FARGO, N.D. – North Dakota State University head softball coach Darren Mueller announced the addition of four players, outfielder/catcher Emilee Buringa (St. Charles, Minn. / St. Charles H.S.), shortstop/outfielder Molly Gates (Poulsbo, Wash. / Olympic H.S.), infielder Ciara Jensen (Canyon Lake, Calif. / Temescal Canyon H.S.), and catcher/first baseman Reanna Rudd (Huntington Beach, Calif. / Huntington Beach H.S.), who will play softball beginning in the fall of 2020.
 
EMILEE BURINGA, 5-10, Outfielder/Catcher, Bats: L / Throws: L, St. Charles, Minn. (St. Charles H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time all-state performer at catcher and the outfield for St. Charles High School and head coach Mike Buringa … Hit .542 as a junior with four home runs, 18 extra base hits and 34 stolen bases … Career .538 hitter with 10 home runs and 118 stolen bases … Three-time all-conference, all-section and Rochester Post Bulletin all-area selection … All-conference basketball player and also played soccer … National Honor Society … Academic Excellence award and Academic letter winner … Played summer league for the SE Flyers.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Jyll and Mike Buringa … Has two sisters, Laura and Grace, and one brother, Mark … Grandfather, Harvey Korb, attended NDSU from 1946-50, and brother, Mark is current student … Father, Mike, played baseball at Winona State.
 
MOLLY GATES, 5-7, Shortstop/Outfielder, Bats: L / Throws: R, Poulsbo, Wash. (Olympic H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: All-state performer at shortstop for Olympic High School and head coach Jessica Cabato … Hit .770 with 15 home runs, 51 runs scored and 37 RBI to earn 2019 Olympic League MVP award and honorable mention all-state … Had a 1.868 slugging percentage and .810 on-base percentage … Was 17 for 17 in stolen bases … Named first team all-state, all-league and all-Westbound in 2018 after hitting .645 with seven home runs, 33 runs scored and 38 RBI … Had 1.370 slugging and .694 on-base percentage … Was 10 for 10 in stolen bases … Played in the 2018 and 2019 All-Star games … Played summer league for the WA Ladyhawks, which won the 2018 ASA National Championship and Triple Crown World Series ... Won PGF national qualifiers in 2017 and 2018 … ASA, NSA, USSSA state champs from 2012-14 … National Junior Honor Society … ASB Representative … President's award for academic achievement … Also played basketball and volleyball … Participated in Equine 4-H for seven years and competed four times in state competitions.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Paula and Matthew Gates … Has one sister, Madeleine … Plans to major in exercise science.
 
CIARA JENSEN, 5-3, Infielder, Bats: L / Throws: R, Canyon Lake, Calif. (Temescal Canyon H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-time first team all-CIF player at shortstop, second base and pitcher for Temescal High School and head coach Ryan Hambright … During junior year, hit .550 with 38 runs scored and 39 RBI … League MVP as a sophomore … Finished with 14 doubles, three triples and one home run … Career .521 hitter 66 RBI, 63 runs scored, 23 doubles, seven triples and six homers … In travel ball for the Strike Force, hit .577 with 42 runs scored, 39 RBI, 24 doubles, six triples and six home runs.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Rachel and Jim Jensen … Has four sisters, Angelica, Brianna, Danika and Elanna … Father, Jim, played at Fresno City College, and sisters, Angelica and Brianna, competed at Hope International University and the University of Mary, respectively … Plans to major in English.
 
REANNA RUDD, 5-11, Catcher/1st Base, Bats: R / Throws: R, Huntington Beach, Calif. (Huntington Beach H.S.)
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year starter at catcher and first base for Huntington Beach High School and head coach Jeff Forsberg … Second team all-Sunset League (Division I) after hitting .377 with six home runs … Led Huntington Beach to the semifinals in the CIF state playoffs, eventually losing to the country's No. 1-ranked team Norco High School … Played on 2018 Sunset League championship team … Scholar Athlete … Summer league team Monarchs Gold won the 16-under PGF Nationals and On Deck/TCS 18-under tournament … Named MVP at 16-under PGF Nationals, hitting .364 with a pair of home runs.
PERSONAL: Daughter of Vickie and Rick Rudd … Has two sisters, Valerie and Torie … Mother, Vickie, played softball for Cal Poly, and sister, Valerie, plays at Abilene Christian … Plans to major in mechanical engineering.
 
North Dakota State finished the 2019 season with a 42-16 record. NDSU won its eighth Summit League regular season and 10th tournament championship to advance to the NCAA tournament.