Softball picked sixth in NSIC preseason poll

Friday, February 1

St. Cloud, Minn.

3:30 p.m.

St. Cloud State

University of Nebraska at Kearney

Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane

1/23/2019 10:05:00 AM | Softball

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The St. Cloud State University softball team was once again picked to finish in the top echelon of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) the upcoming 2019 season. After a supremely successful 2018 in which the team posted a 35-19 overall record with a 20-10 mark in conference play, St. Cloud State is expected to make it to the NSIC tournament for the third straight season, as it was picked to finish sixth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches poll released Wednesday morning.

The Huskies return a core nucleus of starters from a team that finished fourth in the NSIC and ninth in the region in 2018. In total, seven of St. Cloud State's nine regular starters are back in 2019, including Second Team All-NSIC honorees Morgan Emmans (Blaine, Minn. / Mounds Park Academy) and Haley McFarlane (Swisher, Iowa / Cedar Rapids Prairie). Senior pitcher Kate Kopeck (Lumsden, Sask. / Lumsden) is back and healthy after missing the second half of 2018 due to injury, as is fellow senior Bradi Yost (Parkersburg, Iowa / Aplington-Parkersburg) who went 9-1 in NSIC play last season, and sophomore Kylie Thomsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove). However, it's not just the returners that will make the Huskies a force to be reckoned with in 2019. Seven first years join St. Cloud State's line up as well, giving the team a significant amount of depth at all positions.

Meet the 2019 St. Cloud State softball team (in 280 characters or less):

5 – Emma Murphy (So.; Pitcher; Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater)
Appeared in eight games with three starts as a pitcher. Recorded the first win of her career against Wayne State on April 29. Finished the season with a 1-2 record and 4.27 ERA.

6 – Haley McFarlane (So.; Middle Infielder; Swisher, Iowa / Cedar Rapids Prairie)
2018 Second Team All-NSIC. In 44 games, compiled a .317 batting average, 32 hits and 39 RBI. Second on the team in home runs (8), RBI (39) and slugging percentage (.634). NSIC Softball Player of the Week on April 17.

7 – Morgan Emmans (Sr.; Catcher; Blaine, Minn. / Mounds Park Academy)
2018 Second Team All-NSIC. 2x Academic All-Conference honoree. Led the team in home runs (11), doubles (19), runs (42), RBI (59) and slugging percentage (.684). No. 2 in the NSIC in overall RBI (59) No. 3 in doubles, No. 4 in home runs (fourth). 2019 Preseason Player to Watch.

8 – Lauren Kirchberg (Fy.; Pitcher; Columbus, Wis. / Columbus)
One of four first years from Wisconsin. Posted combined 22-4 record in 2016 and 2017 at Columbus High School. 2x All-Conference and All-District honoree. 2017 Second Team All-State. 2016 Conference Pitcher and Player of the Year.

9 – Cassie Francesconi (R-Jr.; Outfield; Schomberg, Ontaio / Emily Carr Secondary School)
Appeared in 38 games with 38 starts as the center fielder. Hit .200 during the season with 12 hits in 60 plate appearances. Commited just two errors.

10 – Maya Keating (Jr.; Infield; Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton-Warrensville)
Played and started all 54 games in 2018 at second base. Lefty slapper. Led the team in batting average (.379) and hits (64). Second on the team in at bats (169), OBP (.435), runs (40) and stolen bases (13). Recorded 136 putouts with 94 assists.

11 – Alexis Jacobs (Jr.; Infield; Woodbury, Minn. / Woodbury)
Played and started all 54 games at third base in 2018. Compiled a .285 batting average with 51 hits in 179 plate appearances, 26 RBI and four home runs. Second on the team in doubles (11). Recorded a team-leading 107 assists. St. Cloud State Athlete of the Month: May 2018.

