Saturday, February 3
St. Cloud, Minn.
10:00 A.M. CT
St. Cloud State
vs
Black Hills State (S.D.)
Photo by: Kaitlyn Zuehl
St. Cloud State Softball Opens 2024 Season at Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament
2/2/2024 11:28:00 AM | Softball
Huskies play twice Saturday, once Sunday in the Husky Dome
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Softball will open its 2024 season with three games at the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament over the weekend at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud. The Huskies will play Black Hills State and Sioux Falls on Saturday and Northern State on Sunday. The first pitches are scheduled for 10 a.m. and noon on Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday. The games will be streamed live for free on the NSIC Network (Saturday – 10 a.m. / Saturday – Noon / Sunday). Live stats can be found here for every game except the noon game on Saturday which can be found here.
TOURNEY INFO
2024 KELLY LAAS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 2:
2 p.m. – Black Hills State vs. Northern State (Livestream | Live stats)
4 p.m. – Black Hills State vs. Sioux Falls (Livestream | Live stats)
6 p.m. – Northern State vs. Sioux Falls (Livestream | Live stats)
Saturday, Feb. 3:
10 a.m. – Black Hills State vs. St. Cloud State (Livestream | Live stats)
Noon – Sioux Falls vs. St. Cloud State (Livestream | Live stats)
2 p.m. – Black Hills State vs. Northern State (Livestream | Live stats)
4 p.m. – Sioux Falls vs. Bemidji State (Livestream | Live stats)
6 p.m. – Bemidji State vs. Northern State (Livestream | Live stats)
Sunday, Feb. 4:
9 a.m. – Black Hills State vs. Bemidji State (Livestream | Live stats)
11 a.m. – Sioux Falls vs. Bemidji State (Livestream | Live stats)
1 p.m. – Northern State vs. Sioux Falls (Livestream | Live stats)
3 p.m. – Northern State vs. St. Cloud State (Livestream | Live stats)
Location: Husky Dome - St. Cloud, Minn.
*Note – for non-SCSU games there will be no audio and no scorebug on the streams.
A LOOK BACK AT KELLY LAAS
Last year, the Huskies went 2-2 in the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament beating UMary, 12-0 (5 inn.) and 10-2 and dropping to Bemidji State, 3-1 and Minnesota Duluth 11-1.
SCSU'S OPPONENTS
Black Hills State was selected to finish tied for 11th in the 2024 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 8-36 in 2023. Head Coach Ashlyn Englehorn enters her first year at the helm of the program.
Sioux Falls was selected to finish 11th in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 24-26 overall and 15-14 in the NSIC to place eighth in 2023. Head Coach Erin Bly enters her first year leading the program.
Northern State was selected to finish 12th in the 2024 NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 14-34 overall and 8-20 in the NSIC to place 13th in 2023. Head Coach Ashley Schilling is in her third year guiding the program.
PRESEASON POLLING
St. Cloud State was selected to finish fifth in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office on Jan. 24. Additionally, graduate student outfielder Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn.) was named the Player to Watch and junior right-handed pitcher Emma Eickhoff (Becker, Minn.) was named the Pitcher to Watch.
Head Coach Mitch Roberts enters his third season at the helm of the Huskies program. He has an overall record of 70-38 (.667) and led last year's team to a 34-20 overall record and 16-8 record in NSIC play, finishing tied for fourth.
Weinberger returns to SCSU for a graduate year after starting every game last season. On defense last season, she tallied 46 putouts with two assists for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. At the plate, Weinberger went 63-for-176 for a season batting average of .358, an on-base percentage of .418 while slugging .460. She tallied 31 RBIs, 13 doubles, one triple, and home run. She earned CSC All-District honors, was named a NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction award winner, and an NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence member last season in addition to earning All-NSIC Second Team honors the past two seasons.
Eickhoff looks to build off her strong sophomore campaign a season ago. In her second season with the Huskies last year, Eickhoff served as the Huskies top secondary pitcher. She appeared in 21 games with 13 starts, compiling a 9-2 record with one shutout. She struck out 62 batters over 72.0 innings while allowing just five sacrifice bunts. She posted a 3.69 season ERA. In conference play, Eickhoff was an even bigger threat, going 8-0 against NSIC opponents. Additionally, she was an NSIC All-Academic team member.
