Photo credit: photos.paap.net

MANKATO, Minn. --- The No. 20 Minnesota State softball team treks north to the Husky Dome to take on St. Cloud State on Friday at 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m. The Mavericks will then conclude the weekend against Minnesota Duluth on Sunday at the Husky Dome. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.  

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (22-8, 3-3 NSIC) has dropped its last three contests. Most recently, the Mavericks dropped a pair of games at Augustana, 5-4, and, 8-6. 

Impact Mavericks: Sophomore Carly Esselman leads the Mavericks with a team-best .455 batting average including 45 hits, 36 RBI and 31 runs. Senior Jessica Meidl is contributing a .427 batting average with 44 hits, 35 runs and 32 RBI. She also has totaled a team-best 14 doubles this season which sets the standard in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.   

In the Circle: Sophomore Caitlin Stone is 8-1 in the circle this season with a team-best 2.41 era. She has recorded 30 strikeouts this season including a season-high six strikeouts vs. Urbana on March 3. 

Under the Roof: Minnesota State is making its second trip of the season to the Husky Dome. Earlier this season at the Regional Crossover/Kelly Laas Memorial Invite at the Husky Dome, the Mavericks went 5-0 and outscored their opponents, 45-13. 

Swinging for the Fences: In its last six games, Minnesota State has totaled eight home runs as a team. Senior Jessica Meidl set the pace with two home runs against Concordia-St. Paul and Wayne State. Sophomore Amber Kral leads the Mavericks with a team-best six home runs this season. 

Sophomore Surge: Sophomore Carly Esselman has a team-best .455 batting average. The Farmington, Minn., native ranks in the top five in four NSIC statistical categories: first in triples (6), third in RBI (36), fourth in hits (45) and fifth in slugging percentage (.737). Esselman is currently on a six-game hit streak and has tallied a team-best 14 multiple hit games and 10 multiple RBI games. 

The Meidl File: Senior Jessica Meidl is batting .427 this season and has scored a team-best 35 runs which positions her second in the NSIC. The outfielder also ranks in the top-10 in four statistical categories in the NSIC: first in doubles (14), second in runs (35), sixth in hits (44), and eighth in RBI (32). Meidl has posted 12 multiple hit games this season to go along with eight multiple RBI games. 

Earlier this season, Meidl passed Lindsay Erickson (2011-14) to become the MSU all-time leader in career runs scored with 176. The Lakeville, Minn., native has also stolen 100 career stolen bases which ranks second all-time. Tatum Klein holds the all-time record with 104 career stolen bases.

Streaking: Six Mavericks enter the week on hitting streaks: Freshman Torey Richards (17 games), sophomore Amber Kral ( 7 games), sophomore Carly Esselman (6 games), Freshman Hannah McCarville (5 games), freshman Julia Bastian (3 games), and senior Jessica Meidl ( 2 games). 

NFCA Top-25 Coaches Poll: Minnesota State is positioned No. 20 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Division II Top-25 Coaches Poll. The Mavericks were previously ranked No. 13 in the week six poll. 

Scouting St. Cloud State: St. Cloud State (20-9, 6-2 NSIC) is located in St. Cloud, Minn., and has won six of its last eight games. Most recently, the Huskies fell to Northern State, 6-2. St. Cloud State is led by Paula U'Ren who is in her 21st season. 

In their most recent encounter last season, the Mavericks swept the Huskies, 9-4, and, 8-0. Minnesota State leads the all-time series, 75-53.

Scouting Minnesota Duluth: Minnesota Duluth (22-7, 4-2 NSIC) is located in Duluth, Minn., and begins the week on a three-game win streak. Most recently, the Bulldogs topped U-Mary, 15-3, and,  8-1. Minnesota Duluth is led by second year head coach Jen Walter. 

The last time these two teams squared off last season, Minnesota State took the first game, 4-0, before falling in game two, 8-5. The Mavericks hold the edge in the all-time series, 45-37.

Looking Ahead: Minnesota State travels to Winona State on April 11. The doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m.