DULUTH, MN – The University of Mary softball team (2-20, 0-2 NSIC) hits the road to compete in two conference doubleheaders this weekend. UMary kicks off the weekend against University of Minnesota Duluth in Duluth, MN, on Friday, April 2, at 1 pm. The Marauders then travel to St. Cloud State University to challenge St. Cloud State University on Saturday, April 2, at 1 pm.

Schedule Change
UMary was originally scheduled to face off against UMD on Saturday, April 2, at 1 pm, but that game was moved to Friday due to projected weather. The Marauders contest against SCSU was changed from Sunday, April 3, to Saturday due to weather forecasts.

About the Opposition
The University of Minnesota Duluth is 15-8 overall and 0-2 in the Northern Sun. Fifth-year first-baseman Jordyn Thomas is UMD's leading hitter. Thomas has a .386 batting average while hitting six home runs and driving in 21 runs. Sophomore pitcher Lauren Dixon leads the Bulldogs in ERA (1.40), wins (6), strikeouts (77).

St. Cloud State University has opened the season with a 14-9 record overall and a 2-0 record in the NSIC. The Huskies leading power hitter this season has been senior infielder Sydney Trees, who has a .792 slugging percentage to go along with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs. Junior pitcher Trinity Junker leads SCSU in ERA (1.23) and has a 6-4 record on the season.

UMary Stats
Haley Berube leads UMary in slugging percentage (.846), on-base percentage (.482), batting average (.462), OPS (1.328), home runs (3) and is tied for first in RBIs (13).

Sariah Perez has an OPS of .953 to go along with an on-base percentage of .397. Perez is tied for first with 13 RBIs.

Erin Murphy is second on the team in batting average (.431) and on-base percentage (.453).

Brooke De Jonge has a .321 batting average and a .720 OPS.

Rachael Laetsch has started six games this season and has a batting average of .333 while maintaining a 1.033 OPS.

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 De Jonge, 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 the 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.

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