BISMARCK, ND –After 11 days of not being able to compete due to bad weather, the University of Mary softball team (5-27, 3-9 Northern Sun) returns to action for a six-game road trip. The Marauders start their trip against Bemidji State University on Thursday, April 21, in a doubleheader at 2 pm. UMary then challenges Winona State University in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 23, at 12 pm. The Marauders wrap up their road trip on Sunday, April 24, against Upper Iowa University in a doubleheader at 12 pm.

About the Opposition
Bemidji State University is 8-28 overall while maintaining a 5-11 record in the NSIC. Freshman infielder Mariah Stevenson leads BSU in batting average (.330), on-base percentage (.398), slugging percentage and RBIs (17). The Beavers leading pitcher is Sophomore pitcher Stella Dolan, who has a 4.06 ERA while striking out 71 batters over 119 innings.

Winona State University has compiled a 25-11 record overall while going 11-3 in the Northern Sun. WSU lineup is highlighted by Sophomore infielder Abbie Hlas. Hlas leads the team in batting average (.441), on-base percentage (.484), slugging percentage (.622) and OPS (1.106). Senior pitcher Liz Pautz has a 17-4 record while maintaining a 2.44 ERA.  

Upper Iowa University is 16-19 overall and has a 7-8 record in the conference. Senior pitcher Sydney Wilcox leads UIU with a 3.82 ERA and 62 strikeouts. Graduate student Katie Crogan leads the Peacocks in batting average (.505), on-base percentage (.569), slugging percentage (.982), home runs (14), RBIs (60) and OPS (1.551).

UMary Stats
Haley Berube leads UMary in slugging percentage (.808), on-base percentage (.451), batting average (.436), OPS (1.259), home runs (4) and RBIs (22).

Sariah Perez has an OPS of .912 to go along with an on-base percentage of .412. Perez is second on the team with 14 RBIs.

Erin Murphy is second on the team in batting average (.404) and on-base percentage (.424). Murphy leads the team in steals with eight.

Kennedy Cowart has a .310 batting average and .803 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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