BISMARCK, ND – The University of Mary softball team (2-24, 0-6 Northern Sun) hosts the University of Minnesota Crookston at the UMary Softball Field on Thursday, April 7, in a doubleheader beginning at 2 pm.  UMary then hits the road to Sioux Falls, SD, to take on Augustana University in a doubleheader on Saturday, April 9, at 12 pm. The Marauders follow that by traveling to Wayne, NE, to compete against Wayne State College in a doubleheader on Sunday, April 10, at 12 pm.

About the Opposition
The University of Minnesota Crookston is 12-7 overall and 3-1 in the NSIC. Junior infielder Alina Avalos is the Golden Eagles leading hitter. Avalos leads the team in OPS (1.073), batting average (.382), slugging percentage (.640), RBIs (25) and home run (4). Freshman pitcher Evie Stuck leads UMC in ERA (3.59) and wins (6).

Augustana University is ranked seventh in the country. AU has a 22-7 record while going 6-2 in the Northern Sun. Senior outfielder Mary Pardo leads the NSIC in home runs with 11. Junior catcher Gracey Brink leads the team in batting average (.484) and on-base percentage (.542). Senior pitcher Amber Elliott has an 8-2 record and leads the Vikings with a 1.39 ERA.

Wayne State College has an overall record of 4-23 and is 1-5 in the NSIC. Senior outfielder Kortney Buresh leads the Wildcats in batting average (.341) and on-base percentage (.385). Sophomore pitcher Callie Carraher has a 1-3 record and a 5.47 ERA.

UMary Stats
Haley Berube leads UMary in slugging percentage (.813), on-base percentage (.456), batting average (.462), OPS (1.269), home runs (3) and is tied for first in RBIs (13).

Sariah Perez has an OPS of .954 to go along with an on-base percentage of .407. Perez is tied for first with 13 RBIs.

Erin Murphy is second on the team in batting average (.418) and on-base percentage (.439).

Kennedy Cowart has a .310 batting average and .810 OPS.

Rachael Laetsch has started seven games this season and has a on-base percentage of .400 while maintaining a .900 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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