Independent file photo SMSU’s Abbie Decker connects for a base hit during their doubleheader against Bemidji State University on Sunday. The Mustangs will face Winona State and Upper Iowa this weekend.

MARSHALL – Southwest Minnesota State (11-9, 6-2 NSIC) completed three days of back-to-back games early this week to finish 4-2 in the conference before heading on the road for the first conference road series of the season.

•SMSU will face Winona State (23-5, 8-0 NSIC) today at 1 and 3 p.m. and Upper Iowa (11-12, 3-5 NSIC) on Saturday at 12 and 2 p.m.

Game coverage

•Live stats will be available for fans at smsumustangs.com.

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

Previewing

the Mustangs

•SMSU comes into the weekend at 11-9 overall and 6-2 in the conference.

•SMSU opened NSIC play hosting four doubleheaders.

•Emma Grote leads the Mustang offense with a .492 batting average with a team-high 31 hits including one double, two triples, and one home run.

•Grote is also 10 of 10 for stolen bases and leads the team in runs scored with 22.

•Grote is currently on an 11-game hitting streak.

•Bailey Johnson comes in second with a .400 batting average with 22 hits including seven doubles, four triples, and a team-high two home runs.

•Johnson is the RBI leader with 15.

•Grote is .571 in conference while Johnson is .391.

•SMSU has five players all batting over .300 with a team total seven home runs.

In the circle

•SMSU’S two starting pitchers Athena Golling and Megan Cull have a combined 11-7 record this season.

•Golling has a 7-4 record with a 1.82 ERA with 51 strikeouts this season.

•Cull has 40 strikeouts this season with a 4-3 record and a 4.73 ERA.

Previewing

Winona State

•WSU is 23-5 overall and 8-0 in the NSIC after sweeping Minnesota State on Wednesday.

•WSU has won eight shutouts this season.

•Winona State was ranked 21st at the latest NFCA Coaches Poll on March 31.

•Allison Nowak leads the Warriors in batting with a .451 batting average with a team-high 41 hits; nine of them doubles and seven home runs. Nowak has drove in a team-high 30 RBIs.

•Jordyn Kleman has a 12-1 record with 106 strikeouts this season. Kleman also holds a 1.35 ERA.

•Kleman and Nowak earned NSIC Player/Pitcher of the Week last week.

•Head coach, Greg Jones, is in this 19th season, has an overall career record of 770-261-4 and 319-74 in the conference.

WSU series history

•Winona State leads the all-time series 76-45 dating back to 1973.

•WSU is on a 25-game winning streak over SMSU which began on April 25, 2009.

•WSU is 33-10 in games played in Winona.

Previewing

Upper Iowa

•Upper Iowa (11-12, 3-5 NSIC) has earned three conference splits for its three conference wins.

•Julia Buffington leads the Peacocks batting .429 with 21 hits, three home runs and 11 RBIs.

•Kaylee Frenette follows close behind with a .405 batting avg and 32 hits.

•Emily Kisch leads the Peacocks in the circle with a 7-4 record and a 3.25 ERA. Kisch has 45 strikeouts and caught two complete games.

•Head coach, Amanda Bradberry, is in her sixth season with a 135-145 overall record and 73-73 in the conference.

UIU series history

•The all-time series between the teams is tied at 15-15 after they split last season on March 29 in Sioux Falls, S.D.

•The away record is also tied at 7-7 but UIU holds a 13-11 advantage in conference games.

NSIC rankings

•SMSU leads the conference in triples per game with 0.50 average.

•SMSU also ranks in the top-10 with strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.06) at fourth, stolen bases per game (1.05) at sixth, batting average (.299) at ninth, and WL percentage (.550) at ninth.

•Emma Grote leads the conference in batting average with .492 and on-base percentage (.529).

•Bailey Johnson leads the conference in triples per game (0.20).

NCAA statistics

•SMSU ranks fourth in triples per game (0.50).

•Bailey Johnson ranks fourth in triples per game (0.20).

Next up

•SMSU hosts Minnesota State on Wednesday and 2 and 4 p.m. before hosting Northern State on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. and MSU Moorhead and 12 and 2 p.m. in Marshall.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications