GAME NOTES (PDF)

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (8-9, 1-1 NSIC) will open its home schedule and an eight-game homestand this week, entertaining three conference opponents.  On Wednesday, the Mustangs will play Concordia in a 2 p.m. doubleheader.  SMSU will also play Northern State on Saturday in a 2 p.m. doubleheader and Mary on Sunday in a 12 p.m. doubleheader.

Series records:  SMSU is 24-17 against CU in a series that dates back to the 1977 season.  Head coach Shawn Semler is 11-6 against the Golden Bears, including suffering a pair of losses earlier this season.  SMSU is 50-9 against NSU all-time; the series first saw action during the 1986 season.  Semler is 14-1 against the Wolves.  SMSU is 8-4 against Mary all-time; the two teams first met during the 1990 season.  Semler is 6-2 against the Marauders.

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.

Last time out: SMSU used a season-high 17 hits in game two of its double header with Minnesota State to salvage a split last Friday in Mankato in both teams' NSIC openers. The Mavericks downed the Mustangs 6-1 in game one, while SMSU topped MSU 11-7 in game two.

Semler in home openers:  Head coach Shawn Semler has won all but one of his six home openers as the skipper of the Mustangs.  The lone defeat came in his inaugural year at SMSU when his squad suffered a 4-2 loss to South Dakota.  His ensuing five home openers, however, have all resulted in a Mustang victory.  Last season, Semler and the Mustangs posted a convincing 11-0 shutout win over Northern State in their first home tilt.

No sophomore slump here:  Sophomore Britney Hallahan (Glencoe, Minn.) has emerged as a potent offensive threat for the Mustangs as she batting a team-best .389 so far this season. Hallahan has been a bit of utility player for SMSU, playing in both the outfield and most recently seeing significant time at catcher.  She has tallied three multi-hit games and is currently on a four-game hitting streak.  Hallahan has made her way around the batting order, too, batting anywhere from the No. 2 to the No. 8 spot.

Neumann!:  Despite Jerry Seinfield's general loathe of the mailman who shares an identical-sounding last name, freshman Amanda Neumann (LaVista, Neb.) put together a sparkling performance at the plate for SMSU in game two of the Mustangs' doubleheader at Minnesota State last Friday.  Neumann finished 4 for 5 with a pair of RBIs and one run scored. The outing marks the best performance so far this season for a Mustang hitter.

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 202-125 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.