THIS WEEKEND
As Bismarck still waits for record-breaking snowfall to melt away, the University of Mary Softball team returns to Minot, ND on April 1-2 for what would have been their home opening weekend. The Marauders are scheduled to play St. Cloud State University Saturday at 5 and 7 pm, and then Minnesota Duluth Sunday at 2 and 4 pm from inside the MSU Air-Supported Dome over Herb Parker Stadium.
RECORDS
UMary Softball enters the weekend 5-16 overall and 0-2 in the NSIC. St. Cloud State currently stands 16-11 while Minnesota Duluth enters 15-6. Both teams are 1-1 in the Northern Sun having split earlier this week.
LAST TIME OUT
The Marauders opened conference play in the Northern Sun on Tuesday with strong efforts in a 3-2 loss to Minot State, followed by a five-inning run-rule game falling 8-0 to the Beavers.
Janelle Bergmann and
Madison Wszolek picked up multiple hits through the two games and
Nicole Eckhardt and
Emari Evans pitched quality innings.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Janelle Bergmann continues her impressive freshman year heading into this weekend. Bergmann is currently batting an impressive .419 with an OPS of .975. Bergmann hit 2-6 total and drove in a run versus the Beavers. Bergmann's average puts her in the top ten leaders in the Northern Sun.
Madison Wszolek enters the weekend series batting .349 with a team-high slugging percentage of .535 and has thrown out three runners on the base paths. The senior catcher from Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada collected two hits earlier this week against Minot State.
Brooke De Jonge takes a .353 batting average and OPS of .914 into the weekend.
Nicole Eckhardt, a junior RHP from Cornelius, OR, stands 4-3 with a save in the circle and leads the Marauders in many pitching categories including ERA (5.00) and strikeouts (34).
PLAYERS TO WATCH - HUSKIES
The Huskies are powered by strong hitters Sydney Trees and Jasmin Estrada. Trees leads the Huskies in batting average (.397) and OPS (1.087) while hitting three home runs and driving in 17 RBIs. Estrada is hitting .360 while leading the Huskies with five home runs and 26 RBIs. Trinity Junker is a standout pitcher for the Huskies and in the NSIC with a top ten lowest ERA (2.57) and is tied with two other pitchers for wins thus far (10).
PLAYERS TO WATCH - BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs have a steady pitching staff led by starters Mady Stariha and Lauren Dixon. Both have impressive numbers as Stariha leads UMD with a 1.67 ERA while opposing batters only hit an average of .181 against Dixon. Sidney Zavoral also leads an impressive Bulldogs lineup with team-highs in batting average (.352), home runs (4), and RBIs (16).
FOLLOW ALONG
Live video stream and live stat links to each of the Marauders Bubble Bash games can be found at goumary.com/coverage.
THE STAFF
Dre Frantz returns to the University of Mary in her second year as head softball coach. Frantz brings a desire to elevate the program where she excelled as one of UMary Softball's most decorated athletes.
As a Marauder, Frantz earned Louisville Slugger/NFCA first-team All-American honors as a utility player after her impressive senior season. One of only three Marauders during the program's NCAA era to earn All-American honors, she was also a Daktronics All-American honorable mention selection and a Louisville Slugger/NFCA and Daktronics All-Region choice in 2010 after hitting .427 with a .469 on-base percentage and a .680 slugging percentage, all career-highs. In her four-year career, Frantz posted a batting average of .393 with a .432 on-base percentage and a .605 slugging percentage.
Before taking over as Head Coach, Frantz stayed close with the program, serving six total years assisting the coaching staff. Frantz's coaching history also expands throughout the community, helping coach Mandan in 2014, Bismarck from 2015-18, and then taking over the helm with Legacy softball. In 2020, Frantz returned to the collegiate coaching level as an assistant at Bismarck State College.
Frantz is joined by other familiar faces in the UMary Softball program.
Cassidy Barclay returns to the Marauders for her second season as an Assistant Coach. Barclay was a four-year starter and all-conference catcher for Emporia State University.
Kaitlyn Alvarado returns to UMary this season in her first year as an Assistant Coach. Alvarado was a standout player for the Marauders from 2019-2021, both in the circle and at the plate. She batted a career average of .288 and had a career slugging percentage of .413.
Jared Sotelo comes to UMary for his first season as an Assistant Coach for the Marauders. Sotelo brings experience to the staff, coaching softball for the last nine years and most recently assisting the Park University Softball program.
Kennedy Cowart returns to UMary as the Marauders Student Coach. Cowart was a .310 hitter for the Marauders in 2022 as a senior. Cowart also played at West Virginia Wesleyan College where she earned two-time MEC First Team All-Conference honors.
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