Burnsville, Minn. --- Minnesota State softball has been selected to finish second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Additionally, senior Mackenzie Ward has been tabbed as the NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

The Mavericks finished the 2021 season with a 40-10 record (23-5 NSIC) and finished second behind Augustana which was selected to finish first in the Preseason Poll. The Mavericks would go on to win the NSIC Tournament Championship in 2021 and would advance to the final day of the NCAA Central Region Tournament.

The Mavericks received 209 points in the Preseason Poll including one first-place vote.

Minnesota State returns 13 letter winners from the 2021 roster. Including MSU's Pitcher to Watch in senior right-handed pitcher Mackenzie Ward and MSU's Player to Watch in senior infielder Torey Richards.

Ward was named the NSIC Pitcher of the Week five times last season, on her way to being named the NSIC Pitcher of the Year. Ward is Minnesota State's top pitcher and coming off a season where she was named to the NFCA All-American First Team and D2CCA All-American First Team. Ward was also named to the NSIC Gold Glove Team. She made 32 appearances in the circle for the Mavericks, including 28 starts and threw 20 complete games and 10 shutouts. Ward boasted a 24-5 record and a 0.90 ERA that was sixth in the country. In 186.2 innings pitched, she struck out 316 batters which was first in NCAA Division II, becoming just the second Maverick pitcher to record 300 strikeouts or more in a season.

Richards was named to the All-NSIC Second Team. She played and started in all 50 games for the Mavericks at shortstop. Richards led the Mavericks in hits with 64 and a .400 batting average as she drove in 19 runs and finished tied for third on the team in runs scored with 30. Through the course of the season, Richards tallied seven doubles, two triples and two home runs. She owned a .506 slugging percentage and a team-best .443 on base percentage.



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