improved to 27-2 with the win. She pitched all seven innings for the Roadrunners, allowing seven hits and one run with two strikeouts and one walk. Wayne State’s Katie Goetzinger (32-9) suffered the loss, allowing just three hits and two runs over six innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.
Wayne State will face Metro State in the second game of the best of three series on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. Central Time. The Wildcats must win to force the third game of the series later Saturday afternoon in Denver.
NFCA All-Region Teams Announced
May 19, 2010 | NFCA Release
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Daktronics All-Region Teams Announced
MSU's Thompson Named Player of the Year
May 19, 2010 | Daktronic Release
St. Cloud, Minn. - Minnesota State University, Mankato’s senior catcher Kelsey Thompson was named the 2010 Daktronics, Inc. Softball Central Region Player of the Year, while Metropolitan State’s (Denver) senior pitcher Christie Robinson tabbed the 2010 Daktronics, Inc. Softball Central Region Pitcher of the Year honors.
Thompson, a Frost, Minn., native, led Minnesota State in batting average (.431), hits (59), doubles (10), home runs (11), RBI (45), slugging percentage (.745) and on base percentage (.516). In addition to being named the Central Region Player of the Year, Thompson was also tabbed a First-Team All-Region choice. Earlier this month, Thompson was named First-Team All-Conference by the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and was also named the league's Player of the Year.
Below is the list of the 2010 Daktronics, Inc. All-Central Region First Team and Second Team. Of note, all players that land on the First Team will automatically advance to the All-America ballot.
The composition of the All-Region squads were two teams (1st and 2nd) comprised of 13 persons based on position breakdown (1 C, 1 1B, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 SS, 3 OF, 1 DP, 1 UT, 3 P). The regional Player and Pitcher of the Year (separate ballots) were also selected by the sports information directors of each school in the region.
2010 Daktronics, Inc. Softball All-Central Region Player & Pitcher of the Year
Central Region Player of the Year:
Kelsey Thompson, Minnesota State, C
Central Region Pitcher of the Year:
Christie Robinson, Metropolitan State (Denver), P
2010 Daktronics, Inc. Softball All-Central Region First Team
Pitchers:
Christie Robinson, Metropolitan State (Denver), P
Katie Goetzinger, Wayne State (Neb.), P
Ashley Meyer, Augustanta College (S.D.), P
Outfielders:
Katelyn Lovato, Adams State, CF
Mollie Bjelland, Winona State, OF
Gabriella Parra, Mesa State, OF
1B: Jaycee Lovato, Adams State, 1B
2B: Anna Bjorlin, Concordia-St. Paul, 2B
SS: Amber Roundtree, Metropolitan State (Denver), SS
3B: Tara Mickelson, Metropolitan State (Denver), 3B/C
C: Kelsey Thompson, Minnesota State, C
DP: Justine Bosio, Colorado State-Pueblo, P/DP
UT: Dre Brunskill, Mary (N.D.), UT
2010 Daktronics, Inc. Softball All-Central Region Second Team
Pitchers:
Courtney Strang, Winona State, P,
Courtney McKelvogue, Minnesota State, P
Brittany Moss, Metropolitan State (Denver), P
Outfielders:
Jennessa Tesone, Metropolitan State (Denver), LF
Kellie Nishikida, Metropolitan State (Denver), OF
Jenny Brown, Augustana College (S.D.), OF
1B: Jesika Anastos, Colorado-Colorado Springs, 1B
2B: Sarah Rusch, Metropolitan State (Denver), 2B
SS: Rebecca Lindquist, Adams State, SS (21 points)
3B: Traci Fransen, Augustana (S.D.), 3B
C: Alisa Heronema, Regis (Colo.), C
DP: Jessie Thomas, Nebraska-Kearney, DP
UT (tie): Sarah Jordan, Mesa State, P/DP
Kristin Danielson, Minnesota Duluth, UT
NSIC Softball Weekly Release No. 14
Wayne State Headed to Region Finals
May 16, 2010 |NSIC Release | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Wayne, Neb, - The 17th-ranked Wayne State College softball team defeated #16 Augustana 2-1 Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the NCAA Division II Central Region Bracket #1 Softball Tournament at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne. The 43-12 Wildcats, with their 16th straight win, now advance to the NCAA Division II Super Regionals next weekend (May 21-23). Wayne State will face 49-4 Metro State, who defeated Minnesota State 6-0 in the Central Region Bracket #2 final in Colorado Springs, Colorado Sunday afternoon.
The Vikings threatened to score in the first inning as Jenny Brown singled up the middle and advanced to second when Wildcat second baseman Blaire Kuhl dropped the ball on a force play allowing Witt Murray to reach first base. But WSC starter Katie Goetzinger got Traci Fransen to foul out to left field and Brittney Coufal popped to first to end the scoring threat.
Wayne State got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when hot-hitting third baseman Brittany Greenwood hit a line drive over the right center field fence to give the Wildcats a 1-0 advantage. Greenwood was 3 for 3 in Saturday’s win over Concordia-St. Paul and finished today’s game 2 for 3. The Wildcats added another run later in the inning when Amy Sandstrom singled and scored on Blaire Kuhl’s RBI ground out to second base giving WSC a 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats had an opportunity to break the game open in the bottom of the fifth inning. Wayne State loaded the bases with just one out, but Augustana relief pitcher Chelsey Durland got out of the jam when she retired Hannah Engelkamp on a popup to the pitcher and struck out Katie Goetzinger to leave the bases loaded.
Augustana College made the game interesting in the top of the seventh inning. Brittany Coufal reached on a single to start out the inning for the Vikings. Kelsey Kalkman then lined a ball to Wildcat second basemen Kuhl that turned into a double play. The next batter for the Vikings, Chelsea Durland, launched a towering homer over the left field wall to cut the ‘Cats lead to 2-1, but Goetzinger struck out Britt Stewart to end the game sending WSC to the Super Regional.
Wayne State pitcher Katie Goetzinger (32-8) broke the WSC single season record for wins in a season with her 32nd win of the year, pitching all seven innings allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts.
The Wildcats had nine hits in the game to four by Augustana. Brittany Greenwood was 2 for 3 at the plate with a solo homer, her first long ball of the season. Kassie Nurton, Amy Sandstrom and Blaire Kuhl each contributed two singles in the win while Aeriell Earleywine singled to round out Wayne State’s nine-hit attack.
Each regional winner will advance to the super regionals May 21-22. The finals will be held May 27-31 at Heritage Park Softball Complex in St. Joseph, Missouri and will be hosted by Missouri Western State University.
Text Courtesy of WSC Website
Minnesota State Eliminated by Metro State at NCAA Region
May 16, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Colorado Springs, Colo. - The second-seeded Minnesota State Mavericks battled the first-seeded Metro State Roadrunners in the championship round of the NCAA subregionals in Colorado Springs, Colo., Sunday afternoon falling, 6-0.
Metro State opened the game with a 6-0 lead hitting a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the second. The Roadrunners hit another two-run homer to center field in the bottom of the third. With the bases loaded a walk-in run followed by another run brought in as the batter was hit by the pitch.
The Mavericks had the bases loaded in the top of the fourth with their chance to bring the game within two runs, but a double-play at home and first would shut-down the opportunity.
Sophomore pitcher Kendra Huettl pitched two innings allowing five runs off three hits while striking out two, taking the loss and finishing the season with a 17-10 record.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Courtney McKelvogue came in relief for the last three innings allowing one run off three hits, McKelvogue finishes her season 19-5.
In the NCAA subregional tournament the Mavericks shattered the single-season home run record, set last season (48), by nine home runs, the record now sits at 57. In the four games Minnesota State drilled 12 home runs, 11 coming against Winona State. Junior Julie O'Nealand sophomore Amanda Umhoefer both posted three home runs. .
Minnesota State finishes the season 36-15 overall in Colorado Springs, Colo., for their ninth appearance in the NCAA tournament and fourth consecutive appearance. Text Courtesy of MSU Website
Minnesota State Eliminates WSU at NCAA Region
May 15, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Colorado Springs, Colo. - The second-seeded Minnesota State Mavericks defeated the Warriors of Winona State in elimination game Saturday evening, 7-6.The win marks the fifth victory over the Warriors this season. The Warriors brought the first run in at the top of the second inning off a home run to left field.
The Mavericks brought two runs in at the bottom of the second as junior Julie O'Neal reached on a walk, advanced to second on a fouled out ball and came in for the run on a throwing error by the Warriors. Sophomore Amanda Umhoefer brought the second run in hitting a home run to center field, her fifth of the season.
In the bottom of the fourth the Mavericks tallied two more runs as sophomore Chelsea Erickson singled up the middle before O’Neal drilled a home run to center field, her fourth of the season.
Winona State brought one run in at the top of the fifth off three singles.
Leading off in the bottom of the fifth, senior Libbie Reichling homered to left field tallying one more run for the Mavericks.
In the top of the sixth, the Warriors tallied two runs off two hits and one Maverick error.
The Mavericks brought two runs in at the bottom of the sixth as O’Neal homered to left center, her fifth of the season and second of the game, followed by another home run by Umhoefer, her sixth of the season and second of the game.
The Warriors rallied back in the top of the seventh bringing two runs in off a two-run homer to right center, cutting the Maverick lead to one run.
Minnesota State closed-out the game with seven runs off seven hits and four errors. O’Neal went 2-for-2 at the plate brining three runners in, while Umhoefer went 2-for-2 bringing two runners in.
