MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State head softball coach Shawn Semler announced today the signing of Cortney Heim, a pitcher who will transfer to SMSU from Division I South Dakota.  Heim will have two years of eligibility remaining.

A native of Plattsmouth, Neb., Heim started 23 games for USD this past season, going 20-7 and posting a 3.21 ERA in 174.2 innings pitched.  Her 20 wins tied the Coyote single-season record.  She also recorded 122 strikeouts and was named Great West Conference Pitcher of the Week three times throughout the 2009 season.  Heim also started 14 games in 2008, charting a7-5 record with a 3.17 ERA.

A four-year letterwinner at the prep level, Heim was named Omaha World Herald All-State Honorable mention three times and led Nebraska Class A with 329 strikeouts during the 2006 season.  She was also named the 2006 Bellevue Leader Softball Player of the Year and earned Metro Coaches Association All-Division honors.  Heim played her final two years at Bellevue West High School.

“Cortney will add some leadership to our pitching staff immediately. She brings plenty of big game experience both from her high school experience at Bellevue West High School and her two years at  South Dakota,” said Semler.  “Cortney knows our conference very well coming from what was the NCC and will not be intimidated by our goal of winning conference championships.”

SMSU finished the 2009 season with a 32-23 (21-5 NSIC) record and won the NSIC regular season title for the fourth straight season and fifth in the last six years. The Mustangs also made their fourth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.

Southwest Minnesota State University, located in Marshall, Minn., is a member of NCAA Division II and the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.