Softball closes regular season with USF, SMSU

Friday, April 26

St. Cloud, Minn.

2 p.m.

St. Cloud State

University of Sioux Falls (S.D.)

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

4/25/2019 4:04:00 PM | Softball

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – It started in early February. Now, we're here.

In the past 85 days, the St. Cloud State University softball team has somehow managed to cram in 50 games, two major road trips, and 26 contests in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play. After days 85, 86 and 87, the regular season will officially come to an end for the Huskies, as they are set to host the University of Sioux Falls at 2 and 4 p.m. on Friday, April 26 before closing out the year with a 12 and 2 p.m. doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State University on Sunday, April 28.

St. Cloud State will be making its outdoor debut at Selke Field on Friday, as the team's previous home doubleheaders have all been played in the comforts of the Husky Dome. The dome was officially taken down on Wednesday, when the forecast looked much more promising and included a bit more sun and warmth.

The weather has also impacted the Huskies schedule for this weekend. St. Cloud State's doubleheader against Sioux Falls was originally scheduled for Saturday, April 27 but was pushed to Friday due to the impending weather and gloomy forecast. Sunday's doubleheader against SMSU will remain as scheduled, with first pitch of game one slated for 12 p.m.

Live stats will be available for both Friday and Saturday's doubleheaders, and updates can also be found on St. Cloud State's official Twitter page (@SCSUHUSKIES_SB).

Here are the five things to know before the final weekend of the regular season:

129 – This weekend will make the end of an era for the Huskies, as seniors Kate Kopeck (Lumsden, Sask. / Lumsden), Morgan Emmans (Blaine, Minn. / Mounds Park Academy) and Bradi Yost (Parkersburg, Iowa / Pakersburg-Aplington) are set to play in the final four regular season games of their careers with St. Cloud State. In four years with the Huskies, these three seasons have compiled an overall record of 129-85 with a 65-47 mark in NSIC play. These three have won 35+ games in back-to-back seasons and have made three appearances in the NSIC tournament.

4 – Speaking of the NSIC tournament, St. Cloud State is currently ranked fourth in the conference standings thanks to its 18-8 record in conference play. The Huskies enter the weekend riding a two-game win streak as well, as they swept Northern State in their weekday doubleheader, as they scored 14 runs in two games to win by scores of 7-0 and 7-2.

3 – St. Cloud State currently has three players hitting over .400 entering the final weekend of the regular season. First year slugger Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield) leads the way with an impressive .417 batting average thanks to her team-leading 65 hits in 156 at bats. Not far behind are slappers Brooke Bowlin (Chaska, Minn. / Holy Family) and Maya Keating (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton-Warrensville). The speedy duo has totaled a combined 126 hits in 314 at bats for the Huskies for a combined batting average of .401. Bowlin is currently just a tick above Keating in the statistical standings, as she's hitting .403 compared to Keating's .400.

7/10 – The Cougars and Mustangs both have something to play for this weekend, as they are fighting for a spot in the NSIC Tournament, which will take place May 2-4 in Rochester, Minnesota. Currently, Sioux Falls is in a three-way tie for seventh place, meaning if the season ended today, the Cougars would be one of the 10 teams playing in the conference tournament next weekend. Southwest Minnesota State might be on the outside looking in. The Mustangs are currently in a tie for 10^th with the University of Mary, meaning a win against St. Cloud State or Minnesota-Duluth this weekend would boost their chances of making the tournament for the second consecutive season.

2-2 – This isn't the first time the Huskies have waited until the very end of the season to make their true home debut. Last year, St. Cloud State was forced to do the same thing, as a mid-April blizzard forced the team to play all but four of its home games in the Husky Dome. Same story, different year in 2018. However, the Huskies are hoping for a better record at Selke Field in 2019, as they went 2-2 in their four true home games last season.