Game Time... The Northwestern College Softball team will be on the road this weekend for back-to-back doubleheaders against College of Saint Mary and No. 20 Morningside. Game time is set for 3 and 5pm on Friday, April 23rd in Omaha, Neb. The double header on Saturday, April 24th will begin at 1pm in Sioux City, Iowa. 

    Follow the College of Saint Mary games: Watch 
    Follow the Morningside games: Watch | Live Stats

All Time... The Red Raiders hold a 14-8 advantage over the College of Saint Mary flames dating back to 2004. In 2019, the teams split, Northwestern winning with a score of 8-6, and losing 5-7. The Raiders trail in the rivalry against Morningside, 9-27. Northwestern dropped both games in 2019, 1-2 and 1-5. 

Scouting Reports...
    College of Saint Mary Flames: 2-12 (11th), 7-24                Head Coach: Carolyn Todd Bray (6th year)

The College of Saint Mary Flames enter the double header in 11th place in the GPAC with a record of 2-12, and an overall record of 7-24. The Flames have only won two games in the month of April, splitting games with Briar Cliff on Sunday, April 23rd, breaking a seven game losing streak. They were picked 10th in the preseason conference poll.

Head Coach Carolyn Todd Bray is in her sixth season at College of Saint Mary. Prior to College of Saint Mary's, Bray spent almost ten years coaching in Red Wing, Minnesota, and then was an assistant at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota until 2015. The Flames have made two trips to the Great Plains Athletic Conference Postseason Tournament under Bray's leadership.

        By the Numbers (GPAC Rank)
        Batting Average: .272 (12th)
        Runs / Game: 4 (12th)
        Hits / Game: 7.19 (12th)
        Stolen Bases: 7 (12th)
        ERA: 6.1 (11th)
        Opponents batting average: .314 (10th)
        Opponent Runs / Game: 6.94 (11th)
        Opponent Hits / Game: 8.28 (7th)

        Leaders (GPAC Rank)
        Alexis Howe: .362, 34 hits, 14 RBIs
        Abby Straight: 22 runs, 16 RBIs, 105.1 IP (3rd), 78 Ks (10th)
        Taelar Solano (all-conf): .300, 12 runs

    No. 20 Morningside College Mustangs: 13-1 (1st), 35-4                 Head Coach: Jessica Jones-Sitzmann (22nd year)

Leading the GPAC, the No.20 Morningside College Mustangs have a conference record of 13-1, and an overall record of 35-4. Their only conference loss coming from Briar Cliff on April, 17th. The Mustangs were picked to win the GPAC in the preseason poll, and will play Dordt on Friday, April 23rd, before facing the Raiders on Saturday. 

Entering her 22nd season as head coach, Jessica Jones-Sitzmann in the winningest coach of any sport in Morningside history with a 728-279 career record, .657 winning percentage. She was the assistant coach for the Mustangs for four years before taking over the head role. Six-time conference coach of the year, Jones-Sitzmann has led Morninside to 14 30-win seasons, nine NAIA tournaments, eight regular-season championshps, and eight GPAC post-season tournament championships. 
       
        By the Numbers (GPAC Rank / NAIA)
        Batting Average: .339 (4th)
        Runs / Game: 7.49 (2nd/9th)
        Hits / Game: 9.26 (5th)
        Stolen Bases: 48 (5th)
        ERA: 1.91 (1st)
        Opponents batting average: .210 (1st)
        Opponent Runs / Game: 2.13 (1st)
        Opponent Hits / Game: 4.92 (3rd)
       
        Leaders (GPAC Rank / NAIA)
        Morgan Nixon (all-conf): .407 (7th), 31 runs (9th), 55 hits (1st), 13 HR (T1st/T3rd), 57 RBIs (1st/1st)
        Ellie Cropley (all-conf): .386, 38 runs (2nd), 51 hits (2nd), 10 HR (4th), 35 RBIs (2nd)
        Lexie Stolen (all-conf): .333, 37 runs (4th), 13 HR (T1st/T3rd), 39 RBIs
        Lisa Bolton: 14-1 (2nd), 1.18 ERA (2nd), 101 IP (6th), 86 Ks (8th)

    Northwestern College Red Raiders: 10-4 (3rd), 23-9                Head Coach Shane Bouman (3rd year)

The Northwestern College Red Raiders have a conference record of 10-4, good for third place in the GPAC standings, and an overall record of 23-9. The Raiders won five of their six games last week, sweeping Dakota Wesleyan and Hastings, and splitting with Doane. 

Emily Bosch was named the GPAC Player of the Week for her play against Dakota Wesleyan, Hastings and Doane, the second time the senior catcher has received the weekly conference honor. 

        By the Numbers (GPAC Rank)
        Batting Average: .349 (1st)
        Runs / Game: 6 (7th)
        Hits / Game: 9.44 (4th)
        Stolen Bases: 70 (1st)
        ERA: 2.58 (2nd) 
        Opponents batting average: .243 (2nd)
        Opponent Runs / Game: 3.06 (3rd)
        Opponent Hits / Game: 6.38 (4th)

        Leaders
         Emily Bosch (2x all-conf): .469 (3rd), 35 runs (T6th), 46 hits (7th), 5 HR, 27 RBIs
        Emily Strasser : .393, 4 HR, 22 RBIs
        Jennifer Boeve (all-conf) : .385, 26 runs, 35 hits, 24 RBIs
        Erika McKenney : .365, 4 HR, 24 RBI        
        Samantha Ubben: 7-6, 2.4 ERA (6th), 87.2 IP (10th), 57 Ks
        Kameryn Etherington: 15-3 (1st), 2.41 ERA (7th), 104.2 IP (4th), 118 K's (4th)