For Immediate Release
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
NSIC Media Relations
PDF Release

NSIC Player of the Week
#0  Jennifer Johnson  
IF, 5-4, Jr.,  R/R
Omaha, Neb.
Papillion LaVista South HS
Southwest Minnesota State


NSIC Pitcher of the Week
#10  Jenelle Trautmann  
RHP, 5-7, So.,  R/R,
Hastings, Minn.
Hastings HS
Augustana

NSIC Team Notes
Augustana
Jenelle Trautmann (P/UT, So., 5-7, Hastings, Minn./ Hastings HS)  pitched the Vikings to two victories to improve her record in the circle to 21-5.  In game one of a neutral-site doubleheader versus Minnesota Duluth, Trautmann gave up three earned runs in eight innings of work.  The sophomore hurler struck out 11 batters to lead the Vikings to an extra-inning 1-0 victory.  In game two, Trautmann turned in one of her more dominating performances of the season. She tossed six innings not allowing a run and scattering four hits.  Trautmann struck out five while just walking one hitter.  The sophomore’s final numbers on the weekend were an ERA of 1.50 with 16 strikeouts and giving up just three walks.  
Jenelle Trautmann (P/UT, So. 5-7, Hastings, Minn./Hastings HS) hit two more home runs and led the Vikings to two victories while helping her own cause in the circle as she earned both wins as the pitcher.  Trautmann batted .429 over the Vikings’ two games including a home run in each of the two contests to arrive at a jaw-dropping 1.286 slugging percentage.  She knocked in three runs including a two-run homer in game two that would go down as the game-winning runs.  Trautmann has now hit 16 home runs on the season and averages a home run every 6.5 at-bats while racking up an outstanding .829 slugging percentage on the season.  The sophomore utility player ranks first in the NSIC in home runs and fourth in slugging percentage.

Bemidji State
The Bemidji State softball team went 1-5 in doubleheaders against Minnesota Duluth, Sioux City, and Southwest Minnesota State over the past week. BSU began the week with a 12-0 loss in five innings to UMD in the first game of a doubleheader inside the St. Paul Dome. A Crystal Bowen walk was what separated Bulldog pitchers Julia Nealer and freshman Cayli Sadler allowed a from combining for a perfect game. Minnesota Duluth complete a three-game season sweep of BSU with a 6-0 win in the second game, breaking the game open in the fourth inning with four runs. The Beavers’ losing streak continued with back-to-back one-run losses against Sioux Falls in Sioux City, Iowa. After Lyndsey Peterson tied Game 1 with an RBI double in the fifth, USF pulled out the 2-1 win in nine innings. Allie Duellman suffered the loss for BSU after keeping the Cougars off the board between the second and ninth innings. Sioux Falls jumped out to a 5-0 lead in the second game, but Bemidji State rallied to tie the score in the sixth, capped by a three-run home run by Nicole Dupay. USF went on to win 6-5 by scoring in the bottom of the inning. Monday against Southwest Minnesota State, the Beavers snapped a 12-game losing skid with a 5-4 win. BSU erased a 3-0 deficit to take a 4-3 lead. SMSU tied the score, but BSU won the game when Summer Monsrud walked home the winning run in the seventh inning. Monsrud, Peterson, and Mikayala Osterman each had two hits and an RBI in the victory as Duellman picked up her third win of the year, going all seven innings while allowing three earned runs. The Mustangs won in the second game, 8-6. BSU heads to St. Cloud State Tuesday in a game that was originally schedule to be played in Bemidji. The Beavers are currently scheduled to play MSU Moorhead and Northern State at home this weekend.

