Photo credit: photos.paap.net

MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 20 Minnesota State softball team is set for a six game road swing beginning at No. 9 Winona State on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. The Mavericks will then take on Bemidji State on Friday at the West St. Paul Dome in St. Paul, Minn., at 10:00 a.m. MSU will conclude the road trip at Minnesota Crookston on Sunday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (24-10, 5-5 NSIC) went 2-2 last week at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn. The Mavericks picked up a pair of wins over St. Cloud State on Friday, before dropping back-to-back games against Minnesota Duluth on Sunday. 

Having a Week: Junior McKenzie Paap posted a .563 batting average with a team-high nine hits. The outfielder also added a team-high five runs with one double and one RBI. Additonally, Paap stole three bases last week and has stolen a team-high 17 this season which ranks fourth in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Excelsior, Minn., native boasted a .625 slugging percentage and is currently on a four game hit streak and has 13 multiple hit games this season.  

Swinging for the Fences: Minnesota States has amassed 24 home runs this season which ranks third in the NSIC. Last week, the Mavericks notched two home runs in game one against St. Cloud State. Freshman Amber Kral blasted her team-leading seventh home run of the season, while freshman Hailey Forshee chipped in her second home run of the season.

Sophomore Surge: Sophomore Carly Esselman has a team-best .443 batting average this season. The outfielder ranks in the top-10 in four NSIC statistical categories: first in RBI (41), second in triples (6), seventh in hits (47) and sixth in slugging percentage (.708). Esselman has tallied a team-high 11 multiple RBI games to go along with 14 multiple hit games . 

The Meidl File: Senior Jessica Meidl is batting .440 this season and has scored a team-best 39 runs which slots her second in the NSIC. The outfielder also ranks in the top-10 in four statistical categories in the NSIC: second in doubles (15), fifth in hits (51), eighth in RBI (34) and eighth in stolen bases (14). The Lakeville, Minn., has notched  a team-best 15 multiple hit games with eight multiple 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 180. The Lakeville, Minn., native has also stolen 103 career stolen bases which ranks second all-time. Tatum Klein (2013-16) holds the all-time record with 104 career stolen bases. 

Young Mavericks: Freshman Hannah McCarville boasted a team-high .571 batting average with eight hits, four RBI, two runs and one double. Freshman Hailey Forshee posted a .545 batting average with six hits, four RBI, four runs and one home run. 

In the Circle:  Last week, Freshman Mackenzie Ward (10-5) went 1-1 in the circle with a 4.38 era and team-best 10 strikeouts. The Clive, Iowa native leads the Mavericks with 66 strikeouts this season and has held opposing batters to a .281 batting average.  Sophomore Lexi Schoper (2-2)  also chipped in a win with a 5.25 era with two strikeouts. 

Scouting No. 9 Winona State: Winona State (28-4, 7-1 NSIC) is located in Winona, Minn., and has won its last five games. Most recently, the Warriors blanked Wayne State, 8-0, and, 4-0, on the road. Winona State is led by 17th year head coach Greg Jones. 

Earlier this season, Minnesota State fell to then ranked No. 19 Winona State, 8-5, at the NTC Spring Games on March 4. However, the Mavericks hold the edge in the all-time series, 50-42. 

Scouting Bemidji State: Bemidji State is located in Bemdji, Minn., and enters the week with a 13-13 (2-2 NSIC) overall record. Most recently, the Beavers fell to MSU Moorhead, 4-3. Bemidji State is led by Rick Supinski who is in his seventh season at the helm. 

The last time these two teams met last season, Minnesota State swept Bemidji State, 14-1, and, 3-2, on the road. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 26-1. 

Scouting Minnesota Crookston: Minnesota Crookston (5-23, 1-5 NSIC)  is located in Crookston, Minn.,and enters the week having dropped its last five contests. Most recently, the Golden Eagles fell to Minot State, 13-2. Minnesota Crookston is led by fourth year head coach Don Stopa. 

In their most recent encounter last season, the Mavericks rolled past the Golden Eagles, 12-1, and, 9-0, on the road. Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 18-0.  

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State hosts Southwest Minnesota State on April 17. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.