MINOT, N.D. -- The Minot State softball team will open the 2018 season by participating in the ninth annual Desert Stinger Tournament in Las Vegas, Nev., on Feb. 2-4 at Majestic Park.
The Beavers open the season on Friday (Feb. 2) against Concordia (Ore.) at 1:30 p.m. Minot State will then face Humboldt State at 4 p.m. also on Friday.
Day two of the tournament will see the Beavers play Cal State Dominguez Hills at 1:30 p.m. and Notre Dame de Namur at 6:30 p.m.
Minot State will conclude tournament play on Sunday (Feb. 4) with a game against Stanislaus State at 1:30 p.m.
Minot State finished the 2017 season with a 25-22 overall record and a 15-15 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Beavers qualified for the NSIC Tournament and posted victories over Southwest Minnesota State and St. Cloud State.
The Beavers, who return five starters and eight letterwinners from last season, were picked to finish 11th in the NSIC preseason poll.
Under the direction of first-year head coach
Dave Kivett, the Beavers will be led by junior
Lauren Cowden who is the leading returning batter for Minot State after hitting .359 last season. She also had eight doubles, five triples, two homers and drove in 31 runs.
Senior
Tori Zimmermann, sophomore
Skyla Neubauer and junior
Isis Cabral also return for the Beavers. Zimmermann belted four home runs in 2017 and drove in 30 runs from her catching position, while Neubauer batted .286 with two home runs and Cabral hit .278 and drove in 12 runs.
Minot State will have to replace its entire pitching rotation from last season and heading the list of newcomers on the mound is junior
Laura Mendez.
Tickets for the three-day tournament can be purchased online by visiting the
Desert Stinger Tournament website.
2018 Desert Stinger Tournament Schedule
(Complete Desert Stinger Tournament Schedule)
Friday, Feb. 2 (All Times CST)
Minot State vs. Concorida, 1:30 p.m.
Minot State vs. Humboldt State, 4 p.m.
Saturday, Feb. 3
Minot State vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills, 1:30 p.m.
Minot State vs. Notre Dame de Namur, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 4
Minot State vs. Stanislaus State, 1:30 p.m.
