St. Cloud State Softball Travels to Topeka, Kan. for Washburn Invitational

Friday, February 23

Topeka, Kan.

Noon CT

St. Cloud State

Missouri Western

Photo by: Kaitlyn Zuehl

St. Cloud State Softball Travels to Topeka, Kan. for Washburn Invitational

2/22/2024 4:15:00 PM | Softball

Invitational Homepage Washburn's Visitor Guide

Huskies to play six games over three days

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Softball (6-1, 0-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) heads to Topeka, Kan. to play six games over the next three days in the Washburn Invitational. The Huskies play Missouri Western (noon) and Northwest Missouri State (4 p.m.) on Friday, Maryville (Mo.) (10 a.m.) and No. 18 Pittsburg State (Kan.) (noon) on Saturday and Central Missouri (10 a.m.) and Fort Hayes State (Kan.) (2 p.m.) on Sunday.

TOURNAMENT INFO
Games
Friday, Feb. 23
SCSU vs. Missouri Western – Noon (Gahnstrom Field) (Official live stats |GameChanger live stats | Livestream - $)
SCSU vs. Northwest Missouri State – 4 p.m. (Lake Shawnee 1) (Live stats)

Saturday, Feb. 24
SCSU vs. Maryville (Mo.) – 10 a.m. (Lake Shawnee 2) (Live stats)
SCSU vs. #18 Pittsburg State – Noon (Lake Shawnee 2) (Live stats)

Sunday, Feb. 25
SCSU vs. Central Missouri – 10 a.m. (Gahnstrom Field) (Official live stats |GameChanger live stats | Livestream - $)
SCSU vs. Fort Hays State (Kan.) – 2 p.m. (Lake Shawnee 2) (Live stats)

Field Locations
Gahnstrom Field – 1700 SW College Avenue, Topeka, KS 66621 (Field is just west of 21st and Washburn Avenue, off of 20th & Durow)

Lake Shawnee Softball Complex – 3421 SE Leisure Ln, Topeka, KS 66605

Ticket Information
There will be charged admission of $10 per day at both locations (CASH ONLY).

Invitational Homepage
Washburn Visitor's Guide

A LOOK BACK AT LAST YEAR'S TOURNAMENT
SCSU went 3-1 in last years Washburn Invitational, beating Central Missouri, 3-1, Nebraska-Kearney, 9-4 and Rockhurst (Mo.), 9-3 and losing to Pittsburg State (Kan.), 3-2.

SCSU'S OPPONENTS
Missouri Western
2024 record: 2-2, 0-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA)
2023 record: 37-20, 14-12 MIAA
Leading hitter: Sophomore outfielder/pitcher Kaylea Fessler – 4 games, .429/.692/.429, 1.121 OPS, 3 H
Leading pitcher: Senior Sydney Rader – 1 appearance, 1-0, 7.0 inn., 3 H, 1 R, 5 K, 1.00 ERA, 0.43 WHIP
Head coach: Joe Yegge (third season – 67-42, 31-21 MIAA)
Series history: SCSU leads 13-9

Northwest Missouri State
2024 record: 5-4, 0-0 MIAA
2023 record: 28-24, 11-15 MIAA
Leading hitter: Junior infielder Skylar Pieper – 9 games, .440/.611/.800, 1.411 OPS, 11 H, 9 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI
Leading pitcher: Junior Cassidy Paulson – 3 appearances, 11.1 inn., 17 H, 4 R, 8 K, 2.47 ERA, 1.94 WHIP
Head coach: Naomi Tellez (First season)
Series history: SCSU leads 4-2

Maryville (Mo.)
2024 record: 1-8, 0-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC)
2023 record: 30-21, 15-9 GLVC
Leading hitter: Sophomore infielder/catcher Kaitlyn Wagner – 8 games, .333/.375/.600, .975 OPS, 5 H, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Leading pitcher: Senior Chayse Ramey – 6 appearances, 1-4, 4 CG, 30.2 inn., 32 H, 17 R, 18 K, 2.97 ERA, 1.50 WHIP
Head coach: Courtney Conley (sixth season – 111-89, 61-45 GLVC)
Series history: SCSU leads 1-0

#18 Pittsburg State (Kan.)
2024 record: 9-1, 0-0 MIAA
2023 record: 27-21, 12-14 MIAA
Leading hitter: Sophomore utility Heather Arnett – 10 games, .615/.625/.872, 1.497 OPS, 24 H, 18 R, 2 2B, 4 3B, 7 RBI, 12-13 SB
Leading pitcher: Kiana Pogroszewski – five appearances, 4-0, 2 CG (1 SO), 25.2 inn., 29 H, 11 R, 14 K, 1.91 ERA, 1.21 WHIP
Head coach: Jenny Fuller (third season, 52-47, 19-33 MIAA)
Series history: Tied 7-7

Central Missouri
2024 record: 3-4, 0-0 MIAA
2023 record: 33-21, 16-10 MIAA
Leading hitter: Freshman utility/catcher Taylor Thompson – 7 games, .318/.375/.727, 1.102 OPS, 7 H, 5 R, 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Leading pitcher: Freshman Brooke Weimer – three appearances, 2-1, 3 CG, 23.0 inn., 21 H, 7 R, 22 K, 1.52 ERA, 1.30 WHIP
Head coach: Susan Anderson (18^th season, 504-376, 237-147 MIAA)
Series history: UCM leads 10-6

