FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

SOMERS, Wis. (Feb. 18, 2016)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside softball squad flees south this weekend, traveling to Tahlequah, Oklahoma where the Rangers will play five games at the fourth annual NSU Softball Festival.
 
The Rangers open the festival on Saturday with an 11:30 a.m. game against Rogers State University before facing Lindenwood University at 2 p.m. to close the day. On Sunday, UW-Parkside returns to the diamond at 9 a.m. against Midwestern State University and caps off the afternoon with a 2 p.m. showdown against host Northeastern State University. The Green and White close out the event on Monday, playing the host RiverHawks again at 10 a.m. Saturday's contests will be played at Tahlequah High School while Sunday and Monday the Rangers will play on campus at RiverHawks Park.
 
About the Rangers: UW-Parkside (0-4) came up empty handed last weekend inside the Husky Dome in Minnesota, dropping a pair of doubleheaders, including three games by a combined four runs.
 
The Rangers opened the season on Feb. 12, suffering a 9-1 setback to the University of Sioux Falls before stumbling 2-1 to the Cougars in game two. The following day, UW-Parkside went toe to toe with host Saint Cloud State University, tying the opener in the seventh before allowing the winning run in the bottom of the frame on an infield hit in a 5-4 setback. Game two was tied 3-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth before the Huskies pushed a cross a pair of scores, collecting the 5-3 win despite the Rangers outhitting SCSU 8-5.
 
Paige Schmittling highlighted the Rangers' offensive performance in the dome, hitting .500 while Rachel Seefeldt hit at a .400 clip with two RBIs and a home run. Emily Bell and Morgan Sikon are the two other Parkside hitters sporting a batting average above .300, both hitting at a .333 clip after one weekend of action.
 
Carly Dundee handled 12 2/3 innings of the 22 2/3 innings played last weekend, sporting a team-best 3.87 earned run average with six strikeouts and two complete game efforts. Amber Ramos has four strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings of work, limiting opposing hitters to just a .211 average.
 
About the Hillcats: Rogers State (3-6) dropped its first five games of the season but has been on a tear since, winning three of the last four. The Hillcats opened up its home slate on Feb. 9, sweeping Mid-America Christian College 6-3 and 4-3 before earning a split on Wednesday against Missouri Southern State University. Rogers State fell 13-10 in a wild opener before securing the 8-6 decision in the nightcap to salvage the split.
 
As a team, RSU is hitting .311 with Katelyn Gamble leading the way with a .440 batting average along with a team-high 10 runs. Morgan Blanchard sports a .400 average with six extra base hits and a team-high nine RBIs while Katlin Alexander is hitting at a .375 clip.
 
In the circle, Jessica Christian has a team-best 4.54 earned run average, owning a 2-2 record. Rachel Jones leads the team with 15 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings of action while Mayra Helquera has tossed 13 1/3 innings for the Hillcats.
 
About the Lions: Lindenwood (2-3) opened the season in the first weekend of February, winning two of five games at the Gulf Shores Tournament in Alabama. The Lions won their opener 5-4 against McKendree University on Feb. 5 before getting blanked 11-0 by the University of Northern Alabama later in the day. The following day, Lindenwood fell 10-3 to Canadian institution Simon Fraser University and 18-2 to Spring Hill College before capping the trip with a 12-10 slugfest win over the University of Montevallo on Feb. 7.
 
Maria Tippit and Madeline Bohr pace the Lions both hitting .500 on the season while Madison Huot boasts a team-best five RBIs with a .909 slugging percentage.
 
Bethany Fountain sports a team-best 5.07 earned run average, having tossed 9 2/3 innings while Morgan Colvis has a team-best 11 strikeouts in 13 2/3 innings of work.
 
About the Mustangs: Midwestern State (9-7) heads north and crosses the Red River into Oklahoma riding a four-game winning streak. Two of the Mustangs seven defeats have come at the hands of nationally-ranked opposition, succumbing to then No. 1 University of North Georgia 11-6 on Feb. 7 in Gulf Shores, Alabama before falling 9-0 to then No. 12 Saint Mary's University on Feb. 12 in Canyon, Texas. Midwestern State rebounded from the St. Mary's loss the following day, downing Chadron State University (9-7) and Metropolitan State University of Denver (8-5) before capping off the weekend with blowout wins over Adams State University (10-0) and Colorado State University-Pueblo (17-2).
 
Katelyn Vinson is the Mustangs top hitter, sporting a .512 batting average with seven extra base hits and 14 RBIs. Haley Howerton is hitting at a .417 clip with a team0best 15 runs and nine stolen bases with Erin Knox driving in a team-high 15 RBIs.
 
In the circle, Tayler Jerrick boasts a 2.51 earned run average having tossed two complete games and striking out 12. Peyton Helton leads the team in complete games (four), saves (two), innings pitched (48) and strikeouts (28) while Erin Knox owns a perfect 3-0 record in four starts.
 
About the RiverHawks: Northeastern State (5-3) faces Missouri University S&T in a twinbill on Friday before playing host to the weekend's NSU Softball Festival. The RiverHawks finished 2-2 last weekend at the 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Arkansas downing William Jewell College (10-2) and Rockhurst University (7-5) on Friday before dropping games to Truman State University (2-1) and Harding University (4-3) the following day to close the tournament.
 
Kelsey Harmon is the RiverHawks leader at the plate, hitting .450 with five doubles. Jordan Woosley owns a .444 batting average while Ryan Martin has driven in a team-best 13 RBIs.
 
Kayce Wooldridge and Taryn Gray have handled a majority of the pitching duties, tossing a combined 42 1/3 innings. Wooldridge owns a 3-1 record, tossing four complete games with a team-leading 1.05 earned run average with 24 strikeouts. Gray sports a 3.13 ERA with five punchouts and one complete game.
 
Road Warriors: The Rangers will play 20 games prior to the home opener on Mar. 19 against GLVC rival Quincy University. UW-Parkside's road odyssey will involve game in four different states, logging indoor contests in both Minnesota and Illinois along with outdoor games in Missouri and Oklahoma.