MINOT, ND – The University of Mary softball team (0-4) travels to Minot, ND, to compete in four games at the Bubble Invite II. The Marauders open play against Bemidji State University on Friday, February 18, at 7 pm. UMary then competes in a doubleheader on Saturday, February 19, taking on the University of Minnesota Crookston (9 am) and Minot State University (2:00 pm). The Marauders end their weekend on Sunday, February 20, competing against Montana State University Billings at 10:30 am.

About the Opposition
Bemidji State University has opened the season with a 1-4 record overall. Freshman outfielder Alexa Christenson leads the team in batting average (.500), on-base percentage (.556) and hits (8). Freshman Stella Dolan has been the Beavers best pitcher to start the season as she's earned a 1.84 ERA in four pitching appearances. Senior Kaidron McClafferty has a 2.03 ERA in four appearances.

Minot State University has begun the year with a 7-2 record. MSU defeated UMary 10-5 earlier this season. Senior first baseman Jamie Odlum leads the team in OPS (1.609), batting average (.607), hits (17) and RBIs (10). Senior pitcher Trinity Valentine has a 4-1 record after allowing only four earned runs in 25 1/3 innings pitched.

The University of Minnesota Crookston is 4-4 to open the 2022 season. The Golden Eagles took down the Marauders 14-8 earlier in the year. Senior Jordan Peterson leads UMC in slugging percentage (.700) and OPS (1.150). The Golden Eagles have two pitchers with ERAs under two. Senior pitcher Kamryn Frisk has an ERA of 1.14 in four appearances. Freshman pitcher Evie Stuck has an ERA of 1.94 to begin her collegiate career.

Montana State University Billings opens the 2022 season with a 4-8 record. Senior second baseman Morgan Quimby leads MSUB in batting average (.303) and on-base percentage (.395). Senior shortstop Sidney Pollard is the Yellowjackets leader in slugging percentage (.576) and RBIs (12). Sophomore pitcher Julia Qualteri has a 3-2 record with an ERA of 2.74.

UMary Stats
Sariah Perez leads the team in batting average (.625), on-base percentage (.636), RBIs (4) and OPS (1.636).

Haley Berube leads UMary in slugging percentage (1.077) as she has a 1.615 OPS and a .538 batting average.

Kaylee Kannegiesser leads the team in hits (9) to go along with a .600 batting average and a 1.465 OPS.

Erin Murphy has a .500 batting average and an OPS of 1.045.

Kennedy Cowart has an OPS of 1.043 and a slugging percentage of .643.

Players to Watch
University of Mary infielder Kaylee Kannegiesser and pitcher Emari Evans were named 2022 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Players to Watch for the Marauders as the NSIC released the preseason coaches' poll.

Kannegiesser led the team last season in RBIs as she had had career-high 32 hits while hitting two home runs. She would finish the 2021 season with a .278 batting average and a .688 OPS.

Emari Evans transferred to UMary from Howard University. Evans competed at Shadow Ridge High School, where she was named to the 2019 5A All-Region First Team. She posted a 2.61 ERA during her senior year of high school.

NSIC Preseason Ranking
UMary is projected to finish 13^th in the Northern Sun, according to the NSIC preseason coaches' poll.

New Coach
Frantz enters her first year in charge of the Marauders softball program. She returns to the program as one of the most decorated scholar-athletes in the history of UMary softball. The former All-American was the assistant coach at Bismarck State College last year and was elevated to co-head coach of the Mystics following the season.

Returners
Eryn De Jonge returns after leading the team in batting average (.296). Rachael Laestch returns as a fifth-year senior after leading the team in slugging percentage (.451) while hitting five home runs.

Brooke DeJonge, Mckenzie Reinhardt, Haley Berube, Avery Dome, Devyn Ritz, Madison Wszolek, Morgan Diedrich, Nicole Eckhardt all return for another year in the UMary softball program.

New Faces
UMary brings in six new freshmen to Marauders softball program. Natasha Stubbs, Erin Murphy, Sariah Perez, Ariana Retuta and Sarah Martin will look to bring an immediate impact to the UMary lineup. Pitcher Hannah Chambers will look to bring a new dynamic to the Marauders pitching staff.

UMary's season begins on Friday, February 4, as the Marauders compete against Minot State University at 5 pm.

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