Softball | 2/14/2022 2:33:00 PM
MOORHEAD -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team will travel to Aberdeen, S.D. this week to compete in the Presentation Dome Tournament to start their 2022 campaign. The Dragons will face off against Dickinson State at 4 p.m. and Belluvue University at 6 p.m. on Friday, then Mayville State at 2 p.m. and Valley City State at 6 p.m. on Saturday this weekend.
The Dragons are led back onto the field by seniors Shay Weber, Jordey Smith, and Anna Lang. Weber and Smith return as starting outfielders while Lang is the team's most experienced pitcher.
Weber hit .276 and led the team with eight stolen bases and 10 sacrifice hits. Smith hit .268 with five RBI. Junior Kiley Washnieski appeared in 24 games a year ago and also saw time on the mound. Sophomore Reece Dahl led the team with two shutouts a year ago along with a 5-14 ERA.
Newcomers for the Dragons are freshmen Ella Holiman, Emma Abbott, Annika Norman, Hannah Losee, Avery Steffen, Piper McKibben, Eliyah McCarthy, and Jessie Undem. Sophomore Evey Evens is also transfer for the Dragons.
Mike Armitage enters into his first season as head coach at Minnesota State University Moorhead.
About Dickinson State
The Blue Hawks opened this season 2-2 at a Presentation Dome tournament. They lost to Northern State and Jamestown but beat College of St. Mary and Dordt. Madison Stephens is hitting .571 with two triples while Ari Martinez is hitting .308 with a homer and two RBI. On the mound Martinez is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA. Kristen Fleury enters into her 13th season as head coach at Dickinson State University.
About Belluvue University
The Bruins opened the season at 3-2 at a tournament in Allen, Texas. Liana McMurtry leads Bellevue with a .571 average to go with double and a triple. Reese Floro is hitting .471 with a homer and five RBI. On the mound Cory Carrillo is 1-0 with a 1.31 ERA in 10.2 innings. Michala Cimino enters into her 13th season as head coach at Belluvue University.
About Mayville State
The Comets open their season this week at the Dome tournament. They are led back onto the field by Graduate Student Rebecca McKown and Seniors Jocelyn Ontiveros, Mackenzie Duval, Tai Yamamoto, and Annika Seedborg. Newcomers for the Comets include freshmen Mackenzie Hughes, Payton Doerksen, Erika Howell, Miquela Pino, and Alyssa Avila. Vance Christianson enters into his first year as head coach at Mayville State.
About Valley City State
The Vikings opened the season at 2-2 at the Minot Dome tournament. Alyssa DePoorter is hitting .556 with a homer and five RBI while Riley Perryman is hitting .455 with a homer and six RBI. Joelle Lamontagne is 1-1 with a 5.65 ERA. Mark Mattson enters his third season as head coach at Valley City State.
