Game Time... The Northwestern College softball team embarks on a pivotal four-game stretch to close the regular season this weekend. The Red Raiders will host College of Saint Mary (Neb.) on Friday night, April 26, for senior day, and will then head to Fremont, Neb. for a doubleheader against 22nd-ranked Midland on Saturday. 

Follow the CSM games at the following link:  Watch Now | Live Stats

Follow the Midland games at the following link: Watch Now!

All-Time...Northwestern is 13-7 all-time against College of Saint Mary, dating back to the 2002 season. The Red Raiders swept the Flames last season (3-1, 3-0). Northwestern is 40-28 all-time against Midland since the 1992 season. The Red Raiders won three of five match-ups played last season, splitting a doubleheader during the regular season before going 2-1 in the best of three GPAC Championship.

Scouting Reports...

    College of Saint Mary Flames: 7-11 (9th), 14-26        Head Coach: Carolyn Bray (4th year)

The Flames have dropped four of their last five games heading into the weekend, losing to Bellevue (1), Hastings (2) and splitting a doubleheader against Concordia last time out, 10-2 (W) and 9-1 (L). They are one game in back of Doane for the eighth and final spot in the postseason tournament at 7-11, 14-26 overall. 

Coach Bray, in her fourth season as the head of the CSM softball program, returns six starters and 10 players from a 2018 team that finished ninth in the GPAC at 5-15, 14-28 overall. 

By the Numbers (GPAC rank)
     4.1 runs / game (10th)        5.2 runs vs (8th)                  
     7.2 hits / game (9th)           7.7 hits vs (7th)
    .274 BA (9th)                      .296 BA vs (6th)
    17 HR (6th)                         29 HR vs
    2/8 stolen bases (12th)       56/66 SB vs
    4.65 ERA (9th)
    201 K's (3rd)
    119 BB (10th)
    
    Individual Leaders (GPAC Rank)
    Brittany Banks (2x all-conf) - .405 (7th), 31 runs (6th), 15 2B (1st), 6 HR (4th), 19 RBI
    Alicia Baca - .378, 18 runs, 11 2B (9th), 19 RBI
    Whitney Chamberlain (all-conf) - .308, 19 runs, 3 HR, 21 RBI
    Abby Straight - .278, 16 runs, 3 HR, 17 RBI; 2-9, 5.16 ERA
    Kelsey Goodban - 12-7, 3.36 ERA (8th), 108.1 IP (8th), 107 K's (4th)
    
    #22 Midland Warriors: 17-3 (1st), 27-7        Head Coach: Mike Heard (4th year)

The Warriors have won seven straight and hold a one game lead over Morningside with two to play for the GPAC regular season title. Since losing back-to-back games on April 14 and 16, Midland has swept doubleheaders against Morningside, Doane and Mount Marty, along with a game two win over Concordia. Midland is 27-7 overall and ranked 22nd in the current NAIA Coaches' poll. 

Hired in the summer of 2014, Heard is in his fourth season as the head of the Warriors program after a 10-year stint as the head of a very successful travel program in Nebraska. Heard was named the GPAC Coach of the Year last season after leading Midland to the national tournament and winning the GPAC regular season title. They finished 16-4, 36-17 overall and return eight starters and 13 players from last year's squad. 

By the Numbers (GPAC rank)
    5.4 runs / game (5th)           2.7 runs vs (1st)                  
    8.39.2 hits / game (2nd)      5.2 hits vs (1st)
    .331 BA (1st)                      .203 BA vs (1st)
    26 HR (2nd)                         10 HR vs
    33/39 stolen bases (5th)     12/17 SB vs
    1.92 ERA (1st)
    272 K's (1st)
    45 BB (2nd)
    
    Individual Leaders (GPAC Rank)
    Katlin Anders (2x all-conf)  .533 (1st), 39 runs, 9 HR (2nd), 33 RBI (4th)
    Sierra Athow (all-conf)  .426 (3rd), 27 runs, 3 HR, 30 RBI (6th)
    Bobbi Singleton (all-conf)  .354, 8 runs, 2 HR, 23 RBI
    Angela Brazil  .353, 20 runs, 5 HR (8th), 25 RBI
    Jaylee Hinrich (All-American; GPAC Pitcher of the Year)  18-4 (1st), 1.04 ERA (1st), 205 K's (1st)
    Hailee Fliam  7-3, 3.11 ERA (10th)  72 IP, 51 K's

    Northwestern Red Raiders:  9-9 (T6th), 16-21           Head Coach: Shane Bouman (1st year)

The Red Raiders are tied with Dordt for sixth place in the current GPAC standings with four to play in regular season. They dropped a doubleheader against Mount Marty last time out to fall to 9-9 in the GPAC, 16-21 overall. 

This weekend will be the final regular season games for the three seniors on this year's roster; Madison Beaver, Kelsey Den Hartog and Amber Schubert. This trio has been part of Red Raider teams that compiled a 42-38 GPAC record, winning the postseason title and qualifying for the NAIA Opening Round in 2018. They have helped lead Northwestern to a 95-87 overall record. 

    Madison Beaver - 2x NAIA Scholar Athlete, 2x all-conf.  179 games, 101 runs, 32 2B, 8 HR, 62 RBI, 41 K's
    Amber Schubert (2x NAIA Scholar Athlete) - 43 games, 31 runs, 10 2B, 5 HR, 29 RBI
    Kelsey Den Hartog (2x NAIA Scholar Athlete)  29 games, 6 runs

By the Numbers (GPAC rank)
    5 runs / game (6th)             4.9 runs vs (7th)                  
    7.4 hits / game (8th)           8.3 hits vs (9th)
    .296 BA (7th)                     .302 BA vs (8th)
    12 HR (8)                          16 HR vs
    55/74 stolen bases (2nd)     37/41 SB vs
    3.40 ERA (6th)
    138 K's (10th)
    73 BB (5th)
    
    Individual Leaders (GPAC Rank)
    Jennifer Boeve - .376, 22 runs, 17 RBI
    Amber Schubert - .336, 30 runs (6th), 5 HR (8th), 29 RBI (9th)
    Madison Beaver (2x all-conf.) - .317, 24 runs, 5 2B, 3 3B, 19 RBI
    Emily Bosch (all-conf) .316, 28 runs, 9 2B, 18 RBI
    Emma Schnell - 10-13, 3.18 ERA, 114.1 IP, 28 BB, 62 K's
    Samantha Ubben - 3-5, 3.36 ERA, 77 IP, 61 K's