Concordia-St. Paul
The Golden Bears had six road games canceled last week, a mid-week at Winona State and weekend games in North Dakota at Minot State and U-Mary. Concordia’s season total of canceled games is now sitting at 13, but these were the first NSIC games wiped from the season slate.
 This week, Concordia travels to Upper Iowa on Tuesday for a 2 p.m. doubleheader in a contest that was originally scheduled for Concordia’s Carlander Field. This weekend, Concordia is scheduled for its last home contests against Wayne State and Augustana on Saturday and Sunday. With Carlander Field unlikely to be ready, expect a schedule change of some sort later in the week.
 Concordia head coach Bob Bartel is just four wins shy of 300 for his career with a 296-177 career record in his ninth season … the Golden Bears are 18-5 all-time against UIU and 17-4 against the Peacocks under Bartel … the Peacocks defeated Concordia earlier this year, 7-0 in the RCTC Dome in non-conference play on Feb. 24 and have won the last two games in the series … Concordia is 5-14 all-time against Augustana and the Vikings have won eight straight in the series … Concordia is 1-7 against Augie in NSIC games and 1-3 against them at home … the Golden Bears and Wildcats will meet for the 33rd time with the series deadlocked at 16-16 … Concordia has won the last three games against Wayne State after WSC had defeated Concordia seven-straight times and 12 of 13 … the teams are 13-13 head-to-head in NSIC contests and Concordia is 7-5 against WSC in home games.

University of Mary
Due to an unprecedented April snow storm, the University of Mary was only able to play two of their scheduled six games last week. Despite near freezing game time temperatures, the U-Mary’s offense ignited for 18 runs on 24 hits in a sweep of Minnesota State University Moorhead. In the first game U-Mary got on top early with a five run third before winning by a final of 8-3. In the second game it took the Marauders extra innings to secure an 11-4 victory. Sophomore Erin Keen (P, 5-3, So., R/R, Boise, Idaho / Timberline) did it all for the Marauders starting both games on the mound, picking up a pair of wins and going 4-for-9 at the plate. Pitching all 15 innings, Keen allowed just six earned runs and picked up seven strikeouts. Alana Norman (INF, 5-6, Fr., L/R, Spokane, Wash. / Shadle Park) had a team-high five hits going 5-for-8 on the day and boosting her average from .311 to .337.

Minnesota, Crookston
Alexis Khoshaba (Fr., OF/1B, Richmond British Columbia) - Alexis was 6-for-17 for a batting average of .353 last week with one run scored and one RBI with a solo home run against University of Sioux Falls April 15 in Sioux City, Iowa.
The Golden Eagles dropped six games last week. UMC played St. Cloud State University and dropped a pair 6-0 at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn. Sun., April 14 against Southwest Minnesota State University, the Golden Eagles came close after a late rally against the Mustangs but fell 5-4. In game two against the Mustangs, UMC fell 10-0. On Monday, UMC dropped a pair falling 7-5 and 10-0 to University of Sioux Falls. The Golden Eagles are scheduled to play Wed., April 17 against University of Minnesota Duluth at the West St. Paul Sports Center in West St. Paul, Minn.

Minnesota Duluth
Sami Schnyder (Fr., 3B, Waconia, Minn.) recorded six runs while batting .455 which included a double and a home run, her second of the year, and a .818 slugging percentage. The rookie third baseman went five of 11 at the plate in four games and drew a pair of walks to up her on-base percentage to .538. Defensively, Schnyder earned a 1.000 fielding percentage with nine putouts and eight assists.
Julia Nealer (Sr., P, Lynnwood, Wash.) was in the circle for three appearances, making two starts, going 2-1with an 1.91 ERA this past week with her lone loss coming in a extra-inning thriller to Augustana. Nealer, who is 18-3, pitched 14 and two-third innings, fanning 12 batters on her way to collected two combined shutouts and holding opposing batters to an .120 batting average.
The University of Minnesota Duluth softball team went 2-2 on this past week as they cruised past Bemidji State in back-to-back shutout performances (12-0 in five and 6-0) before suffering a rare sweep at the hands of Augustana College (6-5 in eight and 3-0). Senior All-American Tyra Kerr collected six hits, including a 3-for-3 effort in the second game against Augie. A trio of Bulldogs, senior shortstop Kierra Jeffers, sophomore catcher Jordan Rice and freshman designated hitter Ashley Lewis each blasted two home runs. Six Bulldogs had slugging percentages over .650. UMD had six home runs in the 12-0 win over Bemidji State. The Bulldogs (29-9, 9-3 NSIC) are booked for a trio of NSIC engagements, first with match up against Minnesota Crookston in West St. Paul, Minn., where the Bulldogs are undefeated this season.

