MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team will continue NSIC play with three doubleheaders, starting with a pair of games at Southwest Minnesota State Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.  Saturday the Mavericks will travel to face Minnesota Duluth with first pitch at 1:00 p.m., before traveling Sunday to take on St. Cloud State with first pitch at 1:00 p.m.
 
Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (20-14, 5-7 NSIC) went 2-4 last week, dropping a pair of games to #21 Winona State, falling in two games with #12 Augustana, and sweeping Wayne State.

Impact Mavericks: Sophomore outfielder Cori Kennedy currently leads the team with a .382 batting average batting in 15 runs while scoring 13.  Sophomore Emma Schifferle leads the team with 25 runs batted in and a team leading seven home runs on the season.   

Sophomore pitcher Mackenzie Ward leads the Mavericks with 10 wins and currently holds a 2.68 ERA while holding opposing batters to a .231 average.  Ward recorded her first career no-hitter against Pittsburg State in a 2-0 win March 22, 2019.  

Chasing History: Junior McKenzie Paap has 20 stolen bases this season. The Excelsior, Minn., native has totaled 106 career stolen bases, which is the second most in Minnesota State history.  Paap has also scored 193 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 295, trailing only Lindsay Erickson (306) and Meidl (299).  

Scouting Southwest Minnesota State: Southwest Minnesota State is located in Marshall, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Mustangs are 11-13 (6-6 NSIC) on the season.  Southwest Minnesota State is led by first year head coach Bailey Bauman
.
The Mustangs are led by Emma Grote who is batting .443 and has 22 runs scored on the season.  Athena Golling leads Southwest Minnesota State in ERA with 3.14 on the season and seven wins. 

Tuesday's games mark the 88th and 89th meetings between the teams and last season the Mustangs defeated the Mavericks 4-3 in the NSIC Softball Tournament. 

Scouting Minnesota Duluth: Minnesota Duluth is located in Duluth, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).    The Bulldogs are currently 19-12 (10-2 NSIC) on the season and are led by fourth year head coach Jen Walter.  

Minnesota Duluth is led on offense by Jordyn Thomas who is batting .348 on the season. Sam Pederson leads the way with a 2.70 era and a 10-4 record.  

These games mark the 87th and 88th all-time meetings between the two teams and last season the Bulldogs swept the Mavericks with 9-4 and 12-4 wins.

Scouting St. Cloud State: St. Cloud State is located in St. Cloud, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Huskies currently hold a  25-11 (7-5 NSIC) overall record on the season and are led by Paula U'Ren who is in her 22nd year with the program.

St. Cloud State is led on offense by Jasmin Estrada who is batting .459 on the season with 46 RBI.  In the circle, the Huskies are led by Kate Kopeck who has 11 wins and is giving up a 2.14 ERA.  

These games mark the 132nd and 133rd all-time contests between the teams and last season the Huskies eliminated the Mavericks from the NSIC Softball tournament with a 2-1 win.  .

Looking Ahead: The Mavericks remain on the road for a doubleheader with Upper Iowa, Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m.  Minnesota State will then return home for a pair of doubleheaders with Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State Friday and Saturday with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. and 12:00 p.m. respectively.