MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead softball will kick off their 2023 season in Aberdeen, S.D., this Friday and Saturday as they participate in the Presentation Dome Tournament, hosted by Presentation College. 

The Dragons will begin the season Friday with a pair of games, first against Valley City State University at 3 p.m. MSUM will turn around and play Morningside University at 5:30 p.m. on Friday as well. 

On Saturday, the Dragons will play two more games, beginning the day with Doane University at 10 a.m. MSUM will then play the University of Jamestown at 12:30 p.m. to conclude the first portion of the tournament. The Dragons will play four more games in Aberdeen next weekend as part of the Presentation Dome Tournament #2. 

MSUM was selected 15th in the NSIC preseason coaches' poll. Junior Reece Dahl was named MSUM's pitcher to watch following a sophomore season where she fanned 21 batters with a 2.96 WHIP. Freshman Azalya Lopez was tabbed as MSUM's player to watch. Lopez is a true freshman from Corona, Calif., who had a stellar career with the OC Batbusters Salmeron club team. In her final year of club ball, Lopez pitched 205 innings with a stingy 1.91 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP. The freshman also won 14 games on the mound to go along with a .422 batting average, 15 home runs and 59 RBIs. She is expected to pitch and play infield for the Dragons in 2023. 

Lopez is one of seven freshman expected to make an impact for the Dragons in 2023. Key returners from last year's team include sophomores Ella Holiman, Emma Abbott, Annika Norman, Hannah Losee, Avery Steffen and Eliyah McCarthy, all of who played in 40 or more games for the Dragons last season. The only returning junior from last season (outside of Dahl) is Evey Evans, who struck out 22 batters a year ago. Kiley Washnieski and Jordey Brown-Smith are the lone seniors on this year's club, Brown-Smith hit for a .268 average in 2022. 

MSUM also welcomes in three transfers to the fold in 2023. Pitcher/infielder Kaelyn Leverson from Lewis University, pitcher/infielder Eliya Johnson from Iowa Lakes Community College and outfielder Lizzy Davis from Parkland College. Johnson was an ICCAC First Team All-region in 2021 and 2022 while Davis was a MWAC All-Conference First Team honoree in 2021.

Mike Armitage is in his second season as head coach of MSUM.