GAME NOTES (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (3-1, 0-0 NSIC) will travel to Kissimmee, Fla. next week, kicking off a multi-game trip as part of the Rebel Spring Games.  The Mustangs will play 12 games in seven days from March 7 to 13.

Series records:  The Mustangs will face 12 different teams during their trip to the Rebel Spring Games.  The following is a breakdown of SMSU's record against each of those teams:  Seton Hill (Pa.), 0-0; Saginaw Valley State (Mich.), 2-1; Ferris State (Mich.), 1-0; Truman State (Mo.), 4-11; California (Pa.), 1-1; Indiana (Pa.), 5-2; Urbana (Ohio), 0-0; Tiffin (Ohio), 2-3; Wisconsin-Parkside, 2-4; Dowling (N.Y.), 0-0; New York Institute of Technology, 0-0.

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, including all of the games for SMSU's trip to the Rebel Spring Games in Florida.

Last week:  SMSU went 3-1 at the Husky Dome Invite, defeating Wisconsin-Superior 4-0, Dakota State 4-1 and Bemidji State 6-0 and falling to St. Cloud State 13-3.  Offensively, Christine Borowiak finished 7 for 13 (.538) with nine RBIs, a pair of home runs and four doubles.  Borowiak's two homers came on Sunday—the first a two-run shot that gave SMSU a 2-0 lead over DSU and the second a three-run bomb that put the Mustangs up 6-0 over BSU.  Her slugging percentage was 1.308 for the weekend.  On the mound, Cortney Heim, went a perfect 2-0, notching wins over DSU and BSU.  Heim tossed two complete games and recorded two shutouts while striking out 20 and posting a .50 ERA.  She also held opponents to a .122 batting average and allowed just six hits in 14 innings of work.  Heim nearly tossed a no-hitter against BSU on Sunday, giving up her first hit of the contest in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Fun in the sun:  While SMSU has four games under its belt in 2010, the trip to the Rebel Spring Games will be the first time the Mustangs will have a chance to play outdoors this season.  SMSU's first four games were played in the heated Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn.  And the Mustangs' practices have been confined to SMSU's P.E. Gym.  It will also be the first time playing on grass for the Mustangs in 2010.

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 194-116 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.