Dates were pushed back one day due to weather 

PREVIEWING THIS WEEKEND
•The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (3-3) continues non-conference play this weekend with six match-ups at the Washburn Invitational in Topeka, Kan.
•SMSU will open play on Saturday morning, playing Central Missouri at 10:30 a.m., on Friday at Lake Shawnee West before playing Pitsburg State at 12:30 p.m., at Lake Shawnee East
•SMSU continues action on Sunday with a 1:30 p.m., first pitch against Fort Hays State before a 5:30 p.m., match-up with Emporia State at Lake Shawnee East.
•The Mustangs close their weekend on Monday with Nebraska-Kearney at 10 a.m., at Lake Shawnee East before a 2 p.m., game against Washburn at Gahnstrom Field.
 
GAME COVERAGE
•Live stats for all games will be available at SMSUmustangs.com.
•Live video for the game against Washburn will be available for purchase HERE
 
TICKET POLICY
• There will be charged admission of $10 per day at both locations. (CASH ONLY)
 
BOUMAN BALL
•Bailey Bouman is in her fourth season as head coach with an overall record of 58-56, including 30-30 in NSIC play.
•The Mustangs finished 27-20 last season, their best season since 2011, while winning their first NSIC tournament game since Bouman's first season in 2019
•The 11th head coach in program history, Bouman was named to the position on Aug. 8, 2019.
•SMSU finished 19-26 during her first season in 2019 and qualified for the NSIC Tournament.
•Bouman was an assistant coach with the SMSU women's basketball program from 2015-17 and was also an assistant women's basketball coach at Dordt College (Iowa) before returning to SMSU.
•Bouman is a 2014 graduate of the University of Sioux Falls where she played both basketball and softball for the Cougars.
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT
•The Mustangs have seen the debut of six freshmen and two transfers in the first six games of the season
•Freshman Abby Russell has played all six games at shortstop, hitting .370 (10 for 27) with four doubles, five runs scored, a team-high nine RBIs, and an OPS of .967. 
•Sophomore transfer Paige Shwaluk has also played in all six games, going .350 (7 for 20) with a team-high seven runs scored. 
•Emily Tatur has six starts in centerfield, batting .286 (6 for 21) with four runs scored and a pair of multi-hit games. 
•Karlie Miller has started a pair of games while appearing in three in the circle for SMSU, notching a 2.52 ERA and 1-2 record in 16 2/3 innings while also hitting 4 for 6 at the plate with a double and a triple. 
 
 
LAST TIME OUT
•SMSU went 2-3 in the Kelly Laas Invitational in St. Cloud Feb. 11-13. 
•The Mustangs would shine through adversity, scoring four runs in the eighth inning after giving up three unearned runs with two outs in the seventh inning to defeat Sioux Falls 8-4 in extras on Friday night to open the Kelly Laas Invite.
• The Mustangs would finish the game with seven doubles, tying the school record for most doubles in a game.
• SMSU would make a late comeback, but a pair of errors would prove costly, falling to Northwestern (Iowa) 7-6 for their first loss of the season on Saturday afternoon to open day two.
• Abby Russell would finish the day 2 for 5, driving in three and scoring once after hitting her first collegiate home run. Bailey Johnson would add to the offense with a 3 for 4 day, and Jillian Noel would add three hits as well.
• SMSU would get back on track in the nightcap, using a big fifth inning and career day at the plate from Noel to power past St. Cloud State 8-4 on Saturday night to conclude day two.
• Noel would tie a career-high with four hits, going 4 for 4 with a run driven in a run scored, and Morgyn Otte would make her collegiate debut in relief, throwing three shutout innings, recording four strikeouts and collecting the save.
• The Mustangs closed out the invitational on Sunday afternoon, dropping an 8-4 game against Bemidji State before losing to the host St. Cloud State 4-2.
• The Mustangs would collect nine hits in game one, with Johnson going 3 for 4 to lead the way. Six different Mustangs would record one hit.
• SMSU would record nine hits again in game two, with Lileya Kebos going 3 for 4 and Russell picking up two hits to lead the way.
 
