(St. Cloud, Minn.) - The University of Minnesota, Crookston's Women's Softball team opened the 2010 season with a pair of non-conference games at the Husky Dome on Sunday. The team fell 9-4 to Dakota State and 6-1 to St. Cloud State.

The Golden Eagles were led by Micki Nogowski (3B, 5-3, SO, Twin Valley, Minn.) who went 3-6 in two games with two RBI, two runs scored and a homerun. Krystal Plouff (OF, 5-2, SO, Forest Lake, Minn.) went 3-8 on the day with a run scored. Stacey Marcum (P, 5-7, FR, Merrill, Wis.) threw six strong innings against SCSU. She struck out seven while only walking one Husky hitter.

Following the games in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Crookston travels to the Cocoa Expo for spring training in Titusville, Fla. The squad will play 10 games from March 12-17 before returning home. The conference season is scheduled to open at home on April 2 and 3 against Augustana College and Wayne State. Game times are scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on April 2 and noon on April 3.

The Golden Eagles have one of the largest rosters in program history this season. The squad welcomes back five returners and adds 10 newcomers, including seven true freshmen.

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

Photo: Micki Nogowski

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).