MANKATO, Minn. --- The second-seeded Minnesota State softball team is set to square off with seventh-seeded Southern Indiana in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Softball Championship on Thursday at 3:00 p.m.(CST) The tournament is made up of eight teams from eight regions and will be a double elimination format and conclude with a best of three final round.
Central Region Champions: Minnesota State used a late surge to down Harding, 7-6, in game three of the NCAA Central Super Regionals to advance to the NCAA Championships. The Mavericks trailed the Bisons, 6-3, after five innings. MSU began to chip away at the deficit as freshman Amber Kral blasted a single to center scoring sophomore McKenzie Paap to make the score 6-4. The Mavericks added their second run of the frame after freshman Carly Esselman delivered an RBI to pull the Mavericks within one, 6-5.
Minnesota State continued its comeback into the seventh inning as senior Ashley Thell hit a clutch two run shot up the middle to score Paap followed by juniorAlyssa Rickels for the game-winning run to make the score 7-6.
Looking Back: These two teams met earlier this season at the The Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Minnesota State topped Southern Indiana, 2-1. Senior pitcher Coley Ries set the pace with 14 strikeouts over seven innings of work. MSU scored both of its runs off of walks from sophomore McKenzie Paap and junior Jess Meidl.
The Last Time: This is the 15th time MSU will make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament and third time appearing in the NCAA Championships (1987, 2011, 2017). The last time Minnesota State appeared in the NCAA Championships was in 2011. The Mavericks downed Saginaw Valley State, 2-1, before dropping back-to-back games to UC San Diego, 4-2, and Midwestern State, 1-0.
Making History: Minnesota State earned its 59th win of the season in the 7-6 win over Harding which is the most wins in a single season in program history.
Hot Streak: Prior to the 3-2 loss to Harding in game two of the NCAA Central Super Regionals, the Mavericks put together 28 straight wins which is the longest streak in program history.
Vs. the Top-25: MSU is 6-1 this season when facing a top-25 opponent. Most recently, Minnesota State downed #2 Harding, 7-6.
Nationally Speaking: Senior Coley Ries has 426 strikeouts this season which ranks first in NCAA Division II. She also has a 1.02 ERA which positions her fifth in the NCAA.
By the Numbers: Minnesota State has a .343 batting average ranking ninth in NCAA Division II. MSU has totaled 612 hits this season with 354 RBI, 103 doubles, 43 home runs, and 21 triples.
Getting Runs Across: Freshman Amber Kral has drove in a team-best 63 runs this season which ranks ninth in the NCAA . Senior Ashley Thell has also contributed 59 RBI.
Milestone Watch: Freshman
Amber Kral is tied with Abby Wagner (2006) for the all-time leader for home runs in a season with 13.
Scouting Southern Indiana: Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Ind., and has an overall record of 46-12 and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Screaming Eagles are led by head coach Sue Kunkle who is in her 16th season.
Senior Haley Hodges leads the team in hits (77), RBI (52), and home runs (11).Freshman Jennifer Leonhardt has a team-best 1.46 ERA to go along with 189 strikeouts to round out the top performers
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