Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team will open its conference schedule against Concordia-St. Paul Tuesday, March 26 at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. in Savage Sports Center, in Savage, Minn.

The Mavericks will then play a pair of double-headers against Minnesota, Crookston, Friday, March 29 at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and will finish the week against Bemidji State Saturday, March 30, with first pitch scheduled for 10 a.m., and 12 p.m., all of which will be played in Savage Sports Center.

What Just Happened: The Mavericks were idle last week due to the Missouri Western Tournament being cancelled due to weather. Prior to that MSU competed in the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla.

Minnesota State finished with a 9-1 record at the Rebel Spring Games in Orlando, Fla. MSU began the tournament with six straight wins, including three shutouts coming against Ferris State (2-0), Adelphi (11-0), and Northwood (8-0).

The Mavericks were led by junior Lindsay Erickson who recorded 10 runs on 15 hits in 29 at bats, including one double, four dingers and 16 RBI, finishing the tournament with a .966 slugging percentage. Senior Abby Sonner also had success swinging the stick, tallying four runs, on 12 hits in 29 at bats, including two doubles and nine RBI.

Senior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue earned six starts in the circle for the Mavericks, earning six wins, only giving up four runs (three earned) in 35 innings of work. McKelvogue sat down 26 batters and only walked two, finishing the tournament with a 0.60 earned run average. Sophomore Brittany Lauterbach appeared in six games, starting two, she finished with a 2-1 record, pitching 20.2 innings giving up nine runs (all earned) and struck out 13 batters, earning a 3.05 ERA in the tournament.

Just a Reminder: The Mavericks will host Concordia-St. Paul, Minnesota, Crookston and Bemidji State this week, all three double-headers will be played in the Savage Sports Dome in Savage, Minn.

Hefty-Lefty: Junior Lindsay Erickson led the Mavericks offensively during the Rebel Spring games, she recorded 10 runs, on 15 hits in 29 at bats including one double and four homeruns with 16 RBI finishing with a .966 slugging percentage. Erickson is batting .518 through 18 games this season, tallying 17 runs on 29 hits with five doubles and four dingers and a .821 slugging percentage.

Well I’m Honored: Senior Abby Sonner received NSIC Player of the Week honors for her efforts during the Rebel Spring Games, Sonner led the team with a .611 batting average and drove in a team-high seven runs in the six contests. Her 11 hits also led the team and she also posted 11 assists in the field.

Nationally Known: Several Mavericks rank in the top-15 nationally in several statistical categories including junior Lindsay Erickson whose .518 batting average is seventh-best in the nation, Erickson also ranks tenth in on base percentage, reaching base nearly 57% of the time, and is the 11th toughest to strike out in the Division II ranks with only one strikeout in 56 at-bats. Senior Abby Sonner averages 0.5 doubles per game, which is the fifth-best average in country, while senior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue is the ninth-best in the circle in walks allowed per seven innings.

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 and Lindsay Erickson, sophomores Chelsea Riordan, Brittani Robinson and 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.