Softball returns for doubleheader against SMSU

ST. CLOUD, MINN. - The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) season is fast approaching for the St. Cloud State University softball team. With the conference opener just mere weeks away, the Huskies will get another early preview of a NSIC opponent, as they play host to Southwest Minnesota State University on Friday, March 12 for a quick doubleheader.

Like its doubleheader with Minot State two weeks ago, St. Cloud State's games against Southwest Minnesota State won't count towards the teams' respective conference records. They are simply nonconference games played between conference opponents. The doubleheader will also take place inside the Husky Dome, as Selke Field is not yet playable despite the beautiful spring weather in recent weeks.

The first game of the doubleheader is set to start at 1 p.m. in the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minnesota with game two to follow. At this time, St. Cloud State is allowing family members of both teams to attend games in person with a 150 person limit, as regulated by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). Communication will be sent out to all attendees no less than 24 hours prior to first pitch.

For those who cannot attend the games in person, live stats and video will be available on the Huskies official website www.scsuhuskies.com. Additionally, score updates will be made to the team's Twitter account (@SCSUHUSKIES_SB) when possible.

Here are the five things to know before Friday's doubleheader:

18 - St. Cloud State received 18 votes in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) top-25 poll, leaving the team one vote shy of the No. 25 slot. The Huskies have received votes every week since the preseason poll made its debut in early February, and this week was the closest they've come to cracking the top-25. Additionally, St. Cloud State received votes to end the 2019 season and opened 2020 have received votes as well.

.435 - The Huskies are receiving votes for good reason. They currently lead the nation with a team batting average of .435 with four regular starters batting over .400. Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield) and Megan Conrads (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South) currently lead the team with matching batting averages of .571, as they've both compiled 12 hits in 21 at bats. Raven Vanden Langenberg (Seymour, Wis./ Seymour) enters Friday's doubleheader with a .542 batting average, while Brooke Bowlin (Chaska, Minn. / Holy Family) is hitting .455 with 10 hits in 22 at bats. Additionally, the team ranked second in the country with a .659 slugging percentage.

9 - In fact, all nine of St. Cloud State's regular starters are hitting well over .300 this season, a testament to the team's work with new hitting coach Skip Heagle. As a team, the Huskies have compiled 93 total hits in 214 at bats, and four of their nine starters already have double-digit hits this season. Vanden Langenberg leads the way with 13, while Conrads and Estrada both have 12.

9.75 - With such offensive prowess, it should come as no shock, then, that St. Cloud State has no issues scoring runs. The Huskies rank fourth in the nation in runs per game, averaging 9.75 through eight games. What might be surprising is the team leader in runs scored this season. Known more for her powerful bat than her speed, Estrada currently leads the team in both runs (11) and walks, having been awarded a free base eight times already in 2021.

1.37 - St. Cloud State's pitching staff has also impressed through its first eight games, guiding the Huskies to an 8-0 record with a staff earned run average (ERA) of 1.37. That number currently ranks eighth in the nation and second in the NSIC. Lauren Kirchberg (Columbus, Wis. / Columbus) has pitched the most innings for St. Cloud State this season and posted a .38 ERA in 18.1 innings pitched with a 3-0 record. Kylie Thomsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove Village) has held opponents to 1.75 earned runs a game while pitching 16.1 innings, while Sydney LaPoint (Green Bay, Wis. / Bay Port) has impressed in her return from injury, throwing a no-hitter in her first appearance of 2021.

Bonus number:

1 - Southwest Minnesota State will provide quite the challenge for the Huskies, as the Mustangs lead the NSIC in three separate categories: double plays, sacrifice flies and triples. Like St. Cloud State, Southwest Minnesota State's speed has allowed the team to hit six triples through the first month of 2021, and the Mustangs have additionally hit five sacrifice flies to start the season. It's the team's defense, though, that has impressed through the first few games, as Southwest Minnesota State currently leads the NSIC with four double plays this year.