12 – Alexandra Pinkowski (Fy; Outfield; Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake)
One of two freshman from Prior Lake. Four-year letter winner. 2x All-Conference and All-Section honoree. Team captain 2018. Minnesota All-Star Series participant. Hit .465 in 14 games as a senior.

13 – Sydney Trees (Fy.; Infield; Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake)
One of two freshman from Prior Lake. Multi-year letter winner in softball. 3x All-Conference winner. All-Section honoree. Led the Lakers to the No. 1 ranking in Class AAAA. Top Slugger Award with her club team.

14 – Megan Conrads (So.; Infield; Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South)
Played in 53 games with 51 starts in 2018. Hit .285 with 41 hits, 27 runs, six doubles, one triple and two home runs. Led the team in walks (24) and putouts (341). Committed just five errors at first base.

16 – Bradi Yost (Sr.; Parkersburg, Iowa / Aplington-Parkersburg)
Appeared in 24 games with 12 starts as a pitcher. Compiled a 10-2 overall record and went 9-1 in NSIC play. Surrendered just 35 runs in 88 innings pitched while holding opposing hitters to a sub .300 batting average. Had a team-low ERA of 2.47.

18 – Jasmin Estrada (Fy.; Infield; Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield)
First year infielder from Litchfield, Minnesota. 4x letter winner, All-Conference, All-Area and All-Section honoree. 4x Offensive Player of the Year for the Dragons. 2018 First Team All-State. No. 3 all-time in Minnesota high school softball in home runs.

19 – Kylie Thomsen (So.; Pitcher; Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove)
Appeared in 35 games with 27 starts. Made 19 starts as a pitcher. Finished the season with a 12-8 record and 4.04 ERA. Led SCSU's pitching staff in innings pitched (140.1) and complete games (11). No. 3 in the team in batting average (.326) with 29 hits in 89 plate appearances.

20 – Cassie Foytik (Fy.; Catcher; Green Bay, Wis. / Preble)
One of four freshman from Wisconsin. Earned All-Conference, All-Section and All-State honors during her time at Green Bay Preble. Nike "I am Sport" award recipient. Hornet Heartbeat Award Winner. Enjoys watching Disney and Pixar movies.

21 – Raven Vanden Langenberg (Fy.; Infield; Seymour, Wis. / Seymour)
One of four freshman from Wisconsin. 4x Team MVP and All-Conference honoree. Earned All-District and All-Area honors freshman through senior year. Intends to major in nursing at SCSU.

22 – Kate Kopeck (Sr.; Pitcher; Lumsden, Sask. / Lumsden)
2x Academic All-Conference honoree. 2018 Butch Raymond Scholarship Award winner. 2018-19 NSIC Miles Brand Award Recipient. NSIC Player of the Week April 24. 2019 NSIC Pitcher to Watch. Posted a 12-7 record in 2018 with 10 complete games and three shutouts. Led team with 87 Ks.

23 – Brooke Bowlin (So.; Outfield; Chaska, Minn. / Holy Family)
Played and started in 54 games as a freshman in 2018. Hit .313 as a slap hitter with 52 hits in 166 at bats. Led SCSU in stolen bases (20) and stolen base attempts (22). Ranked top-5 on the team in runs (32), hits (52), batting average (.313) and total bases (58).

24 – Sydney LaPoint (Fy.; Pitcher; Green Bay, Wis. / Bay Port)
One of four freshman from Wisconsin. 4x letter winner in softball. Bay Port High School record holder in career strikeouts (658). 3x All-Conference, 3x All-District, 2x All-State honoree. 2018 Wisconsin State All-Star Game Participant.

Head coach: Paula U'Ren:
Begins her 22^nd year as SCSU head softball coach. Compiled a 682-467 record (.594) in 22 years. Coached five All-Americans. Guided St. Cloud State to a 35-19 overall record with a 20-10 mark in NSIC play in 2018.

The Huskies will open the season on Friday, February 1 when they host the University of Nebraska-Kearney at 3:30 p.m. in the Husky Dome.