What's on Tap: Minnesota State baseball will begin its 2019 campaign with a three-game road series in Monticello, Ark. A doubleheader is scheduled against the Weevils on Saturday at for 12:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. A single game is scheduled for Sunday at 1:00 p.m., with games being played at Weevils Field.

Last Time on the Diamond: Minnesota State's 2018 season came to an end after going 0-2 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Baseball Tournament on May 9-10 in Sioux Falls, S.D. Minnesota State lost to Concordia-St. Paul 7-4 at Sioux Falls Stadium on May 9 and to Minot State 5-2 at Karras Park on May 10. The Mavericks finished their season with a 31-16 record, including a 26-10 mark in NSIC play.

Preseason Watchlist: Junior infielder Teddy Petersen and sophomore right-hander Trevor Divinski were named to the 2019 NSIC Players to Watch List.

Peterson hails from Glencoe, Minn., and comes in as the leader of the infield for the Mavericks. He hit .328 with a .416 on-base percentage and .491 slugging percentage in 42 games (36 starts) in 2018. Eleven extra base hits (six doubles, two triples and three home runs) helped in racking up 23 runs batted in and 21 runs scored. Peterson hit his first career home run against the University of Mary on March 30, 2018. He only had one error on the season to go along with his .990 fielding percentage, 52 putouts and 44 assists. Peterson also currently sits at seventh all-time in Maverick history with 22 career sacrifice hits, including 11 last season. 

Divinksi, hailing from Eden Prairie, Minn., made his Maverick debut last season and went on to appear in 13 games (six starts) and had a 5-1 record. He pitched 42.2 innings and had a 3.80 earned run average. Divinski struck out 43 batters, while issuing 11 walks and posting a .277 batting average against. He had a season high 10 strikeouts twice against the University of Mary (3/30) and Bemidji State (4/16).

Power Surge: Jordan Hart, a senior right fielder, led the Mavericks in home runs (7), slugging percentage (.660) and RBI (31) in 2018 even while playing in only 27 of 45 games. His 25 career home runs are the fifth-most in program history. The record of 29 is held by Josh Smith (1996-99). Hart also has posted nine triples in his career, sitting tied for fifth all-time, and the record is held by Danny Miller (2008-11) at 17.

Scouting Arkansas-Monticello: The Weevils (30-19, 23-10 GAC in 2018) finished on top of the Great American Conference last season, but went 0-2 in the conference tournament. UAM lost to Southwestern Oklahoma State 13-8 and then to Southern Arkansas 15-6 to end their season. Arkansas-Monticello will play one game before the series against the Mavericks when they face Christian Brothers University on Wednesday at 4:00 p.m., at a neutral site.

The Weevils lost seven of their nine regular starters last year from a lineup that hit .329 with 109 doubles, 79 home runs and 401 RBI. Junior Dylan Borman and sophomore Jordan Johnson return as they both hit above .300 with at least 10 doubles, eight home runs and 40 RBI.

The Weevils pitching staff only returns four major contributors from the 2018 season. A team 6.43 ERA had a batting average against mark of .281, while serving up 84 doubles, 47 home runs and 317 RBI.

Facing Arkansas-Monticello: The Mavericks have a career record of 6-2 against the Weevils. The last meetings came in 2016 when MSU swept UAM in a three game series to begin the season. The Mavericks then faced the Weevils twice in the Central Region Tournament, winning the first game 7-6 and losing the next 13-6 to end their season.

Up Next: Minnesota State will not play again its spring break Florida trip from March 1-8. The Mavericks will take on UT-Tyler, Walsh (Ohio), Grand Valley State, Florida Southern, Gannon, Findlay, West Virginia Wesleyan and Ashland during the trip.