SCOUTING THE COUGARS    
Allegheny has yet to play a game in their 2016 campaign as they will open their season in Clermont, Fla. Last season, the Gators finished with a 14-15-1 overall record. The team will return one all-conference player to the lineup in shortstop Jessica Zavolta. The sophomore led her team last year with a .934 fielding percentage, committing four errors on 61 chances.

SCOUTING THE COLONIALS    
Prior to their Florida trip, Western Connecticut played a series of four games in Columbus, Ga. followed by one game in their home state to start the season with a 2-4 record. In their most recent win over Mt. St. Mary (N.Y.), the Colonials cruised to a 6-0 shutout of their opponent. Senior catcher Erin Weber led the team with her two RBIs to improve to four on the season, a mark that places her atop the team. Sophomore Jenna Gaudioso is truly commanding the plate this season with her .500 batting average.   

SCOUTING THE BLAZERS    
The College of Saint Benedict garnered a 3-1 record to start their 2016 season. The team swept Wis.-Stout in a double-header, 7-0 and 10-4, and topped the Univ. Of Dubuque 7-6 in their season opener. Sophomore Sara Wennerstrand returned as a strong force for the Blazers, earning a MIAC Player of the Week honor early in the season. She leads the team with two homeruns and eight RBI's, six of which were recorded in the double header against Wis.-Stout.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS    
St. Kate's started their season in an undefeated fashion after securing four victories during games in Rochester, Minn. The Wildcats defeated three fellow IIAC competitors in the Univ. Of Dubuque, Buena Vista and Luther. The team has found success at the plate with a combined .349 batting average, but it is their sophomore pitcher at the mound who is making waves. Krista Flugstad, reigning MIAC Rookie of the Year, started the season with a 0.58 ERA and has recorded 15 strikeouts.    

SCOUTING THE POINTERS    
UW-Stevens Point holds a 2-4 record after their first six nonconference games of the season. Their two victories came against Martin Luther and Buena Vista. Sophomore Paige Allen has reclaimed her stop atop the Pointers as she leads the team with a .556 batting average and .722 slugging percentage. On the mound, the Pointers employ a two-pitcher rotation in Maddie Durie and Cassidy Winter. Each have a 1-2 record on the season and Durie leads with a 4.05 ERA.

SCOUTING THE MULES    
The Colby softball team has yet to play a game this season as their first matchup is scheduled for their Florida trip. The Mules ended 2015 with a 10-18 record, but this season they are under new leadership in head coach Lisa-Ann Wallace. The team returns an All-Conference selection in senior Emily Schatz. Last season, the shortshop recorded two errors on 116 chances in her defensive role. Schatz finished with a .983 fielding percentage and 68 assists.    

SCOUTING THE BENGALS    
Buffalo State is deadlocked with a 2-2 record to start their 2016 campaign. The team fell to Roanoke and Virginia Wesleyan in their first two games of the year, but are currently riding a two-game winning streak with victories against Frostburg and Baruch. The Bengals returned an All-Conference duo in Stephanie Novo and Alexis Haley who continue to make their mark this season. Novo has two RBIs on the season while Haley has eight strikeouts from the mound. Sophomore Nicole Adams has made a leads Buffalo State with a 1.75 ERA.

SCOUTING THE BLUE DEVILS     
Fredonia has yet to play a game this season but are set to face Clarkson as their first matchup in Florida. The Blue Devils finished with a 13-18 record in the 2015 season. Fredonia graduated its top pitcher last year, but they are returning three all-conference selections. Senior Lindsey Forness heads the trio with her impressive plate performance. In 2015, Forness had a .446 batting average and a .569 slugging percentage. She tallied 15 RBIs and scored 13 runs.      

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS    
Greenville started the season with a 2-4 record collecting victories against Oberlin and Millikin. The Panthers have a deep roster this season as five of 2015's eight all-conference selections return to the lineup. Leading the docket is senior outfielder, Bryn McKie. So far this season, McKie boasts perfect form from the field, tallying putouts on all 15 chances while contributing a .500 batting average through the first six games. As a team, the Panthers are hitting .336 and own a .394 on-base percentage.

SCOUTING THE FLYING DUTCH     
The Hope softball team will kick off their season against Bates on Friday in Florida. Last year, the Flying Dutch posted a 29-11 record. The team returns two all-region selections in Autumn Anderson and Sierra Mutschler. Both were successful from the plate as Anderson recorded a .460 batting average while Mutschler tallied 10 home runs and 39 RBIs. Sydney Jones returns to the mound for Hope after posting a 1.74 ERA last year and recording 122 strikeouts.       

TOWNS HAS BREAKOUT OPENING WEEKEND    
Through her first four collegiate games, freshman Hannah Towns has impressed with a breakout performance. After opening weekend, Towns leads the team in RBI's (8), hits (7) and slugging percentage (.938). Early on her ability to help the Duhawks score runs has been vital to the offense. Towns is one of many new freshman to the roster this year.

SEASON STARTS OFF SHARP    
Opening weekend for the 2016 softball season couldn't have started any better with the Duhawks taking three of their four games in Minnesota against Crown and Minnesota-Morris. Their only loss was a 6-3 defeat in their last game of the weekend against Crown. Freshman Nicole Majewski made her debut for the Duhawks by batting .800 on the weekend and sophomore Regan Wolverton batted .600 with 3 RBI's. Pitching came up big for the Duhawks as all four starting pitchers combined for a 2.24 ERA among the games.

HAASE OFF TO QUICK START    
Senior Makaila Haase has made a dominant statement across the stat line. The Carlise product has posted an 0.88 era while allowing seven hits and one run. In her 2016 debut, the senior had two strikeouts to defeat Minnesota-Morris in the season opener. Haase is proving her impact on both sides of the plate. In their win against Crown, Haase hit .400 with a double and an RBI through her first four games. While the impressive stat line is an added bonus, the success is translating in the win column for the Duhawks with Haase noting a 2-0 record when she is on the mound. 

CLUTCH HITTING WITH RUNNERS ON BASE    
In Loras' opening weekend at the Augsburg Dome, the Duhawks took advantage of the opportunities they were given. With runners on base, Loras hit .407, compared to their opponents hitting .200. As a whole, the Duhawks had 67 opportunities to advance runners and converted on 42 occasions, good for a .627 conversion percentage. These metrics, over the course of the season, will play a large role in Loras' overall success.

INDUCING THE GROUND BALL OUT    
Loras' pitching staff was spot on in the opening weekend, resulting in 47 ground ball outs. On average, when a pitcher records more ground ball outs than fly ball outs, it translates to success due to opponents making poor contact with the ball. In comparison, Loras' offense committed an equal number of fly ball and ground ball outs.

FIFTH INNING FIESTA    
Through the first four games, the Duhawks have outscored their opponents 26-10. For Loras, the fifth inning has been the most lucrative, scoring 11 of its 26 runs. The first, fourth and seventh innings have returned the lowest yield with a combined three runs.