GAME NOTES (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (7-8, 0-0 NSIC) will open its 2010 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule on Friday when the Mustangs travel to Minnesota State, Mankato (12-4, 0-0 NSIC) for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.

Series record:  SMSU is 21-48 against MSU in a series that dates back to the 1975 season. The last time the two teams met, which was in 2009, the Mavericks ended the Mustangs' season by rallying from a 3-0 deficit to top SMSU 4-3 in 12 innings at the NCAA Tournament.

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.sidearmstats.com/mnsu/softball/index.htm.

Last time out: Concordia University, St. Paul used a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh in game one and pushed across nine runs in game two to sweep SMSU 5-3 and 9-7 in a non-conference double header last Friday in St. Paul.

Long ball: Freshmen Amy Dreessen (Eklhorn, Neb.) registered her second home run in three games when she went yard in game two of SMSU's doubleheader at Concordia last Friday. The freshman, who has started every game at first base, has been a welcome addition to the Mustang hitting corps as she has compiled 12 hits in 2010.

Stay perfect:  Head coach Shawn Semler is flawless when it comes to christening conference play.  The seventh-year skipper has yet to lose a NSIC opener during his tenure at SMSU. In fact, it's safe to say that Semler is downright dominant when it comes to conference openers.  He's outscored his opponents 42-4 and orchestrated four shutouts in his six NSIC openers with the Mustangs.

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 stint 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 201-124 record at SMSU.  He has led the SMSU softball team to five regular season conference championships and four NCAA Tournament appearances in his                       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 freshmen 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.