Photo credit: photos.paap.net

MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 1 Minnesota State softball team is set to take on 10 teams from seven different conferences at the NTC Spring Games in Clermont , Fla., beginning on Saturday. 

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (9-0) went 5-0 last week sweeping Missouri Western State and adding wins over Nebraska-Kearney, Fort Hays State and Southwest Baptist. With the wins, the Mavericks are off to their best start in team history since the programs inception in the 1974 season.  

Impact Mavericks: Senior Jessica Meidl leads Minnesota State with a team-best .471 batting average to go along with 16 hits, 14 runs, and nine RBI. Junior McKenzie Paap has a .444 batting average with 12 hits and 12 runs. She has also stolen a team-high four bases on four attempts this season.

Going Yard: Senior Jessica Meidl, sophomore Amber Kral, and freshman Hannah McCarville have each notched one home run this season. Last season, Kral set the MSU single season home run record with 14. 

In the Circle: Freshman Mackenzie Ward is 5-0 this season with .70 era. She has posted 18 strikeouts and is holding opposing batters to a .242 batting average. The Clive, Iowa native has also tallied three shutouts so far this season.

Streaking: Four Mavericks enter the week on a hitting streak: senior Jessica Meidl (nine games), junior Cori Kennedy (eight games), sophomore Amber Kral (six games), and freshman Courtney Potter (three games). 

NSIC Player of the Week: Sophomore Carly Esselman was named NSIC Player of the Week for the first time this season. 

The Farmington, Minn., native recorded .600 batting average with 11 runs and nine hits last week. She posted a 1.000 slugging percentage with two double and two triples as well as stole four bases on four attempts. Esselman notched a season-high four hits, four runs, and two RBI against Nebraska-Kearney. Additionally, she totaled 10 RBI to help guide Minnesota State to five wins and improve to 9-0 on the season.

NFCA Top-25 Coaches Poll: The Minnesota State softball team is ranked No. 1 in the latest NFCA Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll for the second straight week. 

The Mavericks picked up 14 of 16 possible first-place votes and 398 total points. Winona State (7-2) is the only other Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC)  team ranked in the top-25 at No. 19 with 107 total points

Scouting Urbana: Urbana is located in Urbana, Ohio and is a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC). The Blue Knights enter the week with a 0-4 overall record and most recently fell to Indianapolis , 9-1. Urbana is led by third year head coach Kira Zeiter. 

In the most recent meeting between these teams last season, Minnesota State cruised past Urbana, 15-0, in five innings at the NTC Spring Games. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 1-0. 

Scouting Hillsdale: Hillsdale is located in Hillsdale, Mich., and is a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC).  The Chargers finished the 2017 season with a 25-43 (13-9 GMAC) overall record. Hillsdale is  led by Joe Abraham who is in his seventh season at the helm.

The last time these two teams met last season, Minnesota State mastered Hillsdale, 9-1, in five innings at the Spring Games. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 2-1. 

Scouting Grand Valley State: Grand Valley State is located in Allendale, Mich., and is a member of Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The Lakers begin the week with a 3-3 overall record and most recently rolled past Missouri S&T, 9-3. Grand Valley State is led by fourth year head coach Dana Callihan. 

This season will mark the first meeting between these two programs. 

Scouting Notre Dame College: Notre Dame College is located in South Euclid, Ohio and  is a member of the MEC. The Falcons finished the 2017 season with a 23-30 (13-19 MEC) overall record. Notre Dame College is led by 12th year head coach Amy Kyler. 

This will mark the first all-time meeting between these teams. 

Scouting Holy Family: Holy Family is located in Philadelphia, P.A., and is a member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference  (CACC). The Tigers finished the 2017 season with a 28-20 (19-7 CACC) overall record. Holy Family is led by head coach Crystalrae States Fusaro. 

The last time these two teams met last season, Minnesota State topped Holy Family, 6-0, at the NTC Spring Games. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 1-0.

Scouting Concordia College-New York: Concordia College-New York is located in Bronxville, N.Y., and is a member of the CACC. The Clippers finished the 2017 season with a 9-23 (8-18 CACC) overall record. Concordia  College-New York is led by first year head coach Jaime Lorenzo. 
This will be the first meetings between these two teams. 

Scouting #13 Southern Indiana: Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Ind., and is a member of Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Screaming Eagles enter the week with a 6-4 overall record and most recently edged Ferris State, 9-8. Southern Indiana is led by Sue Kunkle who is in her 17th season. 

The last time these two teams met last season, Minnesota State blanked Southern Indiana, 5-0, at the NCAA Championships. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 2-0. 

Scouting Saint Rose: Saint Rose is located in Albany, N.Y., and is a member of the Northeast 10 Conference. The Golden Knights finished the 2017 season with a 11-24 (9-11 NE10) overall record. Head coach Abby Arceneaux leads Saint Rose in her fifth season. 

This will mark the second all-time meeting between these two programs. In its first encounter during the 2009 season, Minnesota State shutout Saint Rose, 9-0 , at the Rebel Spring Games.

Scouting Wilmington: Wilmington is located in New Castle, Del., and are members of the CACC. The Wildcats enter the week with a 4-2 overall record and most recently topped East Stroudsburg, 11-8. Wilmington is led by fifth year head coach Mike Shehorn. 

The last time these two teams met last season, Minnesota State muscled past Wilmington, 9-0, at the NTC Spring Games. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 2-1. 

Scouting Seton Hill: Seton Hill is located in Greensburg, Penn., and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Griffins enter the week with a 1-1 overall record and most recently fell to Wheeling Jesuit, 5-1. Seton Hill is led by Bill Monstroloa who is in his third season. 

This will be the first meeting between these two programs. 

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will travel to St. Joseph, Mo.,to play five  games at the Missouri Western Apple Market Tournament from March 16-18

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