GAME NOTES (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (14-15, 7-7 NSIC) will play three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference twinbills this week, traveling to Augustana (31-8, 13-1 NSIC) on Thursday at 3 p.m. and hosting Minnesota, Crookston (4-24, 0-14 NSIC) on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Minnesota State Moorhead (5-27, 3-11 NSIC) on Sunday at 12 p.m.

Schedule change:  Thursday's doubleheader at Augie was originally on the schedule for Wednesday, but those games were pushed to Thursday.  First pitch will still be at 3 p.m.

Series records:  SMSU is 12-39 against Augustana all-time in a series that began during the 1974 season.  Head coach Shawn Semler is 9-5 against the Vikings.  The Mustangs have yet to lose to UMC in 19 meetings; the series first saw action in 2001.  Semler is 14-0 against the Golden Eagles.  SMSU is 57-32 versus MSUM in a series that started in 1976.  Semler is 14-3 against the Dragons.

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 Thursday's doubleheader, follow this link: www.augie.edu/athletics/softball/xlive.htm.

Last week: SMSU went 3-3 last week in a trio of conference doubleheaders.  On Wednesday, SMSU split with St. Cloud State, defeating the Huskies 4-1 in Game 1 but falling 8-6 in Game 2.  The Mustangs swept Bemidji State on Saturday, beating the Beavers 7-4 and 4-2, with the second game going to nine innings.  Minnesota Duluth took two from SMSU on Sunday, topping the Mustangs 3-1 and 4-1.

Turner's turn:  Sophomore Katie Turner (Omaha, Neb.) hit her first home run of the season and second in three years on Sunday against UMD.  The time span in which she has hit her two career home runs, however, is a little deceiving.  Turner sat all of last year with an injury; she is back in the line-up this season as the Mustangs' starting rightfielder.  Turner is currently batting .284 with 12 RBIs.

Family ties:  There is some connecting tissue--and maybe some pride--tied to Sunday's meeting with MSUM.  First, current Dragon head coach Kristin Boyes spent two season on the SMSU staff from 2006 to 2007, helping the Mustangs to two NSIC championships and two NCAA Tournament appearances.  Second, current SMSU assistant coach Kari Sagehorn is just one year removed from being MSUM's pitching ace.  Last season, Sagehorn was an All-NSIC honorable mention pick for the Dragons.

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 208-131 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.

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.

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.