UMC Softball Picked 16th in NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll

BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team was picked to finish 16^th in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) Preseason Coaches’ Poll released Thursday afternoon. The Golden Eagles are looking to climb up the standings in Head Coach Don Stopa’s second season leading the team.

UMC returns seven starters from a season ago. The Golden Eagles are led by Players to Watch Allison Foley (Sr., SS, Lockport, Ill./Accounting) and Bailey Braatz (Jr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management). Foley had seven home runs, 18 RBIs and a team-leading 25 runs scored last season for Stopa’s squad. Braatz pitched 124 innings and posted two wins and a 5.93 ERA with 49 strikeouts as a sophomore.

In addition to Foley and Braatz, the Golden Eagles return Victoria Bayliss (2B/OF, West Bloomfield, Mich./Elementary Education), who led the team with a .354 batting average. Bayliss had 24 runs scored, 11 doubles and 11 RBI’s. Senior Alexis Khoshaba (Sr., OF, Richmond, British Columbia/Sports and Rec Management) also returns after hitting .281 with seven home runs, a team-leading 30 RBI’s and 20 runs scored.

Coach Stopa has also been able to increase UMC’s roster size from 15 in his first season to 22 to open the 2016 season. Assistant Coach Raylynn McIntosh is in her second season helping out the Golden Eagles.

UMC will open their season Feb. 20 and 21 at the Presentation College Indoor against Valley City State University and Presentation College.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.