SIOUX FALLS – Carrying the momentum of their upset win earlier this week, University of Sioux Falls Softball is set to host two more conference doubleheaders this weekend. The Cougars (17-16, 4-4 NSIC) welcome MSU Moorhead (7-18, 2-6 NSIC) for games on Friday, April 7, beginning at 3 p.m. Closing the weekend, USF will host Northern State (19-12-1, 4-3-1 NSIC) on Saturday, April 8 at 1 p.m.
 
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USF splits with Minnesota State, records first win over MSU in program history
With a walkoff 5-4 win in game two, USF Softball accomplished something they hadn't done since joining the NSIC five years ago, beat NSIC perennial power Minnesota State. The Cougars had lost nine straight games against 2017 NSIC favorite MSU and came up one run short in game one. Francesca Mickelson drove in Jasmine Ragusi for the game-winning run, capping off a four-run comeback in the last two innings. Mickelson finished the game with two hits and two RBI while Ragusi went 2-for-3 with an RBI. Courtney Mathews recorded the win, allowing three runs on a fifth-inning homerun, while Breanna Black scattered three hits over her three innings of work. The Cougars nearly snapped their winless streak against MSU in game one, but their three-run deficit was too much to overcome. Emily Hove and Kenna Heath each hit a homerun in game one.
 
Series history: USF leads MSU Moorhead 7-1
With six straight victories, Sioux Falls holds a 7-1 edge in their series against MSU Moorhead. The Cougars and Dragons split the first doubleheader of the series and have since reeled off six straight victories. In that span, USF has outscored MSU Moorhead 57-11, including two shutouts and three games ending by run rule. At home, the Cougars are 3-1 and all eight games have been NSIC regular season contests. Last season, Kerrigan Hoshaw threw a one-hit shutout for a 10-0 victory and Breanna Black earned a 13-1 win in game two. The Cougars tallied 26 hits between the two games while the USF pitchers surrendered just five total.
 
Series history: Northern State leads 5-3
After two victories last season, Sioux Falls narrowed their series deficit to 3-5 against Northern State. At home, the Cougars are 1-3 against the Wolves and all eight contests have come in NSIC regular season play. Last year, USF edged Northern State 3-1, with all three runs coming in the final three innings. Kerrigan Hoshaw recorded the win, allowing just six hits while striking out eight batters. In game two, Breanna Black weathered NSU's offensive attack to earn the victory. Brittany Hoffman hit a two-run homerun that helped propel the Cougars to victory.
 
Freshman Heath leads Cougars in batting average
Earning a spot in the starting lineup with her pinch-hit performances, freshman infielder Kenna Heath's bat has stayed hot as a full-time starter. Heath has gone 25-for-65 for the Cougars' top batting average at .385 this season. She has four doubles and hit her first career homerun in Tuesday's 3-2 loss to Minnesota State.
 
Ragusi and Hoshaw provide power in heart of USF lineup
Starting all but one game in her first season with the Cougars, catcher/designated player Jasmine Ragusi has been an offensive force. Ragusi is leading the team with 22 runs batted in and 14 extra-base hits. Her .327 batting average is second only to Heath and her 33 total hits are second to Emma Schifferle. Fellow heart of the order hitter, Kerrigan Hoshaw is having a great season for the Cougars. Hoshaw is batting .274 (19-67) with a team-high six homeruns and team-leading .612 slugging percentage. Combined, Ragusi and Hoshaw have 10 of the Cougars' 19 homeruns this season and nearly a third of the team's RBI with 42 this year.