What's Lies Ahead:  The #18 Minnesota State softball team continues its nonconference portion of the schedule this weekend in Rochester, Minn., against #8 Winona State and Upper Iowa. The Mavericks (18-2 overall) open play at 12 p.m. on Saturday against UIU (4-13 overall), then conclude the day against Winona State (11-2 overall) at 2 p.m. On Sunday, MSU will play Upper Iowa at 10 a.m., and WSU at 2 p.m.

About the Weekend:   Minnesota State plays four games this weekend, including a double-header Saturday and Sunday. The Warriors are currently ranked #8 in the  National Fastpitch Coaches Association, but has lost their past two games.  Winona State is led by junior Kathy Crudo, who is hitting .452 and has 19 hits in 42 at bats.
    The Peacocks are coming into the weekend dropping eight of its last nine games. Erin Bennek leads Upper Iowa in offense, hitting .480 with 24 hits in 50 plate appearances.

Up Until Now:  Minnesota State enters the week with an 18-3 record and are coming off a 10-2 record last week in Kissimmee, Fla.

Honors, Accolades and More: Minnesota State freshman Lindsay Erickson hit her way to earn Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Player of the Week award for her performance in Florida.  
    The Big Lake, Minn., native tallied 13 hits in 24 at bats, while recording four doubles, a triple and two RBI. Erickson hit .542 during the week, improving her season average to .462.
    This is Erickson's first Player of the Week award but the second  Maverick to earn an award this year, with MSU pitcher Courtney McKelvogue earning Pitcher of the Week last week.

Lead Me:  Freshman Designated Player Lindsay Erickson leads the Mavericks in several offensive categories.  Erickson enters this week's play leading the team in batting average (.462), slugging percentage (.785), on base percentage (.500), hits (30), and doubles (10).  She is also tied for the lead in home runs with sister Chelsea Erickson, who have each recorded three home runs. Junior outfielder Melanie Upchurch leads the team in runs (19), triples (3) and stolen bases (17).
    On the mound, sophomore Courtney McKelvogue leads MSU in earned run average (1.01), opposing batting average (.161), record (9-2) and batters struck out (70).  Junior Kendra Huettl owns a 8-2 record, in 12 starts. Huettl records pitched four compete games and has 68 strike outs in 65 innings pitched.

What Lies Ahead: Minnesota State closes its nonconference portion of the schedule against Concordia on Thursday at Vadnais Sports Center in Vadnais Heights, Minn.

For Complete Weekly Notes Click HERE