Independent file photo SMSU’s Emma Grote follows through on a swing during their April 4, 2017 game against Concordia-St. Paul. The Mustangs will face the Golden Bears today in West St. Paul.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (6-15, 1-5 NSIC) returns to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with six games indoors over three days.

•SMSU opens the stretch of games today taking on Concordia-St. Paul (17-11, 2-4 NSIC) with a doubleheader starting at 11:30 a.m. at the West St. Paul Dome in West St. Paul.

•On Friday, SMSU will face MSU Moorhead (9-13, 2-2 NSIC) in Aberdeen, South Dakota, with a doubleheader at 6 p.m. at the Presentation College Dome.

•SMSU concludes the week with a twinbill versus Northern State (14-12, 4-2 NSIC) on Saturday with a 2 p.m. start at the Presentation College Dome.

GAME COVERAGE

•Live statistics for all three games will be available at smsumustangs.com.

•Updates can also be found by following @smsusoftball on Twitter.

SERIES HISTORY

•SMSU leads the all-time series versus CSP, 34-27, in a match-up that started in 1977.

•CSP has won three of the last four meetings, including 6-2 earlier this season on Feb. 23 at the West St. Paul Dome.

•SMSU holds a 74-32 all-time series advantage versus MSUM and has won the last 26 games in the series. The last MSUM victory came on May 5, 2006.

•SMSU defeated MSUM 10-2 earlier this season on Feb. 22.

•SMSU is 64-18 all-time versus NSU, but NSU has won seven of the last nine meetings since April 2, 2014.

MUSTANG

NOTABLES

•SMSU is hitting .258 with eight home runs and 28 doubles.

•SMSU has an ERA of 5.74 with 82 strikeouts in 131 2/3 innings.

•SMSU has a .946 fielding percentage.

•SMSU is 3-1 in one-run games.

•SMSU is 6-0 when leading after five innings and 5-0 when leading after six innings.

•Emma Grote leads the team with a .338 batting average with three doubles.

•Kaylee Hentges is hitting .333 with two home runs and a team-high 12 walks.

•Kali Tomlinson leads the team with six doubles and is also the team leader with three home runs.

•Shelby Crank and Athena Golling both have three victories this season.

NEXT UP

•Southwest Minnesota State is scheduled to play at Augustana in a doubleheader on Wednesday, April 11.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications