St. Cloud State Softball Set for Busy Week

Wednesday, March 26

St. Cloud, Minn.

2 p.m.

St. Cloud State

Minnesota Crookston

Photo by: Nathaly Delgado

3/25/2025 3:16:00 PM | Softball

Huskies play UMC at home Wednesday, travel to play Augustana Friday, Wayne State Saturday

ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Softball (22-8, 1-1 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) is set to wrap up its four-game homestand on Wednesday against Minnesota Crookston (13-18, 1-3 NSIC) before traveling for its first road Northern Sun games on Friday and Saturday.

First pitches for Wednesday are scheduled for 2 and 4 p.m. in the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, while the Huskies meet No. 10 Augustana (22-6, 4-0 NSIC) at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. at Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. and Wayne State (17-11, 2-2 NSIC) on Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. at the Pete Chapman Softball Complex in Wayne, Neb. (note – due to forecasted weather conditions, the days/times of the doubleheaders against Augustana and Wayne State have changed)

FOLLOW THE HUSKIES
All three doubleheaders will be streamed on the NSIC Network with live stats being provided by each home institution. Links to each coverage option will be available on the SCSU Softball schedule page.

Game 31 vs. Minnesota Crookston (Husky Dome – St. Cloud) – Wednesday, March 26 / 2 p.m. / Live Stream (NSIC Network) / Live Stats
Game 32 vs. Minnesota Crookston (Husky Dome – St. Cloud) – Wednesday, March 26 / 4 p.m. / Live Stream (NSIC Network) / Live Stats
Game 33 @ #10 Augustana (Bowden Field – Sioux Falls, S.D.) – Friday, March 28 / 1 p.m. / Live Stream (NSIC Network) / Live Stats
Game 34 @ #10 Augustana (Bowden Field – Sioux Falls, S.D.) – Friday, March 28 / 3 p.m. / Live Stream (NSIC Network) / Live Stats
Game 35 @ Wayne State (Pete Chapman Softball Complex – Wayne, Neb.) – Saturday, March 29 / Noon / Live Stream (NSIC Network) / Live Stats
Game 36 @ Wayne State (Pete Chapman Softball Complex – Wayne, Neb.) – Saturday, March 29 / 2 p.m. / Live Stream (NSIC Network) / Live Stats

For in-game updates make sure to follow the Huskies on Twitter.

SERIES HISTORY
Minnesota Crookston
The Huskies are 35-2 all-time against Minnesota Crookston. SCSU is on a six-game winning streak against the Golden Eagles and have won 16 of the last 17 matchups (outscoring UMC 132-30), including a sweep of the team's doubleheader in Crookston last season. The Huskies won game one, 7-1, and game two, 3-2.

Augustana
SCSU is 36-80 all-time against the Vikings and Augie is currently on a five-game winning streak against the Huskies. The two teams met three times last year – AU swept the regular season doubleheader, 8-6 and 11-4 and ended the Huskies season in the NSIC Tournament, winning 6-0, after its ace, Grace Glanzer, threw a perfect game.

Wayne State
The Huskies are 25-17 all-time against Wayne State, including 9-1 in the team's last 10 matchups. In that 10-game span, SCSU has outscored the Wildcats, 84-28. SCSU swept the doubleheader last spring, 6-0 and 4-1.

RECORD BOOK WATCH
Senior infielder Maggie Fitzgerald (Oak Lawn, Ill.) has walked 84 times in her career and is just seven away from becoming the program's all-time leader in that category. She would surpass Morgan Emmans (2016-19), who drew 90 base on balls in her career.

LEADING THE NORTHERN SUN
The Huskies rank first among NSIC teams in batting average (.331), on-base percentage (.411), slugging percentage (.506), doubles (54), doubles/game (1.80), RBIs (179), RBIs/game (5.97), runs (198), runs/game (6.60) and sacrifice flies (21 – also leads all of DII).

UNDEFEATED EICKHOFF
Senior right handed pitcher Emma Eickhoff (Becker, Minn.) is perfect on the season (9-0) and is tied for the team lead in wins, appearances (15) and starts (14). She also ranks second in WHIP (1.19), second in innings pitched (68.0), second in strikeouts (55) and third in ERA (2.57). Eickhoff has logged four complete games this season including two shutouts. Her complete games rank second and her shutouts are tied for the most among SCSU pitchers.

