For Immediate Release
Monday, April 17, 2017
NSIC Media Relations

NSIC Softball Players of the Week

NSIC Player of the Week
#32 Sarah Kennedy
(SS, 5-8, Sr., L/R, Bettendorf, Iowa / Bettendorf HS)
Augustana
- Batted .652 in six games last week to lead the Vikings at the plate
- Finished the week with 15 hits, including seven doubles and a home run
- Drove in eight runs and scored eight while producing a 1.087 slugging percentage and a .692 on-base percentage
- In the series at SMSU, was 6-for-8 with three doubles and three RBI
- Picked up a pair of doubles in the series at Northern State
- Closed-out the weekend going 7-for-8 with a home run and two doubles while driving in four runs in two games at MSU Moorhead
- Leads the NSIC with 22 doubles, which puts her three shy of tying her single season record at Augustana which she set as a sophomore in 2015
- Leads the NSIC in hits (71), RBI (46) home runs (12) and total bases (131)
- Named NSIC Player of the Week for the third time this season (3/20/17 & 4/10/17)

NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#1 Coley Ries
(RHP, Sr., R/R, Eagle Lake, Minn. / Mankato East HS)
Minnesota State
- Went 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA in five appearances
- Earned the save in games against WSU and BSU
- Recorded 30 strikeouts over 18.1 innings
- Posted 10 strikeouts against Winona State
- Has a 20-2 record this season and has won her last nine starts
- Earned her 98th career win to become the all-time wins leader at Minnesota State
- Leads the NSIC in opposing batting average (.141), batters struck out (245), batters struck out looking (78) and wins (20)
- Named NSIC Pitcher of the Week for the fourth time this season (3/6/17, 3/13/17 & 4/10/17)
 

Augustana University Vikings

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 9-7 at SMSU W 13-5 at SMSU  W 5-4 at NSU W 6-2 at NSU W 7-2 at MSUM W 6-1 at MSUM	30-10, 15-3 NSIC	W9	4th Overall
Team Notes
- Augustana went 6-0 on the road last week to improve to 30-10 on the season, including 15-3 in NSIC play - Augustana has won 30 or more games in nine straight seasons under the direction of 11th-year head coach Gretta Melsted - Augustana batted .377 as a team on the week, hitting 15 doubles and three home runs - The Vikings out-scored their opponents 46-21 in the six games - In Wednesday’s sweep at SMSU, Augustana used some late-inning heroics to pick up a pair of road wins - The Vikings scored in the top of the seventh to take game one 9-7 before going off for seven runs in the top of the seventh of game two to win 13-5 - Augustana continued its late inning heroics in game one at Northern State on Friday as the Vikings scored a run in the top of the seventh to pick up a 5-4 game-one win over the Wolves - The Vikings won game two 6-2 behind the right arm of Olivia Wolters who held Northern State to just three hits - In Saturday’s twinbill at MSU Moorhead, Sarah Kennedy went 7 for 8 with three doubles and a home run to help the Vikings to a pair of wins - Augustana defeated MSUM 7-2 in game one before taking the series with a 6-1 win in game two
Top Performer(s)
- Sarah Kennedy batted .652 in six games last week to lead the Vikings at the plate - Kennedy finished the week with 15 hits, including seven doubles and a home run - Kennedy drove in eight runs and scored eight while producing a 1.087 slugging percentage and a .692 on-base percentage - In the series at SMSU, Kennedy was 6 for 8 with three doubles and three RBI - She picked up a pair of doubles in the series at Northern State before closing-out the weekend going 7 for 8 with a home run and two doubles while driving in four runs in two games at MSU Moorhead - Kennedy leads the NSIC with 22 doubles, which puts her three shy of tying her single season record at Augustana which she set as a sophomore in 2015 - Kennedy also leads the NSIC in hits (71), RBI (46) home runs (12) and total bases (131) - Olivia Wolters went 4-0 in the circle for the Vikings last week - She picked up a win in relief in game one at SMSU on Wednesday before tossing five innings to earn the win in game two - She struck out six while holding Northern State to just one run on three hits on Friday - On Saturday at MSUM, Wolters struck out five picking up a complete game victory in game two
Up Next
Tuesday, March 28 vs. Wayne State – 3/5 p.m.

