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SMSU SOFTBALL: Mustangs begin season in first official practices

Independent file photo SMSU’s Megan Cull fires a pitch during their NSIC Tournament game against MSU Mankato on May 3, 2018.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team officially kicked off the 2019 season with its first week of practices which began this past Monday.

SMSU, under first-year head coach Bailey Bouman, will hold practices inside the PE Gym and R/A Facility throughout the next month in preparation for the season opener against MSU Moorhead on Feb. 12 in West. St. Paul.

The 2019 roster features 12 returning letter winners, led by seniors Abbie Decker, Shelby Crank, Athena Golling, Sara DeSmet, and Alex Reak.

Decker, a center fielder, has started every game the past two seasons, and hit four doubles, three home runs and 16 RBIs in 2018.

Crank, a pitcher/infielder, led the team with 17 starts in the circle with a 6-7 record. She finished the 2018 season with six complete games and one shutout. She had a season-high 11 strikeouts with no walks in a complete game victory over MSU Moorhead.

Golling appeared in 25 games with 11 starts in the circle, recording 71 strikeouts in 81 innings, and two saves in 2018. She enters her senior season with 18 career victories.

DeSmet, an outfielder, played in 43 games with 42 starts and recorded four doubles, one triple and 13 RBIs.

Reak played in 24 games with 17 starts a season ago in the infield. She finished the year batting .216 with five home runs, two doubles, seven runs scored, and 12 RBIs.

SMSU will also welcome back strong impacts in its infield with juniors Emma Grote and Kali Tomlinson. Grote started every game last season and finished batting .324 with two doubles. She led the team in stolen bases with eight and scored 25 runs. Grote recorded a 10-game hitting streak, which tied for the longest on the team. Tomlinson started every game as well and led the team with seven home runs. She batted .329, tied the team-lead with 11 doubles, and led the team in RBIs with 30.

Junior pitcher Megan Cull will return to the circle after leading the team with seven victories last season finishing with a 7-10 record and one save. She appeared in a team-high 27 games with 16 starts, tossing a team-high 106 innings with a team-leading 94 strikeouts.

Other returning players on the roster include sophomore outfielder Bailey Johnson and junior outfielder Madison Krog. Johnson started every game and ended the season with a team-high .341 batting average, a team-high 28 runs, and tied for the team lead with 11 doubles. Krog started 42 games and finished the season batting .319 with three home runs, two doubles, and two triples.

Junior infielder Kaylee Hentges closed the season batting .276 with four doubles, three home runs and 14 RBIs. Madysson Schliinz, a sophomore infielder, also returns after finishing the season batting .285 with two doubles and two RBIs.

SMSU finished last season 18-26 overall with a 10-14 record in the NSIC. The Mustangs finished 10th in the conference standings, qualifying them for the NSIC Tournament where they won three games to finish fourth.

Bouman is assisted by Jessica Vernon in her second season and Jordin Novak in her first season. All coaches are familiar with NSIC competition as Bouman played for Sioux Falls, Vernon played for Northern State, and Novak played for St. Cloud State.

SMSU will travel to West St. Paul, for four games on Feb. 12-13 where they will play a total of four non-conference games against MSU Moorhead, Bemidji State, and Minnesota Crookston. The Mustangs will then have their annual Spring Break trip to Florida where they will play eight non-conference games from March 10-13.

The Mustangs open conference play with their home opener against Sioux Falls on March 26 at 2 p.m. at Mustang Field.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications

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