COMPLETE RELEASE (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (7-6, 0-0 NSIC) will travel to Concordia University, St. Paul (10-6, 0-0 NSIC) on Friday to face the Golden Bears in a non-conference doubleheader at 2 p.m.  The games were added to the schedule this week.

Series record:  The Mustangs are 24-15 against CU all-time and are currently riding an eight-game winning streak in the series that began in 1977.  Last season, SMSU didn't give up a run to the Golden Bears, sweeping them 8-0 and 10-0 in St. Paul. In fact, in that last meeting with CU, SMSU locked up its fourth straight NSIC championship.

Live statistics:  Live statistics for ALL of SMSU's home games are available for the 2010 season at www.smsumustangs.com/softballstats.  Live coverage will also be provided at many of the Mustangs' road contests.  To access live stats for Friday's doubleheader, log onto www.cugoldenbears.com/livestats/softball/xlive.htm.

Sunny days past: SMSU finished its trip to the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., with a record of 4-5.   SMSU picked up wins over Seton Hill (Pa.), California (Pa.), Urbana (Ohio) and the New York Institute of Technology.  The Mustangs were defeated by Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), Ferris State (Mich.), Truman State (Mo.), Indiana (Pa.) and Dowling (N.Y.).  Christine Borowiak had a productive week at the plate for the Mustangs, hitting .360 (9 for 25) with seven RBIs and a home run.  In the circle, both Cortney Heim and Ali Honken finished 2-2.  Heim had a 1.27 ERA and struckout 22 batters in 27.2 innings of work.  Honken had a 2.91 ERA and also struckout eight batters.  She pitched 21.2 innings for the week.

Rookie production:  Freshmen Amy Dreessen (Eklhorn, Neb.) and Amanda Neumann (LaVista, Neb.) were responsible for SMSU's first multi-home rune game of the season when the duo hit a pair of bombs against New York Institute of Technology in Florida on March 13.  The offensive performance from the rookies led the Mustangs to a 6-3 victory.

Mr. 200:  Head coach Shawn Semler recorded his 200th win at SMSU while in Florida when the Mustangs upended Urbana (Ohio) 17-1.  He becomes just the second coach in school history to reach the 200-win milestone; Marilyn Strate notched 225 career wins during her eight-year tenure with the Mustangs.  Coincidently, both coaches reached 200 wins in their seventh seasons.

The strive for five:  SMSU is looking to make it five straight conference titles in 2010.  The Mustangs have won four consecutive regular season NSIC titles--all under head coach Shawn Semler.  In fact, there are several players on this year's squad who have yet to experience a season where they have not been on a conference-title team.  In addition to the strive for five NSIC championships, SMSU is looking to make its fifth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

According to the coaches:  The NSIC's head coaches tabbed SMSU fifth in the 2010  Preseason Coaches' Poll.  SMSU received 143 points in the poll.  Winona State received 179 points and 11 first place votes to take the top spot.
        Team    Points
    1.     Winona State (11)    179
    2.     Wayne State (2)    159
    3.     Minnesota State (1)    151
    4.     Augustana    149
    5.     Southwest Minnesota State    143
    6.     Minnesota Duluth    121
    7.    Concordia-St. Paul    118
    8.     St. Cloud State    94
    9.     Mary    84
    10.     Upper Iowa    77
    11.     MSU Moorhead    58
    12.     Bemidji State    49
    13.     Northern State    48
    14.     Minnesota, Crookston    26

The coach:  Shawn Semler enters his seventh year as the head coach of the SMSU softball program.  A three-time NSIC Coach of the Year, Semler has compiled a 201-122 record at SMSU.  He has led the SMSU softball team to five regular season conference championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances in his six-year tenure.  Semler is assisted by Kari Sagehorn and Dane Jensen.

Let's keep it going:  SMSU returns 10 letterwinners and six starters from last year's 32-23 (21-5 NSIC) team, which received a bid to the NCAA Tournament and won the NSIC regular season championship.  Seven newcomers, four freshman and three transfers, round out the 18-person roster for 2010.

Stay connected:  Stay connected with SMSU softball all season long at www.smsumustangs.com.  The Mustangs are also on Facebook and Twitter; just log onto www.facebook.com/smsumustangs and www.twitter.com/smsumustangs.  For the latest video highlights and new episodes of the Mustang Minute check out SMSU's official YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/smsuathletics.