Minnesota State
Minnesota State softball was idle this past week. All three of our scheduled doubleheaders were cancelled. We are facing Winona State in Winona today. Game times are 2 pm and 4 pm.

MSU Moorhead
Taylor Huss (5-7, So., SS, Peshtigo, Wis. / Peshtigo HS) had an outstanding week at the plate for the Dragons, hitting .667 (8-of-12) with two doubles and an RBI. She also scored two runs. She finished with an .833 slugging percentage and a .692 on-base percentage for the week. In the doubleheader at Mary, she was 5-for-7 in the two games, and also a perfect 3-for-3 in Game 1 against Upper Iowa.
Sophomore Mollie Annen had a solid week for MSUM, hitting .313 with three doubles and two runs scored. She had a slugging percentage of .500. She leads the Dragons with seven doubles.

  Minot State
Minot State had all six games scheduled for a weekend home stand and all eight games scheduled last week canceled due to inclement weather. The Beavers have not played since April 7 in Winona, Minn. MISU is scheduled to take on Minnesota State Moorhead Tuesday in Minot, before heading out on the road at St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth over the weekend.
 
 Northern State
The Northern State University softball competed only twice in the last eight days with a double header against Winona State University. The Wolves dropped both games with the Warriors as they played their regularly scheduled home games on the road. Stephanie Horkey entered the game for the Wolves in the top of the second inning of game one to throw 5.1 innings of stellar relief. She allowed only one earned run on two hits while helping her team to chip away from a seven run deficit left by starting pitcher Kami Smesmo who allowed eight runs on five hits and walked six. NSU was able to come back with five runs in the game, however it was not enough ot secure the win. The Wolves began to chip away in the bottom of the fourth after scoring a lone run in the first. Kelsey Robling began the rally with a single to center field. Robling advanced to second on an Eryn Yancy single to left.Morgan Schultz plated the two base runners with a single on the day, adding two RBI to bring her season total to 11. NSU was not done for the inning as Lindsey Hubler stepped to the plate and connected for a single to center and an RBI scoring Schultz. Freshman Haley Covais connected for her second homerun of the year off Warrior ace Britt Stewart, with a blast to right center in the bottom of the sixth. The Wolves were able to collect four hits off WSU stud, Ashley Walker who is now 11-0 on the year. Robling ended the day going 3-6 from the plate adding two RBI to her season total of 25 and bringing her batting average up to .306, tied for the team lead with Kelsey Gale. NSU will continue on the road this week as they take on University of Mary from Bismarck Thursday and Minnesota, Crookston  and Bemidji State on the weekend.
 #14 Kelsey Robling (C/OF, Sr., R/R, Waconia, Minn., Waconia HS) was .500 from the plate in Northern State’s games with Winona State. Robling was a key contributor for the Wolves tallying two RBI on the day, bringing her team leading season total to 25. With the stellar day from the plate she was able to bring her season batting average to .306. Robling is now tied at the top of the team offensive charts for batting average (.306) and hits (30) with freshman Kelsey Gale.
#3 Stephanie Horkey (P/IF, Sr., L/R, Burnsville, Minn., Burnsville HS) came in for 5.1 innings of stand out relief for the Wolves as they took on Winona State University. Down 8-1 through 1.2 innings of play, Horkey was able to hold the Warrior attack to just one earned run and two hits. With her efforts the Wolves were able to fight back with five runs in the game just falling short in the 6-9 loss. Horkey was able to hold a Warrior offense, who average over seven runs a game, to just three earned runs in 9.1 innings of play.

