For Immediate Release
Monday, March 24, 2014
NSIC Media Relations
Full PDF Release

NSIC Player of the Week
#21 Samantha Holien
SS, Sr.  R/R,
Forest Lake, Minn.
Forest Lake HS
Minnesota State

Senior shortstop Samantha Holien posted a blistering .545 batting average with a 1.045 slugging percentage at the Missouri Western Invitational. Holien scored nine runs on 12 hits in 22 at bats including a stolen base, two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and 23 total bases. In the field, the Forest Lake, Minn., native, recorded a 1.00 fielding percentage with 12 putouts and five assists as her Mavericks improved to 16-6 overall while going 6-0 at the Missouri Western Invitational. This marks the second time this season Holien has been named NSIC Player of the Week (2/18/14).

NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#1 Coley Ries
RHP,  R-Fr.,  R/R
Eagle Lake, Minn.
Mankato East HS
Minnesota State

Freshman pitcher Coley Ries continued her strong season in the circuit posting a 1.27 ERA in five appearances, including three starts, two complete games and a shutout. The Eagle Lake, product, posted a 3-0 record improving to 7-2 overall. Ries gave up six runs (four earned) on 13 hits with 26 strikeouts while holding opposing batters to a .163 batting average as the Mavericks went 6-0 against MIAA opponents, improving to 16-6 overall. This marks the second time this season Ries has been named NSIC Pitcher of the Week (3/10/14).           
     NSIC SOFTBALL TEAM NOTES
Augustana
#32 Sarah Kennedy (OF, 5-8, Fr., L/R, Bettendorf, Iowa/Bettendorf HS) batted .400 last weekend helping the Vikings to a 4-2 record. In six games, Kennedy had eight hits in 20 at bats, including a triple and a home run. In the first game of the tournament against Missouri Southern, Kennedy had a season-high four hits going 4 for 4 with four singles marking her sixth multiple-hit game of the season. Kennedy is batting .338 on the season with a team-high six doubles.
#14 Carley Pickett (LHP, 5-4, So., L/L/, Maplewood, Minn./North St. Paul HS) posted a 2-1 record at the Missouri Western Tournament last weekend to improve to 4-1 on the season in the circle. Pickett finished the weekend with a 3.15 ERA in six appearances and three starts while posting her fourth save of the season. She struck out 17 batters on the weekend, including six against Emporia State on Saturday.
 
Bemidji State
Bemidji State was idle last weekend. BSU’s record sits at 11-5 through the nonconference slate. With 11 wins in its first 16 games, Bemidji State has already accounted for more wins than any season since 2006 (17). With the non conference slate wrapped up, Bemidji State will now switch its attention to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play. The Beavers are scheduled to play three NSIC doubleheaders this week against University of Minnesota Crookston (March 25), Minnesota State University, Mankato (March 29), Concordia University, St. Paul (March 30).

Concordia-St. Paul
Concordia-St. Paul (5-15) traveled to the MWSU Softball Invitational last weekend and came home with a record of 2-4 against the six MIAA opponents. The Golden Bears opened up with a split against Northwest Missouri State and Pittsburg State. NWMSU used a big fifth inning to down CU in game one 11-6 before Stephanie Kappes gave a solid effort in the circle in game two to take a 3-2 win over PSU. Concordia took the first game on Saturday as the bats came alive in an 8-4 win over Washburn. Missouri Southern State snapped the two game CU winning streak in the afternoon game in a 13-7 win over the Golden Bears.CU struggled to get much going offensively on Sunday as they dropped a pair of games 7-2 and 6-2 to Missouri Western State and Central Missouri, respectively. Concordia begins NSIC play this Wednesday as they head to the Savage Sports Dome to take on the Minnesota State Mavericks.

University of Mary
The University of Mary softball team was idle last week for the second consecutive week. They are scheduled to play on March 25  as they open conference play on the road against Minot State.

Minnesota Crookston
The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team opened up the 2014 season with a 2-11 mark in 13 games at the Dot Richardson Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. The week for the Golden Eagles was highlighted by a pair of victories. UMC defeated Slippery Rock University 4-1 March 15 and took down Saint Michael’s College 5-2 March 19.
The Golden Eagles have gotten solid play from several hitters as Paige Schaust (Sr., OF/P, Delano, Minn/) is batting .364 with one run scored and one RBI while Josee Plante (Jr., 3B, Manitou, Manitoba) is hitting .321 with four runs scored and three RBI’s with one home run already on the year. In addition, Ashley Manusos (Sr., OF, Spring Grove, Ill.) is batting .303 with four runs scored and four RBI’s and a home run. In the circle, Schaust leads the way with a 2-3 mark and a 6.75 ERA for the Golden Eagles.
UMC was scheduled to play a mid-week doubleheader against Bemidji State University on the road but those games have been moved to April 8. The Golden Eagles are slated to play Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State, Mankato this weekend. More information on the location and time of these games will be determined later this week based on field conditions and weather.
 
Minnesota Duluth
The Bulldogs (14-11) wrapped up its non-conference schedule going 3-5 during the week in Oklahoma and Arkansas. UMD, who went 3-1 in the front end of its twinbills,  dropped the first double header matchup versus Southeastern Oklahoma State then split the next three consecutive days to Southwestern Oklahoma State, Northeastern State and Arkansas Tech. The Bulldogs will hopefully open NSIC play this weekend at home against Upper Iowa and Winona State after their conference opener versus St. Cloud State was postponed.
Jordan Rice (IF, 5-6, Jr., Ham Lake, Minn.) maintained her constancy at the plate by registering a .375 batting average and a .516 on-base percentage while posting a pair of doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs during the eight games. Rice, who tallied her 100th career hit last Monday, started the week off with three consecutive multi-hit games including a two-home run performance to lead the Bulldogs past Southwestern Oklahoma State. The sophomore also produced the the game-winning run with a looping double to left in the top of the seventh versus Arkansas Tech. Rice hit .500 with two outs and tabbed a .429 average with runners on base. Her .833 slugging percentage during the trip pushed her up to fourth in the conference (.824) and her eight home runs this season ranks atop of the league.  Rice also drew seven walks, bringing her total to 14, which tops the NSIC charts along with her fellow teammate Sami Schnyder.

Minnesota State
The Minnesota State softball team got back on track with six wins against six different MIAA schools as it went 6-0 at the Missouri Western Invitational improving to 16-6 overall as it enters conference play. MSU started the invitational with wins over Washburn (8-2) and Missouri Southern (5-2) on the first day before earning a 16-6 win over Pitt State and downed No. 12 Emporia State 12-4 in six innings. The Mavericks finished the tournament with a pair of shutouts over Northwest Missouri State (2-0) before downing Missouri Western 1-0 in its final game of the tournament. The Mavericks begin the circuit against Concordia-St. Paul this Wednesday, at the Savage Sports Center.
Freshman pitcher Coley Ries continued her strong season in the circuit posting a 1.27 ERA in five appearances, including three starts, two complete games and a shutout. The Eagle Lake, product, posted a 3-0 record improving to 7-2 overall. Ries gave up six runs (four earned) on 13 hits with 26 strikeouts while holding opposing batters to a .163 batting average as the Mavericks went 6-0 against MIAA opponents, improving to 16-6 overall.
Senior shortstop Samantha Holien posted a blistering .545 batting average with a 1.045 slugging percentage at the Missouri Western Invitational. Holien scored nine runs on 12 hits in 22 at bats including a stolen base, two doubles, three home runs, 10 RBI and 23 total bases. In the field, the Forest Lake, Minn., native, recorded a 1.00 fielding percentage with 12 putouts and five assists as her Mavericks improved to 16-6 overall while going 6-0 at the Missouri Western Invitational.

MSU Moorhead
Carly Williamson (OF, 5-2, Fr., Council Bluffs, Iowa  / Thomas Jefferson HS) hit .333 for the week in helping MSUM to a 2-2 mark at the Dot Richardson Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Williamson hit 4-of-12 at the plate and also had a .385 on-base percentage
Sophomore Kristy Bruni is showing power early in the season for MSUM, leading the team with three homers and five RBI. Last week in four games she had two homers and three RBI and an .818 slugging percentage.
Morgan Nybo (P, 5-6, So., Minnetonka, Minn. / Hopkins HS) was solid on the mound in helping MSUM to a 2-2 mark at the Dot Richardson Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Nybo was 1-1 with a 0.44 ERA in 16 innings pitched, allowing just one earned run. She struck out 10 while walking seven. She leads MSUM in wins and strikeouts so far this season.

Minot State
#21 Mindy Lorimor (P, 5-9, R/R, Jr., Thurman, Iowa / Fremont-Mills / South Dakota State) went a perfect 3-0 in the Beavers final three games at the National Training Center Tournament in Clermont, Fla., last week, raising her overall record to 10-3. She worked four innings of two-hit ball with seven strikeouts to defeat New York Institute of Technology and was solid over 6 1/3 innings in a win over Merrimack, giving up six hits and one run. But Lorimor saved her best for last, going the distance in a 2-1 win over the University of New Haven, a team receiving votes nationally, in the finale. She gave up seven hits, one unearned run and struck out a batter. Lorimor gave up just one earned run in 17 1/3 innings in her final three games to lower her ERA to just 1.30 on the season.
Minot State finished its annual trip to Florida with three straight wins, going 9-0 at the National Training Center Tournament in Clermont, Fla. The Beavers went undefeated for the second straight season in Florida. MISU topped New York Institute of Technology 10-3, Merrimack College 6-1 and rallied to defeat RV-University of New Haven 2-1 in the finale. The Beavers’ #21 Mindy Lorimor (P, 5-9, R/R, Jr., Thurman, Iowa / Fremont-Mills / South Dakota State) earned the win in all three, going 17 1/3 innings giving up just one earned run, while striking out eight. #4 Jen Dixon (P/LF, 5-9, L/R, Sr., Brandon, Manitoba) went 2-for-5 over the final two games with three RBIs and two runs scored. Her two-out, two-run double in the top of the seventh against New Haven lifted the Beavers to the win. #24 Jordan Grant (CF, 5-7, L/R, Fr., Adelnato, Calif. / Silverado) lifted her batting average from .276 coming into the tournament to .400 as she finished with four hits in the final three games and scored four runs. She has scored multiple runs in seven games this season and leads the Beavers with 19 runs scored overall from her leadoff spot. Minot State is scheduled to play rival University of Mary in the NSIC opener Tuesday in Minot.

Northern State
The Northern State Wolves traveled this past week to Washburn University and Missouri Western Crossover Tournament. NSU finished the weekend 7-9 overall and 3-3 from the Missouri Western Crossover. After falling to Washburn previously in the week, the Wolves came back for a 9-6 victory from St. Joe. Lauren Kunz, Kelsey Gale, Kalie Maiden, and Rachel Albright connected for the first career home runs. Albright had a breakout weekend for NSU hitting two more HRs over the weekend. Lindsey Hubler also notched her first of the season in the Tuesday match-up with the Ichabods. The Wolves tabbed wins against Missouri Western (3-2), Washburn (9-6), and Northwest Missouri State (8-1). Northern ace Kami Smesmo added two wins to her season total and stuck out a season high seven batters against No. 12 Emporia State. Northern will now begin conference play this week at MSU Moorhead, Wayne State, and Augustana.
#13 Rachel Albright (OF/P, Fr., R/R/, Pasadena, Calif./Pasadena HS) recorded at least on hit in the Wolves eight games this past week. Albright ended the week going 11-21, a .524 average, from the plate with ten RBI, and six runs scored. After dropping her first career home run against Washburn University of Tuesday, Rachel added two more against Northwest Missouri State and Emporia State. The utility player also notched her first career double in the win over the Griffons. She was one of only two NSU players to record hits in the 1-2 loss against Central Missouri. Her best game at the plate came against No. 12 Emporia State, where Rachel was 3-4 with her third home run, two RBI and one run scored. Albright, who is on an 11 game hit streak, improved her season average to .419 with a .651 slugging percentage in the eight games this past week.

SMSU
The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (3-13) sat idle this week but will begin the 2014 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule on Tuesday, March 25, versus the University of Sioux Falls. SMSU will open play at Mustang Field later in the week with home doubleheaders versus Minot State and U-Mary on March 29-30.
 
Sioux Falls
The USF softball team wrapped up their spring break trip by winning three of their last four games. The Cougars didn’t have their best set of games offensively, but were still able to rack up the wins as they received several strong defensive performances. In USF’s three victories, their opponents averaged just 2.3 runs per game while USF averaged 6.0 runs of their own.
Amanda Walters (P, 5-8, Sr., Sioux Falls, S.D./Washington HS) had another solid set of outings at the end of spring break, claiming wins in each of her three appearances. Walters struck out 19 total batters as she helped guide the Cougars to their best start in the past six years. Walters only recorded an ERA of 2.81 and had a WHIP of 1.19 in the impressive three-game stretch. She also kept her opponents off the base as batters facing her had a batting average of 0.213. In the Cougars 11-3 win over Minnesota Crookston, Walters made her mark quickly as she recorded five strikeouts in only two innings.
Betsy Thomas (C/IF, 5-9, So., Sergeant Bluff, Iowa/Sergeant Bluff-Luton HS) helped guide the Cougars at the plate over the past week as she hit two home runs and recorded four RBIs. In addition to bringing her teammates home, Thomas was also able to cross the plate herself as she scored two runs of her own. Next up the Cougars will open league play as they take on Southwest Minnesota State in Sioux Falls. The doubleheader is currently scheduled for Wednesday, March 26 with first pitch set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

