St. Cloud State Softball Heads South for MIAA/NSIC Crossover Challenge

Friday, March 15

Joplin, Mo.

2:00 P.M. CT

St. Cloud State

Missouri Southern

St. Cloud State Softball Heads South for MIAA/NSIC Crossover Challenge

3/14/2024 5:17:00 PM | Softball

Huskies set for final five nonconference games of 2024

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Softball (16-5, 0-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) travels to Joplin, Mo. and Pittsburg, Kan. to play five games over the next three days in the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA)/NSIC Crossover Challenge. The Huskies play a single game against (RV) Missouri Southern (18-5, 3-1 MIAA) on Friday before playing No. 11 Central Oklahoma (16-6, 4-0 MIAA) and Nebraska Kearney (12-11, 1-3 MIAA) in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday respectively. Friday's first pitch is set for 2 p.m., Saturday's games are set for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. while Sunday's will take place at 10 a.m. and noon.

EVENT INFO
Games
Friday, March 15
SCSU at (RV) Missouri Southern – 2 p.m. CT (Joplin, Mo.) (Official Live stats | GameChanger live stats & stream)

Saturday, March 16
SCSU vs. #11 Central Oklahoma – 2 p.m. CT (Pittsburg, Kan.) (Official live stats | GameChanger live stats & stream)
SCSU vs. #11 Central Oklahoma – 4 p.m. CT (Pittsburg, Kan.) (Official live stats | GameChanger live stats & stream)

Sunday, March 17
SCSU vs. Nebraska Kearney – 10 a.m. CT (Joplin, Mo.) (Official live stats |GameChanger live stats & stream)
SCSU vs. Nebraska Kearney – Noon CT (Joplin, Mo.) (Official live stats |GameChanger live stats & stream)

Click the link below for the event homepages.

Missouri Southern Page
Pittsburg State Page

OPPONENTS QUICK SCOUTING REPORT
(RV) Missouri Southern
2024 record: 18-5, 3-1 MIAA
2023 record: 41-15, 21-5 MIAA
Leading hitter: Sophomore infielder Taylor Nuckolls – 20 games, .421/.455/.649, 1.104 OPS, 18 R, 24 H, 2 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 27 RBI, 2 BB, 10-11 SB
Leading pitcher: Junior Avery Tallman – 10 APP/5 GS, 2 CG, 1 SHO, 5-0, 29.2 IP, 1.89 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, .237 OPP BA, 28 H, 13 R, 8 ER, 5 BB, 10 SO
Head coach: Haille Blackney (6^th season – 127-89-1, 55-42-1 MIAA)
Series history: SCSU leads, 5-2

#11 Central Oklahoma
2024 record: 16-6, 4-0 MIAA
2023 record: 54-9, 23-3 MIAA
Leading hitter: Sophomore outfielder Rylee Lemos – 22 games, .370/.446/.726, 1.172 OPS, 26 R, 27 H, 6 2B, 4 3B, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 7 BB, 12-12 SB
Leading pitcher: Junior Terin Ritz – 12 APP/11 GS, 4 CG, 59.0 IP, 1.54 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, .231 OPP BA, 52 H, 20 R, 13 ER, 8 BB, 31 SO
Head coach: Cody White (11^th season – 403-146, 197-47 MIAA)
Series history: SCSU trails, 0-1

Nebraska Kearney
2024 record: 12-11-1, 1-3 MIAA
2023 record: 16-34, 7-19 MIAA
Leading hitter: Sophomore outfielder Mary Chvatal – 16 games, .394/.476/.521, .997 OPS, 23 R, 28 H, 2 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 14 RBI, 8-9 SB
Leading pitcher: Freshman Daniella Morilla – 13 APP/9 GS, 2 CG, 6-3, 55.2 IP, 3.02 ERA, 1.74 WHIP, .265 OPP BA, 59 H, 31 R, 24 ER, 37 BB, 4 SO
Head coach: Katie Ackerman (5^th season – 71-99, 31-53 MIAA)
Series history: Tied, 9-9

LAST TIME OUT
St. Cloud State Softball played eight games at THE Spring Games during its spring break trip to Auburndale, Fla. The Huskies went 7-1, beating Thomas More (Ky.) twice, Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.), Montana State Billings, Staten Island (N.Y.), Quincy (Ill.) and Clarion (Pa.), falling Northwood (Mich.).

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 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 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.).

For all the latest on St. Cloud State Softball, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.