Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team enters NCAA Central Region play as the fourth-seed and it will face-off with the fifth-seed Northwest Missouri State Thursday in Russellville, Ark. Game time is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. and the Mavericks will play against either top-seed Arkansas Tech or the eighth-seed Upper Iowa on Friday.

This is the 14th time MSU will make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament with its most recent outing coming in 2014.

The Central Region is broken up into two pods, the other being hosted by second-seeded Southern Arkansas in Magnolia, Ark. Each regional pod is played as a double-elimination tournament, with the winners meeting up in a best-of-three Super Regional May 11-12. The finals of the NCAA Softball Championship will be played in Denver, Colo. from May 17-21. 

Last Time Out: Last week the Mavericks took second place at the NSIC Softball Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D. MSU went 4-2 over the week as it defeated Southwest Minnesota State, Augustana, Minnesota Duluth and Upper Iowa. The Mavericks two losses came against the Peacocks from UIU. On the final day of the tournament, MSU played in 28 innings, including a 16-inning 2-1 win over UIU.

Junior Samantha Buhmann led the Mavericks in six games over the week with a .444 batting average and a 1.000 slugging percentage. She finished with four doubles, four runs scored, two home runs, two RBI and two walks. Senior Tatum Klein and junior Ashley Thell each compiled a .364 batting average and eight total hits. Thell ended the week with a team-high five doubles, while Klein tallied two runs scored, two RBI and two stolen bases. Sophomore Jess Meidl posted a team-high five RBI and three stolen bases with a .350 batting average. Freshman McKenzie Paap scored a team-high eight runs scored, along with two home runs and eight total hits.

From the circle, junior Coley Ries continued her impressive season with a 4-1 record and 0.92 ERA during the tournament. She tallied 38 innings pitched including a 16-inning performance against Upper Iowa where she fanned 22 batters. She ended the week with 49 total strikeouts, three complete games and held opponents to a .142 batting average.

Concerning Northwest Missouri State: The Bearcats enter Thursday's contest with a 37-14 overall record and a 19-7 MIAA record which placed them second in the conference. Northwest is coached by Ryan Anderson who is in his 10th season at the helm. 

The Mavericks own a 13-3 all-time record against the Bearcats. MSU and Northwest met earlier season at the Apple Market Classic in St. Joseph, Mo. MSU lost the contest to Northwest, 4-3.  In the game, the Bearcats built a 4-0 lead over the Mavericks heading into the sixth, before MSU's comeback fell just short. Junior Dana Mogren drove in the Mavericks first run of the game with a sac fly to bring in freshman McKenzie Paap. Later in the inning, sophomore Kara Lattery cut MSU's deficit to one as she drilled a two-run home run to center field that scored sophomore Jess Meidl on the play as well.

Sophomore Libby Bemis suffered the loss for the Mavericks as she pitched 4.1 innings after allowing nine hits and four earned runs. Kendle Schieber earned the win for the Bearcats as she pitched 5.1 innings and held MSU's offense to six hits, two walks and three earned runs.

In 51 games played this season the Bearcats have compiled a .305 batting average which ranks third in the MIAA. Northwest sits fourth in the conference in runs scored and total hits with 281 and 444, respectively. The Bearcats sit middle of the pack of the MIAA in doubles with 65 and triples with six. The Bearcats have also raked in 36 home runs, 115 walks and have struck out 169 which is the least amount in the MIAA.

Northwest owns the second-best team-ERA in the conference with 2.28. Opponents are batting .234 against the Bearcats pitching staff and have allowed just 57 walks all season. Northwest has also thrown 11 shutouts this season and have fanned 256 batters in 51 games this season.

Junior Torri Blythe has started in all 51 games for Northwest and leads the team with a .382 batting average. She also leads the team with 68 total hits, 47 runs scored and 21 stolen bases. Against MSU earlier this season, she went 2-for-4 from the plate with a run scored. Rebecca Maher is batting .380, while collecting 40 runs scored, 39 RBI and a team-high 17 doubles. Against MSU, she drove in a run and picked up the Bearcats only extra base hit of the game with a double.

Freshman Alexis Kelsey ranks second on the team with 46 RBI and 45 runs scored, while leading Northwest this season with 12 home runs and 21 walks. Against the Mavericks she led the Bearcats offensively as she went 2-for-4 from the plate and a team-high two RBI. Junior Chantel Adams is swinging at a .352 rate as she has recorded 32 RBI, 29 runs scored and 11 doubles this season. Sophomore Jessica Rowie leads the squad with 47 RBI on the season and sits second on the team with 20 walks and eight home runs.

In the circle, Kendle Schieber leads the Bearcats with a 1.87 ERA and a 21-6 record on the season. In 172.1 innings pitched she has struck out 121 batters and has allowed only 17 walks. Senior pitcher Sarah Baldwin owns a 10-6 record and a 2.49 ERA. She has struck out 95 batters in 120.2 innings pitched and is holding opposing batters to a .236 average.

All-NSIC Honors: Last week the NSIC recognized its All-NSIC performers and a plethora of Mavericks were chosen. Head coach Lori Meyer received her third career NSIC Coach of the Year honor and its her tenth career coach of the year accolade as she won it seven times in the NCC. Junior pitcher Coley Ries was named NSIC Pitcher of the Year for the second time in her career, while freshman McKenzie Paap received NSIC Freshman Player of the Year accolades.

Ries and Paap also took home First-Team All-NSIC honors, while five other Mavericks were tabbed with Second-Team All-NSIC honors. Senior Tatum Klein, junior's Dana Mogren and Ashley Thell, sophomore's Libby Bemis and Jess Meidl all received second-team honors.

Player and Pitcher of the Week Accolades: The Mavericks this season have had seven player or pitcher of the weeks this season in the NSIC. Junior pitcher Coley Ries led the way with four pitcher of the week honors, including three straight at one point during the season. MSU had three player of the week winners throughout the season as Dana Mogren, Jess Meidl and McKenzie Paap each received the honor.