MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team opens its 2014 campaign in the Natural State as it travels to Bentonville, Ark., to take part in the UAM 8-State Classic beginning Friday.

Upcoming Games

Date	Opponent	Location	Time (CT)
2/14	Emporia State	Bentonville, Ark.	11:30 a.m.
2/14	Pittsburg State	Bentonville, Ark.	1:30 p.m.
2/15	East Central	Bentonville, Ark.	11:30 a.m.
2/15	Central Missouri	Bentonville, Ark.	3:30 p.m.
2/16	Fort Hays State	Bentonville, Ark.	9:30 a.m.
2/16	Missouri Western State	Bentonville, Ark.	11:30 a.m.

About Last Season: The Minnesota State softball team finished its 2013 campaign with a 40-12 record and won both the NSIC regular season and tournament championships. The Mavericks also hosted the NCAA Central Region 2 Tournament, where they eventually fell to Winona State.

MSU has several key players returning from a season ago, including senior Lindsay Erickson, who hit .455 on the season, to go along with nine home runs and 45 runs batted in, en route to her third straight NFCA and Daktronics All-American honors.

Seniors Samantha Holien and Anna Cole also return for the Mavericks. Last season, Holien led the Maverick offense with 11 home runs and 47 RBI, while Cole hit .360, with six home runs and 40 RBI.

Junior Brittany Lauterbach returns to the circle for the Mavericks after posting a 10-2 record last season. She maintained a 2.03 ERA in 24 appearances and held opposing batters to a .219 batting average.

About Emporia State: The Emporia State Hornets enter the week the owners of a 2-1 record. ESU defeated Northwestern Oklahoma State 5-2 and Harding 5-1, but fell to Southern Nazarene 10-2 this past weekend. MSU owns a 4-6 all-time record against Emporia State, including a 1-0 win in their last meeting back in 2008.

Laura Seeman leads the Emporia State offense with one home run, three RBI and a .444 batting average. Tricia Vogel and Andrea Piezuch each drove in two runs this past weekend as well.

In the circle, Kaitlyn Caston owns a 2-0 record, having thrown two complete games, while giving up just three runs, two earned, in 14 innings pitched. She has issued five walks compared to four strikeouts.

About Pittsburg State: The Pittsburg State Gorillas open their 2014 schedule at the UAM 8-State Classic. Last season, the Gorillas finished with a 28-22 record and wrapped up their season on day two of the MIAA Tournament. The Mavericks own a 5-2 all-time record against Pittsburg State, including a 5-1 victory in their last meeting back in the 2007 season. MSU is 5-2 all-time against Pittsburg State, including a 4-3 win in their last meeting during the 2008 season.

The Gorillas welcome back junior Tiffany Brown, who posted 12 home runs and 42 RBI in 2013, and Samantha Grove, who tallied seven wins in the circle a year ago.

About East Central: The East Central Tigers enter the weekend the owners of a 5-3 record. ECU is currently on a four-game winning streak having defeated Texas A&M International (6-2), Angelo State (2-0 and 5-4) and Drury (7-2). This will be the first encounter between MSU and ECU.

Leah Tigert leads the Tiger offense with a pair of dingers, to go along with nine runs batted in. Autumn Suydam leads ECU with a .480 batting average and a .720 slugging percentage.

Brianna Nunley and Lacey Paulk both own 2-1 records in the circle this season. Paulk has 27 strikeouts on the season, with a 1.88 ERA in 26 innings. Brianna Nunley has struck out nine batters and has a 0.95 ERA.  

About Central Missouri: The Central Missouri Jennies enter the weekend with a 2-2 record, including a pair of wins against Arkansas at Monticello (7-3) and Henderson State (7-5) and a pair of losses to Ouachita Baptist (6-5) and Henderson State (4-3). MSU owns a 4-8 all-time record against the Jennies, including a 4-1 loss in their last meeting during the 2008 season.

Jakki Prater leads the Jennie offense with two home runs and four RBI, to go along with a .357 batting average and a .857 slugging percentage. Emily King posted four RBI as well, while Lauren Mabe maintains a team-best .417 batting average.

Jakki Prater owns a 1-0 record in the circle this season and has a team-best 1.69 ERA. Katie Shockley has a 1-0 record as well, and has struck out 13 batters in 17.1 innings pitched.

About Fort Hays State: The Fort Hays State Tigers open their 2014 season at the UAM 8-State Classic. Last season, the Tigers posted a 47-12 record and went on to win the MIAA Tournament. The Tigers eventually fell to Central Oklahoma in the NCAA Central Region Tournament. MSU owns a 2-1 all-time record against Fort Hays State, including a 3-0 win in their last meeting back in the 2007 season.  

The Tigers welcome back Amanda Vauple, who posted six home runs and 47 RBI, and Paxton Duran, who tallied 15 wins in the circle last season.

About Missouri Western State: The Missouri Western State Griffins currently boast a 2-2 record on the season. MWSU won its first two games of the season against Henderson State (5-1) and Ouachita Baptist (1-0) before falling to Arkansas Tech (3-1) and Cameron (8-5). MSU owns a 7-7 all-time record against Missouri Western State, including a 10-0 win back in the 2008 season.

Through two games, the Griffins are led by Taylor Anding, who has driven in three RBI, while Tiffany Gillaspy has batted .500. In the circle, both Janie Smith and Jackie Bishop each have one win on the season through the first two games of the season, having combined for just one earned runs and 15 strikeouts.

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