What's Up:  The Minnesota State softball team (34-13) has qualified for its ninth NCAA tournament in program history and the eighth under head coach Lori Meyer and will take on Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference rival Winona State in the Colorado Springs, Colo., Friday at 3 p.m.  The winner of Friday's Central subregional game advances to face the winner of the Metro State (who is hosting the event) and Mesa State game Saturday in the double-elimination tournament.   The complete bracket for the subregion is located on the last page of this release.

About the Tournament: The other 3.subregion includes Wayne State (the host), Augustana, Concordia and Minnesota Duluth.  Wayne State opens against UMD, while Augustana plays Concordia.  The winner of each subregional advances to the super regional, which will be played at the highest remaining seed.

I've Seen You Before: Friday's game marks the fifth game this season between Minnesota State and Winona State. The Mavericks swept a nonconfernce series in Mankato earlier this season before splitting the NSIC series in Winona earlier this month. 
    Senior shortstop Libbie Reichling is hitting .500 against Winona State this season with two home runs and three runs batted in to pace the Mavericks. Senior second baseman Abby Morris is hitting at a .455 clip against the Warriors with five hits including two doubles and a home runs.  Redshirt freshman Courtney McKelvogue is 2-0 against WSU with a 1.50 earned run average in 14 innings of work, averaging a strikeout per inning. Sophomore hurler Kendra Huettl is 1-1 with a 2.92 earned run average in 12 innings or work against Winona State this season.
   
Minnesota State History:  The 2010 season is the 37th for Maverick softball.  MSU owns an all-time record of 941-646-7(.591) in 1,600 games, and won four titles (1984, 1987, 1989, 2007) during their time in the North Central Conference and nine appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament (1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010) to its credit.

To view a bracket of the NCAA Central Subregional, click HERE

To view the complete release, click HERE