BISMARCK, ND – Planting their spikes on their own dirt for the first time this season, a statewide audience will be able to watch the University of Mary softball team host a pair of Northern Sun doubleheaders this weekend on campus when the Marauders host Upper Iowa University and Winona State University on Saturday and Sunday, April 21-22. The BEK Broadcasting Network will carry the action live on BEK Prime.
 
The Marauders open the weekend on Saturday against the Peacocks of Upper Iowa. The first pitch on Alumni Day is set for 2 pm (NOTE: THIS IS ONE HOUR LATER THAN ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED).
 
Sunday's Senior Day twin bill against the 8^th ranked Warriors of Winona State begins at noon.
 
Additionally BEK also is broadcasting the Marauders home doubleheader against MSU Moorhead at 2 pm on Wednesday, April 25.
 
View the Marauders softball games on the BEK Broadcasting Network via local cable providers on BEK PRIME and on KNDB/KNDM in Western North Dakota and KRDK in Eastern North Dakota. Visit www.bektel.com/bbn for local channel assignments and current broadcast schedule. The BEK Broadcasting Network is also available nationally on BEK Now via your ROKU streaming device. Check out www.beknow.tv for more information.
 
For the first time all season, and the first time during their conference slate, the Marauders played a game in Bismarck when UMary hosted the University of Minnesota Crookston last Wednesday on artificial turf at the Sanford Sports Complex. It was the first NSIC game outside for the Marauders after playing their first 12 league games inside bubbles.

And the Marauders appearance on their dirt field on the UMary campus is the first time the squad will play on a natural surface in over a month since wrapping up their spring trip to Florida on March 7.
 
The Marauders will honor their three seniors on Sunday, Colleen Crutchfield, Madison McGonigal and Keegan Wickman.
 
An all-conference player last season for the Marauders who catches and plays third and first, Crutchfield is a four-year starter from Oregon City, OR and a member of the Northern Sun All-Academic Team. She is hitting .329/.415/.512 with a team-high nine doubles. The senior has scored 14 runs, homered twice and driven in 15 runs. For her career she is hitting .295/.372/.477 with 17 home runs, 89 RBIs and 75 runs scored.
 
In her second season with the Marauders after transferring from Williston State College, McGonigal has primarily handed duties at third base for UMary while also seeing some time in the outfield and shortstop as a junior. The Calgary, Alberta, native has four doubles, a home run, nine runs scored and 11 RBIs this season. An NSIC All-Academic selection, in 64 career games McGonigal is hitting .255/.303/.349 with ten doubles, two home runs, 19 RBIs and 24 runs scored.
 
A key reserve for the Marauders who plays first and the outfield, Wickman had a key pinch-hit single against UMC that led to the tying run. She has driven in two runs this season and five in her career. The native from Frenchtown, MT, has played in 68 games, including 11 starts.
 
Shortstop Paige Matsuki is the Marauders leader in runs scored (19) and RBIs (29) in her first season at UMary. The junior is hitting .356/.365/.633 with seven doubles and six home runs.
 
Left fielder Emma Noble, also new to the Marauders, provides the clout with a team-leading seven home runs. The sophomore is hitting .347/.424/.680 on the season with 14 runs scored and 15 runs batted in.
 
Junior 2B Kylie Alto is also a part of a power-packed Marauders offense that has out-homered the opposition 25-9. She is hitting .324/.354/.649 and has scored 13 runs, driven in 15 and owns six home runs.
 
Rebekkah Keller sets the stage for the Marauders, hitting .360/.387/.404. The sophomore center fielder has 19 runs scored and owns 13 stolen bases in 15 attempts. Freshman Kasidy Chileen leads the team in hitting (.383) and in on base percentage (.439) while slugging .500. She hit her first career home run in the sweep of UMC and has scored 11 times and driven in nine.
 
All-NSIC pitcher Brieann Backes leads the Marauders staff with six wins, sic complete games and 73 innings pitched. She is coming off a 6-2 complete game win over the Golden Eagles. Freshman Sarah Thomson leads the staff with 55 strikeouts in 54.1 innings. Her signature game was a 1-0 complete game shutout of #16 Augustana.   
 
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