SIOUX FALLS – After opening 2-2, the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team will continue a busy schedule as they travel to the Emporia State – 5 State Classic for five games which begin on Saturday, Feb. 22. Due to weather and a reshuffling of the schedule, games began today and will continue through Monday at softball fields in Emporia, Kan., and Topeka, Kan. Both Emporia State and Washburn University will host the games.

Schedule Breakdown --
The Cougars, directed by second year Head Coach Shannon Pivovar, will open play against Emporia State (5-5) at 5 pm on Saturday at Turnbull Field at the Crusler Complex in Emporia, Kan. On Sunday, Feb. 23, USF will face Missouri Western (2-3) at 8:30 am at the Washburn University Softball Complex in Topeka, Kan. Later on Sunday, the Cougars face Washburn (5-7) at 12:30 pm, also at the Washburn University Softball Complex. USF will conclude the trip with two games back in Emporia at Turnbull Field as they face Missouri Southern at 10 am on Monday, Feb. 24 and then will play Emporia State again at 2 pm to conclude the tourney. Live stats for the games in Emporia, Kan., are available by clicking here. Live stats for the games in Topeka, Kan., are available by clicking here. After this weekend's trip, USF will be back in Missouri for five more games on Feb. 28-March 1 at the Washburn Invite in Topeka, Kan.

Breaking Down USF through four games
Through four games, USF has earned two wins in high-scoring affairs with an 11-4 decision over Metro State on Feb. 1 and an 8-7 win over Colorado School of Mines on Feb. 2. USF lost the opener to Metro State by a 4-3 decision in nine innings. CSM also defeated USF, 7-3, on Feb. 2 to close out USF's opening season four-game triangular in Colorado.

USF's offense, which ranks second in the NSIC with a .348 batting average, is led by sophomore outfielder Lexie Swift, who has eight hits in 19 at bats for a .421 average. She has nine total bases, .474 slugging mark and a .450 OBP with a steal in four games. Freshman Shayla Running has had a fast start with five hits in 11 at bats with two runs, five total bases, .455 slugging and .455 OBP. In total, USF has 10 different players hitting over .300. The Cougars have home runs from sophomore Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag (.500, 3 games, three hits, HR, 2 RBI) and senior shortstop Lindsey Mossman, who is hitting .385 with five hits in 13 at bats in four games. Mossman has a .615 slugging mark as she has eight total bases and a .529 OBP. Junior infielder Cassie Van Beek is hitting .385 with five hits and is tied with senior Sydney Nieveen for the team lead in RBIs with four. Junior catcher Emmie Uitts is hitting .400 with a .500 slugging mark and .455 OBP.

USF pitching staff, which is 10^th in the NSIC with a 3.95 ERA, is led by a four-person contingent. Freshman Karington Kadel has a 1.59 ERA with one appearance in which she tossed 5 2/3 innings and allowed just an earned run on eight hits. Senior Sydney Nieveen is 0-1 with a 4.32 ERA in two appearances. She has five strikeouts and allowed four earned runs. Sophomore Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag is 1-0 with a 4.50 ERA with two appearances and one start. She has allowed three earned runs in six innings and has two strikeouts. Freshman Hanna Cress is 1-1 with an 8.64 ERA with five strikeouts.

Looking at the opponents
Emporia State (vs. USF, 5 pm, Saturday, Feb. 22; 2 pm, Monday, Feb. 24, Emporia, Kan.)– Fourth-year Head Coach April Rosales (90-93) has led ESU to a 5-5 record. They lost to Maryville, 2-0, on Feb. 21 but will also face Minnesota Duluth on Feb. 21 before the games with USF.  As a team, they are hitting .339 while giving up a .296 average to opponents. Hannah Seeby leads the offense by hitting .448 in nine games with four home runs and 13 RBIs. Sydney Righi is 2-0 with a 1.73 ERA with 11 strikeouts in four appearances and three starts. USF leads the series, 2-1, with a 3-0 on Feb. 24, 2017.  USF also lost 4-1 on Feb. 24, 2017 but took a 4-3 decision in the first meet on March 18, 2016.

Missouri Western (vs. USF, 8:30 am, Sun., Feb. 23, Topeka, Kan.) – The Griffons are directed by 18-year Head Coach Jen Bagley Trosster, who earned her 600^th win with a 7-3 win over Concordia St. Paul at the Emporia 5-State Tournament on Feb. 21. She is a four-time MIAA Coach of the Year. The Griffons stand 2-3 but ended a three-game losing skein after the win over CSP today. As a team, MWSU is hitting 2.62 with a 3.63 team ERA. Kelly Uthe leads the pitching attack with a 1-1 record, 2.00 ERA, with nine strikeouts in three appearances and two starts. Rachel Stewart is hitting .556 to lead the offense. USF-MWSU series record is tied at 3-3 but the Griffons won the last encounter, 6-2, on Feb. 24, 2019 in Joplin, Mo. USF's last win was 9-8 on Feb. 23-2019 and they also took a 4-2 decision on Feb. 23, 2018. MWSU won the first-ever meeting, 7-4, in Joplin, Mo., on Feb. 28, 2016.

Washburn (vs. USF, 12:30 pm, Sunday, Feb. 23, Topeka, Kan.) – Directed by fourth-year Head Coach Brenda Holaday (96-77), the Ichabods stand 5-7 as the tournament begins. They are led by Winter Nenry on offense and she is hitting .389 with 10 RBI, and 14 hits in 36 at bats. WU, which is hitting .237 as a team, is led on the mound by Raegen Hamm, who is 3-2 with a 1.92 ERA with 34 strikeouts across 10 appearances and five starts. WU has a 2-0 all-time series lead over USF. They took a 8-0 decision in the first meeting on Feb. 24, 2013 in Rochester, Minn. (Winona Dome) and won 5-2 on March, 18, 2016 in St. Joseph, Mo.

Missouri Southern State (vs. USF, 10 am, Monday, Feb. 24, Emporia, Kan.) – Directed by first-year Head Coach Hallie Blackney (formerly of George Washington U.), Missouri Southern State is 5-3 as the tourney begins. They are led on offense by Makaila Leonhart, who is hitting .500 with 13 hits, 13 runs, two home runs and seven RBI. Emily Harris is hitting .450. As a team, MSSU is batting .338 while giving up a .268 average. On the mound, Mikaela Cox is 2-2 with a 3.10 ERA with nine strikeouts in six appearances (two starts). MSSU has a 5-0 series lead vs. USF. They won 6-4, on Feb. 25, 2019, in the last meeting at Joplin, Mo. USF also lost 4-1 on Feb. 25, 2019; 2-0 on March 4, 2018; 11-8 on March 17, 2017 and 3-2 on Feb. 27, 2016.