ON DECK
The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team will host its conference opener on Tuesday afternoon as the face the University of Sioux Falls Cougars in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. The Mustangs will be looking to extend its current four game winning streak after sweeping Dakota Wesleyan in a doubleheader this past Saturday afternoon. SMSU won game one on Saturday, 9-2 and followed up with a 9-8 victory in game two as the Mustangs nearly won by run rule in both games with early offensive explosions.
 
MUSTANGS IN CONFERENCE OPENERS
The last win for SMSU in a conference opening doubleheader was a 4-3 win over Sioux Falls in the second leg of a doubleheader on Mar. 27 of the 2013 season. The Mustangs were swept by Sioux Falls to open their NSIC?schedule in 2016.
 
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 SIOUX FALLS:
 
            Team Overview:
            •Overall record- 13-12
            •Streak- lost two
            •Home record- 4-0
            •Away record- 2-1
            •Neutral record- 7-11
            •TEAM BATTING AVG- .283
            •TEAM OB %- .344
            •TEAM SLG %- .409
            •TEAM ERA- 5.10
            •TEAM BATTING AVG AGAINST- .290
 
Sioux falls Series History
            •Sioux Falls leads the all-time series 6-4
            •SMSU and Sioux Falls first met in 2013 when USF first joined the NSIC
            •SMSU is 1-1 in games played in Marshall
            •USF is 3-1 in home games played in Sioux Falls, S.D.
            •Both teams have split neutral site games 2-2
            •The Mustangs went 2-2 against the Cougars in 2016
 
 
SCOUTING SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE:
 
            Team Overview
            •Overall record-  9-7
            •Streak- won four
            •Home record- 2-0
            •Away record- 0-4
            •Neutral record- 7-3
            •TEAM BATTING AVG- .283
            •TEAM OB %- .338
            •TEAM SLG %- .414
            •TEAM ERA-  3.31
            •TEAM BATTING AVG AGAINST- .252
  
HEAD COACH
Jamie Dunn is in her fourth season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University and has compiled a 70-99-1 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.
 
HOME OPENERS
Southwest Minnesota State holds a 14-4 record since the 2000 season in home openers. SMSU defeated Dakota Wesleyan 9-2 last Saturday in this 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 893-818-1. 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 277-176-1 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.