MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team, the defending NCAA Division II national champion, was named the seventh seed in the 2018 NCAA Division II central region tournament. The Mavericks will face second-seeded Southern Arkansas on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. (CST)

NCAA Central 2 Regional:  The double-elimination regional tournament, which will be hosted by second-seeded Southern Arkansas (52-9) at Dawson Field in Magnolia, Ark., is scheduled for May 10-12. The winner of the Central 2 Region will compete in the NCAA Super Regional Tournament on May 18-19.

In the NCAA Regionals: This season marks the Mavericks third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament. Since 2016, Minnesota State is 4-2 in NCAA Regional competition. Last season, the Mavericks went 3-0 at the MSU softball diamond including a 4-3 win over Augustana to capture the NCAA Central Region 2 title. 
 
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State finished regular season play with a 33-17 overall record. Most recently, the Mavericks fell short against St. Cloud State, 2-1, in day one of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament. 

NFCA All-Central Region: Senior Jessica Meidl and sophomore Carly Esselman were named to the NFCA All-Central Region First Team.  

All-NSIC Mavericks: Four Mavericks have received All-NSIC honors for their efforts this season. Senior outfielder Jessica Meidl was named to the All-NSIC First Team for the second time in her career. Sophomore  outfielder Carly Esselman claimed All-NSIC First Team and NSIC Gold Glove Team honors for the first time in her career. Freshman infielder Hannah McCarville also garnered All-NSIC First Team honors. Junior outfielder McKenzie Paap was named to the All-NSIC Second Team which marks the third All-NSIC honor of her career. 

Nationally Speaking: As a team, Minnesota State ranks seventh in NCAA Division II in batting average with .354. The Mavericks also rank 16th in scoring with 342 (6.84 pg) runs this season. 

The Meidl File: Senior Jessica Meidl is batting .433 this season and has contributed a team-best 52 runs and 57 RBI this season. She currently ranks seventh in doubles (20) and 15th in hits (74) in NCAA Division II this season. Meidl has totaled team-best 23 multiple hit games and 14 multiple RBI games this season to go along with 21 stolen bases. 

The Lakeville, Minn., native is the MSU all-time leader in games played (242) , runs scored (193) and stolen bases (110). She also ranks second on the MSU all-time hits (294) and RBI (173) lists. 

Sophomore Surge: Sophomore Carly Esselman has a team-best .448 batting average this season. The Farmington, Minn., native has also tallied a team-high seven triples which ranks ninth in NCAA Division II this season. She has also stolen a team-best 24 bases this season. Esselman has contributed 22 multiple hit games and 14 multiple RBI games this season. 

The Left Fielder: Junior McKenzie Paap has registered a .411 batting average this season and is currently on a team-best 17-game hit streak .

The Excelsior, Minn., native has stolen 86 career bases which positions her third on the MSU  all-time stolen bases list. Paap has stolen 22 bases this season including seven multiple stolen base games. 

Young Mavericks: Freshman Torey Richards is batting .417 this season with 58 hits and 32 runs. The Mankato, Minn., native is on a 29-game reached base streak and also assembled a 17-game hit streak earlier this season. Freshman Hannah McCarville also adds .342 batting average with 38 hits and 23 runs.
 
In the Circle:  Freshman Mackenzie Ward is 19-10 with a 2.59 era this season. She has totaled a team-high 119 strikeouts this season and limited opposing batters to a .254 batting average. 

The Clive, Iowa native tossed a season-high nine strikeouts against MSU-Moorhead and Upper Iowa earlier this season.  Ward has notched at least five strikeouts in 10 games this season. 

Scouting Southern Arkansas: No. 8 Southern Arkansas is located in Magnolia, Ark., and is a member of the Great American Conference (GAC). The Muleriders enter the NCAA Regionals with a 52-9 overall record including a 16-0 record at home. Southern Arkansas is led by fourth year head coach Jason Anderson. 

This will mark the first ever meeting between these two teams.