Softball opens NSIC play at Minnesota-Duluth

Tuesday, March 26

Duluth, MN

12 p.m.

St. Cloud State

University of Minnesota Duluth

Photo by: Kelsey Whaley

3/25/2019 5:07:00 PM | Softball

DULUTH, MINN. – Yes ladies and gentleman, it seems like Mother Nature and the softball gods are actually going to like each other this year. Despite March snowstorms and recent flooding, the St. Cloud State University softball team will open the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) at the University of Minnesota-Duluth on Tuesday, March 26 with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for 12 p.m. at James S. Malosky Stadium in Duluth, Minnesota.

A rarity for late March games, the Huskies and Bulldogs will open the season on time and in the original location, minus a few minor changes. The doubleheader will be played on turf at Minnesota-Duluth's football stadium rather than Junction Avenue Field as originally advertised. The first game of the doubleheader will start at 12 p.m. with the second to follow at roughly 2 p.m.

Fans who cannot make the midday trek to Duluth, Minnesota can follow St. Cloud State via live stats and video. Score updates will also be made on the Huskies official Twitter account (@SCSUHUSKIES_SB).

Here are the five things to know before Tuesday's NSIC opener:

5 – This is the fifth consecutive season St. Cloud State has opened the NSIC season against Minnesota-Duluth, with the Bulldogs holding a 3-5 record over the Huskies in the past eight meetings. However, seven of those late eight games have been won by three runs or less with only one being a total "blowout". Since St. Cloud State won the first game in 2014 by a score of 7-0, the two teams have scored a combined 54 runs, with the Huskies holding a slim 28-26 advantage in the run department.

4^th/6^th – The Bulldogs and St. Cloud State were both picked to finish in the top half of the NSIC in the preseason coaches' poll. After advancing to the NCAA Super Region in 2018, Minnesota-Duluth was pegged to finish fourth, while the Huskies were picked to finish two paces behind in sixth.

700 – With her team's 7-3 win over Washburn on Friday, head coach Paula U'Ren became the first coach in program history to eclipse the 700 wins milestone at St. Cloud State. In her 22 years at the helm, U'Ren has compiled an overall record of 700-473 for a career win percentage of .597.

.358/5.39/3.14 – Despite a 1-3 weekend in Kansas, St. Cloud State still ranks at the top of Division II in several statistical categories. As of March 25, 2019 at 9 a.m., the Huskies ranked fifth in the nation in both team batting average (.358) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (5.39), while their 3.14 stolen bases per game average is the fourth best in Division II.

29 – St. Cloud State also has several individuals raking in the stats this season, including first year designated player Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield). In 24 games, the first year Husky has racked up an impressive 29 RBIs, which leads the NSIC and ranks 35^th in the nation overall.

5 – The Bulldogs struggled to open the 2019 softball season, as they dropped five of their opening six games to the season. However, since dropping an 8-3 decision to Upper Iowa on February 22, Minnesota-Duluth has gone 6-4 with wins over Hillsdale, Merrimack, Purdue Northwest, St. Michaels, American International and Florida Southern. The Bulldogs have also had six games canceled due to rain and snow this season.