MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead softball will begin its postseason trek on Thursday, May 2 as the fourth-seeded Dragons take on the fifth-seeded Minnesota State Mavericks. First pitch from Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, S.D., is scheduled for 10 a.m.

Live video and stats will be available at msumdragons.com. Please note that the 2024 NSIC Softball Tournament is a part of the conference's pay-per-view pilot project. 

The 2024 NSIC Softball Tournament will have a 10-team single elimination format over four days played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Bowden Field will open for spectators one hour prior to the first game of each day. NO pets are allowed in Bowden Field, service animals are welcome. Spectators are NOT allowed to bring coolers into Bowden Field. Concessions will be available with cash & credit card options for payment.

MSUM completed the regular season with a 32-18 overall record and a 19-9 NSIC ledger. The Dragons earned the fourth seed via tiebreaker over the Mavericks as MSUM swept the regular season series between the two programs. The 32 wins in 2024 is the most since 2007 with MSUM's 19 conference wins being a new program record. 

In The Circle

Azalya Lopez leads a stingy Dragon staff that bolsters a collective 3.46 ERA while holding batters to a .286 batting average this season. Lopez has had one of the best seasons by a Dragon pitcher in recent memory, tallying 18 wins with a 2.04 ERA and 127 strikeouts. She currently sits one win shy of matching the single-season school record held by Julie Vancura (2007). Lopez has hurled a team-high 140.2 innings and holds opponents to a .236 batting average. The sophomore also holds an impressive 1.12 WHIP in her innings pitched this year. 

Teagan Clemmons has emerged as another reliable arm for the Dragons, working towards a 9-6 overall record as a true freshman. The Las Vegas, Nev., native holds a 3.50 ERA in 88 innings pitched while striking out 61 batters. Clemmons has three saves this year in relief and is superb in her control, only surrendering 20 walks in 2024 for a 1.59 WHIP. Evey Evans has also seen solid time in the circle for MSUM, holding a 3-4 record with two saves and a 3.02 ERA. 

At The Plate

The Dragon bats have come to life in NSIC play this season as the Dragons are hitting 10 points higher in league competition compared to the season overall. Chloe Makinney leads the team in overall batting average with a .336 mark which includes 40 hits and 17 RBIs. Makinney is also lethal on the bases, stealing 11 bags in 11 attempts for MSUM. Lopez has upped her game at the dish over the last two months, bringing her season average to .321. The sophomore has a team-high 50 hits with 30 runs batted in this season. 

Annika Norman's bat has been sneaky solid all year for MSUM as the junior holds a .317 average for the season with 45 total hits and 18 RBIs. Norman has been dangerous in NSIC play this year, hitting for a .389 average with 12 of her 18 RBIs coming against league opponents. Evans is coming off a stellar final week of the regular season as she hit for a .583 average with six RBIs. In total, Evans holds a .312 average with 29 RBIs and 43 total hits. The senior is hitting .311 with a .541 slugging percentage in NSIC games. 

Teams cannot forget about the sensational sophomore Mack Gallagher, who has one of the top power sticks in the league. Gallagher has hit for a .283 average in 2024 with 41 hits and a team-high 34 RBIs. The Frankfort, Ill., native also bolsters a team-best 12 doubles and six home runs this season as the sophomore has taken off in NSIC games. Gallagher is hitting .346 in league games with all six of her home runs coming against NSIC teams. She also showcases a 1.059 OPS in conference games this season. Gallagher sits two home runs shy of tying the all-time program record held by Amanda Moore (19).

In The Field

MSUM finished the regular season with the second-best fielding percentage in the NSIC with a .970 mark. The league's top fielding team, St. Cloud State, was just a hair above the Dragons at .971. The Dragons have committed a total of 43 errors this season compared to their opponent's 62. Makinney, Teagan Pranchke, Avery Steffen, Hannah Losee, Brynna Farman, Grace Oeltjen and Reece Dahl all feature 1.000 fielding percentages this season. In conference play, Makinney, Lopez, Pranchke, Losee, Dahl and Kaelyn Leverson hold perfect marks in the field. 

Mike Armitage is in his third season as MSUM's head softball coach.