MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team, currently ranked #18 in the NFCA Coaches Poll, will return to action this week with a weekday doubleheader at home against the Upper Iowa Peacocks with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 p.m., Thursday afternoon. Saturday, the Mavericks will take on the Bemidji State Beavers in Bemidji, Minn., with first pitch at noon before traveling to take on the Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Sunday with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m.

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (22-7, 11-5 NSIC) went 5-1 last weekend with sweeps of both Concordia-St. Paul, 6-0 and 7-4, as well as Minnesota Duluth, 7-0 and 2-1 and a two-game split against St. Cloud State, an 8-0 (6 innings) win and a 6-1 loss.

Impact Mavericks: Thus far during the 2021 season, junior Torey Richards is leading the Maverick offense batting .430 with 40 hits including four doubles and a triple to with 10 RBI. Senior Carly Esselman is the third leading hitter for Minnesota State batting .394 with 39 hits, eight doubles and 16 RBI. Senior Hannah McCarville is leading the team in RBI with 27 while batting .422 along with four homeruns.

In the circle Mackenzie Ward is 13-3 with a 1.11 ERA with 173 strikeouts, currently the second most in the nation, and has been named NSIC Pitcher of the Week three times.

Scouting Upper Iowa: The University of Upper Iowa is located in Fayette, Iowa, and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Peacocks are 10-19 (6-10 NSIC) and are led by second year head coach Ashley Hickman.

Thursday's games will be the 35th and 36th all-time meetings between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 4-0 victory for the Mavericks during the 2019 season.

The Peacocks are led on offense by Payton Kastenschmidt who is hitting .400 with 13 RBI and three homers. 

In the circle, Abby McKay leads Upper Iowa with an 8-7 record while posting a 3.11 ERA and striking out 29 batters.

Scouting Bemidji State: Bemidji State is located in Bemidji, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Beavers are currently 9-21 (5-11 NSIC) on the season and are led by first year coach Brittany Gomez-Olson.

Saturday's games will be the 33rd and 34th between these two programs, the most recent of which was a 11-4 win for the Mavericks in 2019.

Lisa Kossan leads Bemidji State on offense batting .282 with 22 hits, 16 runs scored and 10 RBI.

In the circle, Stephi Dullum paces the Beavers with a 3-7 record, a 1.84 ERA and 66 strikeouts.

Scouting Minnesota Crookston: Minnesota Crookston is located in Crookston, Minn., and is a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagles are 7-23 (3-13 NSIC) and are led by second year head coach Travis Owen.

Sunday's games will be the 21st and 22nd all-time meetings between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 2-0 victory for the Mavericks during the 2019 season.

Minnesota Crookston is led on offense by Dana Zarn who is hitting .341 with 11 RBI and a pair of homers. 

In the circle, the Golden Eagles feature Katie Humhej (4-9) who has posted a 2.46 ERA and 94 strikeouts.

Looking Ahead: After this week's slate of games, the Mavericks will remain on the road as they prepare for a pair of doubleheaders against Minnesota State University Moorhead and Northern State.