NDSU Softball Opens Season Friday

BISON PICKED TO FINISH 4TH IN SUMMIT LEAGUE POLL.

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR)–  NDSU softball is preparing for their season opener this weekend. The Bison finished last season 30-21 and 13-8 in Summit League play. This year, the Herd will look to build on the success of last year’s squad, but will do so without their top hitter Carley Goetschius and their top pitcher Paige Vargas from a season ago.

“I think all of our pitchers have an opportunity to step up and work well together to take up that role,” said senior outfielder Emilee Buringa. “We have a lot of different freshman that can help with Carley. But I think that softball is a team game. It cannot just be defined by one persons successes, so I think that all of us working together will help us fill those gaps.”

NDSU enters the season fourth in the preseason Summit League poll. They sit behind SDSU, Omaha and South Dakota. Head coach Darren Mueller likes the spot his team is at heading into the year and believes his young squad will surprise the league.

“I actually like the fact that we are picked fourth because I do not think anybody knows anything about us,” said Mueller. “I think that is an advantage to us. We are pretty young. We have 14 underclassman. So, I think it is something that will take its ups and downs throughout the year, but by the time we get to conference play, hopefully we can make some people uncomfortable.”

The Bison will open their season this Friday against Furman at 1:30 p.m. They will play a total of 12 games over 10 days in North Carolina.