NSU Fastpitch 2001

Game-by-Game Recap

-- 2001 Recap --
Bottomley, Weatherly earn first team all-NSIC Honors

Northern State University's softball team finished their weather-shortened season with a 6-30 overall record and a 2-9 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Wolves went 1-2 in the NSIC Tournament to end their season in early May.

Losing many games by a close margin, the Wolves proved they could play with some of the more powerful teams in the region by defeating South Dakota State 5-4 on April 29.

Aside from the win over SDSU, the season was highlighted with junior infielder Kristen Bottomley (Rapid City, S.D.) and freshman third baseman Kacie Weatherly (Pipestone, Minn.) being named to the all-NSIC first team.

Bottomley, who is also an academic all-conference selection, ranked ninth in the NSIC and second on her team in conference batting average, hitting at an impressive .412 clip during league play. For the season overall, Bottomley batted .308. Playing both infield and outfield positions during the season, she also led the team in sacrifice hits (6) and was second in on-base percentage (.368). A three-year starter, Bottomley has proven to be the model of durability during her career, playing in every game since her freshman season. That's 99 straight games.

Weatherly ranked fourth during the NSIC league season in slugging percentage (.806), fourth in RBI (12), fifth in hits (16), sixth in batting average (.444) and third in homeruns (2). Overall on the season, she led the Wolves in homeruns (3), was second in slugging percentage (.462), RBI (14) and total bases (42), and fourth in on-base percentage (.316). Weatherly earned a starting spot right away with the Wolves but started slow while experiencing her first in-game action at the NCAA II level, going her first nine games without a hit. After that she exploded, hitting .333 the rest of the season.

2001 Fastpitch Game-by-Game Recap

Note: For boxcores go to Stats and click on 2001 Statistics.

MARCH
10    @ U. of Mary (Indoor)     Bismarck, ND
      Minot State U.                       W, 10-6
      U. of Mary                           L, 0-8
17-18 @ USD Tournament (Dome) Vermillion
   17 Briar Cliff College                  L, 1-6
   17 South Dakota State U.                L, 1-9
   18 University of Mary                   L, 1-10
   18 University of South Dakota           L, 4-9
   28 Valley City State U.                 L, 1-6
   28 Valley City State U.                 W, 5-2

APRIL
4     @ South Dakota State                 L, 0-8
4     @ South Dakota State                 L, 1-2
5     UNIVERSITY OF MARY                   L, 2-5
5     UNIVERSITY OF MARY                   L, 3-5 (8 inn.)
13-14 @ SDSU Tournament         Brookings
   13 Missouri Southern State College      L, 0-4
   13 Minnesota State University-Mankato   L, 3-5
   13 Pittsburg State University           L, 1-9
   14 University of South Dakota           L, 3-5
   14 South Dakota State University        L, 3-6
18    @ Wayne State                        L, 3-6
18    @ Wayne State                        L, 2-7
20    CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL                   L, 3-7
20    CONCORDIA-ST. PAUL                   L, 3-4 (8 inn.)
21-22 @ NSIC Crossover          Morris, MN
   21     Minnesota-Crookston              W, 9-0
   21     Minnesota-Morris                 W, 21-2 (5 inn.)
   21     Bemidji State                    L, 2-4
27    WINONA STATE                         L, 0-4
27    WINONA STATE                         L, 1-4
28-29 @ MSU-Mankato Tournament  Mankato, MN
   28     University of North Dakota       L, 2-10
   28     Minn. State University-Mankato   L, 1-10
   28     University of South Dakota       L, 3-7
   29     St. Cloud State University       L, 0-2
   29     South Dakota State University    W, 5-4
30    @ Southwest State                   L,4-6
30    @ Southwest State                   L,2-3

MAY
5-6   @ NSIC Conference Tourney Winona, MN
  5      Minnesota-Morris              W, 8-0 (6 inn.)
  5      Concordia -St. Paul           L, 0-5
  5      Minnesota State-Moorhead      L, 1-5

Head Coach:       Paula Krueger (4th season)
Assistant Coach:  Joe Reints