Softball to host in state opponents Saturday, Sunday

Saturday, April 13

St. Cloud, Minn.

12 p.m.

St. Cloud State

Concordia University, St. Paul

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

4/12/2019 4:15:00 PM | Softball

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The weather outside in St. Cloud, Minnesota is certainly frightful and it seems like spring will never come for the St. Cloud State University softball team. However, thanks to the ever-capable Husky Dome, the Huskies will continue their trek through the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) season this weekend, as they host Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State this upcoming Saturday and Sunday.

The three in state opponents were all hit by the same April snowstorm that sent a lot of softball fans into déjà vu. In 2018, a similar blizzard hit the state of Minnesota during the exact same weekend, forcing fans to wonder if spring will ever come. While the situation doesn't seem as dire as it did in 2018, St. Cloud State, Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State will have to settle for another weekend in a dome and hope outdoor softball is just around the corner.

Both doubleheaders are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. with the second game starting around 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Live stats and video will be available, and score updates can be found on the Huskies official Twitter page (@SCSUHUSKEIS_SB).

Here are the five things to know before this weekend's NSIC doubleheaders

.500 – It's a big weekend for St. Cloud State softball, as the team is scheduled to face two teams projected to finish well in the NSIC standings. After struggling to start the conference season, Minnesota State has tallied four consecutive wins to improve to 7-7 in NSIC play this season. Concordia-St. Paul has also been one of the top teams in the conference all season long thanks to the team's hot start in NSIC play. The Golden Bears are currently 8-6 and in a three-way tie for fourth in the conference standings.

12 – These upcoming doubleheaders will be the ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth consecutive games the Huskies will play in the comforts of the Husky Dome. Thanks to the latest edition of spring in Minnesota, St. Cloud State and MSU-Moorhead were forced to play Wednesday's doubleheader in St. Cloud, Minnesota rather than Moorhead, as originally scheduled. Still, the Huskies are quite comfortable playing in their own dome, as St. Cloud State has compiled an impressive 10-2 record at home this season.

.400 – Since being moved to the leadoff spot in the lineup, senior catcher Morgan Emmans (Blaine, Minn. / Mounds Park Academy) has been a force to be reckoned with for the Huskies. The senior is hitting .400 in the spot with nine runs, four RBI and four walks to her name. She's also a legitimate threat on the bases. Since becoming the leadoff hitter, Emmans has tallied six stolen bases on six attempts, including a 3-3 mark against MSU-Moorhead Tuesday, April 10.

14 – Emmans isn't even the hottest hitter in St. Cloud State's batting line up right now. That title belongs to sophomore utility player Megan Conrads (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South) who was named the NSIC Softball Player of the Week for her outstanding play April 2-7. Conrads is currently riding a 14 game hit streak and has tallied at least one hit in every conference game she's appeared in this 2019 season. More impressively, Conrads is hitting .525 against NSIC opponents this season, which ranks thing behind two hitters from nationally ranked Augustana, with 21 hits in 40 at bats.

69 – The Huskies really like to take the lead early this season, as they've scored an impressive 69 runs in the first inning of games. They also very much enjoy hitting the long ball. In games where St. Cloud State batters have not hit a home run, the team is 8-9, but in games where they hit one home run, the Huskies are 9-1 and are 10-1 when they tally two or more in the same game.