Sophomore pitcher Kendra Huettl went the distance allowing six runs off 10 hits while striking out seven, Huettl improves her record to 17-9.
The Mavericks (36-14) will battle Metro State tomorrow at 12 p.m. (MST) in the championship round. Minnesota State must defeat Metro State twice to advance to superregionals.
Minnesota State Falls to Metro State in NCAA Region
May 15, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Colorado Springs, Colo. - The second-seeded Minnesota State softball team, ranked 24th nationally, fell to first-seeded Metro State Saturday evening, 7-1.
The Roadrunners started off with a 7-0 lead bringing the first run in at the bottom of the second off a single through the right side. Metro State then tallied six runs in the bottom of the fourth off a drop fly to first followed by a three run homer to left center and a two-run homer to right center.
The Mavericks brought their only run in as junior Natalie Spicer drilled a home run down the left field line in the top of the sixth inning, her seventh of the season.
Minnesota State closed the game out with one run off six hits and one error, while Metro State posted seven runs off seven hits and no errors.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Courtney McKelvogue pitched four innings allowing six runs off seven hits, while striking out five. McKelvogue takes the loss and falls to 19-5.
Sophomore pitcher Kendra Huettl pitched two innings with one hit while striking out three.
The Mavericks (35-14) will take on Winona State in elimination game at 9 p.m. tonight. The winner will advance to the championship Sunday at 12 p.m.
Winona State Defeats Mesa State in NCAA Region
May 15, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Colorado Springs, Colo. - Winona State defeated Mesa State College 9-3 to stay alive in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament.
Earlier in the day the Warriors had completed a suspended game in a 12-3 loss to MSU Mankato.
The Warriors broke open the contest with six runs in the third inning that erased a 3-1 lead by Mesa State. Jenny Wilmes keyed the inning with a, two-out, three-run, home run, the second round tripper of the day for Wilmes, who stroked a, two-out, solo home run in the second.
Wilmes finished the game by going three-for-three with two runs scored and four runs driven, but was not the only WSU player to come up with the longball, as Katie Betry hit a solo home run with one out in the seventh.
Betry had two hits, scored two runs and drove in two runs, while Kayla Lewis and Kathy Crudo each contributed two hits.
Courtney Strang gave up seven hits and struck out seven to record the win.
Augie Eliminates CU from NCAA Region
May 15, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Wayne, Neb. - In the rematch against Concordia-St. Paul, the Augustana it took extra innings to decide a winner, but the Vikings used the long ball to advance with the 5-2 win.
Augustana surrendered a two-run lead as they had the day before, as Abby Brundidge hit a two-out single to score Nikki Scherr and Anna Bjorlin for the Golden Bears..
However, unlike Friday, the Vikings were able to counter with two home runs. Taylor Kapsch hit a two-out single to keep the fifth inning alive, and Henke homered her in to tie the score 2-2.
Neither team could muster any offense, as only one player from either team reached base the next 2 ½ innings. However, in the bottom of the eighth, Henke and Murray singled to get on, and each moved up a base on a wild pitch. With a full count and one out, Fransen delivered the knockout blow, as she belted a home run over the center field fence to propel Augie to the 5-2 win.
Durland (10-4) threw the complete game win, giving up zero earned runs on eight Concordia hits.
The Vikings will return to Wayne, Neb., on Sunday to face Wayne State in the regional final at noon, with the “if necessary” regional final at 2:30 p.m. In order to move on to the NCAA Super Regional May 21-22, Augustana must defeat Wayne State twice.
Augie Eliminates UMD from NCAA Region
May 15, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Wayne, Neb. - Augustana College defeated Minnesota Duluth 3-2 in the elimination round of the NCAA Softball Regional Tournament in Wayne, Neb. Augie used two runs in the bottom of the first and one in the third to take a 3-0 lead. UMD scored two in the fourth, but it wasnt enough as the Bulldogs end their season at 32-17. The Vikings will advance to take on Concordia-St. Paul later today. The Golden Bears handed the Vikings a 2-0 set back in the opening round of tournament.
The Augustana softball team used the long ball to stave off elimination Saturday at the NCAA Central Regional in Wayne, Neb.
Following Friday’s loss to Concordia, the Vikings needed to keep winning to avoid elimination, and win they did, holding off Minnesota Duluth (UMD) 3-2 before defeating Concordia in extra innings, 5-2.
In the contest against Minnesota Duluth, Traci Fransen opened the scoring in the first inning, as she singled home Kayla Henke and Jenny Brown to give Augie a 2-0 advantage. A solo home run by Henke in the top of the third extended the lead 3-0.
UMD’s Sammie Gardner doubled home two runs in the fourth to cut the Augustana advantage to 3-2, but Chelsey Durland came in in relief of Ashley Meyer and only allowed two baserunners in the final three innings. Meyer picked up the win to go move to 20-6 on the season, giving up two earned runs on four hits. Durland picked up her second save of the year, surrendering two hits and striking out five UMD batters.
The win against UMD also marks the 200th in head coach Gretta Melstad's career, which spans seven seasons between Augustana and Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo.
Long Ball Lifts MSU over WSU in NCAA Regional
May 14-15, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Colorado Springs, Colo. - The second-seeded Minnesota State softball team concluded its suspended game against third-seeded rival Winona State Saturday morning, with the Mavericks earning a 12-3 victory in six innings.
Yesterday, the Mavericks opened up a 2-0 advantage before the Warriors brought two runs in at the top of the fourth before the game was suspended in the top of the fourth due to continuous rain at 2-2.
The Mavericks came out strong finishing the Warriors run in the top of the fourth before junior Julie O’Neal hit a single advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Amanda Umhoefer drilled a home run to right center, her fourth of the season, bringing two runs in for the Mavericks.
The Warriors brought one run in off a home run to center field in the top of the fifth to close-in on the Maverick’s lead by one.
Minnesota State rallied back in the bottom of the fifth with four runs off six hits as junior first basemen Natalie Spicer set the tone hitting a home run to left field, her sixth of the season, bringing one run in. Senior catcher Kelsey Thompson hit a single to left center before sophomore Chelsea Erickson homered to left field bringing two more runs in. O’Neal and freshman Katie Kruse both hit singles before advancing to second and third on an illegal pitch. Freshman Abby Sonner singled to center field bringing one run in.
The Mavericks finished the game in the bottom of sixth as senior shortstop Libbie Reichling led off with a single to left center, Thompson singled down the left field line followed by a single through the left side by Erickson before O’Neal hit a walk-off grand slam to close-out the game with a nine-run advantage.
O’Neal led the Mavericks at the plate going 4-for-4, bringing four runners in. Minnesota State had 12 runs off 16 hits and no errors.
Redshirt freshman pitcher Courtney McKelvogue went the distance allowing only three runs off four hits, while striking out six Warrior batters. McKelvogue improves her record to 19-4.
Minnesota State added six home runs breaking last year’s single-season home run record of 48. The Mavericks now sit with 51 home runs on the season.
The Mavericks (35-13) will play again at 3 p.m. (Mountain Time) today, against Metro State.
Wayne State Beats CU 7-3 in NCAA Regional
May 15, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Wayne, Neb. - The #17-ranked Wayne State College softball team hit four home runs in the Wildcats' 7-3 win over Concordia- St. Paul in Saturday’s winners bracket final at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne. The Wildcats will now play in the Central Region Bracket #1 Championship Sunday afternoon at 12:00 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex. With the win, the Wildcats set a new school record for wins in a season with 42 surpassing last years win total of 41.
The Wildcats got on the board in the bottom of the second inning when Katie Goetzinger hit her third home run of the year over the left centerfield fence to give Wayne State a 1-0 advantage. The Wildcats would add to their lead in the bottom of the third inning as Blaire Kuhl and Sam Earleywine hit back to back homers to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
The Golden Bears cut the lead to 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning, but the ‘Cats added to their lead in the bottom of the inning. Brittany Greenwood started of the inning with a single followed by Kassie Nurton reaching on an error and Kuhl reaching base on a walk to load the bases for Jennifer Radley who launched an opposite field grad slam to put the Wildcats up 7-1.
The Golden Bears battled back in the top of the fifth inning adding two runs to make it 7-3, but the Wildcats pitching staff shut the door as Wayne State downed CSP 7-3. Goetzinger (31-8) got the win for Wayne State tieing the season high for wins in a season (31) that she currently holds. Goetzinger pitched five innings allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts. Amber Baird pitched the final two innings for WSC allowing only one base runner.
Greenwood was 3 for 3 on the day for WSC. Kuhl and Sam Earleywine each added two hits including solo home runs. Radley was 1 for 2 with a grand slam and two walks.
The Wildcats will play Augustana Sunday at 12:00 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex. The 16th-ranked Vikings won two elimination games Saturday, 3-2 over Minnesota Duluth and 5-2 in 8 innings over Concordia-St. Paul, to advance into Sunday's championship game.
(Text Courtesy of WSC Website)
It Takes 8 for Wayne State to Beat UMD in NCAA Regional
May 14, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Wayne, Neb. - Four combined hits, that all there was as Wayne State defeated Minnesota Duluth 1-0 in eight innings in the NCAA Softball Regional Tournament opening round. Katie Goetzinger picked up the win for the Wildcats as she went eight innings allow no runs on two hits while striking out 11.
Wayne State took advantage of a throwing error in the bottom of the eighth inning to get a runner to second base with one out. A walk, and a hits batter loaded the bases for Jen Radley. Radley singled to the shortstop to score the game winning run.
