MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 1 Minnesota State softball team is set to open its 2018 season against Missouri Western State on Saturday at 10:00 a.m., in St. Joseph, Mo. The Mavericks will conclude the weekend against Northwest Missouri State on Sunday. First pitch is set for 2:00 p.m.

NFCA Preseason Poll: Minnesota State has been picked No.1 in the National Fastpich Coaches Association (NFCA) Preseason Poll. The Mavericks picked up 14 first-place votes and 396 total points. Winona State was the only other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) team to appear in the poll at No. 24. 
 
NSIC Preseason Poll: Minnesota State was tabbed to finish third in the NSIC Preseason Poll. The Mavericks garnered 202 total points and three first-place votes. Winona State was picked to finish first in the poll with 11 first-place and 221 total votes. Augustana was positioned second with two first-place votes and 206 total votes. 

Preseason Accolades: Senior Outfielder Jessica Meidl was named the NSIC Preseason Player of the Year and to the Fastpitch News Preseason All-America First Team.

Last season, the Lakeville, Minn., native scored a team-best 71 runs which were the most in a season in program history. She also drove in 56 runs and finished second on the team in home runs with 10 while posting a .694 slugging percentage. Meidl was named to the NFCA All-American Second Team, All-NSIC First Team, NSIC All-Tournament Team and NCAA All-Tournament Team.

Freshman Mackenzie Ward was named the Mavericks Pitcher to Watch this season. The Clive, Iowa native was a four-time letterwinner with the Valley High School softball team. Ward was named to the all-conference team three times and boasted a 22-2 record and a 1.39 ERA with 77 strikeouts during her junior season.

Returning Mavericks: Minnesota State returns nine letterwinners from last seasons team including five starters:Carly Esselman, McKenzie Paap, Amber Kral, Cori Kennedy, and Jessica Meidl. 

New Mavericks: Minnesota State will have 12 new faces on the roster this season including 11 freshman. The 11 freshman are: Julia Bastian, Maggie Harvey, Lexi Schoper, Hailey Forshee, Courtney Potter, Hannah McCarville, Emma Schifferle, Morgan Keim-Wolfe, Mackenzie Ward, Torey Richards, Hannah Hastings, and Rae Dose. 

Minnesota State History: The 2018 season will mark as the 44th season for the Maverick softball program. MSU owns an all-time record of 1,273-746-7 (.627) in 2,026 games, and has four North Central Conference (NCC) titles (1984, 1987, 1989, 2007), five  NSIC titles (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and 16 appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament (1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) to its credit. The Mavericks claimed their first National Championship in 2017 after defeating No. 1 Angleo State, 5-1, on May 29, 2017 in Salem, Va. 

All-NSIC: The Mavericks return five players who received All-NSIC recognition last season. The five players include: Jessica Meidl (First Team), McKenzie Paap (First Team, Gold Glove), Amber Kral (First Team), Carly Esselman (Second Team), and Cori Kennedy (Gold Glove). 

Defending Our Diamond: Minnesota State has won 28 straight home games on  the MSU Softball Diamond dating back to the 2016 season. The last loss MSU suffered on its home field was against Wayne State on April 26, 2015. 

Scouting Missouri Western State: Missouri Western State is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is a member of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA). The Griffons enter the week with a 2-2 overall record and most recently edged Arkansas Tech, 5-2. Missouri Western State is led by Jen Bagley Trotter who is in her 17th season. 

Junior Shelby Uhl leads the Griffons with a .636 batting average with a team-high seven hits, three runs, and one home run this season. Freshman Kaili Hinds is 1-0 this season in the circle with a 3.97 ERA. She has recorded a team-best nine strikeouts this season.  

The last time these two teams met last season, Minnesota State edged Missouri Western State, 3-2, at the Arkansas-Monticello Softball Classic. However, the Giffons hold the slight edge in the all-time series, 11-10. 

Scouting Northwest Missouri State: Northwest Missouri State is located in Maryville, Mo., and is a member of the MIAA. The Bearcats enter the week with a 2-2 overall record and most recently eased past Arkansas at Monticello, 11-2. Northwest Missouri State is led by 13th year head coach Ryan Anderson. 

Senior Abigail Gilson paces the Bearcats with a team-best .455 batting average to go along with five hits and one run. Sophomore Rachel Smith is 2-0 this season with a 2.10 ERA. She has posted a team-best 12 strikeouts and has allowed five hits. 

The last time these two teams met last season, the Mavericks topped the Bearcats, 3-0, at the Missouri Western Apple Market Tournament. Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 15-3. 

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks will take on Missouri Western State in a doubleheader on Feb. 22 at the Regional Crossover / Kelly LAAS Memorial Invite in St. Cloud, Minn. First pitch is set for 4:30 p.m.