SMSU
Southwest Minnesota State went 3-1 over the weekend in two Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheaders on Sunday and Monday versus Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State to improve to 14-14 overall, 7-9 in the NSIC.
 Jennifer Johnson (IF, 5-4, Jr., R/R, Omaha, Neb. / Papillion LaVista South) was red-hot this past weekend as she collected eight hits, two doubles, a grand slam and eight RBIs in 11 at-bats. Johnson, who also walked three times, finished the four games with a .727 batting average and a 1.273 slugging percentage. In SMSU’s 8-6 win over Bemidji State in game two, Johnson led SMSU to victory by going 2 for 3 with three RBIs. Johnson hit a grand slam to boost SMSU to a 10-0 (5) win over Minnesota Crookston the day before -- she finished the game 1 for 1 with 4 RBIs and two walks and a run scored.
 Katie Herron (20, P, 5-6, Fr., R/R, Brooklyn Park, Minn. / Champlin Park) recorded SMSU’s first shutout of the season and her first career complete game shutout in her first career start as she pitched five shutout innings to defeat Minnesota Crookston 10-0 (5). Herron appeared in two games with one start and finished with a 2.21 ERA in 6.1 innings pitched.
 SMSU will conclude its stretch of six games in three days tomorrow with a NSIC doubleheader versus Augustana from the Morningside Little League Complex in Sioux City, Iowa.

Sioux Falls
#6 Bailey Bouman (P/UTL, S/R, 5-9, Jr., Pipestone, Minn. (Pipestone Area) help Sioux Falls (13-17, 8-8 NSIC) to a 4-0 week as she played a role in three of those wins. She went 2-0 with a 0.61 ERA and seven strikeouts over 14.2 innings in three appearances this past week. She also picked up her first save of the season and limited opposing hitters to a .200 batting average (11-for-55) for the week. Bouman earned wins in the Cougars’ series sweeps of both Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. On Sunday, she worked all nine innings, allowing one run on five hits with six strikeouts in USF;s 2-1 extra-innings win versus the Beavers. Bouman also went 2-for-3 at the plate in the game and was credited with three assists. The Pipestone product returned to the circle on Monday, where she dominated Minnesota Crookston from the first pitch in the Cougars’ 10-0, five inning rout of the Golden Eagles. Bouman scattered five hits, striking out one and walking none in the mercy-rule shortened contest. A strikeout pitcher by trade, she was ground ball machine versus the Golden Eagles, inducing nine ground outs and just five fly-outs. Bouman also tossed 0.2 innings of one hit relief in game two against Crookston to earn the save and preserve a 7-5 victory for the Cougars. Bouman ranks in the top-20 in the NSIC in both earned run average (2.90) and opponents’ batting average (.266). She is also batting .375/.447/.375 on the year with 15 hits in 40 plate appearances.
USF (13-17, 8-8 NSIC) snapped a five-game conference-losing streak in a big way, recording sweeps of both Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston to improve to .500 in NSIC action. Both double-headers were played at the Morningside Little League Complex in Sioux City, Iowa due to unplayable conditions in Sioux Falls. In the opening game against BSU, the Cougars scored one run on Kellen Dewey’s big two-out first inning single and senior Katie Larson’s fielder’s choice in the ninth sealed a 2-1 extra innings win when Shelby Thompson beat the tag at home plate. In game two, USF led 5-0 after five innings, only to see its lead erased when the Beavers rallied to tie the game with five runs in the top of the sixth. But USF left fielder Erin Scott delivered a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the inning and starting pitcher Amanda Walters held the Beavers in check in the seventh to preserve the 6-5 victory and give the Cougars their first-ever sweep of an NSIC opponent. The Cougars kept things rolling on Monday, as Bailey Bouman hurled a five-hitter and Shae Reinke knocked in five total runs to propel USF to its second straight sweep of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent. The Cougars flattened Minnesota Crookston 10-0 (five innings) in game one and held on for a 7-5 win in game two. USF will travel to Wayne State today.

St. Cloud State
The St. Cloud State University softball team competed against Minnesota Crookston and Wayne State this past week. The Huskies swept the Golden Eagles in both games and split against the Wildcats. St. Cloud State improved to 23-16 overall and 8-4 in the NSIC. Second baseman Breana Canova had an impressive week for the Huskies. Canova collected ten hits in 17 at bats over the week to hit .588. She led the team in RBI’s as she posted nine RBI’s in four games. The Huskies will return to play Tuesday, April 16 as they take on Bemidji State in the Husky Dome. The games are scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.

