Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (25-7, 10-2 NSIC) looks to build on its 10-2 start on the circuit as its set to play a trio of conference twinbills beginning today in Winona, Minn., with a doubleheader with the Warriors (24-6, 9-1 NSIC) and looks to host Augustana (23-8, 10-4 NSIC) and Wayne State (21-7, 12-2 NSIC) this weekend.

The Warriors enter the contest with 24 wins overall and have posted nine in the W column in league action. Winona State is under the direction of Greg Jones who is in his 13th year at the helm of the Warrior Softball program. The Warriors are led by sophomore Morgan Lintz, who is batting .481 and has tallied 10 homeruns and 40 RBI on the season.

The Vikings are currently 10-4 on the circuit and have won 23 contests this season. Augustana is coached by Gretta Melsted who is in her 7th year as captain of the Vikings softball program. Augustana is led offensively by Janelle Trautmann who is batting .314 but has scored 20 runs on 33 hits with 16 homeruns, 34 RBI and 87 total bases.

Krista Wood is in her seventh season as head coach of the Wayne State Wildcats, who currently own a 21-7 overall record with a mark of 12-2 in conference action. The Wildcats are led by Kelcie Bormann who has scored 26 runs on 33 hits during the 2013 campaign.

What Just Happened: The Mavericks look to return to action after being idle this past week due to weather conditions. Prior to the idle week MSU posted a 5-1 record the second week of NSIC action as it split with Southwest Minnesota State University dropping the first game by a score of 8-7 but rallied in the second game earning the 8-1 victory. MSU would then host Northern State University and MSU-Moorhead sweeping both teams at the Gustavus Adolphus football field by scores of 3-0, 8-0, 8-0 and 8-1 respectively.

Offensively, the Mavericks were led by junior Anna Cole who amassed a .611 batting average in the six-game stretch, recording five runs on 11 hits in 18 at-bats including two doubles, a home run and nine RBI. Fellow junior Lindsay Erickson posted a .556 batting average and recorded eight runs on 10 hits in 18 at-bats with five RBI and 19 total bases.

In the circle, it was the tandem of senior Courtney McKelvogue and sophomore Brittany Lauterbach getting the bulk of the work as they posted 0.42 ERA and 0.72 ERA respectively.  McKelvogue saw 16.2 innings of work and gave up three runs (one earned) on 15 hits with five walks and 14 strikeouts. Lauterbach gave up two runs on 13 hits with five walks and 14 strikeouts in 19.1 innings of work.

Goose Eggs: Senior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue threw a five-inning perfect game as the Mavericks downed Bemidji State 15-0 in the first game of a double-header with the Beavers this past Saturday. McKelvogue faced 15 batters, striking out nine of them with no walks and no hits or runs allowed.

Don’t Rain on My Parade: The Mavericks were forced to cancel their games scheduled for last week against Upper Iowa, Minot State and the University of Mary.

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 home runs with 16 RBI finishing with a .966 slugging percentage. Erickson is batting .483 through 30 games this season, tallying 27 runs on 42 hits with eight doubles and five dingers and a .770 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.

In the Nation (Individual): Individually, three different Mavericks rank in the top-25 nationally in six different statistical categories. Junior Lindsay Erickson is in the top-25 in three categories and top-10 in one, and is the fifth toughest person to strikeout in the country.
Hitting
Rank    Category (#)                       Player
5.      Toughest to strikeout(87)    L. Erickson  
17.    Batting Average (.483)         L. Erickson
20.    Doubles per Game (.38)    A. Sonner
20.    On Base % (.553)                L. Erickson

Pitching
Rank    Category (#)             Player
20.    BB per 7 inn. (1.13)    C. McKelvogue
23.    Shutouts (5)                C. McKelvogue

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