Photo credit: photos.paap.net

MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 14 Minnesota State softball team begins Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with a six-game road trip beginning against  Concordia-St. Paul on Wednesday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 11:00 a.m.

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (19-5) has won its last three games and is 8-3 in its last 11 contests. Most recently, the Mavericks overwhelmed Northeastern State, 6-2, at the ESU St. Patricks Day Classic.

In NSIC Openers: Minnesota State has won its last eight NSIC openers. Last season, the Mavericks swept Concordia-St. Paul, 4-1, and, 4-2, at the MSU softball diamond. MSU has not lost a NSIC opener since the 2009 season when the Mavericks fell to U-Mary, 10-5. 

Impact Mavericks: Sophomore Carly Esselman leads Minnesota State with a team-best .456 batting average including 36 hits, 30 RBI, and 25 runs. Freshman Torey Richards is contributing a .449 batting average with 35 hits, 17 runs and 16 RBI. 

In the Circle: Freshman Mackenzie Ward is 8-3 this season with a 2.01 era. The Clive, Iowa native has tallied a team-high 45 strikeouts and held opposing batters to a .249 batting average. Ward notched a season-best eight strikeouts at Pittsburg State on March 16.

Player of the Week: Junior Cori Kennedy was named the NSIC Player of the Week for the first time this season last week. The West Concord, Minn., native registered a team-best .550 batting average with 11 hits and eight runs. She also added a team-high eight RBI and a 1.050 slugging percentage to her stat line. Kennedy notched a career-best three home runs and six RBI against Central Oklahoma to highlight the weekend. The catcher is currently on a six game hit streak and has posted multiple hits in four of her last six contests.

Sophomore Surge: Sophomore Carly Esselman has a team-best .456 batting average this season. The Farmington, Minn., native ranks in the top five in four NSIC Statistical catagories: first in triples (6), fourth in hits (36), fourth in RBI (30), and fifth in runs (25). Esselman has registered 11 multi hit games and nine multi RBI contests this season. 

The Meidl File: Senior Jessica Meidl is batting .402 this season and has scored a team-best 27 runs this season. She currently ranks second in the NSIC in doubles (10), and fifth in stolen bases (10). The outfielder has recorded nine multi hit games and six multi RBI games this season. 

Earlier this season, Meidl passed Lindsay Erickson (2011-14) to become the MSU all-time leader in career runs scored with 168. The Lakeville, Minn., native has also stolen 99 career stolen bases which ranks second all-time. Tatum Klein holds the all-time record with 104 career stolen bases. 

Scouting Concordia-St. Paul: Concordia St. Paul is located in St. Paul, Minn., and enters the week with a 15-7 overall record. Most recently, the Golden Bears edged Washburn, 4-3. Concordia-St. Paul is led by Bob Bartel who is in his 13th season at the helm. 

Last season, the Mavericks swept the Golden Bears, 4-1, and, 4-2, to open NSIC Play at the MSU Softball Diamond. Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 52-18-2. 

Scouting Wayne State: Wayne State is located in Wayne, Neb., and begins the week with a 6-13 overall record. The Wildcats have dropped their last five contests and most recently fell to Central Missouri, 4-3.  Wayne State is led by fourth year head coach Shelli Manson. 

In their most recent meeting last season, Minnesota State swept Wayne State, 12-1, and, 16-1, in five innings at the MSU Softball Diamond. The Mavericks hold the advantage in the all-time series, 31-7. 

Scouting Augustana: Augustana is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and enters the week with a 18-6 overall record. The Vikings are currently on a two-game losing skid and most recently fell to Central Oklahoma, 7-5. Augustana is led by Gretta Melsted who is in her 12th season. 

In their most recent encounter, Minnesota State bounced Augustana, 4-3, in the NCAA Regionals last season. However, the Vikings hold the slight edge in the all-time series, 65-63. 

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State will make its home debut hosting Sioux Falls on April 3. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m., at the MSU Softball Diamond.