Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team will travel down to Clermont, Fla., to take part in "The Spring Games" in the next week. The Mavericks will play 10 games in a span of six days against teams from the PSAC, GLVC, GLIAC and Conference Carolinas conferences.

Competition will begin on Saturday for the Mavericks as they will take on Indiana, Pa. and Slippery Rock at 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m., respectively. On Sunday, MSU will square off with Saint Joseph's (Ind.) and Saginaw Valley State at times of 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m., respectively. The next day, MSU will have a couple of morning games against Lees-McRae and Northwood at 8:00 a.m., and 10:00 a.m. On Tuesday March 8, the Mavericks will have the day off from competition, before they start back up on Wednesday March 9 with back-to-back games against Bloomsburg at 12:00 p.m. and Southern Indiana at 2:00 p.m. Thursday March 10 will mark as the final day for MSU at The Spring Games. The Purple and Gold will face Edinboro at 4:00 p.m., before turning its attention to Ohio Dominican at 6:00 p.m.
 

Date	Opponent	Location	Time (CT)
3/5/16	Indiana, Pa.	Clermont, Fla.	12:00 p.m.
3/5/16	Slippery Rock	Clermont, Fla.	2:00 p.m.
3/6/16	Saint Joseph's [Ind.]	Clermont, Fla.	12:00 p.m.
3/6/16	Saginaw Valley State	Clermont, Fla.	2:00 p.m.
3/7/16	Lees-McRae	Clermont, Fla.	8:00 a.m.
3/7/16	Northwood	Clermont, Fla.	10:00 a.m.
3/9/16	Bloomsburg	Clermont, Fla.	12:00 p.m.
3/9/16	Southern Indiana	Clermont, Fla.	2:00 p.m.
3/10/16	Edinboro	Clermont, Fla.	4:00 p.m.
3/10/16	Ohio Dominican	Clermont, Fla.	6:00 p.m.

Last Time Out:  MSU's last outing was back on Feb. 18-20 when it competed in the Kelly Laas NSIC/MIAA Crossover in St. Cloud, Minn. The Mavericks played in five games against MIAA opponents and went 3-2 to even up their overall record to 4-4. MSU defeated Nebraska-Kearney, 6-1, Central Missouri, 6-0 and Fort Hays State, 7-1. The Mavericks two losses came against #16 Missouri Western State, 3-1 and Emporia State, 4-3.

Junior Coley Ries [Mankato, Minn.] had a strong weekend from the cirlce for the Mavericks as she posted a 2-1 record in three starts. She recorded a 1.47 ERA in 19 innings and opposing batters averaged just .159 from the plate. She posted two complete games, including one shutout and struck out 32 batters. Ries also surpassed 600 career strikeouts over the weekend as she now owns 618 in her career. Sophomore Libby Bemis [Osceola, Iowa] also had a strong showing for MSU as she compiled a 1-1 record and a 2.00 ERA, in 14 innings pitched. She posted complete games in both of her starts, struck out eight players and held opposing batters to a .191 average.

Junior Dana Mogren [Forest Lake, Minn.] led MSU with a .462 batting average and a .692 slg percentage at the Crossover, as she tallied six hits, including one home run. She also notched team-leading nine total bases and three RBI. Sophomore Jess Meidl [Lakeville, Minn.] swiped a team-leading six stolen bases in as many opportunities, while also recording five runs scored, three RBI and a .400 batting average. Senior Karli DesLauriers [Mankato, Minn.] finished with a .385 batting average on the weekend and added three RBI, while junior Samantha Buhmann [Prior Lake, Minn.] collected a .333 batting average and three RBI.

Concerning Indiana, Pa.: The Crimson Hawks have yet to play a game this season. IUP is coached by Bill Graham who will begin his seventh season at the helm. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Crimson Hawks, as MSU owns a 1-2 all-time record against IUP.