BROOKE MAKES IT HO(L)ME(S) A LOT
Sophomore infielder Brooke Holmes (Savage, Minn.) leads the NSIC in hits (47 – tie) and runs (35). She leads SCSU in batting average (.456), on-base percentage (.509), slugging percentage (.738), RBIs (30), RBIs/game (1.00), runs/game (1.17), home runs (six), home runs/game (0.20), total bases (76), times hit by a pitch (3) and assists (50). She ranks second in doubles (nine – tie) and third in stolen bases (five).

MAGNIFICANT MACEY
Right handed pitcher Macey Clark (Winneconne, Wis.) leads the team in wins (nine – tie), complete games (eight), shutouts, (two – tie), starts (14 – tie), appearances (15 – tie), innings pitched (84.2), strikeouts (81), WHIP (1.15) and K/7 inn. (6.7). She also ranks second in ERA (2.15), saves (one), opponents' batting average (.238), K/BB ratio (4.05) and BB/7 inn. (1.65).

JP THE CLOSER
Junior right-handed pitcher Justyce Porter (Kent, Wash.) is tied for first among all pitchers in Division II in saves (five). She also leads the team in ERA (1.68), appearances (15 – tie) and is third in WHIP (1.35).

REESE'S PIECES
Senior catcher/outfielder Reese Holzhueter (Shakopee, Minn.) leads the team in doubles (10), triples (three), stolen bases (seven – tie), doubles/game (0.34) and triples/game (0.10). She also ranks second in batting average (.394), slugging percentage (.577), hits (41), runs (25), total bases (60). Holzhueter is also fourth on the team in on-base percentage (.427).

THE WEISS IS RIGHT
Sophomore catcher/infielder Bethany Weiss (Forest Lake, Minn.) is tied for the team lead in sacrifice flies (three). She is also third in slugging percentage (.540), third in hits (35), third in runs (23), third in home runs (three), third in total bases (54), fourth in batting average (.350), fourth in doubles (eight) and fourth in RBIs (18).

FITZMAGIC
Senior infielder Maggie Fitzgerald (Oak Lawn, Ill.) leads the team in walks/game (0.67) and walks (20). She also ranks second in on-base percentage (.473), second in doubles (eight – tie), third batting average (.360), fourth in hits (32), fourth in total bases (47), fourth in home runs (two – tie) and fifth in RBIs (16).

NSIC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Sophomore infielder Brooke Holmes (Savage, Minn.) was named the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Player of the Week by the league office on Feb. 24. It was the first weekly conference award of her career, and she became the first Husky to earn weekly honors this season.

NSIC Release

PRESEASON POLLING
St. Cloud State was selected to finish seventh in the 2025 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches' Poll, as announced by the league office on January 23. Additionally, senior infielder Maggie Fitzgerald (Oak Lawn, Ill.) was named the Player to Watch, and junior right-handed pitcher Justyce Porter (Kent, Wash.) was named the Pitcher to Watch.

Head Coach Mitch Roberts enters his fourth season at the helm of the Huskies Softball in 2025. He has record of 100-64 (.610) and led last year's team to a 30-26 overall record, including 12-16 record in NSIC play, to finish eighth in the standings. The Huskies took down ninth-seeded Sioux Falls in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament, 6-2, before falling to the hosts and eventual champions, Augustana, 6-0 in the quarterfinals.

Fitzgerald enters her senior season with the Huskies with lots of momentum, coming off a career year in 2024. Last season, she set new single-season best marks in games played (55), games started (55), batting average (.316), on-base percentage (.422), slugging percentage (.652), at-bats (155), runs (29), hits (49), doubles (10), home runs (14), walks (29), RBIs (53) and fielding percentage (.993). Fitzgerald ranked tied for third in home runs, fourth in RBIs, seventh in slugging percentage, tied for eighth in OPS (1.077) and tied for 10^th in fielding percentage among NSIC players last season.

Porter looks to build off her strong sophomore season where she appeared in 43 games, making six starts. She owned a 11-5 record with seven saves and one shutout while posting a 2.27 ERA in 138.2 innings pitched. She set new single season bests in appearances, starts, innings pitched, strikeouts (69), shutouts, wins and saves. Porter ranked first in saves, eighth in ERA, 10^th in innings pitched, 10^th in opponents' batting average (.248) and tied for 10^th in wins among NSIC pitchers last season. She was named NSIC Pitcher of the Week once last season.

