Softball | 2/13/2018 3:22:00 PM
MOORHEAD, Minn. — The Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team opens the 2018 regular season this weekend at the Minot State Dome tournament. The Dragons will play four nonconference games at the event.
The Dragons will face Minnesota Crookston (8 a.m.) and the University of Providence (Mont.) (10 a.m.) on Saturday. On Sunday the Dragons will face Minot State (12 p.m.) and Providence (2 p.m.).
"We graduated five seniors last year so we are going to look to our freshmen and sophomores to step in and fill many of those roles," MSUM head coach
Kelsey Fehl said. "We're excited to get the season started."
MSUM returns five position-player starters and one pitcher from last year's squad. Sophomore outfielder
Madison Paige led the Dragons in average (.328) and doubles (16) despite missing nine games with an injury. Her 16 doubles are a single-season MSUM record.
Junior
Taylor Roddie is back at shortstop after hitting .314 with seven doubles, four homers and 25 RBI. Sophomore pitcher/infielder
Payton Gaber returns after hitting .317 with four doubles and five RBI.
Senior
Megan Asham started 14 games at catcher last season and hit .308 and will step into the starting catching role this season. Sophomore infielder
Emma Dummer hit .261 with two homers and 14 RBI. Junior outfielder/infielder
Aunica Novacek had two triples (sharing team lead) and six RBI last season
Sophomore
Taylor Kelenic will look to contribute in the outfield. She scored nine runs last season. Junior college transfer Lexie Kennedy will look to contribute in the infield.
Freshman Elizabeth Johnson (infield), Ashley McCance (first base), Kylie Lange (outfield) and Morgan Sanstead (catcher) will look to make an impact this season.
Sophomore
Tori White returns on the mound. She went 4-12 with a 4.03 ERA in 100.2 innings last season. She had eight complete games and one shutout. Gaber was relegated to DH duty last season because of an injury but is expected to contribute on the mound. Freshman Becky Berth also joins the pitching staff after a decorated high school career in Wisconsin.
