MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team will be making its annual spring break trip this week to the "Sunshine State", as the Mavericks are set to play 11 games in the span of six days in Florida. 

All 11 games for MSU will be played in Clermont, Fla., and five of the six days will include a double dose of games for the Purple and Gold. The Mavericks will be playing four games against teams from the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC), three against teams from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), two teams from the Northeast-10 Conference, then a game against a Central Athletic Collegiate Conference (CACC) foe and finally a single game against a Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) member. You can find a full list of the teams MSU you will be playing below and what days and times those games are scheduled for.

Upcoming Games
 

Date	Opponent	Location	Tiime (CST)
3/7	Lock Haven (PSAC)	Clermont, Fla.	4 p.m.
3/7	Wilmington (CACC)	Clermont, Fla.	6 p.m.
3/8	Shippensburg (PSAC)	Clermont, Fla.	8 a.m.
3/8	Ferris State (GLIAC)	Clermont, Fla.	10 a.m.
3/9	Maryville (GLVC)	Clermont, Fla.	12 p.m.
3/9	Hillsdale (GLIAC)	Clermont, Fla.	2 p.m.
3/10	American International (Northeast-10)	Clermont, Fla.	8 a.m.
3/11	Kutztown (PSAC)	Clermont, Fla.	12 p.m.
3/11	Merrimack (Northeast-10)	Clermont, Fla.	2 p.m.
3/12	Northwood (GLIAC)	Clermont, Fla.	4 p.m.
3/12	Tiffon (GLIAC)	Clermont, Fla.	6 p.m.

From The Last Time Out: It was quite the contrast in weeks for MSU from week one to the second week of the year. After starting the year 0-4 at the UAM 8-State Classic, the Mavericks would quickly rebound from that, as they posted 4-1 record in their last series of games at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover up in St. Cloud, Minn. The Mavericks were able to defeat Central Missouri, Missouri Western State, Fort Hays State and Nebraska-Kearney, while falling to #17 Emporia State in nine innings of play. Currently, MSU stands at 4-5 overall this season.

As a team, in the five games at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover, MSU batted .323 in 130 at-bats, while holding its opponents to just a .209 batting average, and outscored its opponents by 19 runs.

Individually, four Mavericks who played in all five games in St. Cloud, Minn., batted at least .333 or better. Leading the way for the Mavericks from the plate was junior Tatum Klein as she boasted a .474 in the five games and also led the team with nine hits, seven runs scored, four RBI and a perfect 7-7 on the base paths. 

Junior Emily Bransky was second on team in batting average with .364, with four hits, three runs and two stolen bases. Freshman Jess Jess Meidl posted a .357 batting average, along with a team-leading five walks, and recorded five runs, five hits, one triple and four stolen bases to her stat sheet. Rounding out the quartet was sophomore Samantha Buhmann, as she tallied  a .333 batting average, five runs, five hits, including two doubles and one triple, while notching five walks.

In the circle, sophomore pitcher Coley Ries had a dominant pitching performance in the five games she played in. The Mankato East product posted a 4-1 win-loss record and an outstanding 0.94 ERA. She pitched in 29.2 innings, struck out 47 batters, held opposing batters to a .191 batting average and only gave up four earned runs.
  
About Lock Haven: The Lady Eagles have yet to play a game this season as their first five games have been cancelled. LHU is coached by Kelly Shannon who is beginning her sixth season at the helm. This will mark the fourth all-time meeting between the Lady Eagles and Mavericks, as MSU owns a 2-1 record against LHU.

Some leading returners for LHU this season is sophomore Michelle Holweger who led the team in batting average last season with .297. She also led the team with 41 hits, 19 RBI and .442 slugging percentage. Also back for  the Lady Eagles is sophomore McKenna Garlock who led the team last season with seven doubles, four home runs and 14 walks.
In the circle, the Lady Eagles return their top two pitchers from last season in Jessie Probst and Rachel Mouillesseaux. Probst led the team with a 2.05 ERA in 146 innings pitched, while Mouillesseaux led the team with 11 wins and struck out 105 batters.

About Wilmington: The Wildcats enter the week without playing a game yet so far this season. WU is coached by Mike Shehorn who is currently in his second season on the job.

Returning this season for the Wildcats is Kelsey Doherty who led WU in hitting last season. She led the team with 58 hits, including nine doubles, five triples, five home runs, and to go along with 26 RBI.

The Wildcats lost their top pitcher from a year ago but do return three pitchers who each posted three wins last season in senior Chelsea Botsch, junior Jen Fischbach and sophomore Colby Wyatt.
 