IUP returns six players from its 19-24 overall record last season, including junior Hannah Mercer. Mercer was named to the watch list for the 2016 NFCA Division II Player of the Year. She was a first team all-region player last season as she compiled a team-leading .406  batting average, 34 runs scored and a .647 slugging percentage. The Crimson Hawks also return a couple other All-Confernece position players in Megan Gould and Allison Viguers.  Gould hit .352 with three triples and 18 stolen bases last year, while Viguers was a .348 hitter with eight doubles, four home runs, and 26 RBI.
IUP's top returning pitcher is Amanda Spindler who compiled a 5.96 ERA and a 4-9 record last season. She struck out 25 batters in 78.2 innings and opposing batters hit .360 off of her.

Concerning Slippery Rock: The Rock began the year with a 4-1 record after competing in the Myrtle Beach Softball Tournament a couple of weeks ago. SRU is coached by Stacey Rice who is in her second season at the helm.  This will be the first ever meeting between MSU and SRU. 
 
Through five games, Megan Maloney leads the team with a .553 batting average and eight hits , while Ashley Samluk leads SRU with seven RBI, five runs scored and two doubles. 

From the circle, Carly DeRose lead the Rock as she has yet to give up an earned run in three appearances. DeRose owns a 2-0 record in 15 innings pitched, while striking out 17 batters. Brooke Dawson has pitched 15.1 innings of work and has compiled a 1-1 record with a 2.28 ERA.

Concerning Saint Joseph's: The Pumas have begun their 2016 season with a 1-8 overall record.  SJC is coached by Audra Rains who was named interim head coach earlier this season.  This will be the second all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Pumas, as MSU won the first game between the two teams.

Junior Ashley Whitaker leads the Pumas with 11 RBI and two home runs this season. She also owns a team-leading .333 batting average and a .667 slugging percentage. Senior Myranda Eckberg leads SJC with three doubles and has also added four runs scored and three RBI. 

In the circle, freshman pitcher Morgan Masters leads the team with 18.2 innings pitched in six appearances including two starts. She has compiled a 5.25 ERA and a 1-2 record. Masters has struck out 11 batters and opposing batters are averaging .338 off of her.

Concerning Saginaw Valley State: The Cardinals will open its season at The Spring Games, as they will begin with Winona State and MSU on thier first day playing. SVSU is coached by Todd Buckingham who enters his fourth season as head coach. This matchup will mark as the eighth all-time meeting between MSU and SVSU. The Mavericks own a 5-2 record against the Cardinals in series history.

The Cardinals are coming off a 33-19 last season and are picked to finish second in the GLIAC for this upcoming season. SVSU brings back two pitchers who started at least 20 games last season. Senior Sarah Appold compiled a 14-8 record in 164.2 innings. She owned an impressive 1.96 ERA and struckout 157 batters. Appold's teammate Sarah Vrabel also returns as she owned a 12-8 record in 2015. She pitched in 113.1 innings and struck out 73 batters, with a 3.64 ERA.

From the plate, senior Shelby Weeks returns for the Cardinals as she led the team with 33 RBI and 25 extra base hits, including 15 doubles and seven home runs. Also returning is sophomore Evy Lobdell who batted .349 from the plate and tallied 27 RBI and nine doubles.

Concerning Lees McRae: LMC owns a 2-12 overall record this season and are coached by Jaclin Poole who is her first season at the helm. This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Bobcats, as MSU has built a 2-1 all-time record against LMC. 

Freshman Kara Cunningham leads the Bobcats this season with 11 hits, five runs scored and four stolen bases, while freshman Emily Merriman leads the way with six RBI and two doubles.  Junior Charlie Dutton leads LMC this season with 34.1 innings pitched and 27 strikeouts.

Concerning Northwood: The Timberwolves will begin their 2016 season at The Spring Games. Last season, NU finished with a 16-25 overall record and finished ninth in the GLIAC with a 13-13 conference record. NU's head coach is Meaggan Pettipiece who is entering her 10th season at the helm. This matchup will mark as the six all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Timberwolves, as MSU has built a perfect 5-0 all-time record against NU. 