The Wildcats will not take on Concordia-St. Paul on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. Minnesota Duluth will take on Augustana at 1:30 p.m. in the losers bracket of the double elimination tournament.
CU Beats Augie 2-0 in NCAA Regional
May 14, 2010 | Box Score | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
Wayne, Neb. - With two runs put up in the top of the fourth inning, the Golden Bear softball team won a pitcher's duel against Augustana College in the first round of play at the NCAA Central Region Tournament. Senior Anna Bjorlin doubled to lead off the fourth, advancing to third as Katie Anderson beat out a bunt single. A sacrifice fly by Calli Brennan scored Bjorlin and Anderson later crossed the plate after stealing third and scoring on an error. The inning gave CU all it needed for the 2-0 win, with freshman Ashley Kluever throwing the complete game shutout over the Vikings, the tournament's number 3 seed. The Golden Bears play on Saturday at 11:00 am against tournament host Wayne State.
NSIC Softball Weekly Release No. 13
NCAA Softball Region Announced
May 10, 2010 | NSIC Release | Region #1 Bracket | Region #2 Bracket
INDIANAPOLIS---The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has selected the 64 teams that will participate in the 2010 NCAA Division II Softball Championship. Four teams will participate at each of 16 regional sites in double-elimination tournaments. Regional competition will be held May 14-16.
The NSIC has six of the eight teams competing in the two regional tournaments. Region #1 will be hosted by Metro State College of Denver. They will play Mesa State in their opening game. Minnesota State will play Winona State in the game played in Colorado Springs, Colo. Region #1 Bracket | Tournament Site
The NCAA Central Region #2 will be hosted by Wayne State College, the NSIC Tournament champions. They will play the fourth seed of Minnesota Duluth. In the other game Augustana College, the NSIC Regular Season Champions, will play Concordia-St. Paul in Wayne, Neb. Region #2 Bracket | Tournament Site
Each regional winner will advance to the super regionals May 21-22. The finals will be held May 27-31 at Heritage Park Softball Complex in St. Joseph, Missouri and will be hosted by Missouri Western State University.
Wayne State Wins NSIC Women's Softball Tournament
May 7-8, 2010 | Tournament Bracket
Sioux Falls, S.D. - The Wayne State College softball team captured its first ever Northern Sun Conference Tournament title Saturday afternoon with a 2-0 win over 12th-ranked and NSIC regular season champion Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Wildcats earn the NSIC’s automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament with a 40-12 record following the win. It will be the second straight trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament for the Wildcats. Official pairings for the NCAA Division II National Tournament will be announced Monday morning at 9:00 a.m.
The Wildcats opened the scoring in the first inning as WSC registered three hits off Augustana starter Ashley Meyer to take the early lead. Kassie Nurton singled to third and advanced to second on Blaire Kuhl’s single down the left field line. Nurton later scored on Jennifer Radley’s single to give WSC the early 1-0 lead.
Augustana’s lone scoring threat on Wildcat starter Katie Goetzinger came in the second inning when the Vikings recorded back-to-back singles with one out to put runners on first and second, but Goetzinger then struck out the next two Augustana batters to get out of the inning.
WSC added another run in the top of the sixth inning when Radley opened the frame with a walk. Pinch runner Alesha Finkey advanced to second on Hannah Engelkamp’s sacrifice bunt. Katie Goetzinger’s ground out to second sent Finkey to third and she then scored on a wild pitch to make the score 2-0.
The two runs would hold up for Goetzinger, who pitched her second straight shutout in the same day against the 12th-ranked Vikings. She allowed just three hits and struck out five without issuing a walk to improve to 29-8 on the season.
Wayne State had seven hits in the game to three for the Vikings. Freshman designated player Kassie Nurton capped a stellar tournament going 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and run scored. Amy Sandstrom, Blaire Kuhl, Jennifer Radley, Katie Goetzinger and Brittany Greenwood each singled to round out Wayne State’s seven hits.
Wayne State had three players named to the NSIC All-Tournament Team as Katie Goetzinger, Amy Sandstrom and Kassie Nurton represented the Wildcats on the 11-member squad.
Goetzinger was sensational for the Wildcats on the mound during the tournament, going 4-0 with a 0.00 ERA pitching three shutouts in the four games. She had 36 strikeouts in 27.2 innings pitched and allowed just 13 hits and no runs with just two walks.
Nurton hit .417 during the tournament and led WSC with five hits in the four games. She was 5 for 12 at the plate with two doubles, one triple and three runs scored.
Sandstrom was 3 for 14 in the tournament with one homer and a team-high three RBI’s for the Wildcats and one stolen base.
2010 NSIC Softball All-Tournament Team
Pitchers
Chelsey Durland, Augustana
Katie Goetzinger, Wayne State
Ashley Meyer, Augustana
Kassie Nurton, Wayne State
Position players
Ashley Kluever, Concordia-St. Paul
Sami Mattson, Concordia-St. Paul
Kristin Danielson, Minnesota Duluth
Sarah Kabes, Minnesota Duluth
Katie Betry, Winona State
Jenny Brown, Augustana
Amy Sandstrom, Wayne State
| Date | Game | Teams (E)=Eliminated | Time | Live Stats | Box Score (HTML) |
| May 7 | 1 |
(2) Wayne State vs. (7) U-Mary |
WSC 4-1 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 2 |
(3) Winona State vs. (6) Minnesota Duluth |
WSU 8-7 (8) | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 3 |
(1) Augustana vs. (8) SMSU |
Augie 7-3 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 4 |
(4) Concordia-St. Paul vs. (5) Minnesota State |
MSU 5-4 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 5 |
(7)U-Mary (E) vs. (6) Minnesota Duluth |
UMD 13-2 (5) | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 6 |
(2) Wayne State vs. (3) Winona State |
WSC 5-0 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 7 |
(8) SMSU (E) vs. (4) Concordia-St. Paul |
CU 3-1 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 8 |
(1) Augie vs. (5) Minnesota State |
Augie 3-0 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 9 |
(6) Minnesota Duluth vs. (5) Minnesota State (E) |
UMD 6-4 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 7 | 10 |
(4) Concordia-St. Paul vs. (3) Winona State (E) |
CU 2-1 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 8 | 11 |
(2) Wayne State vs. (1) Augustana |
WSC 2-0 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 8 | 12 |
(4) Concordia-St. Paul vs.(6) UMD (E) |
CU 4-1 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 8 | 13 |
(4) Concordia-St. Paul (E) vs.(1) Augustana |
Augie 9-8 | Recap | Box Score |
| May 8 | 14 |
(2) Wayne State vs. (1) Augustana (E) |
WSC 2-0 | Recap | Box Score |
NSIC Women's Softball All-Conference Release
May 5, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Year
#15 Kelsey Thompson
C, Sr., Blue Earth, Minn. / BEA HS
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Kelsey Thompson was voted by the league coaches as the 2010 NSIC Player of the Year. Thompson led the NSIC in home runs (10) and slugging percentage (.906) and was second in batting average (.480), on base percentage (.557) and in runs batted in (33). Her 36 base hits and 72 total bases ranked third in the NSIC, where she helped the Mavericks to 19-7 record and a fourth place league finish. Thompson was named NSIC Player of the Week on March 8th after batting .800 and driving in four runs at Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.
NSIC Pitcher of the Year
#17 Katie Goetzinger (RHP, Jr., Harlan, Iowa / Harlan HS)
Wayne State College
Katie Goetzinger was voted by the NSIC Softball Coaches as the 2010 Pitcher of the Year. Goetzinger went 16-3 in the NSIC as the Wildcats finished in a tie for second in the league standings with a 21-5 mark. Goetzinger, who ranked 11th in the nation in strikeouts per seven innings (9.7), struck out 172 batters in her 109 innings of NSIC work this season. Her 11.05 strikeouts per games led the NSIC, and her 172 Ks were more than twice as many as the next pitcher in the NSIC (McKelvogue, MSU -85). She allowed a league low 3.92 hits per game and allowed only 17 runs in her 21 appearances. Her 1.09 ERA was tied for second best in the league as she held batters to a dismal 1.61 average. Goetzinger was also named National Fastpitch Coaches Associations (NFCA) National Pitcher of the Week on April 21st, the NSIC Pitcher of the Week on April 19th and was voted NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
NSIC Rookie of the Year
#12 Ashley Meyer (P, So., Rapid City, S.D. / Stevens HS / Iowa Lakes CC)
Augustana College
Ashley Meyer made her presents known in the NSIC in her rookie season. The transfer from Iowa Lake Community College went 12-0 in the NSIC including a 1.09 ERA, the second lowest in the league. She pitched 77.1 innings allowing only 19 runs (12 earned) on 66 hits. She held her opponents to a .223 batting average on the season. She pitched seven complete games and had on shut out on the season. She struck out 51 batters in her 13 appearances in NSIC games as she helped the Vikings to the NSIC Regular Season Championship. The NSIC Rookie of the Year must be in her first season of softball competition at a four-year institution.
NSIC Coach of the Year
Gretta Melsted
Augustana College
Fourth Year at Augie
Gretta Melsted earned 2010 NSIC Coach of the Year honors after leading Augustana to the NSIC regular season championship with a 23-3 record. This marks the second consecutive season Melsted has been named NSIC Coach of the Year after she led the Vikings to a second place finish in last year’s NSIC Standings. The Vikings are 41-10 overall on the season and have climbed all the way to #12 in the nation in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 Poll.
