MARSHALL, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (4-0) will travel to Florida for a seven-day road trip departing this weekend for a stretch of 10 road/neutral games. The Mustangs will play six neutral site games as a part of the annual "Spring Games" in Clermont, Fla., in addition to a pair of midweek, road double-headers. SMSU will open the road trip taking on Saint Joseph's College (Ind.) on Sunday at 5 p.m., followed by a game against Ashland University at 7:30 p.m.
THE GAMES
Sunday, Mar. 5- SMSU vs. Saint Joseph's College (Ind.), 5 p.m.
Sunday, Mar. 5- SMSU vs. Ashland University (Ohio), 7:30 p.m.
Monday, Mar. 6- SMSU vs. Univ. of Tampa, 4 p.m./6 p.m.
Tuesday, Mar. 7- SMSU vs. Florida Southern College, 4 p.m./ 6p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 9- SMSU vs. Notre Dame College (Ohio), 12 p.m.
Thursday, Mar. 9- SMSU vs. Univ. of Southern Indiana, 2:30 p.m.
Friday, Mar. 10- SMSU vs. Siena Heights Univ. (Mich), 9:30 a.m.
Friday, Mar. 10- SMSU vs. Nyack College, 12 p.m.
MEDIA COVERAGE
Live statistics for all 12 games during the Florida trip can be found on smsumustangs.com by visiting the SMSU Softball schedule page. Updates can also be found by following @smsusoftball on Twitter.
Live streams of SMSU games played during "The Spring Games" will be available for purchase from Suffragette Softball at www.SSBLive.com.
Live Stream Costs:
Day Pass: $12.99
Week Pass: $59.99 ($8.71/ day)
Event Pass: $79.99 ($5.71/ day)
SERIES HISTORY
SMSU is 3-1 all-time vs. Saint Joseph's ... SMSU is 2-8 all-time vs. Ashland University ... SMSU has never faced the Univ. of Tampa ... SMSU is 1-2 all-time vs. Florida Southern College ... SMSU has never played Notre Dame College ... SMSU is 4-6 all-time vs. Southern Indiana ... SMSU has never played Siena Heights ... SMSU has also never played Nyack College.
HEAD COACH
Jamie Dunn is in her fourth season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University and has compiled a 65-92-1 overall record and a 35-46-1 record in the NSIC. Prior to SMSU, Dunn spent the 2013 season as assistant coach at NCAA Division II Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colo., and three seasons as head coach at Fruita Monument High School.
ABOUT THE MUSTANGS
SMSU opened the season with a perfect 4-0 weekend at the Presentation College Dome Tournament in Aberdeen, S.D., back on Feb. 11-12. The Mustangs defeated Northern State and Valley City State (N.D.) on day one of the tournament and followed up with victories over Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) and Jamestown (N.D.) on day two.
Abbie Decker leads the team heading into the road trip with a .636 batting average and five rbi through four games.
Alex O'Connor has pitched 13 innings with 14 strikeouts and a 1.08 earned run average thus far.
ROSTER OVERVIEW
The Mustangs 2017 roster is comprised of 18 student-athletes with four seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, and six freshman. SMSU's core group of return players includes its four seniors,
Taylor Koloc,
Karmann Carroll,
Alex O'Connor, and
Victoria Brooks. The Mustangs' also return its leading hitter from last season, junior infielder,
Sam Flack.
HISTORY LESSON
Southwest Minnesota State begins its 46th season of softball in 2017. SMSU began play in the 1972 season, five years after the school opened its doors. SMSU owns an all-time record of 891-818-1. The Mustangs joined the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in 1992 and are 334-200-1 in conference games.
SMSU PICKED 10th IN NSIC POLL
Southwest Minnesota State University was picked to finish 10th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Minnesota State was selected as the preseason favorites to win the conference. Mustangs' junior infielder,
Sam Flack and senior pitcher,
Alex O'Connor, were named "Players to Watch" in the NSIC this season.
MORE MUSTANG STATS
For career statistics and game-highs for each Mustang player go to smsumustangs.com/softballcareer.
IN THE HOLE
Following its spring trip, Southwest Minnesota State will host a doubleheader vs. Dakota Wesleyan on March 18. SMSU will then open NSIC play on March 28 with a home doubleheader vs. Sioux Falls.