Junior Ashley Lynn returns this season for the Timberwolves as she led the team last season with 38 hits and a .325 batting average. Senior Jessica Tostrud compiled 18 runs scored, 14 RBI and nine extra base hits, including six doubles. 

Junior pitcher Vanessa Ewing pitched a team-high of a 116 innings and struckout 148 batters last season. She also owned an 8-8 record and 3.50 ERA.

Concerning Bloomsburg: The Huskies enter the week with a 2-2 overall record after taking part in the Coker College Spring Tournament in Hartsville, S.C. BU is coached by Susan Kocher who is her sixth season at the helm. This will mark as the sixth all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Huskies as MSU has built a 4-1 all-time record against BU.

Last season the Huskies finished with a 26-16 overall record, including a 19-9 record in conference play. Some top returning players for BU this season are sophomore Emily Mayhew and senior Erica Keen. Mayhew led the Huskies with 25 runs scored and was second on the team with seven doubles, six home runs, 23 RBI and 37 total hits. Keen returns after starting in all 40 games she played in last season. Keen totaled 22 hits last season, while also notching 15 runs scored and 11 RBI.

In the circle, the Huskies return two players who compiled ERA's less then a 2.00 last season.   Junior Taylor Parker led the way with a 14-5 record and a 1.81 ERA. She posted 12 complete games, including five shut outs last season. She pitched in 131.2 innings, struck out 108 batters and opposing batters hit .210 off her last season. Her teammate, Sarah Bortner, finished right behind with a 1.88 ERA in 59.2 innings pitched last season. She finished the year with a 5-3 record in 17 appearances, as she struck out 49 batters and held them to a .193 batting average.

Concerning Southern Indiana: The Screaming Eagles own a 7-3 overall record this season. USI is coached by Sue Kunkle who is in her 15th season at the helm. This will be the second all-time meeting between the Mavericks and Screaming Eagles as MSU won the first meeting against USI.

Junior Haley Hodges leads USI with 17 RBI, 10 runs scored, 12 hits, including four home runs this season. She is batting .429 from the plate and owns an impressive .964 slugging percentage. Junior Lexi Reese owns a .310 batting average and has tallied seven RBI, seven runs scored and three doubles.

From the circle, freshman Courtney Atkisson has appeared in six games, including three starts for the Screaming Eagles this season. She has notched a team-high 23.2 innings and owns a 2.96 ERA. Freshman Haylee Smith is  1-1 this season in three appearances and is holding opposing batters to a .230 average in 16 innings of work.

Concerning Edinboro: The Fighting Scots will open up their 2016 schedule down in Florida later this week. Last season Edinboro finished with a 23-14-1 overall record. The Fighting Scots are coached by Dan Gierlak who be embarking on his 24th season with the program. This matchup will mark as the first ever meeting between the Mavericks and Fighting Scots.

Edinboro returns seven starters from last season squad. Senior Haley Struebing returns after leading the team last season with eight home runs and 32 RBI. She also batted .306 and tallied eight doubles. Junior Brooke Callahgan returns as well after belting six home runs, 19 RBI, four doubles and three triples. She also ranked second on the team last season with a .339 batting average and a 12 stolen bases.

Junior  Kalet Lenart is Edinboro's top returning pitcher as she logged a team-high 86.2 innings pitched, while recording a 7-5 record and 72 strikeouts last season.

Concerning Ohio Dominican: The Panthers currently own a 1-7 overall record, including two losses to Southern Indiana earlier this season. ODU is coached by Marcella Vanlandingham who is in her 21st season with the program. The Mavericks own a 2-0 all-time record against the Panthers.

Sophomore Taylor Kline leads ODU this season with a .407 batting average, as she has recorded 11 hits along with a team-high three stolen bases. Senior Montana Fishel is batting .400 so far this season and owns a team-high five runs scored. Senior Julia Suyak is third on the team with a .320 batting average and leads the team with four RBI on the season.

From the circle, sophomore Bailey Miller has appeared in six games, including three starts this season. She has pitched in 19.1 innings and has accumulated 13 strikeouts and a 3.26 ERA.