Prior to Augustana, Melsted served as the head softball coach at Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Mo. for three seasons. She guided the Wildcats to a pair of appearances in the NAIA Region V Tournament in 2004 and 2006. The 2004 squad finished third at the tournament. Culver-Stockton won the 2004 Heart of America Athletic Conference Tournament championship after finishing fourth in the HAAC during the regular season.
Melsted, an Albert Lea, Minn., native, earned a bachelor of arts degree in history from Carleton in 1998 and a master of education in administration from William Woods in 2003.
| 2010 All-Conference First Team | |||||
# |
Name | Pos. |
Yr. |
School | Hometown |
8 |
Chelsey Durland | 1B |
So. |
Augustana | Maple Plain, Minn. |
28 |
Traci Fransen | 3B |
Jr. |
Augustana | Jackson, Minn. |
12 |
Ashley Meyer | RHP |
So. |
Augustana | Rapid City, S.D. |
4 |
Anna Bjorlin | 2B |
Sr. |
Concordia-St. Paul | Hermantown, Minn. |
5 |
Calli Brennan | 3B |
So. |
Concordia-St. Paul | Mendota Heights, Minn. |
7 |
Tiffani Rodd | OF |
Sr. |
Concordia-St. Paul | Cloquet, Minn. |
9 |
Dre Brunskill | Utl. |
Sr. |
University of Mary | Valley Center, Calif. |
23 |
Kristin Danielson | Utl. |
Sr. |
Minnesota Duluth | Moundsview, Minn. |
15 |
Kesley Thompson | C |
Sr. |
Minnesota State | Frost, Minn. |
17 |
Katie Goetzinger | RHP |
Jr. |
Wayne State | Harlan, Iowa |
28 |
Jennifer Radley | 1B |
Jr. |
Wayne State | Des Moines, Iowa |
12 |
Amy Sandstrom | CF |
Sr. |
Wayne State | Omaha, Neb. |
4 |
Mollie Bjelland | OF |
Jr. |
Winona State | Grantsburg, Wis. |
12 |
Callie Givens | SS |
Jr. |
Winona State | Greendale, Wis. |
11 |
Sam Hildebrandt | DH |
So. |
Winona State | Cottage Grove, Minn. |
2010 All-Conference Second Team |
|||||
# |
Name | Pos. |
Yr. |
School | Hometown |
18 |
Jenny Brown | LF |
Fr. |
Augustana | Omaha, Neb. |
6 |
Kelsey Kalkman | 2B |
So. |
Augustana | Carver, Minn. |
32 |
Witt Murray | C |
So. |
Augustana | Cottage Grove, Minn. |
3 |
Katie Anderson | OF |
So. |
Concordia-St. Paul | Mendota Hgts. Minn. |
24 |
Abby Brundidge | 1B |
Sr. |
Concordia-St. Paul | Nekoosa, Wis. |
9 |
Ashley Kluever | RHP |
Fr. |
Concordia-St. Paul | Cottage Grove, Minn. |
15 |
Desi Smith | C |
So. |
University of Mary | Eagan, Minn. |
7 |
Michaela Goris | CF |
Fr. |
Minnesota Duluth | Lakeville, Minn. |
16 |
Ashley Johnson | C |
Jr. |
Minnesota Duluth | Rosemount, Minn. |
16 |
Abby Morris | 2nd |
Sr. |
Minnesota State | Johnston, Iowa |
12 |
Christine Borowiak | CF |
So. |
SMSU | Omaha, Neb. |
9 |
Brittney Hallahan | OF-C |
So. |
SMSU | Glencoe, Minn. |
6 |
Jackie Dooley | 2b |
So. |
St. Cloud State | St. Paul, Minn. |
28 |
Mikayla Hogan | C |
Fr. |
St. Cloud State | Chippewa Falls, Wis. |
4 |
Casey Coon | 2/P |
Sr. |
Upper Iowa | Freeport, Ill. |
9 |
Karrie Coon | SS |
Sr. |
Upper Iowa | Freeport, Ill. |
5 |
Sam Earleywine | C |
Jr. |
Wayne State | Sergeant Bluff, Iowa |
1 |
Blaire Kuhl | 2B |
Jr. |
Wayne State | Logan, Iowa |
3 |
Brittany Schmacker | OF |
Jr. |
Winona State | Waukee, Iowa |
10 |
Courtney Strang | RHP |
Jr. |
Winona State | Solon, Iowa |
NCAA Women's Softball Rankings Release
May 5, 2010 | NCAA Release
Indianapolis - The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has released this week’s
Division II softball regional polls. The top 10 teams in each region are listed in rank order with
records as of May 3. The NSIC had seven of the top ten in the region including teams six of the top seven teams. The NCAA Central Region is made of NSIC and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) teams. Selections will be announced at 10 a.m. Eastern time, Monday, May 10
via a webcast selection show on NCAA.com.
RK
|
NCAA Central Region | DII Rec |
In Reg |
LW |
1 |
Metropolitan State | 40-3 |
40-3 |
1 |
2 |
Augustana | 39-8 |
30-5 |
2 |
3 |
Minnesota State | 31-11 |
25-10 |
3 |
4 |
Winona State | 33-9 |
25-9 |
4 |
5 |
Wayne State | 36-12 |
27-11 |
6 |
6 |
Concordia-St. Paul | 31-13 |
25-11 |
5 |
7 |
Minnesota Duluth | 30-13 |
23-12 |
7 |
8 |
Mesa State | 20-18 |
20-18 |
10 |
9 |
University of Mary | 28-20 |
22-16 |
9 |
10 |
Western New Mexico | 27-22 |
27-22 |
NR |
Dropped Out: #8 CSU-Pueblo
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 12
May 3, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#3 Hannah Engelkamp
LF, 5-5, Jr.,
Omaha, Neb.
Skutt Catholic HS
Wayne State
Hannah Engelkamp hit .450 during the week with three homers and 10 RBI’s while extending her season-high hitting streak to 10 games. Engelkamp was 4 for 4 with a career-high six RBI’s in Wednesday’s 7-5 win over Southwest Minnesota State. She added a two-run homer in Saturday’s 10-4 win at Concordia-St. Paul and hit a solo homer on Sunday to snap a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning to help WSC beat St. Cloud State 3-2, completing a sweep of the Huskies. For the week, Engelkamp had a 1.000 slugging percentage while going 9 for 20 at the plate.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#10 Courtney Strang
RHP, Jr.,
Solon, Iowa
Solon HS
Winona State
Courtney Strang fresh off a no-hitter last week, repeated that performance as she threw a 2-0 perfect game against Concordia-St. Paul. It was the third no-hit game she pitched this season and her fifth in her collegiate career at Winona State. Her hitless streak finished at 16 and two-thirds innings as she allowed a leadoff base hit in the second inning of her second start of the week. For the week she appeared in four games, started and completed three. She pitched 22.0 innings and allowed 16 hits, three earned runs, walked only four and struck out 16. She posted a 3-0 record with a 0.95 earned run average. Opponents hit only .205 against her as the Warrior went 5-1 for the week. This marks the second week in a row Strang has been named NSIC Pitcher of the Week.
NSIC Softball Tournament Bracket Announced
May 2, 2010 | Full Bracket
The NSIC Softball Tournament bracket has been released and the top eight teams in the final regular season standing will play in the double elimination tournament on May 7-8, 2010. Top seeded Augustana College will host the eight teams and will play the eighth seed of SMSU in the first round. The 2010 NSIC Softball Tournament Champion receives an automatic berth to the NCAA Division II Softball Central Regional played May 14-19 followed by the NCAA Super Regionals on May 21-22, on a campus to be determined. The NCAA Finals are set for May 27-31, 2010 at Heritage Park in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Day One Match-ups
*(2) Wayne State vs. (7) U-Mary - 10:00 am
^(3) Winona State vs. (6) Minnesota Duluth - 10: am
*(1) Augustana vs. (8) SMSU - 12:00 pm
^(4) Concordia-St. Paul vs. (5) Minnesota State 12:00 pm
* Boden Field
^Sherman Park
2010 NSIC Softball Tournament Bracket
(Click Here for Full PDF Version)
Fransen Named NFCA National Player of the Week
April 28, 2010 | NFCA Release
NFCA National Player of the Week
#28 Traci Fransen
IF, Jr., R/R
Jackson, Minn.
Jackson County Central HS
Augustana
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Augustana (SD) junior Traci Fransen and Dixie State junior Brittnie Whipple have been named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played between April 19 and April 25, 2010. Fransen went 9-for-13 last week with six runs, 13 RBIs, three doubles, four home runs and a walk. For the week, she batted .692, had a 1.769 slugging percentage and a 0.857 on-base percentage.
The Jackson, Minn., native had three multi-hit and multi-RBI games last week and recorded at least one hit, one run, one RBI and one home run in each of her four contests. Seven of Fransen’s nine hits on the week went for extra bases and she ended the week with no strikeouts.
Heading into the weekend, the 12th-ranked Vikings are 37-8 overall and 19-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. With just six games left before the conference tournament, Augustana is currently in first place and has a one-game lead over second place Concordia-St. Paul.
NCAA Women's Softball Rankings Release
April 28, 2010 | NCAA Release
Indianapolis - The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has released this week’s
Division II softball regional polls. The top 10 teams in each region are listed in rank order with
records as of April 26. The NSIC had seven of the top ten in the region including teams six of the top seven teams. The NCAA Central Region is made of NSIC and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) teams. Selections will be announced at 10 a.m. Eastern time, Monday, May 10
via a webcast selection show on NCAA.com.
