Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team will head up to St. Cloud, Minn., later this week to take part in the Kelly Laas NSIC/MIAA Crossover. 

The Mavericks will play five games against five different MIAA teams in a span of three days starting Thursday. MSU will open play with Nebraska-Kearney at 12:00 p.m. and then Central Missouri right after at 2:30 p.m. On Friday, the Mavericks will play #16 Missouri Western State first at 5:00 p.m., and close out day two with Emporia State at 7:00 p.m. On Saturday, MSU will finish up play at the Crossover with an early morning contest against Fort Hays State at 7:00 a.m.
 

Date	Opponent	Location	Time
2/18/16	Nebraska-Kearney	St. Cloud, Minn.	12:00 p.m.
2/18/16	Central Missouri	St. Cloud, Minn.	2:30 p.m.
2/19/16	#16 Missouri Western State	St. Cloud, Minn.	5:00 p.m.
2/19/16	Emporia State	St. Cloud, Minn.	7:00 p.m.
2/20/16	Fort Hays State	St. Cloud, Minn.	7:00 a.m.

Last Weekend: The Mavericks opened up their 2016 season at UAM 8-State Classic in Bentonville, Ark., last weekend. Originally MSU was scheduled to play in six games but due to weather conditions, it got in just three games and went 1-2 on the weekend. On day one the Mavericks split their first games of the season, as they began with a 8-0 loss to Arkansas Tech, before bouncing back with a come-from-behind, 7-6, win over East Central. In its final game, MSU fell to Southeastern Oklahoma State, 5-4.

Against Arkansas Tech, the Mavericks were held to two hits, as the Golden Suns scored seven of their eight runs in the fifth and six innings. Junior Coley Ries picked up the loss for MSU, as she pitched five innings and struck out seven batters.

Against East Central, the Mavericks found themselves down 6-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth. MSU rallied off three runs to take a 7-6 lead in the inning that was capped off with a two-RBI double from junior Dana Mogren. Ries came in relief to pick up her first win of the season as she struck out three batters in 2.1 innings.

Against SE, MSU fell 5-4 as both teams were all knotted up at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the sixth until the Storm hit a solo home run off of Ries to take the win. Ries pitched all six innings and struck out six batters. Sophomore Kara Lattery tallied two doubles in the game, while Mogren belted her first home run of the season.
 
Concerning Nebraska-Kearney: The Lopers enter the week with a 4-5 overall record and have already played three NSIC teams earlier this season at the Desert Stinger Classic. UNK defeated U-Mary, 12-11 and Concordia-St. Paul, 11-10 and lost to Minot State, 8-3. The Lopers are coached by Holly Carnes who is in her 16th season at the season.

Thursday game will be the 15th all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Lopers, as MSU has built a 10-4 record against UNK. Last season the two teams played against each other at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover and the Mavericks defeated the Lopers, 14-9. In the game, MSU used its speed on the base paths, as it tallied eight stolen bases, which was led by sophomore Jess Meidl who swiped three.

Senior Makenzi Dallas leads the Lopers with a .450 batting average, as she has tallied four RBI and nine hits, including two doubles and one home run. Senior Katie Ruwe is batting .440 and owns a team-leading nine RBI and 11 base hits, including two home runs. Lead-off hitter Rebecca Wyatte leads UNK with 10 runs scored and eight stolen bases.

In the circle, sophomore Meg Housholder leads the team with 23.2 innings pitched. She has appeared in five games including four starts and has put together a 2-2 record. She owns a 4.73 ERA and has struck out 20 batters. Junior Kami Merrill owns a 1-1 record after pitching in 20.2 innings. She owns a 6.44 ERA and leads the Lopers with 21 strikeouts.

Concerning Central Missouri: The Jennies own a 5-5 overall record and are currently on a three game winning streak, including a 10-2 win over Southeastern Oklahoma State. UCM is coached by Susan Anderson who is in her 10th season with the program. 

Thursday's game will be the 15th all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Jennies. MSU holds a 6-8 all-time record against UCM, as the Mavericks won both meetings last season by scores of 6-0 and 6-4.
Junior Lauren Mabe leads the Jennies with a .345 batting average as she has notched 10 hits, including four doubles. Mabe also has crossed the plate seven times and leads the team with seven RBI. Lead-off hitter Ali Jo Rogers leads the team with 13 stolen bases and 10 runs scored.

Freshman pitcher Emily Robinson leads the team with a 2.97 ERA in six appearances, including four starts with a 2-2 record. She has pitched 30.1 innings, struck out 23 batters and is holding opposing players to a .207 batting average. 
 
Concerning #16 Missouri Western State: The Griffons own a 4-3 overall record and also fell to Arkansas Tech and defeated East Central last weekend at the UAM 8-State Classic. Jen Bagley coaches MWSU and is in her 15th year at the program.

The Mavericks and Griffons are 9-9 in their all-time series against each other. Last season MSU and MWSU met once as the Mavericks came out on top with a 2-1 victory.

Junior Morgan Rathmann owns a team-leading .407 batting average after accumulating 11 hits , including three doubles. Rathmann also leads the Griffons with six runs and four stolen bases. Sophomore Paige Shifflett is batting .333 and leads the team with six RBI.

Senior pitcher Shyanne Saladino owns a 1-2 record with a 1.24 ERA in 22.2 innings pitched. She has completed all three games she started in and has collected 16 strikeouts. Senior Janie Smith owns a 2-0 record and a 1.50 ERA. She has pitched in 14 innings, struck out 12 batters and is holding opponents to a .196 batting average.

Concerning Emporia State: The Hornets own a 4-6 overall record entering the week. ESU is coached by April Huddleston who is in her first season as head coach. 

Friday's matchup will be the 16th all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Hornets. MSU holds a 5-10 all-time record against ESU. The Mavericks fell to the Hornets twice last season, both by one run with scores of 2-1 and 4-3.

Junior Sarah Glass is batting .355 from the plate and has tallied six runs, five RBI, two home runs and three stolen bases. Sophomore Caitlin VanVleck leads the Hornets with nine runs scored, while junior Eica Harper has recorded nine RBI, two home runs and five walks.

Junior Eryn Stockman leads ESU with 34 innings pitched and 28 strikeouts. She has completed all five games she has started in and owns a 3-2 record. Opponents are batting .267 on her.

Concerning Fort Hays State: The Tigers hold a 1-3 overall record after opening their 2016 season at the UAM 8-State Classic. FHSU lone win came against Minnesota Duluth with a 4-0 win. The Tigers are coached by Adrian Mohr who is in her second season at the helm.

Saturday's game will the sixth all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Tigers. MSU owns a 3-2 record against FHSU. Last season the two teams met at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover and the Mavericks defeated the Tigers in five innings, 9-1.

Junior Kylie Strand leads the team with one home run and three RBI, while junior Claudia Vazquez leads the Tigers with three stolen bases. Senior pitcher Paxton Duran owns a 5.04 ERA in 16.2 innings pitched. She holds a 1-1 record in three appearances.
 
Minnesota State History: The 2016 season will mark as the 42nd season for the Maverick softball program. MSU owns an all-time record of 1,165-724-7 (.617) in 1,896 games, and has four North Central Conference titles (1984, 1987, 1989, 2007), three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title (2012, 2013, 2014) and 13 appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament (1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014) to its credit.