Softball | 3/5/2020 4:32:00 PM
MOORHEAD, Minn.—The Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team will head to Florida for the Rebel Spring Games. MSUM will play in both Winter Haven, Fla., and Auburndale, Fla. and will play 10 games over a span of seven days.
MSUM is currently 0-4 this season. The Dragons lost two doubleheaders in their opening weekend on Feb. 29 and March 1. MSUM lost to McKendree 13-5 and 8-3 in Lebanon, Ill. The Dragons then lost to Maryville 5-0 and 11-2 in St. Louis, Mo.
MSUM faces off with Lewis University (4-5) at 3:15 p.m. and California (PA.) (1-5) at 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, March 7. MSUM takes on Pittsburgh-Johnstown (0-0) at 1:30 p.m. and Urbana (Ohio) (0-0) at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, March 8. After a day off, the Dragons matchup with Nyack College (0-0) at 9 a.m. and Edinboro (Pa.) (0-0) at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 10. MSUM then faces Trevecca Nazarene (9-1) at 1:45 p.m. and Salem University (3-4) at 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 12. The Dragons wrap it up with games against Dominican College (0-0) at 1:30 p.m. and Franklin Pierce (10-1) at 4 p.m. on Friday, March 13. All times are central standard time.
MSUM's first opponent, Lewis University, has seen action against a couple of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference teams this season. The Flyers competed in the Minnesota State Dome Tournament, facing both Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State-Mankato. The Flyers beat Concordia-St. Paul 9-7, and fell to Minnesota State 6-4. MSUM's second game of the day comes against California (Pa.). The Vulcans are coming off a 1-5 outing at the D2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Ariz. Their lone win came against Western New Mexico, where they won 5-3.
Pittsburgh-Johnstown, Urbana, Nyack College, and Edinboro have all yet to play a game this year. The Rebel Spring Games will be their first look at official competition this season. Trevecca Nazarene has played 11 games this season, with their first game of the year starting back on January 31. The Trojans are averaging eight runs a game this season. Franklin Pierce has played 11 games since the start of their season on Feb. 22.
In the opening weekend, sophomore Jordie McNeely hit .400 with a home run and four RBI at McKendree and Maryville. McNeilly led MSUM with a .700 hit percentage and a .455 on-base percentage. The Dragons slugged four home runs in their first doubleheader of the year.
The Dragons will look to lean on the experience of their seniors moving forward. The three seniors include first baseman
Payton Gaber, third baseman
Emma Dummer, and outfielder
Madison Paige. Gaber is hitting .273 with a homer while Dummer is hitting .250 with an RBI.
Amanda Reckamp is in her second season as head coach of the Dragons.
Following the Rebel Spring Games, MSUM will play their first games at home. The Dragons will face their crosstown rival Concordia-Moorhead in a non-conference doubleheader on March 21 and 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. MSUM then hosts their first conference doubleheader of the year, facing off with Northern State on March 24 at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