RK
|
NCAA Central Region | DII Rec |
In Reg |
LW |
1 |
Metropolitan State | 36-3 |
36-3 |
1 |
2 |
Augustana | 33-6 |
24-3 |
2 |
3 |
Minnesota State | 25-9 |
19-8 |
3 |
4 |
Winona State | 28-8 |
20-8 |
5 |
5 |
Concordia-St. Paul | 28-8 |
22-6 |
6 |
6 |
Wayne State | 28-12 |
19-11 |
4 |
7 |
Minnesota Duluth | 26-11 |
19-10 |
8 |
8 |
Colorado State-Pueblo | 25-11 |
19-10 |
7 |
9 |
University of Mary | 25-17 |
19-13 |
10 |
10 |
Mesa State | 18-16 |
18-16 |
NR |
Dropped Out: #9 Western New Mexico
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 11
April 27, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#28 Traci Fransen
IF, Jr., R/R
Jackson, Minn.
Jackson County Central HS
Augustana
Traci Fransen went 9-for-13 in four games for a .692 average to lead Augie to a 4-0 record, including three wins by the eight-plus-through-five-innings run rule. Seven of her nine hits were for extra bases, including four home runs that bring her season total to 11. She hit one home run in each of the four games. Her nine hits drove in 13 RBIs, and she scored six runs. She did not strike out and was error-free in the field. She leads the team with a season batting average of .394 (54-of-137) and slugging percentage of .730 (100 TB/137 AB).
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#10 Courtney Strang
RHP, Jr.,
Solon, Iowa
Solon HS
Winona State
Courtney Strang had an outstanding week that featured three appearances, two starts and one game in relief. In the first game against Upper Iowa she tossed her fourth collegiate no-hitter (her second of the season). She then came back in game two with one out in the fifth and Upper Iowa’s go-ahead runner on base. She retired the side and then retired six of the next seven batters she faced in the final two innings. In all she extended her hitless string to eight and two-thirds innings (retired the last batter she faced in the game she won against St. Cloud State). For the week she went 2-0 with a save in 15.1 innings pitched. She allowed just three runs (1 earned) on six hits while striking out 11. Her opponents hit a mere .122 against her.
Goetzinger Named NFCA National Pitcher of the Week
April 21, 2010 | NFCA Release
NFCA National Pitcher of the Week
#17 Katie Goetzinger
RHP, Jr.,
Harlan, Iowa
Harlan HS
Wayne State
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Valdosta State freshman Morgan Johnson and Wayne St. (NE) junior Katie Goetzinger have been named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played between April 12 and April 18, 2010. This marks the second week in a row, and third time this season the NSIC has had a NFCA National Player of the Week (CU's Tiffani Rodd - 4/7/10 & WSU's Stacey Struzynski 3/10/10).
Goetzinger gave Wayne State (NE ) four wins last week and allowed just 13 hits, one run and no walks over 25.0 innings of work. She posted two 10-plus strikeout performances over four games to finish the week with 40 total strikeouts. The Harlan, Iowa, native threw three complete games on the week and held her opponents scoreless in two of those contests, all while limiting them a tiny .151 batting average.
The Wildcats, who returned to the NFCA Division II Top 25 poll this week at No. 24, finished last week with a 6-0 record are currently 27-9 on the year. Wayne State is currently 12-2 in the NSIC and is tied for second place with Concordia-St. Paul.
NCAA Women's Softball Rankings Release
April 21, 2010 | NCAA Release
Indianapolis - The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has released this week’s Division II softball regional polls. The top 10 teams in each region are listed in rank order with records as of April 19. The NSIC had seven of the top ten in the region including teams five of the top six teams. The NCAA Central Region is made of NSIC and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) teams.
RK
|
NCAA Central Region | DII Rec |
In Reg |
LW |
1 |
Metropolitan State | 32-3 |
32-3 |
1 |
2 |
Augustana | 29-6 |
20-3 |
3 |
3 |
Minnesota State | 21-9 |
15-8 |
2 |
4 |
Wayne State | 27-7 |
18-6 |
4 |
5 |
Winona State | 24-8 |
16-8 |
5 |
6 |
Concordia-St. Paul | 24-8 |
18-6 |
8 |
7 |
Colorado State-Pueblo | 23-11 |
23-11 |
6 |
8 |
Minnesota Duluth | 21-10 |
14-9 |
7 |
9 |
Western New Mexico | 23-18 |
23-18 |
10 |
10 |
University of Mary | 21-17 |
15-13 |
9 |
Dropped Out: None
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 10
April 19, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#4 Mollie Bjelland
OF, Jr.
Grantsburg, Wis.
Grantsburg HS
Winona State
Mollie Bjelland provided a lot of power in the six games she started for the Warriors last week. She batted .500 with 11 hits in 22 at bats, scored four runs, and drove in nine. She finished with two doubles, one triple and three home runs for 24 total bases and a 1.091 slugging percentage. She also came up with a .478 on base percentage as the Warriors went 5-1 on the week.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#17 Katie Goetzinger
RHP, Jr.,
Harlan, Iowa
Harlan HS
Wayne State
Katie Goetzinger was 4-0 during the week in three starts and one relief appearance, striking out 40 batters in 25 innings of work with a 0.28 ERA. She allowed just one run and 13 hits in the 25 innings of work. Goetzinger tied her own single game school record with 16 strikeouts in a 4-1 win at Northern State Sunday. She also had 10 strikeouts in a 4-0 five-hit shutout vs. Upper Iowa on Wednesday and pitched a three hit shutout with seven strikeouts Saturday in a 1-0 win at Mary. For the season, Goetzinger is now 18-5 on the season with a 0.82 ERA with five shutouts and 12 complete games.
Rodd Named NFCA National Player of the Week
April 14, 2010 | NFCA Release
NFCA National Player of the Week
#7 Tiffani Rodd
OF, 5-9, Sr., R/R
Cloquet, Minn.
Cloquet HS
Concordia University
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Concordia-St. Paul senior Tiffani Rodd and Wayne St. (MI) senior Casey Hanes have been named Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played between April 5 and April 11, 2010.
Rodd went 12-for-17 last week with six runs, 11 RBIs, three home runs, two doubles, three walks and two sacrifice flies. She finished the week with a .706 batting average, a 1.353 slugging percentage and a .682 on-base percentage.
The Cloquet, Minn., native hit safely in all six of her games last week and hit multiple times in five of six of those contests. She also blasted home runs in back-to-back games to help lead the Golden Bears to a doubleheader sweep of MSU Moorehead.
After finishing last week at 5-1, Concordia is currently 20-8 overall and sits in sole possession of second place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference at 8-2.
Rodd is the second NSIC player to be named NFCA National Player of the Week. Winona State's junior Stacey Struzynski was named pitcher of the week back on March 10, 2010.
NCAA Women's Softball Rankings Release
April 14, 2010 | NCAA Release
Indianapolis - The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has released this week’s Division II softball regional polls. The top 10 teams in each region are listed in rank order with records as of April 12. The NSIC had seven of the top ten in the region including teams five of the top seven teams. The NCAA Central Region is made of NSIC and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) teams.
RK
|
NCAA Central Region | DII Rec |
In Reg |
LW |
1 |
Metropolitan State | 28-3 |
28-3 |
1 |
2 |
Minnesota State | 17-7 |
11-6 |
2 |
3 |
Augustana | 23-5 |
14-2 |
5 |
4 |
Wayne State | 21-7 |
12-6 |
4 |
5 |
Winona State | 19-7 |
11-7 |
3 |
6 |
Colorado State-Pueblo | 20-10 |
20-10 |
7 |
7 |
Minnesota Duluth | 18-7 |
11-6 |
6 |
8 |
Concordia-St. Paul | 20-8 |
14-6 |
8 |
9 |
University of Mary | 19-12 |
13-8 |
NR |
10 |
Western New Mexico | 22-15 |
22-15 |
NR |
Dropped Out: #9 St. Cloud State, #10 Colorado School of Mines
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 9
April 12, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#7 Tiffani Rodd
OF, 5-9, Sr., R/R
Cloquet, Minn.
Cloquet HS
Concordia University
Tiffani Rodd had an outstanding week on the diamond, batting .706 through six games played. Nearly half of her 12 hits in 17 credited at-bats went for extra bases, the #5 batter drilling out three home runs and two doubles. With a current six-game hitting streak going, Rodd had multiple hit games in five of the six games on the week. She led the Concordia squad to a 5-1 record with 11 RBI, almost twice as many as any other CU hitter. Showing patience as well as intellect at the dish, Rodd also had three walks and two sacrifice flies. Her performance bumped her season average up to .381, third best on the team. CU also moved into sole posession of second place in the NSIC with their 8-2 record.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#20 Brenda Langston
P, SR.,
Escondido, Calif.
Escondido HS
University of Mary
Brenda Langston not only pitched consecutive shutouts and three complete game wins during the week without allowing an earned run, she also led the Marauders with nine runs batted in while hitting .389 as U-Mary won six straight games. For the week, she was 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in 19 innings, allowing just one unearned run and 12 hits while striking out 14. The highlight of the week was a 10-0 win over #24 Minnesota State. Langston limited the region’s second ranked squad to four hits while striking out four. She also hit a three-run home run and singled in another run, going 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBI. The senior righty finished the week with a 6-0 victory at Southwest Minnesota State, throwing a three-hitter while striking out four and walking one. At the plate, she was 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and run scored. In game one at SMSU, Langston hit a three-run double in the first inning of a 5-3 win. The week started with a 4-1 win over BSU, allowing five hits and one unearned run, striking out six and walking two. On the season, Langston is 10-4 with a 1.46 ERA.