2022 SMSU TEAM PREVIEW
•The 2022 Mustangs softball team mixes a strong group of veterans and newcomers, attempting build off a 2021 season that saw the programs first winning record in conference play since 2011, finishing 27-20 overall and 17-13 in NSIC action. 
•The team is one of the youngest in the conference, with just one senior and two juniors mixed in with nine sophomores and seven freshmen.  
•The SMSU offense returns four starters, including an all-NSIC second teamer in Bailey Johnson. Johnson hit .344 with a team-high .441 on-base percentage and 19 walks while adding 16 doubles, five home runs, 28 RBI and a 1.004 OPS. 
•Sophomore infielder Jillian Noel returns after a breakout first full season, hitting .311 with 14 doubles and 27 RBI. 
•Junior Lileya Kebos also returns after hitting .303 and leading the team with five triples and eight stolen bases a season ago. 
•Sophomore Molly Bull will lead the team behind the plate after starting 30 games and hitting .253 a season ago.  
•Shelby Bloemendaal and sophomore Allison Christians will lead the way for the Mustangs in the circle, bringing experience and prior success. 
•Bloemendaal has led the staff in innings pitched in each of the last two seasons, finishing with 124 2/3 last year while going 9-8 with a 3.87 ERA, adding 11 complete games and 69 strikeouts in 23 appearances. 
•Christians is back after appearing in 21 games last season, striking out 58 hitters in 58 1/3 innings of work and finishing with a 3.48 ERA. 
 
SMSU PICKED EIGHTH IN NSIC POLL
•Southwest Minnesota State University was picked to finish eighth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
•SMSU junior pitcher Shelby Bloemendaal and senior outfielder Bailey Johnson were both named "Players to Watch" in the conference this season. 
•Bloemendaal led the way in the circle for the Mustang last season firing a team-high 124 2/3 innings and 11 complete games, finishing with a 9-8 record with a 3.87 ERA.
• Johnson was a 2021 All-NSIC Second Team member after batting .344 with a team-high .441 on-base percentage. She hit 16 doubles, five home runs, 28 RBI and a 1.004 
 
ABOUT CENTRAL MISSOURI
•Central Missouri is a member of the MIAA conference. 
•The Jennies come into action 1-7 on the season after a 1-3 weekend against NSIC teams at the ESU Softball Classic Tri-Quad, splitting a pair of games with Minnesota State and losing a pair to Minnesota Duluth.
•The Jennies were picked to finish second in the MIAA, receiving six of 14 first place votes.
•Makenzie McAtee leads the way offensively, hitting .304 (7 for 23) with a home run, three RBIs, and four runs scored. 
•Sadie Parks has been the leader in the circle thus far, holding a 1-2 record with a 3.74 ERA with 24 1/3 innings pitched. 
 
ABOUT PITTSBURG STATE
•Pittsburg State is a member of the MIAA conference. 
•The Gorillas went 2-2 last weekend, splitting against both Winona State and Drury. 
•The Gorillas were picked to finish 10th in the MIAA.
•PSU is led offensively by Taylor Lambert, who leads the team with a .514 batting average (18 for 35) and five stolen bases, and Madison Szymanski, who has hit .500 (15 for 30) with two home runs and 12 RBIs. 
•Abby Atkin has held down the circle for the Gorillas, going 4-1 with a 4.38 ERA in 30 1/3 innings in eight appearances. 
 
ABOUT FORT HAYS STATE
•Fort Hays State is a member of the MIAA conference.  
•The Tigers are 4-8 on the season, and went 2-2 last weekend with wins against Arkansas Tech and East Central while losing to Southern Arkansas and Oklahoma Baptist. 
•FHSU was picked to finish eighth in the MIAA. 
•The Tiger offense is led by Lindsey Kelly, whose .409 average (9 for 22) and six stolen bases lead the team, while Loren Beggs is hitting .351 (13 for 37) with a team-high .936 OPS. 
•Savanah Egger is 2-3 with a 3.72 ERA in 37 2/3 innings across seven appearances, recording four complete games in the process. 
 