 

Bemidji State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 8-0 vs SCSU L 10-1 vs SCSU W 8-3 vs CSP W 4-3 vs CSP L 14-1 vs MSU L 3-2 vs MSU	20-13, 10-8 NSIC	L2	8th Overall
Team Notes
- Went 3-3 last week versus SCSU, CSP and MSU - Beavers swept CSP last Friday
Top Performer(s)
- Jessica Yost went 3-1 in the circle - Yost lone loss came to #14 MSU where she gave up three runs, two earned - Yost is 17-4 on the season with a 1.30 ERA
Up Next
Tuesday, April 18 at Minot State - 2/4 pm Saturday, April 22 vs Wayne State - 2/3 pm Sunday, April 23 vs Augustana - 12/2 pm

 

Concordia University, St. Paul Golden Bears

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 2-5  vs UIU L 1-4 vs UIU L 3-8 at BSU L 3-8 at BSU W 3-0 at UMC W 6-5 at UMC	13-26, 5-13 NSIC	W2	12th Overall
Team Notes
- Snapped eight game losing streak with sweep at UMC - Finished with a .441 team slugging percentage - Five different players finished with a .318 batting average or better during the six game span - Senior pitcher earned both wins in doubleheader at Crookston. Struck out 12 batters over the week - Held a 3-0 lead in game two against BSU before Beavers scored four runs in sixth and seven inning to win 4-3 - Liz Jarosz finished with three home runs in series against Golden Eagles
Top Performer(s)
- Liz Jarosz finished with a .333 batting average over the six games with six hits, three home runs, six RBI, 16 total bases and a .889 slugging percentage - Justine Schattner led team with .450 batting average with nine hits, two doubles, one home run and one RBI. She also finished with a .700 slugging percentage
Up Next
Tuesday, Apr. 18 at Sioux Falls – 2/3 pm Saturday, Apr. 22 vs MSU Moorhead – 1/3 pm Sunday, Apr. 23 vs Northern State – 12/2 pm

 

University of Mary Marauders

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 5-2 vs NSU W 7-1 vs NSU W 5-2 vs SMSU L 4-1 vs SMSU L 6-5 vs USF L 8-6 vs USF	14-29, 8-10 NSIC	L2	13th Overall
Team Notes
- Won 8-of-12 games, including midweek sweep of Northern State - Marauders wrap up eight-game home stand against Minnesota Crookston on Wednesday, April 19 - Moved into a tie for 10th in NSIC with Southwest Minnesota State - Four of final six doubleheaders are against teams behind UMary in the NSIC standings - Allowed 10 unearned runs last week
Top Performer(s)
- Despite posting a 0.40 ERA, Brieann Backes was 1-2 last week - Of the ten runs she allowed in 17.1 innings, only one was earned - She struck out nine and allowed five walks and 19 hits - Madison Jahner’s string of four straight wins was snapped against Sioux Falls - She had complete game wins over Northern State and Southwest Minnesota State last week - Colleen Crutchfield hit .444 (8-for-18) last week with three runs scored and two RBI - Taylor Mendez hit .389 (7-of-18) with a triple, scoring four runs and driving in four - Hannah Holtz (7-of-21) hit two double and a triple in her last six games, scoring three times and driving in two runs
Up Next
Wednesday, April 19 vs Minnesota Crookston 2/4 p.m.

 

University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 9-0 UMD L 15-6 UMD L 12-1 MSU L 9-0 MSU L 3-0 CSP L 6-5 CSP	11-26-1, 1-10-1 NSIC	L13	16th Overall
Team Notes
- Minnesota Crookston went 0-6 on the week after a difficult week, which included four games against two of the top teams in the league in Minnesota Duluth and Minnesota State - The Golden Eagles had three home runs, two doubles, 12 runs scored and 10 RBI - Minnesota Crookston put up strong efforts on Saturday against Concordia-St. Paul but fell just short in a 6-5 loss and a 3-0 loss
Top Performer(s)
- Gabriel Antolak hit .357 for the week with three home runs, six RBI and three runs scored - Khailyn Neumayer batted .286 for the week - Heather Cunningham posted a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched
Up Next
April 19 at U-Mary – 1/3 p.m. – Bismarck, N.D. April 22 vs. Augustana – 1/3 p.m. – Crookston, Minn. April 23 vs. Wayne State – 1/3 p.m. – Crookston, Minn.

 

University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 9-0 at UMC W 9-0 at UMC (5) L 5-0 at WSU L 1-0 at WSU L 1-0 at UIU W 6-0 at UIU	29-13, 13-5 NSIC	W1	2rd Overall
Team Notes
- UMD will close out an eight-game road swing with a doubleheader at Northern State on Tuesday - The Bulldogs have had four walk-off wins this spring, including one in NSIC play (5-4 over Minot State on April 20 - The Bulldogs are hitting .281 as a team and have five starters sporting batting averages of .312 of better - UMD is  5-1 against NFCA II Top 25 clubs this season, with the latest victory coming against No. 18 Minnesota State-Mankato on April 8 - UMD has outscored the opposition 38-14 in the first inning and is 20-2 when it has scored first. The Bulldogs are also a perfect 23-0 when they’ve taken a lead into the fifth inning
Top Performer(s)
- Junior shortstop Becky Smith went 8-for-20 at the plate (.400) in UMD’s six games last week and had seven of the team’s 25 RBI - Sophomore first baseman Kalynn Tilton and rookie outfielder Jayme Langbehn both had a pair of homers during the week - Sophomore pitcher Valerie Hohol, who 12-2 on the year, posted a 0.38 earned run average in three starts last week - That included a pair of shutouts - She also turned in her first collegiate no-hitter in the 9-0, six-inning triumph in Crookston - Her lone loss was a 1-0 walkoff setback at Winona State on April 13 (the Bulldogs were no hit that game)
Up Next
April 18 at Northern State (2) - 2 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University, Mankato Mavericks

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 1-0 vs. WSU W 5-2 vs. WSU W 12-1 at UMC W 9-0 at UMC W 14-1 at BSU W 3-2 at BSU	38-6 (16-2 NSIC)	W8	1st  Overall
Team Notes
- Went 6-0 last week - Have won the last eight straight games - Swept Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State - Outscored opponents 44-6 last week - Ranked #14 in the latest NFCA Coaches Poll
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore McKenzie Paap posted a .444 batting average with eight hits, seven runs, two doubles, and one RBI - Additionally, she stole six bases on seven attempts - Senior Samantha Buhmann also posted a .444 batting average with eight hits, six RBI, three runs, and one double - Senior Coley Ries (20-2) went 3-0 with a 0.00 era. She recorded 30 strikeouts over 18.1 innings pitched including two saves vs. Winona State and Bemidji State - Ries also earned her 98th career win vs. Bemidji State to become all-time wins leader at Minnesota State
Up Next
Tuesday, April 18 vs. Southwest Minnesota State  – 2/4 p.m.

 

Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 3-2 at MINOT L 4-3 at MINOT L 8-7 vs. WSC L 5-1 vs. WSC L 7-2 vs AUGIE L 6-1 vs. AUGIE	8-27, 3-15 NSIC	L5	15th
Team Notes
- MSUM went 1-5 last week, splitting with Minot State and being swept by Wayne State and Augustana - The Dragons hit .283 for the week and had two triples - Freshman OF Madison Paige has 12 doubles on the season and is just two away from tying single-season record of 14 - Sophomore SS Taylor Roddie leads team with .366 average and 18 RBI
Top Performer(s)
- Sophomore SS Taylor Roddie hit .391 with a double, a triple and three RBI on the week - Senior OF Hannah Klug hit .417 with a triple despite missing two games with injury - Sophomore OF Aunica Novacek hit .353 on the week - Senior 1B Lauren Meeker led MSUM with seven RBI on the week - Freshman P Jordan Hall picked up first collegiate win against Minot State on April 12
Up Next
April 19 vs. St. Cloud State - 2/4 p.m. April 20 vs. Concordia- Moorhead - 2/4 p.m. April 22 at Concordia-St. Paul - 1/3 p.m. April 23 at Minnesota State - 12/2 p.m.

 

Minot State University Beavers

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 2-3 vs. MSUM W 4-3 vs. MSUM W 5-1 vs. USF W 4-2 vs. USF W 14-5 vs. SMSU L 7-9 vs. SMSU	17-14, 9-9 NSIC	L1	14th Overall
Team Notes
- The Beavers went 4-2 during a six-game homestand including their second sweep of two NSIC games, topping the University of Sioux Falls twice Friday - The USF series helped Minot State pull even in conference play since early in the season - Hit five home runs and only gave up one home run during the week
Top Performer(s)
- Jordan Grant batted .667 on the week collecting 14 hits in 21 at bats with 11 stolen bases, a triple and 10 runs scored - Jordan Branch slugged three home runs in the week and knocked in nine runs, finishing with a .368 batting average - Skyla Neubauer finished with five hits on the week, batting .313 with four of those going for extra bases (one home run and three doubles) - Jenn Spencer appeared in five games, going 2-2 on the week with a 3.91 ERA, picking up her first save of the season
Up Next
Tuesday, April 18 vs. Bemidji State 2/4 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at Upper Iowa 1/3 p.m. Sunday April 23 at Winona State 12/2 p.m.

