Photo credit: photos.paap.net

MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 1 Minnesota State softball team travels to St. Cloud, Minn., to take part in the Regional Crossover / Kelly Laas Memorial this week . The Mavericks will open the road trip against Missouri Western State on Thursday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. 

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (4-0) opened the 2018 season with  sweeps over Missouri Western State and Northwest Missouri State last week in Joseph, Mo. 

Impact Mavericks: Senior Jessica Meidl leads the Mavericks with a team-high 10 hits, six runs and .625 batting average. She also adds seven RBI to go along with a .938 slugging percentage. Junior McKenzie Paap has totaled a team-high eight runs with a .389 batting average. The outfielder has also stolen two bases on two attempts. 

NSIC Pitcher of the Week: Freshman Mackenzie Ward was named NSIC Pitcher of the Week for the first time this season. 

The Clive, Iowa native went 3-0 last week with a 0.00 ERA and team-best 10 strikeouts. She also held opposing batters to a .234 batting average. Ward made her Maverick debut against Missouri Western State tossing a 9-0 shutout with a season-high six strikeouts in a complete game. She recorded her second shutout of the weekend in the 10-0 win over Northwest Missouri State with three strikeouts in her second complete game. The right handed pitcher came in to close the final two innings in game two of the Mavericks come from behind win over Northwest Missouri State. 

NFCA Top-25 Coaches Poll: Minnesota State is ranked No. 1 in the latest NFCA Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll. The Mavericks picked up 14 of 16 possible first-place votes and 398 total points. Winona State (3-1) is the only other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) team ranked in the top-25 at No. 19 with 85 total points.

Freshman Contributing: Freshman Torey Richards played in all four games last week and tallied a .500 batting average with six runs and six hits. Freshman Hannah Hastings appeared in two games and posted a .600 batting average with three hits and two runs. 

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 3-7 overall record and most recently fell to Minnesota Duluth, 5-1. Missouri Western State is led by Jen Bagley Trotter who is in her 17th season. 

Shelby Uhl leads the Griffons with a .545 batting average with a team-high 18  hits and seven runs. Kaili Hinds is 1-3 this season in the circle with a 8.77 era. She has recorded a team-best 17 strikeouts this season.  

Minnesota State swept Missouri Western State, 9-0, and, 11-7, last weekend. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 12-11.

Scouting Nebraska-Kearney: Nebraska- Kearney is located in Kearney, Neb., and is a member of the MIAA. The Lopers enter the week with a 2-6 overall record and have dropped their last two contests. Nebraska Kearney is led by Holly Carnes in her 18th season. 

Cheyenne Hamilton has played in all games eight games this season and has a .400 batting average with a team-high 10 hits. In the circle, Meg Housholder is 2-1 this season with a team-best 11 strikeouts. 

The last time these two teams met last season, Minnesota State edged Nebraska-Kearney, 2-0, at the Regional Crossover / Kelly Laas Memorial Invite. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 13-4. 

Scouting Fort Hays State: Fort Hays State is located in Hays, Kansas and is a member of the MIAA. The Tigers begin the week with a 2-10 overall record and have lost their last five games. Fort Hays State is led by fourth year head coach Adrian Pilkington. 

Sara Breckbill is batting a team-best .353 this season with 12 hits, three runs, and one home run. Haily Chapman has tallied a team-leading 35 strikeouts with a 6.96 era to round out the top performers. 

The last time these two teams met in 2016 at the NSIC/MIAA Crossover, Minnesota State rolled past Fort Hays State, 7-1. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 4-2.

Scouting Southwest Baptist: Southwest Baptist is located in Bolivar, Mo., and is a member of the MIAA. The Bearcats enter the week with a 1-7 overall record and have lost their last four games. Southwest Baptist is led by Jim Flora who is in his fifth season. 

Megan Schellert leads the Bearcats with nine hits , two RBI, and a .409 batting average. In the circle, Claire miller has a team-high 34 strikeouts with a 5.32 era.

This will be the first meeting between these two teams.  

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will travel to Clermont, Fla., to play 10 games over a five day span from March 3-8 at the NTC Spring Games.