Photo credit: photos.paap.net
MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team continues Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play at MSU Moorhead on Saturday at 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. The Mavericks will then wrap up the weekend at Northern State. The doubleheader is set to start at 12:00 p.m.
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (26-12, 7-7 NSIC) went 2-2 last week. The Mavericks dropped a pair of games at No. 10 Winona State, 6-5, and, 8-0. Minnesota State bounced back picking up wins over Bemidji State, 8-0, and, 5-0, at the West St. Paul Dome in St. Paul, Minn.
NCAA Central Region Rankings: Minnesota State has been ranked fifth in the first edition of the NCAA Central Region rankings. The Mavericks assembled a 26-12 overall record and a 20-11 in-region record. Winona State (30-4) topped the poll with Southern Arkansas in second and Minnesota Duluth (3rd) and Augustana (4th) to complete the top-five.
Impact Mavericks: Sophomore
Carly Esselman notched a .583 batting average last week with a team-best seven hits to go along with three RBI. The outfielder also stole a team-high three bases on four attempts. Sophomore
Kennedy Rieck registered a .417 batting average with five hits and two RBI last week.
Sophomore Surge: Sophomore
Carly Esselman has a team-best .458 batting average this season. The Farmington, Minn., ranks in the top-10 in seven NSIC statistical categories: second in triples (6), third in RBI (44), fourth in batting average (.458), seventh in runs (37), sixth in slugging percentage (.703), seventh in hits (54) and seventh in stolen bases (17). Esselman has tallied a team-high 12 multiple RBI games to go along with 17 multiple hit games.
The Meidl File: Senior
Jessica Meidl is batting .435 this season and has scored a team-best 41 runs which slots her second in the NSIC. The outfielder also ranks in the top-10 in four additional statistical categories in the NSIC: second in doubles (18), sixth in hits (57), seventh in RBI (38) and eighth in stolen bases (16). The Lakeville, Minn., has notched a team-high 18 multiple hit games with nine multiple RBI games this season.
Last weekend, Meidl passed
Tatum Klein (2013-16) to become the MSU all-time leader in stolen bases with 105. Earlier this season, she passed
Lindsay Erickson (2011-14) to become the MSU all-time leader in career runs scored with 182.
Young Mavericks: Freshman
Torey Richards is batting .395 this season with 45 hits and 22 runs. The Mankato, Minn., native assembled a team-high 17-game hit streak earlier this season. Freshman
Hannah McCarville also adds .338 batting average with 27 hits and 16 runs.
Don't Get Caught: Junior
McKenzie Paap has stolen a team-best 19 stolen bases this season. The Excelsior, Minn., has totaled 83 career stolen bases which ranks third on the MSU all-time stolen bases list.
In the Circle: Last week, freshman
Mackenzie Ward went 2-1 in the circle with a 1.38 era. The right hander tossed three complete games including both sides of the Mavericks' doubleheader sweep of Bemidji State (8-0, 5-0). Ward tossed a team-high 12 strikeouts while limiting opposing batters to a .181 batting average.
Scouting MSU Moorhead: MSU Moorhead is located in Moorhead, Minn., and enters the week with a 11-19 (4-8 NSIC) overall record. Most recently, the Dragons overwhelmed St. Cloud State, 8-2. MSU Moorhead is led by Kelsey Fehl who is in her seventh season at the helm.
Last season, Minnesota State swept MSU Moorhead (7-0, 7-3) at the MSU Softball Diamond. The Mavericks lead the all-time series, 35-7-1.
Scouting Northern State: Northern State is located in Aberdeen, S.D., and enters the weekend with a 20-14 (10-4 NSIC) record. Most recently, the Wolves upended No. 21 Augustana, 3-2, in game one before coming up short in game two, 1-0. Northern State is led by first year head coach Jenny Fuller.
The last time these two programs met last season, Minnesota State swept Northern State (4-0, 7-1) at the MSU Softball Diamond. The Mavericks hold the advantage in the all-time series, 18-4.
Looking Ahead: Minnesota State is set to take on Upper Iowa at the MSU Softball Diamond on Wednesday. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.
-30-