NCAA Women's Softball Rankings Release
April 7, 2010 | NCAA Release
Indianapolis - The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has released this week’s Division II softball regional polls. The top 10 teams in each region are listed in rank order with records as of April 5. The NSIC had seven of the top ten in the region including teams six of the top seven teams. The NCAA Central Region is made of NSIC and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) teams.
RK
|
NCAA Central Region | DII Rec |
In Reg |
LW |
1 |
Metropolitan State | 24-3 |
24-3 |
1 |
2 |
Minnesota State | 13-5 |
7-4 |
4 |
3 |
Winona State | 16-4 |
8-4 |
2 |
4 |
Wayne State | 19-5 |
10-4 |
3 |
5 |
Augustana | 19-3 |
10-0 |
5 |
6 |
Minnesota Duluth | 14-5 |
7-4 |
8 |
7 |
Colorado State-Pueblo | 16-10 |
16-10 |
7 |
8 |
Concordia-St. Paul | 15-7 |
9-5 |
9 |
9 |
St. Cloud State | 12-11 |
10-5 |
6 |
10 |
Colorado School of Mines | 13-15 |
13-15 |
10 |
Dropped Out: None
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 8
April 5, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#6 Rosie Gonzales
OF, JR,
Spring Valley, Calif.
Mt. Miguel HS
University of Mary
Rosie Gonzales crushed the ball during the week, hitting .600 over six games and slugging 1.000. The junior outfielder had three three-hit games during the week and had one two-hit contest. Gonzales went 12-for-20 at the plate with five doubles, a home run, scored five runs and drove in six. Against #7 Winona State, Gonzales went 5-for-6 in the doubleheader with two doubles. For the year, Gonzales is now hitting .317 and slugging .463.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#16 Britt Stewart
P/IF, So., R/R
Minnetonka, Minn.
Benilde-St. Margarets HS
Augustana College
Britt Stewart threw a pair of gems over the weekend to help Augustana sweep Minnesota, Crookston, and MSU Moorhead. On Friday, Stewart tossed a no-hitter as she led the Vikings to a 3-0 win over UMC. Stewart faced 24 hitters, just three over the minimum, and struck out a career-high 13. She walked one and hit one batter. The third hitter that Stewart was unable to retire reached on an error. Over the final three innings, Stewart struck out 6 of the 9 hitters she faced. Stewart was equally impressive against MSU Moorhead. She had a perfect game going for 4 2/3 innings. She mowed down the first 14 hitters she faced, striking out 8 in the process, before giving up a 2-out single to Amanda Moore in the fifth inning. Stewart finished the game with a 2-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts as she moved her record to 9-1. For the week, Stewart allowed just 2 hits and 0 runs in 14 innings of work. She ended the week with 23 strikeouts.
Augie's Stewart Tosses No-Hitter as Vikings Sweep UMC
April 2, 2010 | Box Score
Augustana’s Britt Stewart tossed her first career no-hitter to lead the Vikings to a 3-0 victory over Minnesota, Crookston, Friday in Crookston, Minn. The Vikings completed the sweep of UMC by winning the first game of the doubleheader by a score of 5-4.
The 23rd-ranked Vikings improved to 18-5 overall and 2-0 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, while UMC slipped to 3-9 overall and 0-2 in the NSIC .
Stewart, a sophomore from Minnetonka, Minn., was dominant against the Golden Eagles as she improved to 8-1. Stewart faced 24 hitters, just three over the minimum, and struck out a career-high 13. She walked one and hit one batter. The third hitter that Stewart was unable to retire reached on an error.
Stewart retired the first 5 hitters she faced before Stacey Marcum reached on an error by Augie shortstop Brittany Coufal. The only other baserunners UMC managed to get came in the fourth inning when Erin Fowle drew a 2-out walk and Sarena Diedrichs was hit by a pitch. But Stewart got out of that inning by striking out Marcum.
Over the final three innings, Stewart struck out 6 of the 9 hitters she faced.
Elizabeth Murray provided the only run Stewart needed when she blasted a 1-out home run in the fourth inning. Taylor Kapsch gave Augustana a couple of insurance runs in the top of the seventh with a 2-run shot with 2 outs.
Murray led the Viking offense by collecting 2 of the team’s 7 hits.
In the opener, Augustana fell behind 4-0 after three innings as the Golden Eagles scored an unearned run in the second and 3 unearned runs in the third.
But the Vikings tied the score with 2 runs in the fifth on a 2-run single by Traci Fransen and 2 more runs in the sixth on a 2-run homer by Coufal.
The Vikings scored the game-winning run with a 2-out rally in the seventh. Shelby Thompson and Coufal each drew 2-out walks. Kapsch then lined an RBI single to score Thompson.
Augustana rapped out 11 hits in the game, but the Vikings stranded 11 runners. Jenny Brown collected a team-high 3 hits, while Kapsch and Chelsey Durland each had 2.
Ashley Meyer (6-2) picked up the pitching victory after tossing 4 2/3 innings of hitless and scoreless relief. She walked 2 and struck out 9. Durland started the game for the Vikings. She lasted 2 1/3 innings and allowed 2 hits and 4 runs while striking out 3.
Augustana concludes its weekend road trip on Saturday with a doubleheader at Minnesota State Moorhead beginning at noon.
NCAA Women's Softball Rankings Release
April 1, 2010 | NCAA Release
Indianapolis - The NCAA Division II Softball Committee has released this week’s Division II softball regional polls. The top 10 teams in each region are listed in rank order with records as of March 29. The NSIC had seven of the top ten in the region including teams six of the top seven teams. The NCAA Central Region is made of NSIC and the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) teams.
RK
|
NCAA Central Region | DII Rec |
In Reg |
LW |
1 |
Metropolitan State | 21-2 |
21-2 |
NA |
2 |
Winona State | 12-2 |
4-2 |
NA |
3 |
Wayne State | 15-3 |
6-2 |
NA |
4 |
Minnesota State | 10-4 |
4-3 |
NA |
5 |
Augustana | 15-3 |
6-0 |
NA |
6 |
St. Cloud State | 11-8 |
9-2 |
NA |
7 |
Colorado State-Pueblo | 12-8 |
12-8 |
NA |
8 |
Minnesota Duluth | 11-4 |
4-3 |
NA |
9 |
Concordia-St. Paul | 12-6 |
6-4 |
NA |
10 |
Colorado School of Mines | 12-12 |
12-12 |
NA |
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 7
March 29, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#4 Anna Bjorlin
IF, 5-4, Sr., R/R,
Hermantown, Minn.
Hermantown HS
Concordia-St. Paul
The Golden Bear softball team received a .714 batting performance from lead-off hitter Anna Bjorlin to take both wins in a non-conference doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State on Friday. Bjorlin became Concordia’s all-time runs scored leader against the Mustangs, going 5-of-7 at the plate to score a team high four runs and bump her career total up to a new program high 130. A Concordia leader for doubles, Bjorlin knocked out a set of two-baggers in the twinbill, both times with the game tied up. She set the table with a double in a comeback 7th inning before a teammate drove a bomb over the fence for the walk-off 5-3 win in the first game. The second baseman’s glove was also key in the win. Bjorlin had seven putouts and eight assists in the games without an error, making a number of fantastic stops to keep the Mustangs off of the paths. On the season, Bjorlin leads CU with a .475 batting average and a .981 fielding mark.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#19 Courtney McKelvogue
RHP, Fr., R/R
West Des Moines, Iowa
Valley HS
Minnesota State
Courtney McKelvogue picked up the win in the second game of the doubleheader against Waldorf with a complete game shut-out as the Mavericks defeated Waldorf 13-0 in five innings. McKelvogue did not allow a hit, a run, or an error, as she struck out four Warrior batters. McKelvogue improves her record to 6-2 in her freshman campaign. The win also marked victory number 800 for MSU head coach Lori Meyer.
MSU's Meyer Earns 800th Career Win
March 25, 2010 | MSU Release
Mankato, Minn.— The Minnesota State softball team swept the Warriors of Waldorf College for the first home series at the Diamond at Gage Towers Thursday, 10-1, 13-0. Head coach Lori Meyer – who is the winningest active collegiate coach (all divisions) in the state of Minnesota – earned her 800th career victory in the second game of the day. During her tenure at Minnesota State, which covers more than a quarter of a century, Meyer has compiled a 800-536-3 (.579) record at Minnesota State and has coached 86.4 percent of MSU’s 925 victories in program history.
In the first game the Mavericks opened the bottom of the third with a single off the bat of senior Libbie Reichling. Reichling moved up a base on an error by the leftfielder and then took third on a wildpitch.
With Reichling on first, redshirt freshman designated player Liz Doppenberg drew a walk. Sophomore rightfielder Amanda Umhoefer laced a single to right field, platting Reichling and the game’s first run.
Senior second baseman Abby Morris walked to load the bases before freshman center fielder singled to right, plating Doppenberg and Umhoeffer.
Abby Morris would score on a sacrifice fly off the bat of junior third baseman Julie O'Neal. Lauren Morris scored on the ensuing at bat as junior catcher Kelsey Thompson ripped a double to leftcenter. Thompson later scored on an error off the bat of sophomore Chelsea Erickson giving the Mavericks their sixth and final run of the inning.
The Mavericks scored four more runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game out of reach. The inning was highlighted by a three-run home run off the bat of Abby Morris, her second blast of the season.
Sophomore pitcher Kendra Huettl went the distance to earn the win in the opening win, allowing one run – unearned – on four hits while striking out four en route to her sixth win of the season
Starting off the second game the Mavericks opened the bottom of the first inning scoring seven runs on four hits on two Warrior errors to set the pace of the game.
In the bottom of the second Minnesota State earned two more runs, one from a single through right side by junior Keri O'Keefe bringing in freshman Chloe Minkel, the second, came by a single through left side from freshman Chelsie Krull, bringing Erickson home. The Mavericks had three hits with no Warrior errors to close out the second.
Minnesota State added four more runs in the bottom of the fourth off six hits and no errors to finish the game.
Freshman pitcher Courtney McKelvogue finished the day off with a shut out victory with no hits while striking out four en route to her sixth win of the season against two losses.
Minnesota State (12-4) returns to the Diamond at Gage Towers Wednesday for a nonconference doubleheader against Winona State, first pitch slated for 2 p.m.
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 6
March 22, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#18 Jenny Brown
OF, Fr., L/R
Omaha, Neb.
Millard North HS
Augustana
Jenny Brown was the model of consistency at the plate for Augustana last week. Brown posted a team-best .436 batting average as she went 17-for-39. In 12 games, she hit safely in 11 contests, including 6 multi-hit games. She also scored 8 runs and drove in 5 from her No. 2 position in the lineup.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#7 Brooke Hageness
P, So.
Libby, Mont.
Libby HS
University of Mary
Brooke Hageness spun a complete game shutout in a 2-0 U-Mary win over Minnesota-Duluth on Saturday. Hageness allowed six hits and one walk in the game while striking out four. With runners on second and third and only one out in the fifth inning, Hageness struck out the next two hitters to escape the jam. The strikeouts started a run of retiring eight of the last nine Bulldog hitters in the game. The sophomore also scored the game-winning run in the game.
UMD Upsets #3 Winona State in Softball
March 20, 2010 | Box Score
ST. CLOUD, MN -- No. 3-ranked Winona State University suffered its first loss of the season, 1-0 non-conference loss to Minnesota Duluth (6-3 after Saturday) at the Husky Dome on the campus of St. Cloud State University. The Warriors (11-1 after Saturday) had their 10-game winning streak come to an end when Stacey Struzynski gave up a solo home run to Ashley Johnson in the last of the sixth inning. It was the first run of the season in 36 innings that Struzynski had given up. Struzynski also saw her string of hitless innings come to an end at 16 and two-thirds when she gave up a single in the second inning.
The Warriors outhit the Bulldogs 4-2 but could not string any offense together to scratch across a run.
The Huskie Dome Invite Continues Sunday.
COMPLETE SCHEDULE FOR HUSKY DOME INVITE (Home Team Underlined)
March 20 (Saturday) - Non-Conference Games
U-Mary 6 vs. SCSU 7 - Box Score / Game Story Recap
Minnesota Duluth 1 vs. Winona State 0 - Box Score
Winona State 3 vs. SCSU 1 - Box Score
U-Mary 2 vs. Minnesota Duluth 0 - Box Score
March 21 (Sunday) - Non-Conference Games
Minnesota Duluth vs. SCSU - 10 a.m.
Winona State vs. U-Mary - 12 p.m.
Minnesota Duluth vs. U-Mary - 2 p.m.
Winona State vs. SCSU - 4 p.m.
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 5
March 15, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#11 Samantha Hildebrandt
Outfielder, So.
Cottage Grove, Minn.
Park HS
Winona State
Samantha Hildebrandt batted .700 (7-10) with six runs scored, a double, two home runs and six RBI last week. She had a 1.400 slugging percentage, a .727 on base percentage and stole a base. In the game with West Chester University, Hildebrant came up with a pinch-hit three-run homer to give the Warriors the victory. She also added a two-run home in win over Belmont Abbey College, NC.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#22 Stacey Struzynski
RHP, Jr.
Homewood, Ill.
Homewood-Flossmoor HS
Winona State
Stacey Struzynski went 2-0 on the week as she started a game and came in relief in another. On the week she pitched 10.1 innings allowing no runs on no hits, walking five and striking out 14. Struzynski tossed a seven-inning no-hitter against No. 16 Bloomsburg and did not allow a hit in three and a third innings of relief against Post University, CT. This marks the second week in a row Struzynski has been named NSIC Pitcher of the Week.
WSU'S Struzynski Named NFCA National Pitcher of Week
March 10, 2010 | NFCA Release
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Junior pitcher Stacey Struzynski of Winona State and junior Christine Roser of Rollins were named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, for games played during the week of March 1-7
NFCA National Pitcher of the Week
#22 Stacey Struzynski
RHP, Jr.
Homewood, Ill.
Homewood-Flossmoor HS
Winona State
No. 5 Winona State opened the season with a six-game sweep at the National Training Center in Clermont, Fla., thanks in large part to 20 scoreless innings from Struzynski. She gave up eight hits, five walks and struck out 34. Hitters batted a dismal .119 against her and of her eight hits allowed, seven were singles. She tossed a pair of one-hitters, including one in a 1-0 win over No. 9-ranked Kutztown (PA) where she also recorded 12 strikeouts. That double-digit strikeout total was the second in her three games. Against Dominican she had 13 strikeouts and retired the final 14 batters she face in a row.
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 4
March 8, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#15 Kelsey Thompson
C, Sr., R/R
Blue Earth, Minn.
Blue Earth Area HS
Minnesota State
Kelsey Thompson batted .800 for the Mavericks as she played and started behind the plate in all four of MSU’s wins last week. Thompson had eight hits in 10 trips to the plate, blasting two doubles, driving in four runs and scoring three of her own. She finished the week with a 1.000 slugging percentage and also had a team-high .818 on-base percentage. The Mavericks pick up wins against Shippensburg (15-0), Georgia Court (6-1), Stonehill (7-0) and Northwood (2-0) at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#22 Stacey Struzynski
RHP, Jr.
Homewood, Ill.
Homewood-Flossmoor HS
Winona State
Stacey Struzynski started the Warriors out right as she completed three games, all shutouts, as the Warriors started the season 6-0. Struzynski pitched 20 innings, gave up eight hits, five walks and struck out 34. Hitters batted a dismal .119 against her and of her eight hits allowed, seven were singles. She tossed a pair of one-hitters, including one in a 1-0 win over No. 9-ranked Kutztown (PA) where she also recorded 12 strikeouts. That double-digit strikeout total was the second in her three games. Against Dominican she had 13 strikeouts and retired the final 14 batters she face in a row.
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 3
March 2, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#13 Ally Koski
1B, Fr., L/L,
Savage, Minn.
Burnsville HS
St. Cloud State
Rookie first baseman Ally Koski had a career weekend for St. Cloud State, rattling off 10 hits and 14 RBI in her collegiate debut weekend. In the first game of the Husky Dome Classic against Southwest Minnesota State (Feb. 27), Koski swung for her first career walk off homer with a grand slam over the center field fence in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure the 13-3 victory. The Savage native added her second homer of the weekend against Bemidji State in a huge 18-1 thrashing of the Beavers and after six games played, the first year lefty leads the squad with three doubles in 2010. Koski finished the week 9-19, a .526 batting average, ten runs scored, two homeruns, three doubles and two stolen bases.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#16 Stephanie Schmikla
RHP, 5-5, Jr., R R
Madison, Wis.
McFarland HS
Concordia-St. Paul
Stephanie Schmikla threw the NSIC’s first no-hitter of the season on Friday against Minnesota State. The best performance of her career, Schmikla out-played a strong Maverick hitting squad for seven innings. A pitcher who throws to contact, Schmikla sent down five batters on strikes and allowed her error-free defense to complete the 5-0 win. The Mavericks were able to get just three balls out of the infield throughout the entire game. To conclude a great day’s work, Schmikla came in for three innings of relief work in the second game of the twinbill, allowing just one hit to MSU. She finished the day with one hit given up over 10 innings of work and a perfect 0.00 ERA. MSU batted just .034 against Schmikla.
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 2
February 23, 2010 | NSIC Release
NSIC Player of the Week
#20 Julie O’Neal
3B, R/R, Jr.,
West Des Moines, Iowa
Valley State HS
Minnesota State
Julie O’Neal batted .800 for the Mavericks last week as they swept Concordia-St. Paul in a pair of nonconference games. O’Neal pounded out four hits in five trips to the plate and drew three walks. She blasted one home run and drove in two runs while scoring three of her own. She also had a 1.400 slugging percentage and a .875 on base percentage.
NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#14 Ashley Watson
P, Jr.,
Qualicum Beach, B.C.
Lambrick Park Secondary HS
University of Mary
Ashley Watson compiled two dominating starts, allowing just one run and seven hits in 12.1 innings. Watson recorded a 0.73 ERA, struck out five hitters and walked four. The junior’s top outing was a complete game 5-0 shutout win over New Mexico Highlands. Watson allowed three hits and one walk with three strikeouts to gain the victory. Only one baserunner in the game advanced beyond first base.