ROBERTS' REMARKS
On his 2024 team outlook...
"I am looking forward to the team this year. We are youthful, eager, and possess excellent team chemistry. Our roster has a good balance of experience and young talent, and we look forward to the challenges this upcoming year will bring."
On NSIC Player to Watch Holly Weinberger...
"Holly has a great presence at the plate and leads our offense with an intelligent and gritty approach to her at bats. Holly is a great leader and the type of person you want in your organization. She is a class act on and off the field and is a competitor who plays with joy and passion."
On NSIC Pitcher to Watch Emma Eickhoff...
"Emma has the ability to change speeds and movement that can produce swings and misses. She shows passion for what she does on and off the field. As she enters her third year, we look for Emma to continue developing after another year of pitching experience against the NSIC and ultimately lead our pitching staff."
WELCOME TO THE PACK
SCSU welcomed 14 newcomers over the offseason include six transfers – senior Mckenna Stallings (Milton Freewater, Ore. / Eastern Oregon), juniors Maddie Buchert (West Fargo, N.D. / Saint Benedict), Molly Gross (Columbia Heights, Minn. / Anoka-Ramsey CC), Reese Holzheuter (Shakopee, Minn. / Sioux Falls) and Rainna Stangle (Sartell, Minn. / St. Cloud Technical & CC) and redshirt freshman Grace Frechette (Forest Lake, Minn. / Colorado Christian) – and eight freshmen – Bree Beck (Lakeville, Minn. / South HS), Kaylee Collins (Lakeville, Minn. / North HS), Hannah Harms (Bartlett, Ill. / South Elgin HS), Brooke Holmes (Savage, Minn. / Prior Lakes HS), Miranda Johanek (Green Bay, Wis. / Denmark HS), Kori Needham (Milan, Ill. / Rockridge HS), Bethany Weiss (Forest Lake, Minn.) and Megan Wilcox (Centennial, Colo. / Eaglecrest HS).
THE SENIORS
Six athletes will compete in their senior campaign in 2024 as graduate student Kaitlyn Istanovich (Chisago City, Minn.) is joined by fifth-year Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn.) along with true seniors Lydia Krueger (Appleton, Wis.), Evy Polsfuss (Apple Valley, Minn.), Tenley Quesnell (Boise, Idaho) and Stallings.
THE JUNIORS
The seven juniors are Buchert, Emma Eickhoff (Becker, Minn.) Maggie Fitzgerald (Oak Lawn, Ill.), Holzhueter, Gross, Madison Spah (Ramsey, Minn.) and Stangle.
THE SOPHOMORES
Two athletes make up this year's sophomore class – Kendall Buss (Luverne, Minn.) and Justyce Porter (Kent. Wash.).
SCHEDULE RELEASE
The 2024 schedule was officially announced on Jan. 16. The schedule includes 55 total games including 28 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) games. The Huskies will play a total of 18 home games between the Husky Dome and Selke Field. All NSIC games will be doubleheaders.
After the Kelly Lass Memorial Tournament, SCSU will play 24 consecutive nonconference games outside Minnesota. The Huskies first road trip is to Sioux Center, Iowa to play doubleheaders against Upper Iowa (Feb. 18) and William Jewell (Mo.) (Feb. 19). St. Cloud State will stay in the Midwest, traveling to Topeka, Kan. for a six-game stretch Feb. 23-25.
The Huskies then head south to Auburndale, Fla. for an eight-game spring break trip (March 4-8) before returning to the Midwest for doubleheaders against Missouri Southern (March 15) and Nebraska Kearney (March 17) in Joplin, Mo. and Central Oklahoma (March 16) in Pittsburg, Kan. To conclude the nonconference schedule.
St. Cloud State open its Northern Sun schedule with 20 straight games in Minnesota, starting at Winona State on March 23. The Huskies also head to Minnesota Crookston (April 2), Concordia-St. Paul (April 6), Southwest Minnesota State (April 7), and Bemidji State (April 10). The Huskies will venture out of the state for the first time in over a month to Northern State (April 20) and then will come back to play MSU Moorhead on April 21.
The Huskies will return home for the first time in nearly two months against Wayne State (March 29) and Augustana (March 30). A few weeks later, SCSU will return for a six-game slate over four days as they take on Minnesota State (April 13), Sioux Falls (April 14), and Minnesota Duluth (April 16). St. Cloud State gets to close out its regular season at home against UMary (April 27) and Minot State (April 28).
