MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team returns to the MSU Softball Diamond for the first time since May 12, 2013 when it hosts a trio of NSIC twinbills against Upper Iowa, Minot State and U-Mary.

The Mavericks are currently riding an 18-game winning streak dating back to March 21. A season ago, MSU went 2-0 against the Beavers in the NSIC Tournament and did not face U-Mary or Upper Iowa in conference action.
 
Our Last Outing: The Mavericks posted three shutouts in a six game span as it downed Southwest Minnesota State (9-3, 2-0), Northern State (4-0, 11-1) and MSU Moorhead (14-0 in five innings, 10-2 in six innings) to push its winning streak to 18 and improve to 28-6 overall and 12-0 in NSIC action.
 
Seniors Anna Cole and Lindsay Erickson had the heavy sticks for MSU, each posted a .500 batting average. Cole posted a .944 slugging percentage with two doubles and two dingers with nine RBI in 18 at bats.
 
In the circle, the duo of junior Brittany Lauterbach and freshman Coley Ries posted a 1.05 ERA and 1.17 ERA, respectively each earning their 13th win of the season. Ries only allowed eight hits and three runs in 18 innings of work, striking out 26 batters and holding opposing batters to a .129 batting average.
 
About Upper Iowa University: The Peacocks of Upper Iowa come to Mankato with an 11-17 overall record and 4-4 in the NSIC circuit. The squad has taken a split in their last four conference series, which included Minnesota Duluth, Wayne State, U-Mary and Minot State.
 
After Annie Van Wetzinga resigned last July, Upper Iowa promoted assistant coach Amanda Badberry to the helm. Last year as an assistant, the former Iowa State player helped the Peacocks to a 28-16 overall record, which is the most wins since the program reached the Division II level.
 
Reigning NSIC Freshman of the Year, Jacqueline Flood, is off to a hot start in the batters box leading the squad with a .368 batting average.  She also has two home runs with 13 RBIs. Erica Kirgan has been the Peacocks' slugger so far this season, batting .276 while leading the squad in home runs (7) and RBIs (20). In the circle, Brooke Redmond owns a 9-7 record with a team best 2.76 ERA and team-high 56 strikeouts.
 
About Minot State: Prior to losing one game against Upper Iowa last weekend, the Minot State Beavers were continuing a seven-game winning streak. Currently fifth in the NSIC, the squad owns a 21-9 overall record and 8-4 conference record.
 
Scoring runs isn't a problem for the Beavers as the roster possesses three players with 20 or more RBIs. Jen Dixon has the most with 26 with a .333 batting average and six home runs. The outfielder also leads the squad with 18 walks. Ali Cygan is second with 23 RBIs, but she owns the team-best batting average (.370).
 
While Dixon has also had some success in the circle with a 6-2 record and 2.86 ERA, Mindy Lorimor has been their ace. Lorimor has won 15 games and lost five while striking out 80 batters in 124.1 innings pitched. She also has an impressive 1.75 ERA, which is the second lowest in the NSIC.
 
About U-Mary: University of Mary's softball team owns a 19-15 overall record while going 4-6 so far in the circuit. The Marauders are currently on a three-game losing streak, including being swept by Winona State last weekend. In September, the Marauders were given a new head coach in Katherine "KJ" Kelley. Before making her way to Bismarck, N.D., the former Division I All-American and professional softball player spent four years as an assistant coach at the University of Toledo.
 
The Marauders possess one of the NSIC's best batting lineups with four players batting more than 20 runners in. Besides her striking .444 batting average (2nd in the NSIC), Allison Brown has hit an NSIC-best 14 doubles, six home runs and batted in 32 runners (4th in the NSIC). Cherlyn Trujillo owns a team-best 2.29 ERA with a 7-6 record, striking out 90 batters in 94.2 innings pitched. While leading the team with 101 punch outs, Erin Keen has a 3.94 ERA and 10-7 record.
 
What Ranking?: Minnesota State is a perfect 3-0 against ranked opponents, including wins over then ranked No. 14 Wayne State (Mich.), 5-1; No. 12 LIU-Post, 3-0; and most recently a 12-4 win over then ranked No. 12 Emporia State in six innings.
 
Lighting Up the Board: MSU is currently 8-0 when it scores over 10+ runs in a game; adversely, the Mavericks are 20-1 when holding their opponents to under two runs and have posted 12 shutouts so far this season.
 
Isn't That Grand?: Head coach Lori Meyer has won 995 games in her coaching tenure and is just five wins away from 1,000 career wins. Meyer looks to be the 23rd softball coach to reach the 1,000-win mark in all NCAA divisions.
 
League Leading: As a unit, MSU leads the league in several statistical categories including batting average (.347), slugging percentage (.498), runs scored (233), hits (337), RBI (211), home runs (26) and total bases (484). Individually, senior Samantha Holien leads the NSIC in batting average (.496), runs (40), hits (58) and total bases(87). Fellow senior Lindsay Erickson boasts the league's most RBI (44) and has the second-best slugging percentage (.810). In the circle, freshman Coley Ries leads the NSIC in ERA (1.48), opposing batter average (.188) and batters struck out looking (42).

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