WEEKLY PREVIEW
• The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (11-16, 2-2 NSIC) is on the road this weekend for a pair of conference doubleheaders against Minot State University and the University of Mary.
• SMSU kicks off the weekend with a twin bill versus Minot State (9-7, 4-0 NSIC) on Friday, March 29, with first pitch of game one set for 3 p.m.
• The Mustangs round out the weekend with a pair of games against UMary (7-17, 0-2 NSIC) the following day in Jamestown, N.D., with first pitch of game one set for 10 a.m.
GAME COVERAGE
• Live stats for all games will be available at SMSUmustangs.com
• Both series will be live streamed on the NSIC Network.
NOEL NOTABLES
• Senior
Jillian Noel leads the Mustangs in batting going 29 for 77 at the plate including five doubles, a triple, and a home run. Noel leads the team in RBIs (23) and has scored nine runs.
• Noel tied a career-high four hits and drove in a career-high five runs against Minnesota Crookston on March 25, including sealing the deal in the sixth inning with an RBI-single to right field.
• The senior third baseman is second all-time in program history in RBIs (130), tied for third in doubles (42), and is seventh in total bases (281) and assists (323).
• Noel also ranks in the top 10 in hits (192) and home runs (13).
QUICK HITS
• SMSU went 2-2 in its opening weekend of conference play getting swept by Bemidji State on Sunday before sweeping Minnesota Crookston on Monday. The two series were originally set to be played in Marshall, but were moved to Sioux Center, Iowa, following poor weather.
• Junior
Abby Russell has recorded 27 hits including tied for a team-high five doubles and has drawn a team-high 10 walks. Russell has scored 16 runs and tallied eight RBIs.
• Sophomore
Riley Kramolisch is second on the team with 28 hits and has drove in 10 runs, while
Abby Boxrud has collected 20 hits.
• Freshman
Brynn Webber leads the team in stolen bases (12) and is second on the squad with 15 runs scored.
• SMSU is averaging 3.4 runs per game and batting .266
PITCHING PIECES
•
Karlie Miller (6-8) leads the team with 61 strikeouts in 92 2/3 innings pitched. Miller has collected six wins, including one shutout, and recorded her first career save against Lake Erie (Pa.) on March 12. The junior has a team-low 3.02 ERA and has held opponents to .280 hitting.
•
Morgyn Otte (5-6) is second on the team with 33 strikeouts and has thrown 67 1/3 innings. Otte is 3-1 in her last four starts and earned her second career shutout on March 25 over Minnesota Crookston.
• SMSU has a team ERA of 3.51 in 173 2/3 innings with 105 strikeouts. Opponents are averaging 4.4 runs per game and batting .290
HEAD COACH BAILEY BOUMAN
•
Bailey Bouman is in her sixth season as head coach at SMSU with an overall record of 104-132, including 56-64 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.
MINOT STATE SERIES HISTORY
• SMSU and MISU will meet for the 20th time with the Mustangs leading 10-9 in a series that began in 2013.
• The Mustangs have beat the Beavers in three of the last five meetings, including splitting a doubleheader last season.
• SMSU is 3-3 all-time versus MISU in Minot.
UMARY SERIES HISTORY
• SMSU and UMary will meet for the 37th time with the Mustangs leading 22-14 in a series that began in 1990.
• The Mustangs have won eight of the last 10 meetings, including both games last season.
• SMSU is 7-2 all-time versus UMary in neutral site contests.
MUSTANG HISTORY
• Southwest Minnesota State is in its 53rd season of softball in 2024.
• SMSU has played in 2,036 games compiling an all-time record of 1,036-999-1.
• The Mustangs have won 10 NSIC regular season championships, two NSIC Tournament titles and has played in four NCAA Tournaments.
