THIS WEEK
The University of Mary softball hosts their final doubleheader of the season on Wednesday, April 24 at 12 PM and 2 PM against the Bemidji State Beavers. The Marauders will then hit the road for two sets of doubleheaders against Winona State and Upper Iowa. The Marauders will take on WSU on Saturday, April 27 at 1 PM and 3 PM. They will follow that up with games against UIU on Sunday, April 28 at 12 PM and 2 PM.
 
THE RECORD
UMary comes into this weeks games with a 19-25 overall record, going 10-14 in NSIC play.
  
LAST TIME OUT
The last time the Marauders took the field was for three sets of series splits. UMary split series with MSUM, SMSU, and USF last week to go 3-3. Madison Jahner, Kaitlyn Alvarado, and Brieann Backes all picked up wins. Rebekkah Keller did it all for UMary including recording two walk off hits in extra innings to pick up wins against SMSU and USF. She also broke a school record with four stolen bases in a game against Sioux Falls.
  
OPPO RESEARCH – BEMIDJI STATE
Bemidji State comes into the games against UMary with a 22-26 record, going 5-19 in NSIC play. The Beavers are currently on a 12 game losing streak. The Beavers are led by Jessica Burlingame who has a .388 batting average, 66 hits, seven triples, and 32 RBIs. Stephi Dullum has a 3.00 era for the Beavers and a 9-13 record.
 
  
OPPO RESEARCH – WINONA STATE
Winona State comes into the week of the games against UMary ranked #7 in the country. The Warriors boast a 39-5 record, going an undefeated 24-0 in conference play. WSU is currently on a 24 game winning streak. Lani Van Zyl and Alison Nowak lead the Warriors. Van Zyl has a .457 batting average with 63 hits and 14 doubles. Nowak has a .440 batting average with 62 hits, 13 homeruns and 51 RBIs. Liz Pautz and Jordyn Kleman lead the way for WSU pitching wise. Pautz has a .085 era and a 14-2 record. Kleman has a 1.75 era and a 21-1 record.
 
 
OPPO RESEARCH – UPPER IOWA
Upper Iowa comes into the week of the game against UMary with a 21-18 record and a 13-11 conference record. Six different Peacocks have a batting average above .300 with Katie Croagan leading the way with a .383 average with 49 hits including 11 doubles and seven homeruns. Emily Kisch is the top pitcher for UIU with a 3.23 era and an 11-7 record.

PLAYOFF PICTURE
The Marauders are currently sitting in 11th place in the conference, just one game out of tenth place. The top ten in the conference advance to play in the conference tournament. A solid week of softball by the Marauders could propel them right into the playoffs! 

 
STRIKE THREE YOU'RE OUT
The Marauders have struck out 144 batters so far this season. Brieann Backes leads the team with 82 strikeouts. The Marauders senior recorded a career high of 10 strikeouts against St. Cloud State.
 
BUH-BYE
Four different Marauders have four or more homers so far this season. Kylie Alto leads the way with seven. Right behind her is Emma Noble and Haley Berube, each with five. Paige Matsuki adds four of her own.
 
WHEELS
Triples are hard to come by, it takes great ball placement and speed to get all the way to third. Mariah Sanchez has proven to be an expert when it comes to triples, recording a team high of five. Rebekkah Keller adds four of her own.
 
SEND EM HOME
Five Marauders have over 20 RBIs on the season. Haley Berube leads the team with 31. Emma Noble (24), Kasidy Chileen (26), Kylie Alto (25), Kaitlyn Alvarado (20) all join Berube in the 20 plus RBIs.
 
PUTTING THE BALL IN PLAY
Putting the ball into play is of the utmost importance and the Marauders excel at it. The Marauders average over eight hits per game as a team. Keller leads the way with 58 hits on the season. Kasidy Chileen (43), Kaitlyn Alvarado (41), Paige Matsuki (39), Haley Berube (39), Emma Noble (33) join Keller in recording 30 or more hits so far this season.
 
DOUBLE THE FUN
UMary has recorded 62 doubles this year. Noble leads the way with 13. Berube (12) and Alvarado (11) are right behind her.
 
THEIVERY
Rebekkah Keller is a thief on the bases, recording a team high of 22 stolen bases.
 
NSIC RANKINGS
•   Rebekkah Keller is eighth in the NSIC in hits (58)
•   Mariah Sanchez is third in the NSIC in triples (5)
•   Rebekkah Keller is fourth in the NSIC in triples (4)
•   Rebekkah Keller is sixth in the NSIC in stolen bases (22)      
•   Emma Noble is sixth in the NSIC in doubles (13)
•   Brieann Backes is ninth in the NSIC in wins (11)
•   Kasidy Chileen is second in the NSIC in putouts (290)
•   Paige Matsuki is second in the NSIC in assists (116)
•   Rachael Laetsch leads the NSIC in catching runners stealing (14)
 
 
NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Kasidy Chileen earned NSIC player of the week honors for her performance at the Minot Dome Tournament. Chileen posted a .571 batting average after going 8-of-14 with six RBIs and two runs scored over the four games. The Brooklyn Center, Minnesota native also had a double and a walk on the week as well.
 
BEK TELEVISION
The University of Mary vs Bemidji State doubleheader will be streamed live on BEK TV.
  
 
#Marauders#