 

Northern State University Wolves

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 5-2 vs U-Mary L 7-1 vs U-Mary L 5-4 vs Augustana L 6-2 vs Augustana W 9-8 vs Wayne State W 10-2 vs Wayne State	24-17-1, 9-8-1 NSIC	W2	9th Overall
Team Notes
- Finished the week 2-6 with a sweep of Wayne State from home - Went 50-for-161 from the plate for a team average of .311 - Combined for nine doubles, one triple, three homerun and 25 RBI as a team on the weekend - The NSU pitching staff held opponents to 4.2 earned runs each game with a combined 19 strikeouts
Top Performer(s)
- Freshman Kennady Thompson went a team-high 8-for-18 for an average of .444 from the plate - Jenna Helgeson went 8-for-22 with two doubles, a triple, two homeruns, six RBI and two stolen bases - Lauren Kunz tallied six hits in 14 at bats with a double, a homerun, three walks and six RBI
Up Next
Tuesday, April 18 vs. Minnesota Duluth – 2/4 p.m.

 

University of Sioux Falls Cougars

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 5-7 vs WSC W 5-2 vs WSC L 5-1 at MINOT L 4-2 at MINOT W 6-5 at UM W 8-6 at UM	23-20, 10-8 NSIC	W2	5th Overall
Team Notes
- Posted a 3-3 record after splitting mid-week series with Wayne State, dropping two games at Minot State then rebounding to sweep at U-Mary - USF batted .328 as a team for the week with four Cougars finishing above .400 in six games - Hit 11 doubles and four homeruns, finishing with a team slugging percentage of .458 - Posted team ERA of 5.07 with opponents batting .343 for the week
Top Performer(s)
- Jasmine Ragusi batted .556 a homerun and two doubles for an .833 slugging percentage - Sydney Nieveen batted .474 with two doubles and a homerun, driving in seven runs to lead the team - Emma Schifferle batted .455 with the game-winning homerun against Wayne State - Breanna Black led the Cougars with 3.28 ERA and two saves while Courtney Mathews went 2-0  with 10 strikeouts and a 3.94 ERA
Up Next
Tuesday, April 18 vs. Concordia-St. Paul – 2/4 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at St. Cloud State – 12/2 p.m. Sunday, April 23 at Minnesota Duluth – 12/2 p.m.

 

Southwest Minnesota State University

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 9-7 vs. Augie L 13-5 vs. Augie W 4-1 at Mary L 5-2 at Mary L 14-5 at Minot W 9-7 at Minot	17-17, 8-10 NSIC	W1	10th Overall
Team Notes
- SMSU went 2-4 last week dropping two games at home vs. Augustana before two doubleheader splits at U-Mary and Minot State respectively - SMSU scored 27 of its 32 runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings last week as the Mustangs’ continued to score most of their runs in spurts - The Mustangs finished the week with a .304 batting average as a team with 30 RBI as a group in six games last week - SMSU’s pitching staff has a combined 3.92 ERA as a unit with 88 total strikeouts
Top Performer(s)
- Alex O’Connor tossed her 500th career strikeout in game one at Minot State - Kaylee Hentges led SMSU in batting average last week (.444) with eight hits in her 18 plate appearances - Sam Flack is currently riding a 10-game hit streak after batting .389 with a .500 on base percentage last week
Up Next
Tuesday, Apr. 17 vs. Minnesota State, 1/3 p.m.