ABOUT EMPORIA STATE
•Emporia State is a member of the MIAA conference. 
•The Hornets are 8-6 on the season and went 4-0 last weekend after doubleheader sweeps against Quincy and the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  
•ESU was picked to finish ninth in the MIAA. 
•Brittanie Shepherd has led the way for the Hornets, hitting a team-best .477 (21 for 44) with 12 runs scored and a 1.217 OPS.
•Sydney Righi has led the Hornets in most statistical categories through the first 14 games, going 3-2 with a 1.75 ERA in six starts, throwing 32 innings.   
 
ABOUT NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
•Nebraska-Kearney is a member of the MIAA conference.  
•The Lopers are 3-7 on the season and went 1-4 last week, defeating Southern Nazarene and losing to Harding, Oklahoma Christian, Arkansas Tech, and Southern Arkansas. 
•UNK was picked to finish 12th in the MIAA. 
•The Lopers offense is paced by Bri Healy, whose .440 average (11 for 25) leads the team.  
•Kelsey Goodban is 2-3 in five appearances, throwing 18 innings with a 3.89 ERA.  
 
ABOUT WASHBURN
•Washburn is a member of the MIAA conference.  
•The Ichabods are 7-6 on the season, and went 2-0 last weekend with a doubleheader sweep of Quincy.  
•WU was picked to finish sixth in the MIAA. 
•The Ichabods have three players hitting over .400, with Hadley Kerschen (.444 BA, 13 RBI), Autymn Schreiner (.424 BA, 1.107 OPS) and Marrit Mead (.405 BA, 1.105 OPS) leading the way.  
•Jaycee Ginter has started five of her eight appearances, going 6-1 with a 2.12 ERA in 39 2/3 innings of work.  
 
 SERIES HISTORY VS. CENTRAL MISSOURI
•SMSU and Central Missouri will meet for the seventh time with each team winning three games in a series that started in 2000. 
•The two teams last met in Topeka, Kan., on Feb. 28, 2020, with the Jennies taking a 9-6 victory. 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. PITTSBURG STATE
•SMSU and PSU will meet for the eighth time, with the Gorillas leading the series 4-3 in a series that started in 1980. 
•This will be their second time matching up in Topeka, with their last matchup coming on Feb. 28, 2020, when the Mustangs scored four runs in the sixth inning en route to an 8-7 victory. 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. FORT HAYS STATE
•SMSU and FHSU will meet for the third time, with each team winning a game in the series.  
•SMSU won the first meeting in 2016, with the Tigers defeating the Mustangs 4-0 in their last meeting in Topeka in 2020. 
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. EMPORIA STATE
•SMSU and Emporia State will meet for the sixth time, with ESU leading the series 3-2. 
•The teams last met in 2020, when a late rally wouldn't be enough for SMSU, falling 5-4 in Topeka.    
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. NEBRASKA-KEARNEY
•SMSU and UNK will meet for the fifth time, with UNK leading the series 3-1. 
•UNK won the most recent meeting, winning a 2020 match-up in Topeka 10-5.    
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. WASHBURN
•SMSU and Washburn will meet for the sixth time, with WU leading the series 4-1. 
•Washburn defeated SMSU 2-0 in Topeka on March 1, 2020.    
 
 SEASON OPENERS
•SMSU is 31-20 all-time in season openers and is 10-3 in openers since the 2010 season after a dominant 8-0 win over Northwest Missouri State on Friday.
 
MUSTANG HISTORY
•Southwest Minnesota State is in its 51st season of softball in 2022.
•SMSU has played 1,914 games compiling an all-time record of 990-923-1.
•SSMSU has won 10 NSIC regular season championships, two NSIC Tournament titles and has played in four NCAA Tournaments.