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Fresh off a perfect 6-0 weekend at the Alabama-Huntsville Charger Chillout to open the 2013 campaign, the Truman softball team will head north this time around to play four in-region contests at the RCTC Regional Dome Stadium in Rochester, Minnesota.
 
The Bulldogs, who were one spot out of the NFCA top-25 in this week’s coaches’ poll, will face Upper Iowa and Sioux Falls (S.D.) on Saturday before turning around for games against tournament-host Winona (Minn.) State and Concordia-St. Paul (Minn.) on Sunday afternoon.

The Bulldogs opened the 2013 season with a strong start, picking up six wins at the UAH Charger Chillout from Feb. 15-17 in Decatur, Alabama.

 Highlighted in that stretch was a walkoff single against Ohio Dominican, a run-rule victory against future-GLVC foe Maryville (Mo.), and a 2-1 pitchers’ duel win against then- No. 15 Indianapolis to close the weekend.
 
Truman hit .329 as a team during the six games, led by Meredith Kusky’s .600 average in four starts and a .556 average in five games by freshman Whitney Richardson. Kelsey Bollman’s .350 average paced five other Bulldogs above the .300 line, as Truman tallied 12 doubles, three home runs and a triple on the weekend.
 
Meanwhile, in the circle, Hannah Washburn opened her Truman career with a flourish, posting a 4-0 record in four appearances with a 0.68 ERA.

She struck out a dozen Indy hitters in Truman’s 2-1 win en route to 26 total in 20.2 innings pitched on the weekend.

 Senior Kirsten Krause saw action in five of the six games and earned a win, while freshman Kindra Hinze logged her first collegiate win entering in relief against Tiffin where she struck out eight.
 
On the basepaths, Truman was a perfect 14-of-14, highlighted by Danielle Lewellen’s five, while the Bulldog defense committed just three errors in 125 total chances.

Courtesy Truman State University