MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team will be returning home for three doubleheaders with conference opponents this week.  Wednesday the Mavericks will host #11 Winona State with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.  Saturday afternoon Minnesota State will welcome #14 Augustana for a pair of games with first pitch at 1:00 p.m., before hosting Wayne State Sunday with first pitch at 12:00 p.m.  
 
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (18-10) went 3-3 last week, dropping a pair of games with Concordia-St. Paul, splitting two games with the University of Mary, and sweeping Minot State.

Impact Mavericks: Sophomore outfielder Courtney Potter currently leads the team with a .381 batting average batting in 16 runs while scoring 15.  Sophomore Emma Schifferle leads the team with 24 runs batted in and a team leading seven home runs on the season.   

Sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Ward leads the Mavericks with nine wins and currently holds a 2.35 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .219 average.  Ward recorded her first career no-hitter against Pittsburg State in a 2-0 win March 22, 2019.  

Chasing History: JuniorMcKenzie Paap has 18 stolen bases this season. The Excelsior, Minn., native has totaled 104 career stolen bases, which is tied for the second most in Minnesota State history with Tatum Klein.  Paap has also scored 191 runs in her career, second only to Jessica Meidle who finished her Maverick career with 196.  Paap is also chasing after the career hits mark with 293, trailing only Lindsay Erickson (306) and Meidl (299).  

Scouting #22 Winona State: Winona State is located in Winona, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Warriors are 21-5 (6-0 NSIC) on the season.  Winona State is led by 19th year head coach Greg Jones.
The Warriors are led by Alison Nowak who is batting .471 and has 27 runs batted in.  Liz Pautz leads Winona State in ERA with 0.79 on the season and six wins. 

Wednesday's games mark the 96th and 97th meetings between the teams and last season the Warriors won both contests with the Mavericks, 6-5 and 8-0.  

Scouting #14 Augustana: Augustana is located in Sioux Falls, S.D., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).    The Vikings are currently 26-5 (6-0 NSIC) on the season and are led by first 13th head coach Gretta Melsted.  

Augustana is led on offense by Kara McDougall who is batting .417 on the season. Amber Elliot leads the way with a 1.55 era and a 9-2 record while Ashley Mickschl allows a 1.62 era and is 12-3.  

These games mark the 133rd and 134th all-time meetings between the two teams, the most recent of which was a 9-4 win for the Mavericks in the NCAA Regional Tournament.

Scouting Wayne State: Wayne State is located in Wayne, Neb., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Wildcats currently hold an 9-14 (0-6 NSIC) overall record on the season and are led by Shelli Manson who is in her fifth year with the program.

Wayne State is led on offense by Abbi Hix who is batting .359 on the season with 14 RBI.  In the circle, the Wildcats are led by Makenna Adkison who has six wins and is giving up a 3.64 ERA.  

These games mark the 41st and 42nd all-time contests between the teams and last season the teams split the two-game series.

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks will take to the road for a doubleheader with Southwest Minnesota State next Wednesday with first pitch at 2:00 p.m., followed by weekend doubleheaders at Minnesota Duluth Saturday, and St. Cloud State Sunday.