 Upper Iowa
Jacqueline Flood (DP/P, 5-8, Fr., Mount Vernon, Ill.) was 6-6 at the plate in UIU’s only two games of the week.  Flood reached base safely in all 8 plate appearances having been hit twice as well.  The freshman scored twice and drove in two runs thanks to a homerun, a double and four singles.  Flood also pitched in game one taking a no-decision after throwing 5.2 innings and allowing four runs, two were earned, on eight hits while striking out three MSU Moorhead Dragons.  
Brooklyn Koranda (P, 5-6, Jr., Maquoketa, Iowa) earned her second win of the season in game two versus the Dragons on Monday.  The Maquoketa, Iowa native posted the victory with a complete game of 5 innings while allowing three runs, one was earned, on six hits while striking out four batters.
 UIU swept MSU Moorhead to improve to 18-12 overall matching their win total of a season ago with 10 games still to play in the regular season.  The wins also returned UIU to .500 in the NSIC (5-5) and a tie for ninth place.  Rachael Anello had a big day with four hits including a triple, a single and a pair of homeruns including a grand slam in the second contest on Monday.  The senior first baseman drove in five and scored four times.  Whitney Williams also recorded four hits and pushed her average above .300.  Williams (.321) reached on four singles and scored three times.  The Peacocks will host Concordia-St. Paul today in Fayette in a double header that was moved south due to field conditions and then welcome in Sioux Falls and Southwest Minnesota State this weekend for a pair of NSIC twin bills.  This weekend is the final weekend scheduled to be at home for UIU this season.

Wayne State
The Wayne State softball team split a doubleheader against St. Cloud State in Omaha Saturday for the Wildcats’ lone games during the week.  WSC had an 11-game win streak snapped in the opener with a shocking 18-0 loss to the Huskies but the “Cats came back to win the second game 6-5.  Freshman outfielder Lexie Loos went 3 for 6 recording hits in both games, going 1 for 3 and 2 for 3 respectively.  Freshman shortstop Sam O’Brien laced a walk-off RBI single up the middle with one out in the bottom of the seventh to help WSC win the second game 6-5.  Sophomore Sara Scheffert won her seventh straight start and improved to 11-3 on the season to win the second game with a complete game effort.  She struck out six while allowing five runs on nine hits in the win.

Winona State
Jessica Kullmann, SS, So., Cottage Grove, Minn. (Park) was outstanding for Winona State in its doubleheader sweep of Northern State, batting .571 with two home runs and seven RBI. Kullmann was 4-of-7 at the plate while also scoring four runs. Kullmann broke game one open with a grand slam while also drawing a bases loaded walk. She went 3-for-4 in game two with two more RBI, including a solo home run. Kullmann had an on-base percentage of .625 while slugging 1.429.
Ashley Walker, P/OF, So., Shakopee, Minn. (Shakopee) pitched a four-hit shutout to beat Northern State Monday. Walker struck out two while throwing her third shutout in her last four outings. The sophomore has allowed just two runs in her last 26 innings of work in the circle. Walker also had an RBI double in the game to help her own cause.



Past Players/ Pitchers of the Week
2/12/13  Player: Britney Hadley, U-Mary
Pitcher: Mandy Greenberg, Minot State

2/19/13 Player: Alicia Meiser, Concordia-St. Paul
Pitcher: Janelle Trautmann - Augustana

2/26/13 Player: Morgan Lintz - Winona State
Pitcher: Julia Nealer - Minnesota Duluth

3/5/13 Player: Kierra Jeffers - Minnesota Duluth
Pitcher - Ashley Kluever - Concordia-St. Paul

3/12/13    Player: Allison Brown - University of Mary
Pitcher - Ashley Kluever - Concordia-St. Paul

3/18/13: Player: Abby Sonners - Minnesota State
Pitcher: Mandy Greenberg, Minot State

3/25/13: Player: Ashley Lewis - Minnesota Duluth
Pitcher: Brooke Redmond - Upper Iowa

4/1/13: Player: Jen Dixon - Minot State
Pitcher: Stephanie Kappes - Concordia-St. Paul

4/8/13: Player: Mikayla Hogan - St. Cloud State
Pitcher: Ashley Walker - Winona State

4/16/13: Player: Jennifer Johnson - Southwest Minnesota State
Pitcher: Jenelle Trautmann - Augustana