The University of Mary softball team (1-14, 0-2) heads to St. Paul, MN where they take on Concordia University, St. Paul (6-8, 0-0) in a doubleheader on Friday, April 2, starting at 2 pm. The Marauders then go to Mankato, MN on Saturday, April 3, to play a doubleheader against Minnesota State University – Mankato (11-2, 0-0) beginning at 1 pm.

LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders last time out on the field saw them fall in a doubleheader against Minot State University losing 6-2 and 10-2.

RECORD
UMary enters Friday's game with a 1-14 record and an 0-2 record in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.

FOLLOW LIVE
Live video and stats will be provided for the Marauders games against the Golden Bears and the Mavericks. Links are available at www.GoUMary.com/coverage

OPPO RESEARCH – Concordia University, St. Paul
CSP comes into this matchup with a 6-8 record for the season. They have yet to play a conference game due to their doubleheader against Minnesota State being postponed due to COVID-19 testing protocols. Sophomore outfielder Clara Heislen is the Golden Bears leading hitter with a .400 batting average while slugging four home runs and driving in 10 runs. Sophomore Bryanna Olson leads CSP in strikeouts with 30 K's in 32 1/3 innings and has a team-best 2.60 ERA. Bob Bartel enters his 16^th season as the Golden Bears head where he has amassed a 441-379 record over that span.

OPPO RESEARCH – Minnesota State University – Mankato
20^th ranked MSU have gone 11-2 this season and will be competing in their first NSIC game. Junior infielder Torey Richards has had a great time getting on base this year as she is hitting .463 with a .511 on base percentage. Senior infielder Hannah McCarville is the Mavericks leading slugger as she leads the team in home runs (2), RBIs (13) and slugging percentage (.722%). Freshman pitcher McKayla Armbruster has been lights out to start the season as she has allowed only one run in 31 innings pitched. Junior pitcher Mackenzie Ward leads the NSIC in strikeouts with 87 in just 47 innings. Head coach Lori Meyer has been in charge of the MSU's softball program for 36 years and has gone 1,247-690 over her career.

HISTORY OF THE MATCHUPS
UMary is 10-11 against CSP since 2010. The Golden Bears have won the last four matchups. The Marauders are 6-8 against the Mavericks since 2010 with UMary winning the last matchup in 2019.

STATS TO WATCH

• Mariah Sanchez leads the team with 19 hits as she has a .380 batting average and a .426 on-base percentage. She also is slugging .440 and has an OPS of 826.
• Eryn de Jonge is second on the team with 11 hits and currently has a .297 batting average.
• Rachael Laetsch leads the team with two home runs, 6 RBIs and an OPS of 796.
• Brooke de Jonge has 10 hits in her first season as a Marauder.
• Alissa Alvarado has struck out 20 hitters in 32 innings and has a 5.34 ERA.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Senior catcher Madelynn Trout and senior pitcher Kaitlyn Alvarado were named as 2021 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Players to Watch for the Marauders as the NSIC released the preseason coaches' poll.

In her first season as a Marauder, Trout slashed .380/.446/.740 while hitting four home runs and driving in 15 runs in 17 games. The senior catcher/utility player ed the team in OBP (.446) and OPS (1.186) and was second in slugging percentage (.740)

"Last year, Maddy Trout transferred to our team after being a part of a very successful junior college program," said Marauders head coach Steph Roan. "Since her first day on campus, Trout has made her presence known by being a good role model for our underclassmen to follow. On the field, she has been a major contributor behind the plate as a catcher and with the bat. As a young professional, Maddy continues to work hard in the classroom and strives to have a successful career."

Alvarado, back for her third season at UMary, posted an ERA of 3.00 with a WHIP of 0.99 in 30.1 innings last season. Opponents had a batting average of only .188 against her. The senior also hit .303 last year while collecting 15 RBIs.

"Kaitlyn has been a versatile threat both on the mound and at third base," said Roan. "She has also proven her worth in the box as a lefty power hitter. As an upperclassman, she has provided leadership qualities and a competitive spirit to our roster. This season will be her senior year so I anticipate big things from her!"

MARAUDERS PROJECTED TO FINISH 11^TH

Roan enters her third season as the head coach of the Marauders softball program. The Marauders went 21-29 in her first season in charge and 12-9 last season before it was canceled.

"This season we have a veteran roster across the field," said Roan. "Several of these players have contributed to our success over the last of couple seasons. We also have younger players that are showing a lot of promise. I look forward to starting where we left off last season!"

UMary is projected to finish 11^th in the NSIC according to the preseason coaches' poll. Augustana is the preseason favorite, followed by Winona State University, Minnesota State University, St. Cloud State University, University of Minnesota Duluth, Concordia-St. Paul, Northern State University, Minot State University, University of Sioux Falls, Southwest Minnesota State University, UMary, Bemidji State University, Upper Iowa University, University of Minnesota Crookston, Wayne State College and MSU Moorhead.  

UMARY ROSTER RUNDOWN

The Marauders bring back several big bats from last year, such as senior catcher/outfielder Rachael Laetsch who returns to the Marauders after having an on-base percentage of .435 and led the team with 10 walks. Last season Laetsch made no errors behind the plate and had 10 assists with 59 putouts.

Senior first basemen Kasidy Chileen has been a starter since her freshmen year for UMary. She hit .320 and drove in 33 runs in 2019. Other returning starters include Mariah Sanchez, Haley Berube and Mikaela Pelesauma.

To bolster the lineup, Roan brought in five new freshmen to the team. The freshmen include Brooke De Jonge, Levi Luna, Nichole Eckhardt, Alissa Alvarado and Mackenzie Reinhardt.

Other additions include junior outfielder Avery Dome who transferred from Phoenix Community College. Dome hit .455 in 51 games played while at Phoenix Community College.

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