SCSU returns 14 players from last season's roster – including one graduate student, five seniors, one junior, six sophomores and one redshirt freshman. The Huskies brought in seven newcomers including two junior transfers and five freshmen.

Key returners include senior catcher/outfielder Reese Holzhueter (Shakopee, Minn.), who was named All-NSIC First Team honors and Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) All-Central Region Second team honors as a utility player. In her first season with the Huskies, Holzhueter made an immediate impact while splitting time behind the plate and in the outfield. Other returning starters include sophomores Brooke Holmes (infielder, Savage, Minn.) Bethany Weiss (catcher/infielder, Forest Lake, Minn.) and redshirt sophomore infielder Grace Frechette (Forest Lake, Minn.). In the circle, SCSU also returns senior right handed pitcher Emma Eickhoff (Becker, Minn.).

2025 NSIC Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll
Team (first place votes) Points

Augustana (14) 196
Concordia-St. Paul 174
Minnesota State (1) 163
Minnesota Duluth 157
Winona State 155
Minot State 125
St. Cloud State 116
MSU Moorhead 100
Sioux Falls 86
Southwest Minnesota State 81
Northern State 70
Bemidji State 54
Wayne State 43
Minnesota Crookston 38
UMary 17

NSIC RELEASE

ROBERTS' REMARKS
On his 2025 team outlook...
"We are returning five starters and feel confident about the players stepping into the roles we've lost," said Roberts, "In addition, we've added depth in the circle, which strengthens our overall pitching staff. With solid improvements in all areas, we believe we have the right pieces in place to make a strong push and improve our standing in conference play."

On NSIC Player to Watch Maggie Fitzgerald...
"Maggie brings a presence to the plate and will be a cornerstone of our offensive production this year," said Roberts, "Her experience, professionalism, and strong work ethic have set her up for success this spring. We're excited to see what her senior year has in store and the impact she'll make on the field."

On NSIC Pitcher to Watch Justyce Porter...
"Justyce brings an invaluable quality to our team," said Roberts, "Her uniqueness is key to her consistent success. With her competitiveness and mindset, she excels in high-pressure situations, making her a perfect fit to come in late and close out games. We are excited to see the things she will achieve this year."

WELCOME TO THE PACK
SCSU welcomed seven newcomers over the offseason, including two junior college transfers – right handed pitcher Macey Clark (Winneconne, Wis. / Winneconne HS / Bryant & Stratton – Wisconsin) and infielder/catcher Sydney Roe (Davenport, Iowa / Assumption HS / Kirkwood CC) and five freshman – infielder Grace Dahmen (Jordan, Minn. / Jordan HS), catcher Morgan Honeycutt (Rosemount, Minn. / Rosemount HS), right handed pitcher Madeline Nutter (Elko New Market, Minn. / Lakeville South HS), right handed pitcher Madison Soule (Shakopee, Minn. / Shakopee HS) and infielder Hannah Weckman (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville North HS).

THE SENIORS
Six athletes will compete in their senior campaign in 2025 as fifth year infielder Evy Polsfuss (Apple Valley, Minn.) is joined by true seniors right handed pitcher Emma Eickhoff (Becker, Minn.), infielder Maggie Fitzgerald (Oak Lawn, Ill.), catcher/outfielder Reese Holzhueter (Shakopee, Minn.), right handed pitcher Molly Gross (Columbia Heights, Minn.), and utility Rainna Stangle (Sartell, Minn.).

THE JUNIORS
The lone returning junior on the roster is right-handed pitcher Justyce Porter (Kent, Wash.).

THE SOPHOMORES
Five true sophomores – outfielder Bree Beck (Lakeville, Minn.), outfielder Hannah Harms (Bartlett, Ill.), infielder Brooke Holmes (Savage, Minn.), outfielder Kori Needham (Milan, Ill.) and catcher/infielder Bethany Weiss (Forest Lake, Minn.) are joined by redshirt sophomore infielder Grace Frechette (Forest Lake, Minn.) and redshirt freshman utility Kaylee Collins (Lakeville, Minn.).

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