Mankato, Minn. --- The sixth-rated Minnesota State softball team will open its 2013 campaign Friday as it takes part in the three-day NFCA Leadoff Classic in Tucson, Ariz.

The Mavericks begin with a doubleheader Friday as they take on the #16 Central Oklahoma Bronchos (10 a.m.) and the Missouri-St. Louis Tritons (12 p.m.).

Saturday will feature another doubleheader as MSU takes on Southeast Oklahoma State at 11 a.m., and #2 UC San Diego at 5 p.m. The Mavericks will take part in another doubleheader Sunday with games times and opponents to be determined.

Central Oklahoma owns a 3-1 record on the season, including a 3-1 loss to Abilene Christian in its last outing. Southeast Oklahoma State owns a 3-2 record, including a pair of losses to Incarnate Word (8-1) and St. Mary’s (8-3) in its last two games.

UC San Diego is 6-2 on the season and has won three of its last four outings, including an 8-0 win over Cal State San Bernardino. Central Oklahoma will see its first action at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.

Look Who’s Back: Ten players from MSU’s 2012 NSIC championship squad return this season, including seniors Lauryn Morris, Abby Sonner and Courtney McKelvogue, juniors Eryn Edgerton, Kelly Wood, Lindsay Erickson and Kristen Fah, sophomores Chelsea Riordan and Brittani Robinson, and red-shirt freshman Brittany Lauterbach.

Fresh Faces: MSU added 10 new members to the Maverick softball team this offseason including senior Jenna Peterson, juniors Anna Cole and Samantha Holien, and freshman Coley Ries, Laura Milligan, Avery Carter, Tatum Klein, Abby Whritenour, Emily Bransky and Mandi Mauch.

Preseason Prognostications: Minnesota State was picked to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Poll, edging out Augustana by a single vote. The Mavericks received nine of the 16 first place votes. MSU junior Lindsay Erickson was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year after receiving Second Team All-American honors from the NFCA and Daktronics a season ago.

A Look Back: The 2012 MSU softball season proved to be another impressive season as the Mavericks finished their season with a 49-10 record and their first Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference championship. MSU would advance to the NCAA Central Sub-Region Finals before getting eliminated by Concordia 3-1.

Head Coach Lori Meyer: One of the most respected coaches in all of NCAA Division II softball, Lori Meyer enters her 29th year as the head coach of the Minnesota State softball team. Meyer owns a career record of 927-577-3 (.615) in 1,507 games. A seven-time NCC
Coach of the Year, Meyer has guided the Mavericks to three North Central Conference titles (1987, 1989 and 2007), and one NSIC championship (2012), and guided the ‘87 Mavericks to a third-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Tournament and has made 10 trips to the NCAA postseason and two trips to the NCAA Championships (1987, 2011).

To view the rest of the release click HERE