The 2024 NSIC Tournament will run from May 1-4 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
FULL 2024 SCHEDULE
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Softball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
TOURNEY INFO
2024 KELLY LAAS MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Feb. 2:
2 p.m. – Black Hills State vs. Northern State (Livestream | Live stats)
4 p.m. – Black Hills State vs. Sioux Falls (Livestream | Live stats)
6 p.m. – Northern State vs. Sioux Falls (Livestream | Live stats)
Saturday, Feb. 3:
10 a.m. – Black Hills State vs. St. Cloud State (Livestream | Live stats)
Noon – Sioux Falls vs. St. Cloud State (Livestream | Live stats)
2 p.m. – Black Hills State vs. Northern State (Livestream | Live stats)
4 p.m. – Sioux Falls vs. Bemidji State (Livestream | Live stats)
6 p.m. – Bemidji State vs. Northern State (Livestream | Live stats)
Sunday, Feb. 4:
9 a.m. – Black Hills State vs. Bemidji State (Livestream | Live stats)
11 a.m. – Sioux Falls vs. Bemidji State (Livestream | Live stats)
1 p.m. – Northern State vs. Sioux Falls (Livestream | Live stats)
3 p.m. – Northern State vs. St. Cloud State (Livestream | Live stats)
Location: Husky Dome - St. Cloud, Minn.
*Note – for non-SCSU games there will be no audio and no scorebug on the streams.
A LOOK BACK AT KELLY LAAS
Last year, the Huskies went 2-2 in the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament beating UMary, 12-0 (5 inn.) and 10-2 and dropping to Bemidji State, 3-1 and Minnesota Duluth 11-1.
SCSU'S OPPONENTS
Black Hills State was selected to finish tied for 11th in the 2024 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 8-36 in 2023. Head Coach Ashlyn Englehorn enters her first year at the helm of the program.
Sioux Falls was selected to finish 11th in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 24-26 overall and 15-14 in the NSIC to place eighth in 2023. Head Coach Erin Bly enters her first year leading the program.
Northern State was selected to finish 12th in the 2024 NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll after going 14-34 overall and 8-20 in the NSIC to place 13th in 2023. Head Coach Ashley Schilling is in her third year guiding the program.
PRESEASON POLLING
St. Cloud State was selected to finish fifth in the 2024 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office on Jan. 24. Additionally, graduate student outfielder Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn.) was named the Player to Watch and junior right-handed pitcher Emma Eickhoff (Becker, Minn.) was named the Pitcher to Watch.
Head Coach Mitch Roberts enters his third season at the helm of the Huskies program. He has an overall record of 70-38 (.667) and led last year's team to a 34-20 overall record and 16-8 record in NSIC play, finishing tied for fourth.
Weinberger returns to SCSU for a graduate year after starting every game last season. On defense last season, she tallied 46 putouts with two assists for a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage. At the plate, Weinberger went 63-for-176 for a season batting average of .358, an on-base percentage of .418 while slugging .460. She tallied 31 RBIs, 13 doubles, one triple, and home run. She earned CSC All-District honors, was named a NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction award winner, and an NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence member last season in addition to earning All-NSIC Second Team honors the past two seasons.
Eickhoff looks to build off her strong sophomore campaign a season ago. In her second season with the Huskies last year, Eickhoff served as the Huskies top secondary pitcher. She appeared in 21 games with 13 starts, compiling a 9-2 record with one shutout. She struck out 62 batters over 72.0 innings while allowing just five sacrifice bunts. She posted a 3.69 season ERA. In conference play, Eickhoff was an even bigger threat, going 8-0 against NSIC opponents. Additionally, she was an NSIC All-Academic team member.
ROBERTS' REMARKS
On his 2024 team outlook...
"I am looking forward to the team this year. We are youthful, eager, and possess excellent team chemistry. Our roster has a good balance of experience and young talent, and we look forward to the challenges this upcoming year will bring."
On NSIC Player to Watch Holly Weinberger...
"Holly has a great presence at the plate and leads our offense with an intelligent and gritty approach to her at bats. Holly is a great leader and the type of person you want in your organization. She is a class act on and off the field and is a competitor who plays with joy and passion."
