THIS WEEKEND - The Southwest Minnesota State University softball will open up its seasons as it travels to Rochester, Minn., to play a pair of non-conference doubleheaders in the RCTC Dome. The Mustangs play Jamestown (N.D.) on Friday at 3 p.m. and Dakota Weselyan (S.D.) on Saturday at 10 a.m.
    SMSU begins the season picked to finish 11th overall in the NSIC. The Mustangs finished the 2014 campaign 11th overall with a 12-17-1 record in the NSIC and 15-30-1 overall.

    ABOUT SMSU - The Mustangs top returning hitter from last season is junior Jazmyne Neely. A season ago, Neely finished third on the team in batting average at .293, collecting 41 hits, 26 RBIs, seven doubles and two home runs. Returning senior Alysse Luttmann started 24 games in the outfield last season and finished hitting .290, while recording 13 runs scored, 18 hits, two doubles and eight RBIs. Infielder Katelyn Kalkman is back for her final season as the senior started 23 games a season ago and finishing with 11 runs scored, 17 hits and three RBIs. Catcher Kailey Hanson finished last season second on the team with 17 walks in her 30 starts. Hanson finished with six runs scored, 17 hits, two doubles and eight RBIs. Also returning is junior Elissa Reinsma, who led the team in stolen bases with 14 on 16 attempts last season. The outfielder finished hitting .272 with 14 runs, 31 hits and recorded nine RBIs. The Mustangs lone pitcher from last season is sophomore Alex O'Connor. A season ago, O'Connor struck out 83 batters—26 looking—in her 24 starts, posting a 4.22 ERA with a 6-17 record

    ABOUT JAMESTOWN - The Jimmies, picked to finish third in the North Star Athletic Association, finished last season with a 21-23 overall record and 10-4 in the NSAA. Friday's game will also be UJ's season opener. The Jimmies return four of its five top hitters form 2014, led by Emily Newman's .415 batting average and 34 RBIs. Pitchers Hanna Dunnigan and Mandy Thiessen return from a season ago. Kevin Gall is in his 15th season as head coach at the University of Jamestown. 

    JAMESTOWN SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Jamestown will meet for the 5th and 6th time on Friday with SMSU holding a 4-0 advantage in a series that started back in the 1989 season. The Mustangs have out scored the Jimmies 21-13 in the four-game series. SMSU head coach Jamie Dunn is 0-0 all-time versus Jamestown.

    ABOUT DAKOTA WESLEYAN - The Tigers, picked to seventh in the Great Plains Athletic Conference, finished 22-18 a season ago. DWU will open the 2015 season with a doubleheader against the University of Sioux Falls on Friday before playing SMSU on Saturday in Rochester, Minn. Ed Kieff is in his 4th season as head coach at Dakota Wesleyan University.
    
    DAKOTA WESLEYAN SERIES HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Dakota Wesleyan University will meet for the 1st time on Saturday. SMSU head coach Jamie Dunn is 0-0 all-time versus Dakota Wesleyan University. 

    HEAD COACH JAMIE DUNN - Jamie Dunn is in her season season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University and has compiled a record of 15-30-1, including 12-17-1 in NSIC play. Prior to SMSU, Dunn spent the 2013 season as assistant coach at NCAA Division II Colorado Christain University in Lakewood, Colo., and three seasons as head coach at Fruita Monument High School.