Fort Hays State (Kan.)
2024 record: 6-2, 0-0 MIAA
2023 record: 31-24, 13-13 MIAA
Leading hitter: Senior infielder Loren Beggs – 8 games, .435/.536/.652, 1.188 OPS, 10 H, 5 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI
Leading pitcher: Junior Savanah Egger – four appearances, 4-0, 4 CG (2 SO), 28.0 inn., 15 H, 8 R, 26 K, .149 OPP/BA, 1.00 ERA, 0.71 WHIP
Head coach: Adrian Pilkington (10^th season – 194-247-1, 96-118 MIAA)
Series history: SCSU leads 4-2

LAST TIME OUT
St. Cloud State Softball resumed its 2024 season with a pair of doubleheaders in Sioux Center, Iowa on Feb. 18-19. The Huskies dropped their first game of the first doubleheader to Upper Iowa, 2-1 before taking the nightcap, 4-3. On Feb. 19, the Huskies swept William Jewell, 2-0 and 4-3.

RECORD BOOK UPDATES
In the Huskies first game of the season, a 19-3 win over Black Hills State a pair of Huskies produced school record performances.

Junior corner infielder Maggie Fitzgerald (Oak, Lawn, Ill.) tied school records for home runs in a game (two) and RBI in a game (seven). She was the first player to have a two home run game since Raven Vanden Langenberg in 2023 and a seven RBI game since Jasmin Estrada in 2021.

Freshman shortstop Brooke Holmes (Savage, Minn.) tied the school record for singles in a game (four) in her first collegiate game. She became the first player to hit four singles in a game since Emily Edgerton in 2010.

NSIC TOP 10 INDIVIDUAL MARKS (AS OF FEB. 22)

1^st – Lydia Krueger - 7 hit by pitch
1^st – Justyce Porter - 4 saves
t-1^st – Maggie Fitzgerald - 3 HR
t-1^st – Reese Holzhueter - 3 HR
t-1^st – Justyce Porter - 0.00 ERA
t-2^nd – Emma Eickhoff - 3 wins
3^rd – Reese Holzhueter - 1.000 slugging %
4^th – Justyce Porter - 1.55 opponents batting avg.
6^th – Reese Holzhueter - 1.481 OPS
6^th – Lydia Krueger - 21 fielding assists
t-6^th – Reese Holzhueter - 1 triple
7^th – Maggie Fitzgerald - .950 slugging %
8^th – Brooke Holmes - 3 stolen bases

NSIC TOP 5 TEAM MARKS (AS OF FEB. 22)

1^st – home runs - 7
1^st – hit by pitch - 9
1^st – fielding % - .981
2^nd – ERA – 1.34
t-2^nd – triples - 2
3^rd – slugging % - .492
4^th – saves - 4
5^th – batting avg. - .338
5^th – on-base % - .403
5^th – stolen bases - 13

NSIC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
St. Cloud State sophomore right handed pitcher Justyce Porter (Kent, Wash.) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Softball Pitcher of the Week on Feb. 20. It was her first NSIC weekly honor this season and of her career. She was the second Husky to earn NSIC weekly award honors after junior outfielder Reese Holzhueter (Shakopee, Minn.) was named Player of the Week on Feb. 5.

Porter earned three straight saves to end the Huskies 3-1 stretch in Sioux Center, Iowa. She appeared in all four games and did not allow an earned run over her 9.0 innings. She struck out five batters and only allowed five hits (all singles) – opponents hit just .129 against her.

This season, Porter has made relief appearances in all seven Huskies games, earning five saves and one win. She has She has not given up an earned run over 16.2 innings, only allowing nine hits with a lone extra base hit. She has struck out nine batters and only walked three. She is 6-for-6 on fielding chances with five assists and one putout for a 1.000 fielding percentage.

Among conference players this season (as of Feb. 20), Porter ranked:

1^st in saves – 4
t-1^st in ERA – 0.00
t-1^st in earned runs allowed – 0
t-3^rd in runs allowed – 1
4^thin opponent batting average – .155
t-5^th in doubles allowed – 1
8^th in hits allowed – 9
12^th in innings pitched – 16.2
t-13th in walks allowed – 3
t-19^th in strikeouts – 9

NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
St. Cloud State junior outfielder Reese Holzhueter (Shakopee, Minn.) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Softball Player of the Week on Feb. 5 for her efforts in the Huskies opening weekend sweep. It was her first NSIC weekly honor this season and of her career.

Holzhueter went 3-for-3 with two doubles and a home run, scoring three runs and driving in three runs made her in her debut for the Huskies. She hit .600 (6-for-10) in SCSU's 3-0 opening weekend. Five of her six hits were extra base hits – three doubles, one triple and one home run. She drove in four runs, walked once and was successful on her lone stolen base attempt. Holzhueter led the NSIC with a 1.400 slugging percentage and a 2.036 OPS.

Among conference players that week (Jan. 29 – Feb. 4) Holzhueter ranked:

1^st in slugging percentage – 1.400
1^st in OPS – 2.036
2^nd in total bases – 14
t-2^nd in triples – 1
t-3^rd in runs – 5 (everyone ahead of her played in more games)
t-3^rd in doubles – 3
t-4^th with teammate Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn.) in batting average – .600
t-4^th in home runs – 1
6^th in on-base percentage – .636
t-8^th in hits – 6
t-8^th in RBIs – 4

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 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.