 

St. Cloud State University Huskies

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 8-0 BSU W 10-1 BSU W 7-3 UIU L 2-1 UIU L 5-0 WSU L 3-0 WSU	25-19, 9-9 NSIC	L3	11th Overall
Team Notes
-The Huskies went 2-4 on the week with all games being on the road
Top Performer(s)
- Alyssa Coletto led the team with a .412 batting average, seven hits including a double and an RBI - Libby Bingham hit .385 with five hits a double and an RBI - Jessica Goerger put up a .353 batting average plus four RBI - Rebecca Harps recorded seven hits including four doubles - Coletto has been the team’s best hitter with her .384 batting average and 12 doubles - Abby Bunnell sports a .340 batting average with 32 runs, 52 hits and 29 stolen bases - Bunnell and Coletto are the team leaders with 14 multi-hit games
Up Next
Wednesday, April 18 at MSU Moorhead – Moorhead, Minn. – 2/4 pm Saturday, April 22 vs. Sioux Falls – St. Cloud, Minn. – 1/3 pm Sunday, April 22 vs Southwest Minnesota State – St. Cloud, Minn. – 1/3pm

 

Upper Iowa University Peacocks

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 5-2 at CSP W 4-1 at CSP L 7-3 vs. SCSU W 2-1 vs. SCSU W 1-0 vs. UMD L 6-0 vs. UMD	15-25, 7-11 NSIC	L1	7th
Team Notes
- The Peacocks went 4-2 in their six-game week, playing all six games in a three day span because of weather - UIU won at CSP on Wednesday to expand their winning streak to five before coming back home on Thursday an Friday - After allowing a six-run seventh inning in game one against SCSU to lose 7-3, the Peacocks walked off in the tenth inning of game two to earn the split - UIU walked off for the second straight game on Friday in game one against UMD, 1-0 - The Bulldogs struck big with six runs in the game two loss - Head Coach Amanda Bradberry earned her 100th win with the game one win on Saturday
Top Performer(s)
- Erin Drahozal went 2-1 for the week, including a pair of complete-game wins against Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota Duluth - Drahozal allowed 2 runs on 5 hits in the win at CSP before tossing a complete-game shutout on three hits against UMD for her best outing of her career - Courtney Clayberg tossed 10 innings of 1-run softball in game two against St. Cloud State, with the one run coming via a Peacock error in the field - Sami Kay Shafranski hit .381 for the week (8-21) to lead the Peacocks in a slow offensive week
Up Next
Tuesday, Apr. 18 at Wayne State - 2 p.m.

 

Wayne State College Wildcats

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
W 7-5 at USF L 5-2 at USF W 8-7 at MSUM W 5-1 at MSUM L 9-8 at NSU L 10-2 at NSU	10-32, 4-14 NSIC	L2	6th Overall
Team Notes
- Wayne State went 3-3 during the week, earning a split at Sioux Falls (W 7-5, L 5-2), winning twice at MSU Moorhead (W 8-7, W 5-1) and losing twice at Northern State (L 9-8, L 10-2)
Top Performer(s)
- Senior first baseman Melanie Alyea hit .545 for the week (12-22) with three doubles, five RBI - Melanie Alyea hit safely in all six games with four multi-hit games - Senior third baseman Monique Alyea was 10 for 21 (.476) with two homers, four RBI - Junior outfielder Jordyn Breitbarth hit .450 (9 for 20) with two triples, two homers, five RBI and 1.000 slugging percentage
Up Next
Tuesday, April 18 host Upper Iowa - 2/4 p.m. Saturday, April 22 at Bemidji State - 1/3 p.m. Sunday, April 23 at Minnesota Crookston - 1/3 p.m.

 

Winona State University Warriors

Last Week	Season Record	Streak	Preseason Poll
L 1-0 at MSU L 5-2 at MSU W 5-0 vs UMD W 1-0 vs UMD W 5-0 vs SCSU W 3-0 vs SCSU	35-6, 16-2 NSIC	W4	3rd Overall
Team Notes
- Warriors rebounded with four straight wins after their 14 game winnings streak was snapped - Team hit .311 with 50 hits in 161 at-bats - Winona State pitching staff had a 0.88 ERA, and pitched four shutouts - Finished the week with a .383 on-base percentage - Committed just one error in 170 chances
Top Performer(s)
- McKenna Larsen did not all an earned run in 20 innings pitched as she threw two shutouts - Jordyn Kleman struck out 21 batters in 18 innings of work - Alison Nowak slugged 1.167 with eight hits, two homers, and seven RBI - Paige Keegan hit .471 with eight hits and three RBI - Lani Van Zyl hit .412 and had three doubles and a triple
Up Next
April 18 at Augustana April 22 vs Mary April 23 vs Minot State