Independent file photo SMSU’s Kristen Neumann watches a pitch during their game against Bemidji State University on March 31, 2019. The Mustangs will begin their 10-game spring trip on Sunday.

MARSHALL — The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (1-5) prepares for its annual spring trip to central Florida to play 10 non-conference games. Eight of the games will be played in The Spring Games in Auburndale, Fla., while the Mustangs will play one double-header at Tampa University.

•SMSU kicks off play facing Nyack (N.Y.) at 2:30 p.m. EDT and Assumption (Mass.) on Sunday, at the Auburndale Softball Complex on field five.

•SMSU then faces Glenville State (W.Va.) at 10:15 a.m. EDT and Lake Erie (Pa.) at 12:30 p.m., both at the DiamondPlex on Monday.

•SMSU continues action on Tuesday, facing Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) at 2:45 p.m. and Salem University at 5 p.m. CDT, both at the Auburndale Softball Complex on field five.

•SMSU will break from The Spring Games to play at the University of Tampa on Wednesday, for a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. EDT.

•SMSU will then close out the trip facing Slippery Rock (Pa.) at 10 a.m. and American International College at 12:15 p.m. EDT on Thursday, both at the DiamondPlex complex field A.

Game coverage

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

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

SMSU last time out

•SMSU began the 2020 season going 1-5 at the Washburn Invitational, facing six non-conference opponents.

•Senior third baseman Kali Tomlinson led the team hitting .619 going 13-for-21, including three doubles and three home runs.

•Tomlinson finished scoring six runs and driving in seven RBIs.

•Junior left fielder, Bailey Johnson, hit .389 with seven hits including three doubles and one home run.

•Sophomore right fielder Lileya Kebos finished batting .333 with one run off six hits including one double and driving in four RBIs.

•SMSU won the season opener versus Pittsburg State, 8-7, with a huge sixth inning rally.

•SMSU scored four runs in the top of the sixth off four hits after Johnson center an RBI double to centerfield to score Emma Grote to kick off the scoring.

•Before the top was over, Madysson Schliinz came in on fielding error, and freshman Jillian Noel would send to left field to score Johnson and Grote and earn the victory.

•Redshirt freshman Alli Christians earned the lone victory in the circle, finishing the weekend with a 1-1 record and tossing 10 innings. Christians finished with four strikeouts.

•Senior first baseman Kaylee Hentges rounds out the lineup finishing batting over .300 after Hentges finished going .333 with six hits, one run, and one RBI.

Series history

•SMSU and Nyack (N.Y) will meet for the second time in series history with SMSU winning the only other meeting, 8-7, on March 10, 2017, in Clermont, Fla.

•SMSU and Assumption meet up for the third time with SMSU leading 2-0, winning the last time out 4-3 on March 11, 2016.

•SMSU is 1-1 versus Glenville State after facing them twice during the 2014 season. SMSU dropped the first meeting 1-0 and earned a 8-2 victory the last time out on March 14.

•SMSU will meet Lake Erie (Pa.), Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.), Salem (W. Va) for the first time ever in 2020.

•SMSU is 0-6 versus Tampa after facing them the last three seasons. SMSU dropped the double-header a season ago 7-1 and 8-0.

•SMSU and Slippery Rock (Pa.) will meet for the fourth time

All-tournament team

•Senior Kali Tomlinson was named to the Washburn Invitational All-Tournament team, announced on Monday, March 2.

•Tomlinson went 3-for-3 versus Central Missouri, went 4-for-4 versus Emporia State, and had a three-game streak with a homerun in each.

•Tomlinson finished the weekend batting .619 with 13 hits off 21 at bats.

NSIC schedule

•SMSU is set to open conference play on Tuesday, March 24 at Sioux Falls at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. at Sherman Park.

— Content courtesy of

SMSU Athletic Communications