NSIC Women's Softball Weekly Release No. 1
February 16, 2010 | NSIC Release
Augustana College and the University of Mary participated at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas this past weekend to open the 2010 Softball schedule. Next weekend has the NSIC/RMAC Tournament played in Kearney, Neb.
Augustana opened the season by going 5-0 at the Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada over the weekend. The Vikings were 1 of 3 teams in the 16-team field to go undefeated. Augustana had a .350 team batting average with 5 players posting batting averages over .400. Chelsey Durland and Kelsey Kalkman each hit safely in all 5 games as they posted averages of .563 and .438. Durland and Elizabeth Murray led the team with 6 RBI apiece, while Kayla Henke scored a team-high 8 runs. Traci Fransen belted 2 home runs, while Durland and Murray each homered once. Against Chadron State, the Vikings trailed 3-2 with 2 outs in the top of the seventh inning. On a 2-2 count, Murray doubled off the center field fence, igniting a 5-run scoring outburst as the Vikings claimed a 7-3 victory. Augustana’s pitching staff was equally strong, holding the opposition to a .244 batting average while recording a 2.76 earned run average. Sophomore transfer Ashley Meyer pitched two complete games in her Viking debut. In 14 innings, he had a 2.00 ERA with 12 strikeouts. Britt Stewart also went 2-0 as she pitched 8.2 innings of relief. She struck out 5 hitters and had a 0.81 ERA.
The University of Mary went 3-2 at the tournament. Dre Brunskill (C-INF, Sr., Valley Center, CA) hit a game-winning extra-inning two run home run in a 3-1 victory over Fort Lewis, U-Mary’s first win of the season. For Brunskill, the 2010 NSIC Pre-season Player of the Year, it was her second home run of the game. In five games, Brunskill slugged .813 with a .474 on base percentage and a .375 batting average, scoring three runs, driving in four and hitting two home runs. Jessica Alvarado (OF/C, Fr., Rialto, CA) started her college career in fine fashion, hitting .600 in three games. The freshman scored five runs, stole two bases in two attempts and added two walks with no strikeouts. She was 9-of-15 at the plate and drove in a run.
Ashley Watson (P, Jr., Qualicum Beach, BC) compiled two dominating starts, allowing just one run and seven hits in 12.1 innings. Watson recorded a 0.73 ERA, struck out five hitters and walked four. The junior’s top outing was a complete game 5-0 shutout win over New Mexico Highlands. Watson allowed three hits and one walk with three strikeouts to gain the victory. Only one baserunner in the game advanced beyond first base.
Winona State Picked in Preseason Softball Coaches Poll
January 28, 2010 | NSIC Release
St. Paul, Minn. - The defending NSIC Tournament Champions and NCAA DII College World Series participants of Winona State University, were the top pick in the 2010 NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches’ Poll. This marks the second straight year that the Warriors get the nod from the rest of the league’s coaches. The Warriors amassed 179 points and 11 first place votes (coaches cannot vote for their own team). Wayne State was second in the poll with 159 points and two first place votes. Minnesota State University, Mankato was third with 151 points and one first place vote, while Augustana was fourth with 149 points and SMSU, last year’s NSIC Regular Season Champion, was picked fifth with 143 points.
The preseason coaches’ poll is based off each coach ranking each team from 14 to 1 with the top team receiving 14 points, second 13, third 12, etc. The 2009 NSIC Softball season gets underway Friday, February 12th with Augustana College and U-Mary participating in the Desert Stinger Softball Tournament.
| NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches Poll | Points |
|
1 |
Winona State (11) | 179 |
2 |
Wayne State (2) | 159 |
3 |
Minnesota State (1) | 151 |
4 |
Augustana | 149 |
5 |
Southwest Minnesota State | 143 |
6 |
Minnesota Duluth | 121 |
7 |
Concordia-St. Paul | 118 |
8 |
St. Cloud State | 94 |
9 |
University of Mary | 84 |
10 |
Upper Iowa | 77 |
11 |
MSU Moorhead | 58 |
12 |
Bemidji State | 49 |
13 |
Northern State | 48 |
14 |
Minnesota, Crookston | 26 |
| First place votes in ( ) | ||
NSIC Preseason Co-Players of the Year
#9 Andrea Brunskill
C/1B, Sr.,
Valley Center, Calif.
Valley Center HS
University of Mary
The lone catcher on the 15-player
2009 All-NSIC squad, Brunskill led U-Mary in RBIs
for the third straight year with 39 and was seventh in
the NSIC. She led the Marauders with three triples
and tied for the lead in doubles with 12. She hit .360
with a .519 slugging percentage and a .371 on base
percentage. Fifth in the NSIC with five sacrifice
flies, she stole two bases and struck out a teamlow
14 times in 156 at bats. Brunskill also scored 19
runs and hit three home runs. Defensively, she has
thrown out seven runners in 27 attempts. Brunskill
was the NSIC Rookie of the Year in 2007 and earned
All-NSIC and Louisville Slugger/NFCA first team allregion
honors as a freshman. Hampered by a hand
injury two years ago, she recovered in time to earn
a spot on the NSIC all-tournament team at the end
of the 2008 season.
#15 Kayla Lewis
1B/DP, Sr.,
Bettendorf, Iowa
Bettendorf HS
Indian Hills CC
Winona State
Lewis transferred to Winona State last season and
started all 62 games for the Warriors as they made
their first ever trip to the NCAA DII College World
Series.
Lewis was named to the first teams of the NFCA
All-America and Louisville Slugger/NFCA All-Central Region team. She was named the NSIC
Rookie of the Year, was a 1st Team All-Conference selection as she finished her 62 games,
with a .381 batting average with 36 runs, 72 hits, 17
doubles, 4 home runs and 35 RBI.
NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year
#17 Katie Goetzinger
RHP, Jr.,
Harlan, Iowa
Harlan HS
Wayne State
Goetzinger was 31-15 last season with four saves and a 1.55 ERA. She struck out 347 batters in 294.1 innings pitched and had 12 shutouts, all single season school records. Goetzinger pitched two perfect games during the year, vs. West Liberty State on 3-11-09 and vs. Minnesota, Crookston on 3-28-09. She also set a new single game record with 16 strikeouts vs. Bemidji State on 4-19-09 and is the career leader in strikeouts at Wayne State after just two seasons with 489. Goetzinger was named to the Northern Sun Conference All-Conference Softball Team for the second straight season and was voted to the Daktronics Inc., All-Central Region First Team. She ranks third in NCAA Division II in wins (31), 14th in saves (4), 21st in strikeouts per seven innings (8.3) and 41st nationally in ERA (1.55).
NFCA Release Preseason Top 25 Poll
January 26, 2010 | NFCA Release
STARKVILLE, Miss. - After finishing second at last year’s NCAA Division II National Softball Championship, the Chargers of Alabama-Huntsville were picked as the No. 1 team in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Preseason Poll. Winona State was picked third in the poll and received one first place vote in the poll. Wayne State was also ranked in the top 25 as they came in at #21. Augustana College, Southwest Minnesota State and Concordia-St. Paul received votes in the top, but did not make the top 25.
The NFCA Division II Top 25 is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches, two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Final 2009 records are shown. First-place votes are in parentheses. The first 2010 regular season poll will be released on Wednesday, March 3.
Rank |
Team |
Record |
Pts |
Pvs |
1 |
Alabama-Huntsville (14) |
54-6 |
398 |
2 |
2 |
North Georgia |
50-5 |
375 |
3 |
3 |
Winona State (1) |
50-13 |
345 |
5 |
4 |
Dixie St. |
41-13 |
331 |
6 |
5 |
Indianapolis |
37-21 |
316 |
10 |
6 |
Valdosta St. |
57-8 |
287 |
8 |
7 |
Le Moyne |
45-12 |
252 |
7 |
8 |
Missouri Western St. |
47-12 |
244 |
NR |
9 |
California (Pa.) |
35-10 |
233 |
25 |
10 |
Saginaw Valley |
39-11 |
217 |
14 |
11 |
Humboldt St. |
38-20 |
214 |
NR |
12 |
Nebraska-Omaha |
45-17 |
210 |
24 |
13 |
S.C. Aiken |
34-16 |
206 |
12 |
14 |
Kutztown |
46-12-1 |
196 |
9 |
15 |
Nova Southeastern |
49-15 |
157 |
18 |
16 |
Metro St. |
40-12 |
151 |
NR |
17 |
Abilene Christian |
43-15 |
130 |
NR |
18 |
C.W. Post |
34-18 |
114 |
NR |
19 |
Angelo St. |
50-10 |
104 |
4 |
20 |
Wayne St. (Mich.) |
40-16 |
85 |
NR |
21 |
Wayne St. (Neb.) |
41-21 |
81 |
NR |
22 |
West Texas A&M |
35-21 |
73 |
NR |
23 |
Mesa St. |
30-21 |
65 |
16 |
24 |
Carson-Newman |
32-17 |
62 |
21 |
25 |
Lock Haven (1) |
51-6 |
58 |
1 |
Others receiving votes:
Bloomsburg 46, Rollins 37, Caldwell 31, Georgia College 29, Cal St.-Monterey Bay 28, Hawaii Pacific 21, Georgian Court 19, St. Edward’s 16, Emporia St. 15, Ashland 10, Augustana (S.D.) 10, Ferris St. 8, Midwestern St. 6, Southwest Minnesota State 6, East Stroudsburg 3, Montana St.-Billings 3, NYIT 3, Concordia-St. Paul 2, Florida Southern 1, Lewis 1, Regis (Colo.) 1
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