LEADING OFF
•The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (16-29 overall, 11-15 NSIC) gclose the regular season on the road, taking on Bemidji State (21-23, 10-12) for a doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 29, before the season finale against Minnesota Crookston (16-31, 4-18) on Sunday, Apr. 30.
•The Mustangs will take on the Beaavers at BSU Softball Field starting at 1 p.m., before playing the Golden Eagles at the UMN Crookston Softball Field starting at noon. 
•SMSU currently ranks 10^th in the NSIC, one game ahead of Concordia-St. Paul for the final NSIC Tournament spot. 
 •Bemidji State enters the weekend in ninth place, a half-game ahead of the Mustangs.
•SMSU enters the game on a three-game losing streak, but their last win was a historic one, defeating Augustana for just the second time in the last 31 chances, and first road victory in the season series since 2007.
•BSU and UMC met for a doubleheader on Thursday, with the Beavers sweeping the Golden Eagles.  
 
GAME COVERAGE
•Live stats and video for both games will be available at SMSUmustangs.com.
 
 BOUMAN BALL
•Bailey Bouman is in her fifth season as head coach with an overall record of 92-113, including 53-59 in NSIC play.
•The Mustangs finished 21-31 last season while winning their second NSIC tournament game in as many seasons.
•The 11th head coach in program history, Bouman was named to the position on Aug. 8, 2018.
•The Mustangs finished 27-20 in 2021, their best season since 2011, while winning their first NSIC tournament game since Bouman's first season in 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.
 
 SERIES HISTORY VS. BEMIDJI STATE
•SMSU and Bemidji State have met 92 times since the 1981 season with the Mustangs holding a 69-23 advantage. 
•The Mustangs swept the Beavers at home last season and have won the last six NSIC games in the series.
•SMSU is 14-11 all-time in Bemidji and won the last two on the road.  
 
SERIES HISTORY VS. MINNESOTA CROOKSTON
•SMSU and UMC have met 47 times since the 2000 season with the Mustangs winning 45 of 47.
•The Mustangs have won the last 11 matchups and 23 of the last 24. 
•SMSU is 9-1 in Crookston, and has not lost there since 2016.