MARSHALL – Southwest Minnesota State officially kicked off the 2018 softball season with its first week of practices which began this past Monday.

The Mustangs’ fifth-year head coach, Jamie Dunn, and the SMSU softball program will hold practices indoors in the PE Gym and R/A Facility on the Southwest Minnesota State campus throughout the next month in preparation for their season opening doubleheader against Minnesota Duluth. SMSU will travel to West St. Paul, Minn. to play a doubleheader against UMD on Monday, Feb. 5, with game one scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. in the West St. Paul Dome.

SMSU will return to the West St. Paul Dome on Feb. 22-23 where they will play a total of four nonconference games against MSU Moorhead, Bemidji State and Concordia-St. Paul.

Dunn’s 2018 roster features 14 total players that include just one senior, five juniors, five sophomores and three freshman.

The Mustangs’ lone senior returning this year is catcher, Mackenzie Clouse, who started 34 games for SMSU behind home plate in 2017. Clouse led the Mustangs with 21 RBI and had four homers and a .458 slugging percentage on the year.

SMSU will also welcome back two of its three primary outfielders in 2017; Emma Grote and Abbie Decker. The junior center fielder Decker, started in 44 games for the Mustangs with a .279 batting average after tallying 34 base hits and 18 runs scored. Decker had nine extra base hits on the season and racked up seven stolen bases. Grote played and started in 43 games as a true freshman in right field last season, batting .254 with four stolen bases.

Also returning to the lineup in 2018 will be sophomore infielder, Kali Tomlinson, who had an injury shortened season last year. Prior to exiting the Mustangs lineup last season, Tomlinson was leading the Mustangs with a .340 batting average, .472 slugging percentage and a .364 on base percentage. Tomlinson racked up five extra base hits and had seven RBI in 17 games as a true freshman in 2017.

Other returning field players on the Mustangs’ 2018 roster include: Alex Reak (Jr.), Sara DeSmet (Jr.), Kaylee Hentges (So.) and Madison Krog (So.).

The Mustangs’ 2018 pitchers include three players who earned victories from the circle for SMSU last season. Junior, Athena Golling, went 6-3 in her starts last year and finished with a 3.43 ERA in 18 total appearances. Golling held opponents to a .274 average in the batter’s box.

Junior, Shelby Crank, went 4-7 in 2017 with a 3.88 ERA in 16 appearances. Crank struck out 37 batters in 57 and 2/3 innings last season. Sophomore pitcher, Megan Cull, rounds out the returning pitchers in 2018 after appearing in 16 games as a true freshman.

SMSU finished last season 23-23 overall with a 14-14 record in the Northern Sun. The Mustangs finished ranked eighth in the conference standings, qualifying them for the NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Mustangs also welcome assistant coach, Jess Vernon, who is in her first year on the SMSU softball coaching staff. Vernon was a four-year letter winner and team captain for the Wolves, playing in 108 career games, while earning NFCA All-American scholar-athlete accolades. She competed in both the shot put and weight throw for the NSU track & field team and was named Academic All-NSIC for both softball and track & field.

Assistant coach, Kelsey Gale, also a former NSU softball standout, will return to the dugout for her second year on the SMSU coaching staff.

SMSU will follow up its six non-conference games in the West St. Paul, Minn., with its annual Spring Break trip to Florida where they will play nine total road, non-conference games from Mar. 4-8.

The Mustangs open conference play at Sioux Falls on Mar. 27 at 3 p.m., and will host their home opener on Mar. 30 at 2 p.m., against Upper Iowa.

Content courtesy of SMSU Athletic Communications