WEEKLY PREVIEW
• The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (2-5) returns to action in Florida with 16 games in 10 days.
• On the first day of THE Spring Games, the Mustangs face off with Goldey-Beacom (Del.) at 8 a.m., and Concord (W. Va.) at 10:15 a.m., on Monday, March 4, at DiamondPlex 1 in Winter Haven, Fla. 
• SMSU continues play on Tuesday, with first pitch against West Virginia Wesleyan at 2:45 p.m., followed by a game against No. 5 ranked-Grand Valley State (Mich.) at 5 p.m.
• On Wednesday, SMSU finishes its first week of THE Spring Games in Auburndale, Fla., facing off with College of Staten Island (N.Y.) at 11:30 a.m., followed by a game against Notre Dame College (Ohio) with first pitch at 2:15 p.m.
• SMSU transitions play on Thursday, taking on Florida Southern for a pair of games in Lakeland, Fla., starting at 2 p.m.
• The Mustangs will then take on No. 3-ranked Tampa twice on Saturday, March 9, starting at 12 p.m., in Tampa, Fla.
• SMSU continues THE Spring Games on Monday, March 11, taking on American International College at 9 a.m., and Northwood (Mich.) at 11:30 a.m., in Winter Haven, Fla.
• The Mustangs then play Tuesday, March 12, battling against Lake Erie (Pa.) at 9:15 a.m., and Southern Connecticut State at 11:15 a.m.
• SMSU concludes its trip to Florida on Wednesday, Mar. 13, playing McKendree (Ill.) at 9:15 a.m. and Wayne State (Mich.) at 11:30 a.m.
• All times listed are central time.

GAME COVERAGE
• Live stats for all games will be available at SMSUmustangs.com
• Tournament information and live streaming options can be found HERE

HEAD COACH BAILEY BOUMAN
• Bailey Bouman enters her sixth season as head coach at SMSU with an overall record of 95-121, including 54-62 in NSIC play.
• The 11th head coach in program history, Bouman was named to the position on Aug. 8, 2018.
• The Mustangs finished the 2023 season 17-32 and missed the NSIC Tournament for the first time in three seasons. 
• SMSU finished 21-31 in 2022, and won its second NSIC Tournament game in consecutive seasons.
• 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.
• 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.

QUICK HITS
• Senior Jillian Noel leads SMSU in batting this season going 9 for 20 at the plate including two doubles, a triple, and the lonely SMSU home run of the season, while batting in seven runs.
• Freshman Brynn Webber is 8 for 20 at the dish so far with a pair of doubles and a walk. She leads the team in stolen bases with two.
• Junior Abby Russell has gone 7 for 19 at the plate with a double and triple, while drawing five walks and driving in two runs.
• Senior Molly Bull has tallied six RBIs on the year and a double.
• SMSU is averaging 3.4 runs per game and batting .260
• The Mustangs have a team ERA of 6.62 in 43 1/3 innings with 25 strikeouts. Opponents are averaging 6.7 runs per game and batting .333.

LAST TIME OUT
• SMSU went 1-3 at the 2024 Mustang Invitational in Sioux Center, Iowa on Feb. 18-19. 
• On Feb. 18, the Mustangs split a doubleheader with GLVC opponent William Jewell (Mo.), earning a decisive 7-1 victory in game one before suffering a 10-2 loss in the next game inside the ASB Sports Complex.
• On Feb. 19, SMSU suffered a pair of losses to Truman State (Mo.), dropping game one 5-3 and game two 5-4, at the ASB Sports Complex.
• Karlie Miller (2-2) finished the weekend 1-1 with an ERA of 3.50 and eight strikeouts in 12 innings. Morgyn Otte (0-2) was dealt the loss in game two to WJC, surrendering four runs (all earned) on seven hits, while walking five batters in 2 2/3 innings. Jordan Bussey (0-1) went 0-1 on the weekend allowing three runs (all earned) and six walks in 2/3 innings.

SMSU PICKED NINTH IN NSIC PRESEASON POLL
• SMSU was chosen ninth in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll as voted on by the leagues 15 head coaches.
• SMSU is scheduled to start its 28-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference slate on March 23.
• SMSU junior shortstop Abby Russell and junior pitcher Karlie Miller were both named "Players to Watch" in the conference this season.

MUSTANG HISTORY
• Southwest Minnesota State is in its 53rd season of softball in 2024.
• SMSU has played in 2,016 games compiling an all-time record of 1,027-988-1.
• The Mustangs have won 10 NSIC regular season championships, two NSIC Tournament titles and has played in four NCAA Tournaments.