Mankato, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team returns to the diamond  this weekend as it is set to compete in 10 games during the NTC Spring games in Clermont, Fla., The Mavericks begin with two games on Saturday March 5 against Tiffin and Southern Indiana with first pitches set for 9:00 a.m., and 11:15 a.m., On Sunday March 6 Minnesota State takes on Edinboro and Shippensburg with first pitches slated for 1:30 p.m. and 3:45 p.m., respectively. On Monday Mar. 7 the Mavericks take on Northwood and Saginaw Valley State  with game times set for 10:00 p.m. and 12:15 p.m., After a day off the Mavericks take on Bloomfield College and Clarion University with first pitches set for 2:30 p.m. and 4:45 p.m., On the last day of competition, Minnesota State has a doubleheader against Concord University with game times slated for 10:00 a.m., and 12:15 p.m., on Thursday Mar. 10.

Mavericks at a Glance: Minnesota State (6-3, 0-0 NSIC) enters the weekend ranked as the #17 team in the NFCA Coaches Poll. The Mavericks are coming off a weekend where they split two games with both Northwest Missouri State and Central Missouri. Day one the Mavericks won the first game against Northwest Missouri 11-3 in five innings. Then, the Mavericks dropped their first game against Central Missouri by a score of 4-3. Day two saw the Mavericks rebound against Central Missouri as they avenged their loss the day before and claimed at 4-0 victory. Then, the Mavericks dropped a darkness shortened game against the Bearcats 3-2.

Stat Pack: Katie Bracken leads the Mavericks in hitting with a .400 average and two runs batted in and also leads the team in on base percentage with .571 and one homer. Torey Richards leads the team in RBI's as she has driven in 11 runs. Madi Newman leads the team in homers with three. In the pitching department, Bracken is 3-0 and boasts a team best 1.58 ERA and only three walks. Senior Mackenzie Ward  leads the team in strikeouts with 45 and eight walks. Ward owns a 3-2 record and has a 1.75 ERA after the second weekend of competition. Hailey Forshee has the hot hand in the field as she has 62 put outs and no errors. Forshee also holds a perfect fielding percentage.

Minnesota State History: The 2022 season will mark as the 49th season for the Maverick softball program. MSU owns an all-time record of 1,410-800-7 (.635) in 2,217 games, and has four North Central Conference (NCC) titles (1984, 1987, 1989, 2007), five  NSIC titles (2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017) and 17 appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament (1984, 1987, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) to its credit. The Mavericks claimed their first National Championship in 2017 after defeating No. 1 Angelo State, 5-1, on May 29, 2017 in Salem, Va. 

Scouting Tiffin: Tiffin University is located in Tiffin, Ohio., and is a member of the Great Midwest Athletic Conference (GMAC). The Dragons currently own a 4-7 (0-0 GMAC) record. The Dragons are led by first year head coach Paige McMenemy.

Saturday's game will be the eighth meeting between these two programs, the most recent of which was a 5-1 win for the Mavericks on Mar. 12, 2015.

Scouting Southern Indiana: Southern Indiana is located in Evansville, Ind., and is a member of the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC). The Screaming Eagles hold a 10-6 (0-0 GLVC) and are led by head coach Susan Anderson who is in her 21st year.

Saturday's game will be the ninth meeting between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 7-4 victory for the Mavericks on Mar. 6, 2019.

Scouting Edinboro: Edinboro is located in Edinboro, Pa., and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Fighting Scots hold a 0-0 (0-0 PSAC) and are led by head coach Dan Gierlak who is in his 32nd year.

Sunday's game will be the fourth meeting between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 10-2 victory for the Mavericks on Mar. 8, 2020.

Scouting Shippensburg: Shippensburg University is located in Shippensburg, Pa., and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Raiders hold a 2-2 (0-0 PSAC) and are led by head coach Alison Van Scyoc who is in her fifth year.

Sundays game will be the 13th meeting between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 6-0 victory for the Mavericks on Mar. 8, 2015.

Scouting Northwood: Northwood University is located in Midland, Mich., and is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The Timberwolves hold a 4-2 (0-0 GLIAC) and are led by head coach Gregg Sauve who is in his fifth year.

Monday's game will be the ninth meeting between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 5-4 victory for the Mavericks on Mar. 7, 2020.

Scouting Saginaw Valley State: Saginaw Valley State is located in University Center, Mich., and is a member of the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The Cardinals hold a 4-2 (0-0 GLIAC) and are led by head coach Christie Ambrosi who is in her second year.

Monday's game will be the ninth meeting between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 7-2 victory for the Mavericks on Mar. 6, 2016.

Scouting Bloomfield College: Bloomfield College is located in Bloomfield, N.J., and is a member of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). The Bears hold a 0-0 (0-0 CACC) and are led by head coach Phil Delgado who is in his second year.

Wednesday's game will be the second meeting between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 9-1 victory for the Mavericks on Mar. 12, 2020.

Scouting Clarion University: Clarion University is located in Clarion, Pa., and is a member of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Golden Eagles hold a 1-7 (0-0 PSAC) and are led by head coach Lis Fee who is in her third year.

Wednesday's game will be the first meeting between the two programs.

Scouting Concord: Concord University is located in Athens, W.Va., and is a member of the Mountain East Conference (MEC). The Mountain Lions hold a 3-7 (0-0 MEC) and are led by head coach Alyssa Morris who is in her second year.

Thursday's games will be the second and third meeting between the two programs with the most recent meeting being a 3-1 victory for the Mavericks on Mar. 9, 2020.

Looking Ahead:  The Mavericks return to the diamond as they head to St. Joseph, Mo., as they get set to take part in the Fairfield Classic on Mar. 18 - Mar. 20 as they begin tournament action with a match-up against Missouri Southern on Friday Mar. 18 with first pitch set for 2:00 p.m., Minnesota State will play six games over the course of three days.