St. Cloud State
The St. Cloud State University softball team traveled to St. Joseph, Missouri to compete in the Missouri Western Invite over the weekend. The Huskies walked away with a 2-4 record at the tournament and now hold a 6-11 overall record this season. The Huskies dropped four straight during the tournament to Missouri Western, Emporia State, Central Missouri, and Northwest Missouri State before turning things around. On Sunday, the Huskies finished off the tournament with two big wins over Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern. Abby Bunnell (Maple Grove) led the Huskies offensively over the weekend producing eight hits in 21 at bats for a .381 average. Tricia DeBoer (Blooming Prairie) finished the weekend with seven hits. Sophomore pitcher Senna Francesconi (Schomberg, Ontario) made five appearances on the mound over the weekend and pitched 19.1 innings. Francesconi struck out 16 batters and gave up just 13 earned runs. The Huskies will continue action this weekend as they host Winona State in their first NSIC conference match-up on Friday, March 28 at 1 and 3 p.m. in the Husky Dome.

Upper Iowa
The Upper Iowa softball team went 0-2 this past week in the team’s final non-conference doubleheader of the season. Two early leads for the Tritons of the University of Missouri - St. Louis proved to be the difference in Wednesday afternoon’s twin bill. The Upper Iowa softball team was forced to play catch-up in both games and despite a  three-run home run from Erica Kirgan in game one, the home team held on for the pair of wins. The Peacocks 9-3 loss in game one and 5-1 defeat in game two drops UIU to 7-13 in non-conference play this year. The team returns to Fayette looking ahead to next week’s NSIC matchup with Winona State. In search of warmer weather in the forecast, the Peacocks are tentatively scheduled to open Northern Sun Conference play on Tuesday against Winona State. The teams are currently slated to play at 2 p.m. inside the Eischeid Softball Complex.
 
Wayne State
Jordan King, a 5-4 junior second baseman from Omaha, Neb. (Millard South HS), hit .357 in eight games during the week, going 10 for 28 at the plate with two doubles,one triple and seven RBI’s while scoring three runs.  She hit safely in the final seven games during the week and had three multi-hit games.  King was 2 for 3 with a double in Wednesday’s 4-3 win over Nebraska-Kearney.  She also went 2 for 5 in an 11-10 win over Central Missouri on Friday, had a two-run triple in a 4-3 loss to Missouri Western on Saturday and was 2 for 4 and scored Wayne State’s lone run in Sunday’s 4-1 loss to #12 Emporia State.  
Kelcie Bormann, a 5-6 junior pitcher from Preston, Iowa (Preston HS), went 3-0 during the week with a 3.87 ERA, improving her season record to 8-1 overall.  Bormann fired a complete game win on Wednesday in a 6-2 win over Nebraska-Kearney, striking out nine batters.  She also threw a complete game in a 6-2 win over Northwest Missouri State on Friday and earned her third win of the week working 4 2/3 innings, allowing just three hits and two runs, in an 8-2 win over Missouri Southern Sunday.  
 
Winona State
Brooke Piotrowski, OF, Sr., Stevens Point, Wis. (SPASH) led Winona State with a .333 batting average, going 5-of-15 at the plate as the Warriors split doubleheaders against No. 21 Emporia State and Missouri Western State. Piotrowski posted a pair of extra base hits in the games, including a game-winning RBI triple against Missouri Western. She also had a double and scored three runs while slugging .533 and posting an on-base percentage of .375.
Hanna Lythberg, P, So., Mount Prospect, Ill. (Prospect) recorded a 1-1 record with a 2.93 ERA for the Warriors in games against Emporia State and Missouri Western State. Lythberg threw eight innings to pick up a win over No. 21 Emporia State, allowing just a pair of earned runs while striking out one. She also tossed a complete game against Missouri Western. On the week Lythberg threw 14.1 innings while giving up six earned runs and fanning four.


Past Players/ Pitchers of the Week
2/11/14 Player: Lindsay Spanton, Augustana
 Pitcher: Janelle Trautmann, Augustana
2/18/14 Player: Samantha Holien, Minnesota State
 Pitcher: Not Awarded
2/25/14 Player: Morgan Lintz, Winona State
 Pitcher: Brooke Redmond, Upper Iowa
3/3/14 Player: Allison Brown, U-Mary
 Pitcher: Amanda Walters, Sioux Falls
3/10/14 Player: Allison Brown, U-Mary (2)
 Pitcher: Coley Ries, Minnesota State
3/17/14 Player: Jenny Nelson, WSU
 Pitcher: Cayli Sadler, Minnesota Duluth
3/24/14: Player: Samantha Holien, Minnesota State (2)
Pitcher: Coley Ries, Minnesota State (2)