The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball team was picked to finish 15th in the Northern Sun Conference preseason coaches poll last week.
Minnesota Crookston enters their second year under Head Coach Travis Owen in 2020. At the plate, senior infielder Mika Rodriguez, the team’s NSIC Player to Watch, returns after hitting .269 with 33 runs scored, 10 doubles, and a team-leading nine home runs. Minnesota Crookston also returns senior Malia Pula, who hit .287 last season with 23 runs scored, 10 doubles, four home runs, and 27 RBIs.
In the circle, the Golden Eagles are led by senior Paige Pitlick, who went 6-21 with a 4.70 ERA in 132.2 innings pitched. Pitlick had 100 strikeouts to just 50 walks on the year, and was selected as the program’s NSIC Pitcher to Watch for the 2020 slate. Minnesota Crookston will also rely on newcomers Alina Avalos and Kamryn Frisk in the circle. UMC opens up the season February 8 with a dome game in Minot, N.D., against Bemidji State. The Golden Eagles commence NSIC play March 24 with a doubleheader in Bemidji.
Augustana University, the defending NCAA Division II National Champions, were picked first in the NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches’ Poll with 223 points and 13 first-place votes. They edged out Winona State University, who had 213 points and three first-place votes.
Winona State University’s Ali Nowak was selected as the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, while Augustana’s Ashley Mickschl was selected as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.
Coaches Poll – team (first-place votes) points
1. Augustana (13) 223
2. Winona State (3) 213
3. Minnesota State 186
4. Minnesota Duluth 180
St. Cloud State 180
6. Concordia-St. Paul 152
7. Minot State 129
8. Sioux Falls 126
9. Northern State 105
10. Southwest Minnesota State 99
11. Upper Iowa 86
12. University of Mary 85
13. Bemidji State 51
14. MSU Moorhead 41
15. Minnesota Crookston 36
16. Wayne State 28