About Shippensburg: The Raiders also enter the week without playing a game yet this season. Bob Brookens coaches SU, as he has amassed a 445-252 record in his 15 years at the helm. Last season, the Raiders posted a 36-17 record and were one game away from advancing to the NCAA Super Regionals. This will mark the second all-time meeting between MSU and SU, as the Mavericks own the upperhand in the series.

The Raiders return three of their top four hitters from a year ago in senior shortstop Taylor Wesiman, junior second baseman Taylor Patillo and senior outfielder Tyler Thompson. All three batters from a year ago all batted at least .300 or better, as Wesiman led the way with a .364 batting average, .772 slugging percentage, 33 RBI, 32 runs scored, 12 home runs and 12 doubles. Patillo hit .349 last season, along with 10 home runs, seven doubles, .605 slugging percentage and 30 runs scored. Rounding out the trio in Thompson, she batted .300, along with 45 hits on the year and returns as the Raiders leading base stealer as she posted 21 last season.

Senior pitcher Mackenzie Lynn is SU's top returning pitcher for this year's squad as she posted  7-10 win-loss record and a 3.96 ERA.

About Ferris State:  The Bulldogs enter the week with a 1-9 overall record, with their only win coming over Miles College. FSU is coached by Sarah Rotta who is in her first season at the helm. The Mavericks own a 6-2 all-time record against the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs leading pitcher is Stacy Thompson who has posted a 0-3 record and a 4.33 ERA. FSU's top hitter so far this year is Kaytie Carlson, who is batting .226 with one home run, three RBI and four runs scored.

About Maryville: The Saints boast a 1-5 overall record, including their only win over Miles College by the score of 15-0. Maryville is coached by Liz Kelly, who is currently in her third season on the job.

The Saints are led by Sophomore Nicole Taylor as she owns a .389 batting average, with seven hits, seven runs scored and three stolen bases.  Junior Alex Flasch is batting .353 on the year and has posted six hits, four runs and four RBI.

In the circle, Maryville is led by junior pitcher Wendy Macias who has posted a 1-2 win-loss record in 17.2 innings pitched. She also has struck out 24 batters and owns a 3.57 ERA. 

About  Hillsdale: The Chargers enter the week with a 0-2 overall record, with a couple of losses to Illinois-Springfield. HC is coached by Joe Abraham, who is currently in his fourth season at the helm. The Mavericks own a 1-0 all-time record against the Chargers.

About American International: AIC enters the week with no games played yet this season as its first game of the season will be against MSU. The YellowJackets are coached by Marin Dudek, who is entering her fourth season.

Lindsey Letourneau is the YellowJackets top returning batter for this years squad, as she batted .252 with 15 runs scored, 12 RBI and three doubles last season.

Alyssa Camargo returns to the circle after posting a 3-10 record last season to go along with a 5.71 ERA.

About Kutztown: The Golden Bears are coached by Judy Lawes who is currently in her 28th season at the helm. KU enters the week with a 3-1 overall record, including wins in its last two games.

Gabby Tareila is batting .600 with four RBI, while Danielle Sienko has driven in a team-leading five runs and has scored three runs herself.

Savannah Nierintz owns a 2-0 record to go along with a 2.00 ERA in 14 innings of work. She has held opposing batters to a .268 batting average, to go along with six strikeouts.

About Merrimack: The Warriors enter the week without playing a game yet this season. MC is coached by interim coach Elaine Schwager who is in her first year at the helm.

Brittany Razo returns after batting .347 with 23 run scored and team-leading seven doubles last season. In the circle for the Warriors is Alexis Perry, who boasted a 12-6 record last season, with 61 strikeouts and a 2.92 era. Haley Currie went 9-9 last season, with 93 strikeouts and 2.89 era.

About Northwood: The Timberwolves enter the week without having played a game yet this season. Last season NU went 26-16 to finish up the year. Northwood is coached by Meaggan Pettipiece who is her ninth season at the helm.

Lindsay Oberemski batted .336 with nine doubles, 20 runs scored and 29 RBI last season. Ashley Lynn led the Timberwolves with 35 runs scored last season, while batting .321.

In the circle, Casey Brown put together a 8-6 record last season with 87 strikeouts and a 4.08 ERA.

About Tiffin: The Dragons are 1-3 this season, including a 7-0 loss Pfeiffer University in their last game. TU is coached by Jeff Nickerson, who is his seventh season on the job. 

Madison Yanek is batting .364 with two runs scored and one RBI. Kaitlin Gruenewald has two stolen bases and is batting .333. Pitching for the Dragons is Kelsey Yaratch, who owns a 2.45 ERA in two appearances for TU.


To view the complete release in PDF form, click HERE