MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team opens the 2017 season in St. Cloud, Minn., at the Husky Dome. 

The Mavericks will open the Regional Crossover/LAAS Memorial Invite on Friday against Concordia-St. Paul at 1:30 p.m., and then Viterbo at 6:00 p.m.  Minnesota State  will close the weekend on Sunday taking on Nebraska-Kearney at 12:00 p.m., and Wisconsin-Parkside at 2:00 p.m.

Preseason Outlook: The Mavericks have been picked to finish first in the NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll. Minnesota State topped the poll with 225 points and 15 first place votes. The Mavericks finished the 2016 season with a 45-17 overall record and a 23-6 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) record. 

Preseason Accolades: Senior pitcher Coley Ries was named NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Ries finished the 2016 season with a 29-7 record and added a 1.18 ERA with 434 strikeouts. Additionally, she held opposing batters to a .151 batting average while she threw 26 complete games and nine shutouts. 

Returning Mavericks: Minnesota State returns nine letterwinners from last seasons team. The Mavericks also return four seniors: pitcher Coley Ries, infielder Dana Mogren, infielder Ashley Thell, and infielder Samantha Buhmann. 

New Mavericks: Minnesota State will have six new faces on the roster for the 2017 campaign. The six freshman include: Carly Esselman, Amber Kral, Caitlin Stone, Ashley Ewoldt, Kennedy Rieck, and Bria Majeskii. 

All-NSIC: The Mavericks return six players who received All-NSIC recognition last season. The six players include: McKenzie Paap (NSIC Freshman of the Year, All-NSIC First Team), Coley Ries (NSIC Pitcher of the Year, All-NSIC First Team),Libby Bemis (All-NSIC Second Team ), Jess Meidl (All-NSIC Second Team), Dana Mogren (All-NSIC Second Team), Ashley Thell (All-NSIC Second Team). 

Minnesota State History: The 2016 season will mark as the 43rd season for the Maverick softball program. MSU owns an all-time record of 1,1209-739-7 (.618) in 1,955 games, and has four North Central Conference titles (1984, 1987, 1989, 2007), four Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference titles (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016) and 14 appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament (1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016) to its credit.

Scouting Concordia-St. Paul: Concordia -St. Paul is located in St. Paul, Minn. The Golden Bears finished the 2016 season with overall record of 12-36 and a 6-22 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) record.  The Golden Bears are led  by head coach Bob Bartel who is in his 13th season at the helm. 

The last time these two programs met was during the 2016 season. In their most recent meeting, the Mavericks routed the Golden Bears, 10-2, in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 49-18-2. 

Freshman Justine Schattner led Golden Bears in hits (58), batting average (.374), RBI (41), and tied for first in home runs (4) last season. Senior Liz Jarosz posted a team-high in doubles (13) and tied for a team-best in home runs with four while recording a .372 batting average last season. 

Scouting Viterbo: Viterbo is located in LaCrosse, Wis., and is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). The V-Hawks finished the 2016 season with a 10-43 overall record and 3-20 North Star Athletic Association (NSAA) record. Viterbo is led by head coach Brandi Alonzo who is in her first season.

Senior Anna Lensmire recorded a team-high in hits (67), runs scored (46), and posted a team-best .370 batting average. Sophomore Sarah Throgmorton notched a team-high 35 strike outs last season. 

This will mark the first ever meeting between these two schools. 

Scouting Nebraska-Kearney: Nebraska -Kearney is located in Kearney, Neb., and  has a 0-4 overall record and 0-0 Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA) record this season. The Lopers are led by head coach Holley Carnes who is in her 15th season. 
These two schools met last season at the MIAA/NSIC Crossover in St. Cloud, Minn., when the Mavericks downed the Lopers, 6-1. Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 11-4. 

Freshman Nicole Spykstra has started all four games this season with a .400 batting average and team-best four hits this season. Junior Kaela Samek is batting .300 this season and has posted three hits. 

Scouting Wisconsin-Parkside: Wisconsin-Parkside is located in Kenosha, Wis., and finished 2016 with an overall record of 8-41 and a 5-25 Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) record. The Rangers are led by head coach Kristin Ortman who is in her first season. 

These two teams have not met since 2008 when Minnesota State edged Wisconsin-Parkside, 5-4, at the Rebel Spring Games. However, the Rangers lead the all-time series, 3-2. 

Senior Carly Dundee posted a team-high in both batting percentage (.297) and hits (44) while sophomore  Cassie Walek notched a team-best 36 strikeouts last season. 

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks will take on Harding on Feb. 17 in Bentonville, Ark., at the UAM 8-State Classic.