MARSHALL, Minn.- The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team will host its home opener in a doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m., in a matchup that was moved from last weekend due to inclement weather. SMSU makes its return to Marshall after playing a stretch of 10 games in Florida. The Mustangs played six games as a part of "The Spring Games" tournament in Clermont, Fla., going 3-3 in those contests. SMSU also played two road double-headers during its week-long trip down south against the University of Tampa and Florida Southern College, but were swept by both teams.
 
MEDIA COVERAGE
Live statistics will be available for all games at smsumustangs.com/softballlive, while updates can also be found by following @smsusoftball on Twitter. For all other games, visit smsumustangs.com/SBschedule for more information.
 
SCOUTING DAKOTA WESLEYAN:
 
            Team Overview
            •Overall record-          9-16
            •Streak-          lost two
            •Home record-            0-0
            •Away record-            0-2
            •Neutral record-         9-14
            •TEAM BATTING AVG-           .295
            •TEAM OB %-             .355
            •TEAM SLG %-            .383
            •TEAM ERA-   5.39
            •TEAM BATTING AVG AGAINST-       .335
 
 
The Dakota Wesleyan University Tigers opened the year going 1-7 in the Presentation College Dome Tournament. The Tigers were then traveled to Arizona and played 17 neutral/road games from Mar. 4-9. Dakota Wesleyan went 8-7 in the Tucson Invitational after beginning the tournament 2-7. The Tigers then wrapped up their roadtrip by getting swept in a road doubleheader at Benedictine Unviersity at Mesa in Mesa, Ariz.
 
DAKOTA WESLEYAN SERIES HISTORY:
            •SMSU defeated Dakota Wesleyan, 8-0 on Feb. 12 in the Presentation College Dome Tournament
            •Sam Flack went 2 for 3 with two RBI and Taylor Koloc went 2 for 3 with one RBI in the first meeting
            •Alex O'Connor pitched a complete game shutout as the Mustangs won by run rule in the first game this year
            •O'Connor gave up just one hit in five innings back in the Feb. matchup
            •SMSU leads the all-time series 4-3
            •SMSU and DWU first met in 2015 and have played each other every year since
            •SMSU is 2-0 in games played in Marshall
            •DWU is 2-0 in home games played in Mitchell, S.D.
            •SMSU is 2-1 in neutral locations
 
 
SCOUTING SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE:
 
            Team Overview
            •Overall record-          7-7
            •Streak-          won two
            •Home record-            0-0
            •Away record-            0-4
            •Neutral record-         7-3
            •TEAM BATTING AVG-           .276
            •TEAM OB %-             .334
            •TEAM SLG %-            .392
            •TEAM ERA-   3.20
            •TEAM BATTING AVG AGAINST-       .260
 
 
HEAD COACH
Jamie Dunn is in her fourth season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University and has compiled a 68-99-1 overall record and a 35-46-1 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. Dunn's complete bio is found on page 3.
 
HOME OPENERS
Southwest Minnesota State holds a 13-4 record since the 2000 season in home openers. SMSU defeated Minot State 4-3 in eight innings in last season's home opener. SMSU?suffered a 5-0 loss last season to Northern State in 2015, which snapped an 11-game home opener winning streak.
 
HISTORY LESSON
Southwest Minnesota State is in 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 337-205 in conference games.
 
MUSTANGS AT HOME
Southwest Minnesota State is 275-176-1 since 1973 when playing in Marshall. The Mustangs have compiled a .610 winning percentage in 41 years of playing games at home. SMSU's first year of play was 1972, but SMSU did not play a game at home during its inaugural season.
 
SMSU PICKED 10TH IN NSIC POLL
Southwest Minnesota State University was picked to finish 10th in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll. Minnesota State was chosen as the unanimous preseason favorite earning 15 first place votes. SMSU junior infielder, Sam Flack, and senior pitcher, Alex O'Connor, were named "Players to Watch" in the conference this season.

MORE MUSTANG STATS
For career statistics and game-highs for each Mustang player go to smsumustangs.com/softballcareer.