SIOUX FALLS – Following their nine-game Florida spring break trip, the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (10-8), which has won five of nine games, will travel to Emporia, Kan., to compete in the Emporia State Softball Classic on March 21-23. USF will open up competition on Thursday, March 21 against Northeastern State at 11:30 a.m.  

Weekend Schedule:
Thursday, March 21 vs. Northeastern State (16-11) at 11:30 a.m.
Friday, March 22 vs. Central Missouri (10-8) at 12:30 p.m.
Friday, March 22 vs. Pittsburg State (14-13) at 3 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 vs. Washburn (12-14) at 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 @ Emporia State (6-15) at 5:30 p.m.

Series History vs opponents – 
    vs. Northeastern State, USF leads NSU, 3-1
In their games between these two programs in 2015, USF swept the doubleheader in a pair of close games. USF defeated NSU, 6-5 in the first game before winning the second matchup, 4-1. In 2016, the Cougar offense handled NSU as they posted a 10-2 victory in a five-inning contest. In their most recent contest, NSU gained their first win in the series with a 5-4 win over USF. The Cougars rallied back from a 5-0 deficit in the seventh inning with four runs of their own, but it their comeback effort fell short. 

    vs. Central Missouri, UMC leads USF, 3-0
USF is still looking for their first win against UMC as they head into the fourth contest between these two programs. USF met Central Missouri for the first time a 2015 doubleheader, where they lost the first game, 4-3, before falling in the second game, 6-1. In their most recent game in 2017, USF led early by five runs but lost, 7-4.  

    vs. Pittsburg State, Pitt. State leads USF, 2-1
Pittsburg State holds a 2-1 series lead over USF after taking the first two games in 2014, 14-2 and 5-1. In their most recent matchup in 2016, USF scored five runs in five innings as Alyson Netty capped off the effort with a two-run homerun in a, 6-4 Cougar victory.

    vs. Washburn, Washburn leads USF, 2-0
In USF's Division II program history, the Cougars are still looking for their first win against Washburn. In their first NSIC/MIAA crossover game in 2013, Washburn recorded an 8-0 victory over USF. In 2016, USF fell to Washburn, 5-2. 

    vs. Emporia State, USF leads ESU, 2-1
USF has a, 2-1 lead over ESU in three matchups between these two programs. The first game was held in 2016 in which USF took a 4-3 extra inning victory over ESU. Kerrigan Hoshaw hit the game-winning double in the eighth inning, as well as pitched a complete game effort. USF then split a 2017 doubleheader with ESU as they won the first game, 3-0 before dropping a 4-1 decision in game two. 

Emily Hove showcases power in Florida, wins NSIC Player of the Week
A senior from Omaha, Neb., Hove batted .355 over nine games in last week's Florida spring break trip, going 11-of-31 at the plate. Hove drove in 12 runs while scoring eight with a pair of doubles, a triple, and five home runs as USF went won five of nine games during the week. She also owned a .968 slugging percentage with 30 total bases and a walk. The 30 total bases, the five home runs and 12 RBI led the NSIC last week.

Following her standout performance in Florida Hove was awarded the SIC Softball Player of the Week honors on March 18. This is Hove's first career NSIC Player of the Week honor and was the second USF player this season to be recognized.

On the season, Hove is batting .320 with 17 hits in 57 at bats. She has recorded three doubles, one triple, and six homeruns with a team-high 19 RBI. Hove holds a .702 slugging percentage, as well as a .311 on-base percentage while also scoring 10 runs for the Cougars. 

Freshman standouts Swift and Straight enjoying stellar starts
Freshman Lexie Swift has been a force at the plate during her freshman campaign, posting a team leading .796 slugging percentage with five doubles, two triples and two homeruns in 49 at-bats. Swift is also hitting .490 at the plate with 24 hits in 49 at bats, while driving in seventh RBI. Swift has drawn 13 walks and holds a .609 on-base percentage while scoring a team-high 17 runs on the year. 

Freshman infielder Kylan Straight has started nine games for USF and hit her stride during the Florida trip, leading off for USF in their last eight contests. On the year, Straight has gone 12-of-29 at the plate for a .414 batting average. She has five RBI with seven runs scored with a .414 on-base percentage with a team leading six stolen bases on seven attempts. 

Mickelson and Nieveen add experience
Junior outfielder Frankie Mickelson, who has started in 18 contests this season, is hitting .239 with 11 hits in 46 at bats. She has recorded five runs and five RBI with a .250 slugging percentage. All-league infielder Sydney Nieveen is hitting .327 with eight RBI through 18 games. Nieveen has scored 13 runs with an on-base percentage of .426 on the year. Emmie Uitts also has a pair of homeruns as she has five RBI on the year with a .400 slugging percentage. 

Mathews and Hoshaw anchor Cougar pitching staff
Courtney Mathews, a junior right hander from Lee's Summit, MO., who was named the NSIC Pitcher of the Week in an announcement by the league on Feb. 5, has been the ace in the rotation for USF so far this season. Mathews has a 5-3 record in 11 appearances and eight starts with four complete games and one shut out in 50.2 innings pitched. Mathews has posted a 2.35 era and has held opponents to a .284 batting average. On the season, Mathews has given up 57 total hits and recorded 32 strike outs while giving up only eight walks. 

Senior Kerrigan Hoshaw has had a solid start to the season on the mound posting a 3-3 record in nine appearances and six starts. She holds a 4.49 era and has held opponents to a .288 batting average. She has pitched 39 innings and has recorded two complete game efforts. Hoshaw has stuck out 28 batters while allowing 16 walks on the season. 

Preseason Forecast - USF picked 8th in NSIC Poll
The Cougars, which have had 30 or more wins five straight years, were picked eighth in the NSIC Preseason Coaches Poll which was released Jan. 23 by the league office. USF received 135 points and finished just behind Concordia-St. Paul, which earned 140 points for seventh. The 2019 NSIC Softball Tournament will consist of the top ten teams in the NSIC final standings competing in a double elimination format on May 2-4 at the RYFSA Complex in Rochester, Minnesota. USF's players to watch included pitcher Kerrigan Hoshaw and infielder Sydney Nieveen.