On NSIC Pitcher to Watch Emma Eickhoff...
"Emma has the ability to change speeds and movement that can produce swings and misses. She shows passion for what she does on and off the field. As she enters her third year, we look for Emma to continue developing after another year of pitching experience against the NSIC and ultimately lead our pitching staff."
WELCOME TO THE PACK
SCSU welcomed 14 newcomers over the offseason include six transfers – senior Mckenna Stallings (Milton Freewater, Ore. / Eastern Oregon), juniors Maddie Buchert (West Fargo, N.D. / Saint Benedict), Molly Gross (Columbia Heights, Minn. / Anoka-Ramsey CC), Reese Holzheuter (Shakopee, Minn. / Sioux Falls) and Rainna Stangle (Sartell, Minn. / St. Cloud Technical & CC) and redshirt freshman Grace Frechette (Forest Lake, Minn. / Colorado Christian) – and eight freshmen – Bree Beck (Lakeville, Minn. / South HS), Kaylee Collins (Lakeville, Minn. / North HS), Hannah Harms (Bartlett, Ill. / South Elgin HS), Brooke Holmes (Savage, Minn. / Prior Lakes HS), Miranda Johanek (Green Bay, Wis. / Denmark HS), Kori Needham (Milan, Ill. / Rockridge HS), Bethany Weiss (Forest Lake, Minn.) and Megan Wilcox (Centennial, Colo. / Eaglecrest HS).
THE SENIORS
Six athletes will compete in their senior campaign in 2024 as graduate student Kaitlyn Istanovich (Chisago City, Minn.) is joined by fifth-year Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn.) along with true seniors Lydia Krueger (Appleton, Wis.), Evy Polsfuss (Apple Valley, Minn.), Tenley Quesnell (Boise, Idaho) and Stallings.
THE JUNIORS
The seven juniors are Buchert, Emma Eickhoff (Becker, Minn.) Maggie Fitzgerald (Oak Lawn, Ill.), Holzhueter, Gross, Madison Spah (Ramsey, Minn.) and Stangle.
THE SOPHOMORES
Two athletes make up this year's sophomore class – Kendall Buss (Luverne, Minn.) and Justyce Porter (Kent. Wash.).
SCHEDULE RELEASE
The 2024 schedule was officially announced on Jan. 16. The schedule includes 55 total games including 28 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) games. The Huskies will play a total of 18 home games between the Husky Dome and Selke Field. All NSIC games will be doubleheaders.
After the Kelly Lass Memorial Tournament, SCSU will play 24 consecutive nonconference games outside Minnesota. The Huskies first road trip is to Sioux Center, Iowa to play doubleheaders against Upper Iowa (Feb. 18) and William Jewell (Mo.) (Feb. 19). St. Cloud State will stay in the Midwest, traveling to Topeka, Kan. for a six-game stretch Feb. 23-25.
The Huskies then head south to Auburndale, Fla. for an eight-game spring break trip (March 4-8) before returning to the Midwest for doubleheaders against Missouri Southern (March 15) and Nebraska Kearney (March 17) in Joplin, Mo. and Central Oklahoma (March 16) in Pittsburg, Kan. To conclude the nonconference schedule.
St. Cloud State open its Northern Sun schedule with 20 straight games in Minnesota, starting at Winona State on March 23. The Huskies also head to Minnesota Crookston (April 2), Concordia-St. Paul (April 6), Southwest Minnesota State (April 7), and Bemidji State (April 10). The Huskies will venture out of the state for the first time in over a month to Northern State (April 20) and then will come back to play MSU Moorhead on April 21.
The Huskies will return home for the first time in nearly two months against Wayne State (March 29) and Augustana (March 30). A few weeks later, SCSU will return for a six-game slate over four days as they take on Minnesota State (April 13), Sioux Falls (April 14), and Minnesota Duluth (April 16). St. Cloud State gets to close out its regular season at home against UMary (April 27) and Minot State (April 28).
The 2024 NSIC Tournament will run from May 1-4 in Sioux Falls, S.D.
FULL 2024 SCHEDULE
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Softball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Players Mentioned
C
/ Softball
UTL/INF
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
RHP/UT
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
INF
/ Softball
C
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
1B
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
UTL
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
C/1B
/ Softball
C
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