FIRST PITCH
The Southwest Minnesota State softball team will begin Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action this Wednesday, March 27, with a doubleheader at the University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Mustangs (7-5) are coming off a 7-3 record at the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla., and currently ride a six-game winning streak - their longest since the 2011 season and under head coach Missy Bruggeman.

SCOUTING SIOUX FALLS
The University of Sioux Falls will play in its first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference game since joining the Division II conference this past summer. The Cougars finished the 2012 season 15-19 overall as an independent team and are currently off to a 5-9 start to the 2013 season. The Cougar pitching staff has an ERA of 4.83, allowing 60 runs (46 earned) in 85.2 innings. The Cougar offense has started slow this season as they are hitting a combined .223 with 76 hits in 341 at-bats. USF is led by Shelby Thompson who is hitting .395 in 14 games, recording 15 hits in 38 at-bats.

THE COACH
Missy Bruggeman enters her second season as head coach of the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs and owns a career record of 28-28. Bruggeman completed her first season as a collegiate head coach at SMSU in 2012 with a 21-21 overall record, just missing the postseason. The first-year skipper led the Mustangs to two victories over ranked opponents early in the season. Before coming to SMSU, Bruggeman spent two seasons as an assistant head coach at St. Thomas University after a four-year standout career with the Tommies.

GAME NOTES