SIOUX FALLS – With a program record 12 straight wins in tow, University of Sioux Falls Softball opens their 30-game Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference schedule with three home doubleheaders at Sherman Park. The Cougars (15-8, 0-0 NSIC) host Southwest Minnesota State on Wednesday, March 28 at 2 and 4 p.m. for both teams' conference openers.  Moving their weekend series up a day due to the forecast, Sioux Falls welcomes No. 8 Winona State (23-3, 2-0 NSIC) on Thursday, March 29 at 2 and 4 p.m. then close their busy week against Upper Iowa (13-9, 0-2 NSIC) on Friday, March 30 at 2 and 4 p.m.
 
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Never miss an update for USF Softball by following the Cougars on social media. Check out the twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube accounts for all 17 USF Athletics accounts at usfcougars.com/socialmedia. Live stats for all USF Softball home games are available at usfcougars.com/livestats and links to live stats for all NSIC games are on the USF Softball schedule.  Weather permitting, all USF Softball home games will be streamed for free through Stretch Internet at usfcougars.com/watch and links to away games are on the USF Softball schedule.
 
Cougars sweep Mount Marty and Dakota State to break win streak record
After reeling off eight straight wins to close their trip to the FPX Spring Games in Clermont, Fla., USF kept rolling with four more wins to complete their non-conference schedule. Sioux Falls dropped Mount Marty in consecutive games, 11-0 and 10-2, for their 9th and 10th straight wins, which set a new record for consecutive wins in their six-year Division II tenure. The previous mark was nine straight in the 2014 season. Adding to their win streak, USF defeated Dakota State in a slugfest, 19-8, then used four homeruns in game two for a 7-2 victory. Entering conference play, the Cougars have a 12-game win streak, which is the longest among the 16 NSIC programs.
 
Mossman earns NSIC player of the week honor with offensive outburst
Leading the Cougars to four wins with an impressive .583 batting average, sophomore shortstop Lindsey Mossman earned her first career NSIC player of the week honor. A native of Belleville, Ill., Mossman is the second Cougar to earn the player of the week honor and the fourth USF Softball player to be recognized as player or pitcher of the week by the NSIC.
 
Mossman went 7-for-12 at the plate with six extra-base hits. She recorded four doubles and two homeruns, leading to 17 total bases and a 1.417 slugging percentage. Mossman scored seven of the Cougars' 46 runs over their four victories and drove in six more, combining to be responsible for more than a quarter of USF's runs for the week. She recorded a hit in all four games, including a 2-for-2 effort in game two against Mount Marty then a 3-for-5 outing against Dakota State, which featured two doubles and a homerun. Mossman added her second homerun of the day when USF hit four to complete their sweep of DSU.
 
USF pitching staff finding complementary roles
With varying styles, USF's pitching staff has been a leading force for their 12-game winning streak. Senior Breanna Black leads the team with a 7-2 record, and her seven wins currently ranks eighth in the NSIC. A Mankato, Minn. native, Black struck out a career-best nine batters in her win over Mount Marty last week. The NSIC leader in saves, Courtney Mathews is averaging less than three innings per appearance, but she has been one of the most effective pitchers in the league.  The Lee's Summit, Mo. sophomore has a team-best 2.04 earned run average, which ranks fifth in the NSIC. Her five saves leads the NSIC and is already just two behind Black's USF record for saves in a season. Returning to the circle from injury last week, junior Kerrigan Hoshaw showed her mettle with a complete game victory over Dakota State. She is holding her opponents to a .219 batting average, which ranks sixth in the NSIC, just behind Mathews whose opposing hitters are at .216.