Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team (20-6, 5-1 NSIC) is slated to play three conference double headers this week, begining with a midweek series agaisnt Southwest Minnesota State (9-9, 2-4 NSIC) slated for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday in Marshall, Minn. The Mavericks will the host Northern State Wolves (11-13, 3-3 NSIC) on Saturday with first pitch coming at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. and finish the week against MSU Moorhead (2-19, 0-6 NSIC), games are slated for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

What Just Happened: The Mavericks started their conference schedule with a 5-1 record as they split with Concordia-St. Paul, MSU earned the 5-1 decision in the first game, but fell 3-2 in the second contest. The Mavericks swept Minnesota, Crookston 3-1 and 19-0 in five innings this past Friday and completed the weekend sweep as they defeated Bemidji State 15-0 in five innings and 8-0 in six innings.

Junior Anna Cole led the offensive charge for the Mavericks against the Golden Bears, the Iowa State transfer recorded one run and four hits in six at bats with a single, a homerun and two RBI against the Golden Bears. Senior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue gave up three runs on five hits in 12 innings of work, tallying a 1-1 record against Concordia-St. Paul.

Friday the Mavericks outscored Minnesota, Crookston 22-1 in two contests and were led by junior Samantha Holien who had a monster double-header recording three hits and three runs in five at-bats including two homeruns and seven RBI. Sophomore Brittany Lauterbach pitched four of the Mavericks 11 innings and gave up two hits while striking out five batters.

Saturday MSU finished the weekend on a strong note, outscoring Bemidji State 23-0 in its two contest which lasted 11 innings. The Mavericks were led offensively by junior Eryn Edgerton who hit .667 recording two hits and three runs in three at-bats with a .667 slugging percentage. Both McKelvogue and Lauterbach saw five innings of work, McKelvogue threw a five inning perfect game in the first contest of the day against the Beavers.

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.

Times, They Are A Changin’: The Mavericks double header agaisnt Southwest Minnesota State got moved to Thursday, April 4 in Marshall at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

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 .464 through 24 games this season, tallying 19 runs on 32 hits with four doubles and four dingers and a .696 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-50 nationally in several statistical categories including junior Lindsay Erickson whose .464 batting average is 26th-best in the nation, Erickson also ranks 26th in on base percentage, reaching base nearly 54% of the time, and is the ninth toughest to strike out in the Division II ranks with only one strikeout in 69 at-bats. Senior Abby Sonner averages 0.42 doubles per game, which is the 11-best average in country, while senior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue is the 14th-best in the circle in walks allowed per seven innings with 0.95.

For the complete release in PDF form, click HERE.