COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -  Three-time defending Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference champion Southwest Minnesota State opens the 2009 softball season this weekend, traveling to the RMAC/NSIC Crossover Softball Tournament in Colorado Springs, Colo., to play six games in three days.

The Mustangs are coming off a 39-12 campaign in 2008 that saw them win their third straight regular season NSIC title and advance to the NCAA North Central Regional Tournament for the third straight season.  SMSU graduated just two seniors from its squad, including catcher Erin Dickhausen, who earned all-region honors for the third time in her career.

Returning for the Mustangs is senior and three-time NSIC Pitcher of the Year Amanda Johnson, who also earned all-region honors for the third time in her career last season.  Three-time NSIC Coach of the Year Shawn Semler also welcomes back five all-conference performers for 2009.  Johnson, Andrea Fennern, Amanda Burkhart and Jessica Paczosa all received nods for All-NSIC, while Amanda Tucci was honorable mention.

Last season, Johnson led SMSU in virtually every pitching category, going 28-6 with five saves and a 1.30 ERA in 43 appearances.  She posted 27 starts and had 278 strikeouts in 242.0 innings, allowing just 25 bases on balls and 185 hits.

Fennern, a junior, was one of three players to start all 51 games last season.  She batted .307 with eight doubles, one triple and one home run and was third on the team with 26 runs scored and had 12 RBI.  Fennern struck out just 10 times in 137 at bats.

Burkhart, a senior,  started all 51 games in right field in 2008 and led the team with a .354 batting average, 44 RBI and 13 doubles.  She also hit six home runs, scored 26 runs, walked 15 times and struck out just 16 times.

Paczosa, a senior, started the first 42 games last season at second base before suffering a season-ending injury; she also finished third on the team with a .331 batting average.

Tucci, a senior, started 47 games at designated hitter and first base in 2008.  She led SMSU with eight home runs, the fifth most in a single season in SMSU history, and finished second on the team with 29 RBI.  Tucci also batted .265 with three doubles, 10 runs scored and tied for the team lead with 16 walks.

The Mustangs were tabbed the No. 3 team in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll released Jan. 29; Johnson was also named the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

You can check out the official RMAC/NSIC Crossover Web site by clicking here.

RMAC/NSIC Crossover Schedule
Feb. 20    SMSU vs. Regis (Colo.)    9 a.m. (MST)
Feb. 20    SMSU vs. Nebraska-Kearney    3 p.m. (MST)
Feb. 21    SMSU vs. Fort Lewis (Colo.)    12 p.m. (MST)
Feb. 21    SMSU vs. Colorado State-Pueblo    3 p.m. (MST)
Feb. 22    SMSU vs. Mesa State (Colo.)    9 a.m. (MST)
Feb. 22    SMSU vs. Chadron State (Neb.)    12 p.m. (MST)