MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State University is celebrating 50 years during the 2017-18 academic year.
During the next few months, SMSU Athletics will take a look back and fondly remember some of the most memorable events, teams, coaches and student-athletes over the past 50 years.
This week, the
1993 softball team:
The 1993 SMSU softball team, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Marilyn Strate, started the program's dominance in the NSIC by capturing the program's first conference title since 1986 with a perfect 10-0 record and finished the season with a-then school record 39 victories. The 39 wins still ranks tied for second highest total in single-season team history. The team won 17 straight games during the season and also was ranked in the Top 20 of the NAIA national poll.
After finishing second in the conference standings in 1992, the 1993 Mustangs won seven of its first 10 games to open the regular season and never looked back in setting the record for victories, including sweeping through the conference season undefeated. The 1994 team also finished 10-0 in conference play. In fact, SMSU won 27 straight conference games from 1992 to 1995.
Jill Gaetze led the 1993 Mustangs batting .408 with nine doubles, seven triples, seven home runs and 45 RBIs. She also finished 20-3 with a 1.30 ERA in 145 innings, recording a team-high 86 strikeouts in the circle. In conference play, Gaetze batted .484 and finished 4-0 with a 0.24 ERA.
Brenda Friesen racked up a .349 batting average, while Heather Higgins finished the season batting .312 with nine doubles. Chanda Bouska and Friesen each clubbed a team-high 11 doubles.
Gaetze, Tab Berning, Brenda Carlson and Higgins were all named first team all-conference.
The 1993 coaching staff and team members include Marilyn Strate (head coach), Leroy Jolstad (assistant coach), Kirsten Springer (assistant coach), Kelli Koster (assistant coach), Candy Simone, Jenny Hegseth, Kari Nelsen, June White, Cassy Simone, Jill Gaetze, Brenda Friesen, Anita Prazak, Heather Burnham, Tiffany Wise, Heather Higgins, Jeni Ortgies, Teri Krueger, Mary Heather, Tab Berning, Brenda Carlson, Jen Molden, Chanda Bouska and Sara Stow.
