Conrads, LaPoint earn NSIC weekly honors

Megan Conrads (left) and Sydney LaPoint (right) were named the NSIC Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week Tuesday morning.

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

2/16/2021 11:00:00 AM | Softball

BURNSVILLE, MINN. - The St. Cloud State University could not have asked for a better start to the 2021 spring season. The Huskies scored 67 runs in six games during the Kelly Laas Tournament while surrendering just six to their opponents to open the season with a perfect 6-0 record. Key to St. Cloud State's success were senior third baseman Megan Conrads (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South) and junior pitcher Sydney LaPoint (Green Bay, Wis. / Bay Port) who were named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Softball Player and Pitcher of the Week Tuesday morning.

The cold certainly didn't bother Conrads or LaPoint, as they earned the second NSIC weekly honors of their respective careers Tuesday afternoon. As a hitter, Conrads led the red hot Huskies at the plate, as she hit .733 with 11 hits in 15 at bats. Her entire weekend stat line is equally as mind boggling, as she scored seven runs, led the team with nine RBI, slugged 1.267 with two doubles and two home runs, and was 4-4 on stolen base attempts.

Conrads had several strong individual performances as well, as she went 3-3 with two runs and three RBI twice during the weekend, once against Truman State and again in a 30-6 win over Viterbo. In that 30-6 win, Conrads was 2-2 at the plate and helped St. Cloud State score 18 runs in the second inning, breaking the program record for single-inning runs scored, according to available records.

LaPoint was near perfect in her lone start of the tournament, as she pitched a complete game no-hitter to help the Huskies open the season with a perfect 6-0 record. The junior earned her first win of the 2021 season against Truman State, pitching five complete innings while surrendering no runs, no hits and no walks while striking out 10 batters. Additionally, LaPoint and the entirety of the St. Cloud State pitching staff threw 26 shutout innings before surrendering their first runs in Sunday's win over Viterbo.

The no-no is rather historic, both for the Huskies and LaPoint. While it's the first of LaPoint's already storied career with St. Cloud State, Saturday's no hitter against Truman is the first for any Huskies pitcher since the 2015 season.

St. Cloud State will return to action on Saturday, February 27 when the team faces Minot State in a nonconference doubleheader. Game one is scheduled to begin at 3 p.m. with game two to follow.