LAS VEGAS – The University of Mary softball team is beginning the season in a familiar location. For the ninth straight season, the Marauders open their schedule in Las Vegas at the Desert Stinger Classic with a trio of games on Friday, February 2, and five contests total over the weekend. Hosted by MSU Billings, the Marauders and team host Yellowjackets are the only two programs that have played in the Desert Stinger every season.
Fittingly, the Marauders take on MSU Billings in the opener, followed by clashes with San Francisco State University and the University of Nebraska Kearney. On Saturday, February 3, the competition ratchets up significantly when UMary faces Texas Women's University and Humboldt State University.
None of the teams UMary plays Friday posted a winning record in 2017. Both of Saturday's foes reached the second round or beyond of the NCAA tournament. TWU advanced to an NCAA Super Regional. HSU played in the NCAA national tournament and placed fifth in the country.
The Marauders will take to the field with a mixture of old and new. Senior catcher
Colleen Crutchfield and junior pitcher
Brieann Backes are All-Northern Sun battery mates. Crutchfield, who split time at catcher and third base last season, hit .340 with a .414 on base percentage, both personal highs. As a sophomore she belted nine home runs with a .548 slugging percentage. Backes posted a 2.63 ERA, 12 complete games and ten wins. In league games she was even tougher with a 1.60 ERA.
Joining Cruchfield behind the plate are freshmen
Rachael Laetsch, Laren Lunt and
Hailee Jundt.
Sophomore
Madison Jahner, who posted five wins and three complete games in her first collegiate season, and freshman Sarah Thompson will join Backes in the circle.
Junior
Kylie Alto is the veteran on the Marauders infield. Entering her third season starting at second base, Alto was second on the Marauders in home runs with four. Senior
Madison McGonigal, injured partway through last season in her first year at UMary, returns to start at third and could also see time in the outfield.
New faces take over at short and first. Junior
Paige Matsuki, a transfer from Edmonds Community College and an all-region selection, will start at shortstop for the Marauders. When not pitching, Thompson and Backes will see time at first base.
Sophomore
Rebekkah Keller returns as the Marauders starting centerfielder and leadoff hitter. She led the Marauders in hitting (.356) and steals (22) and posted a .409 on base percentage as a first year player. Newcomer
Emma Noble comes to UMary after playing one season at Salt Lake Community College and takes over left field. Jahner returns to right field, where she saw considerable action last season when not pitching.
Hannah Pesek and
Keegan Wickman may also see time in the outfield.
Taking on flex/extra player duties are
Stephanie Alvarez and
Kasidy Chileen, among others.
Two weeks after the Desert Stinger, the Marauders return to action with five games at the Cactus Classic in Tucson, AZ, on February 15-16, before playing a handful of games at the Florida Invite in Clermont, FL, on March 8-11.
Following a regional crossover in St. Joseph, MO, on March 16-18, the Northern Sun schedule begins March 27 with a doubleheader at Minot State. The season opener is slated for March 30 against St. Cloud State.
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