MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team, currently ranked #20 in the NFCA Coaches Poll, will return to action this week with a weekday doubleheader on the road against the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears Thursday with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m., a rescheduled series that was postponed earlier in the season.

The Mavericks will then return home for a pair of weekend doubleheaders against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth, Saturday and Sunday, with first pitch scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Saturday and 12:00 p.m. Sunday.

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (17-6, 6-4 NSIC) went 4-2 last weekend as it swept #13 Winona State on the road by scores of 3-1 and 11-2 (5) before defeating the Wildcats twice with scores of 20-3 (6) and 11-5. To wrap up the weekend, the Mavericks fell to the #1 Augustana Vikings 3-1 and 9-3.

Impact Mavericks: Thus far during the 2021 season, junior Torey Richards is leading the Maverick offense batting .447 with 34 hits including four doubles and a triple to with nine RBI. Senior Carly Esselman is the third leading hitter for Minnesota State batting .405 with 32 hits, eight doubles and 12 RBI. Senior Hannah McCarville is leading the team in RBI with 24 while batting .429 along with four homeruns.

In the circle Mackenzie Ward is 10-3 with a 1.39 ERA with 136 strikeouts while McKayla Armbruster is 7-2 with a 2.29 ERA and 42 strikeouts. 

Scouting Concordia-St. Paul: Concordia-St. Paul is located in St. Paul, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden bears are 13-11 (7-3 NSIC) and are led by 16th year head coach Bob Bartel.

Thursday's games will be the 77th and 78th all-time meetings between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 4-0 victory for Concordia-St. Paul in the 2019 season.

The Golden Bears are led on offense by Grace Beseman who is hitting .382 with 23 RBI and seven homers. 

In the circle, Bryanna Olson leads Concordia-St. Paul with a 5-4 record posting a 2.39 ERA and striking out 59 batters.

Scouting the 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 are currently 16-6 (5-3 NSIC) on the season and are led by 24th year coach Paula U'Ren.

Saturday's games will be the 138th and 139th between these two programs, the most recent of which was a 6-5 win for the Mavericks in 2019.

Vanden Langenberg leads St. Cloud State on offense batting .507 with 35 hits, 16 runs scored and 16 RBI.

In the circle, Kylie Thomsen paces the Huskies with a 6-2 record, a 1.84 ERA and 43 strikeouts.

Scouting Minnesota Duluth: Minnesota Duluth is located in Duluth, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Bulldogs are 20-6 (10-2 NSIC), and are led by 6th year head coach Jen Walter.

Sunday's games will be the 92nd and 93rd all-time meetings between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 4-3 victory for the Mavericks earlier this season in a nonconference game.

Minnesota Duluth is led on offense by Lauren Oberle who is hitting .459 with 17 RBI, nine doubles and six homers. 

In the circle, the Bulldogs feature Sam Pederson (6-1) who has posted a 1.86 ERA and 29 strikeouts.

Looking Ahead: After this week's slate of games, the Mavericks will host the Upper Iowa Peacocks Wednesday with a pair of games scheduled to begin at 2:00 p.m. Minnesota State will then take to the road Saturday and Sunday for a pair of doubleheaders against Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston.