PREVIEWING THE WEEK
•The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (8-15) open their NSIC schedule at home, hosting a doubleheader against the University of Sioux Falls (12-9). 
•The doubleheader is set to begin at 1 p.m. 
 
GAME COVERAGE
•Live stats and video for both games will be available at SMSUmustangs.com.
  
BOUMAN BALL
•Bailey Bouman is in her fourth season as head coach with an overall record of 63-68, 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.
 
CHASING HISTORY
•After a pair of hits against Minnesota State on Thursday, Bailey Johnson moved into sole possession of eighth place in program history with 197 career hits. 
•Johnson is currently three hits away from moving into the top five, and 26 hits away from tying the program record, held by Erin Dickhausen.
•Johnson is extremely familiar with the career record books, where she is first in doubles, second in batting average and on base percentage, third in slugging percentage, fourth in runs scored, total bases, times hit by pitch, walks and sacrifice flies, and fifth in RBI's.  
•She also ranks second among active players in Division II in career doubles, and is 25^th in career hits. 
 
MUSTANG STATISTICS
•The Mustangs find themselves in the top 75 in many statistical categories in the nation. 
•One of the biggest strengths of the team has been their defense, and it shows as SMSU ranks 32^nd in double plays and in double plays per game.
•Speaking of doubles, the Mustang offense has also delivered the 62nd most doubles per game.   
•SMSU has also executed the little things, ranking 32^nd, and first in the NSIC, in sacrifice bunts. 
•The Mustangs also find multiple players in the individual leaderboards. 
•Abby Russell has had a tremendous start to her freshman campaign, and it reflects in the statistics, as she ranks 30^thin the country in doubles per game and 31^st in doubles, both good for first in the conference.  
•Makenna Waldow ranks 33^rd in the country, and second in the NSIC, in sacrifice bunts per game, with Lileya Kebos ranking 53^rd.  
•Shelby Bloemendaal has been a steady presence in the circle for the Mustangs, and is 86^th in the nation in complete games. 
 
 
YOUTH MOVEMENT
•The Mustangs have seen the debut of six freshmen and two transfers in non-conference play. 
•Freshman Abby Russell has played all 23 games at shortstop, hitting .338 (26 for 77) with two home runs, 10 doubles, 13 runs scored, a team-high 18 RBIs, and an OPS of .949, all while leading the team with four stolen bases. 
•Sophomore transfer Paige Shwaluk has also played in all 23 games, going .317 (20 for 63) with a team-high 14 runs scored with three stolen bases. 
•Emily Tatur has started each game in centerfield, batting .264 (19 for 72) with 10 runs scored and three multi-hit games. 
•Karlie Miller has started eight games in the circle for SMSU, notching a 7.14 ERA and 2-7 record in 50 innings while also hitting 4 for 9 at the plate with a double and a triple. 
 
LAST TIME OUT
•SMSU finished out the non-conference schedule with 15-2 and 4-2 losses at the hands of No. 16-ranked Minnesota State in the MSU Dome on Thursday afternoon.
•The Mavericks would lead 6-2 into the fourth inning of game one, but a nine-run inning would jolt MSU out front 15-2, leading to a five-inning game.
•MSU would outhit SMSU 12-4, with Makenna Waldow going 2 for 2 with an RBI and run scored to lead the offense for the Mustangs.
• The Mavericks would strike first in game two, getting runners on first and third in the second before the runner on first got in a run down, allowing time for the runner on third to score. MSU would tack on another run in the fourth with a lead-off double followed by a single to go up 2-0.
• A two-out rally in the fifth inning would break the shutout and provide life for the Mustangs. After the first two batters were retired, Paige Shwaluk would give SMSU a baserunner with a base hit up the middle. Abby Russell would follow it up with a double, and Emily Tatur would drive them both in with a single to left field to tie the game at 2-2.
• The Mavericks would reclaim the lead in the bottom of the inning with a two-out double to take a 3-2 lead. SMSU would threaten in the sixth with a leadoff single, but would leave the runner at third base, and would go down in order in the seventh to close the game.
• Morgyn Otte would receive the loss, going six innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on eight hits and one walk while striking out five.
• The Mustangs and Mavericks would each collect eight hits as Tatur and Bailey Johnson would each go 2 for 3 to lead the offense.
 
ABOUT SIOUX FALLS
•Sioux Falls has opened the season 12-9, and are 5-5 against common opponents. 
•The Cougars were picked to finish ninth in the NSIC.
•MSU is led offensively by Kylie Madrid, whose .414 average, 1.210 OPS, 29 hits and five doubles all lead the team, while her five home runs and 16 RBIs rank second. 
•Hanna Cress has been the leader in the circle for USF, holding a 2.03 ERA in 65 1/3 innings, going 6-5 with 50 strikeouts and a 1.24 WHIP. 
 
 SERIES HISTORY
•SMSU is 9-10 all-time against Sioux Falls in a series that started in 2013. 
•The Mustangs are 4-2 at home against the Cougars and are currently on a three-game home winning streak in the series.  
•SMSU has won four of the last five meetings, and defeated USF 8-4 in eight innings during non-conference action in St. Cloud on Feb. 11 earlier this season. 
 
 
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 
 
 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 Feb. 4.
 
MUSTANG HISTORY
•Southwest Minnesota State is in its 51st season of softball in 2022.
•SMSU has played 1,931 games compiling an all-time record of 995-935-1.
•SMSU has won 10 NSIC regular season championships, two NSIC Tournament titles and has played in four NCAA Tournaments.