MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team opens competition in the NSIC Tournament this Wednesday as it takes on the St. Cloud State Huskies. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. and will be held on Field A at the RYFSA Complex in Rochester, Minn.

Wednesday, May 3rd Schedule
vs. St. Cloud State, 12:00 p.m.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the week the owner of a 31-17 record. The Mavericks earned the fourth seed in the NSIC Tournament as they put together a 20-10 conference record. Last weekend, MSU split with Minot State (W, 1-0 & L, 5-0) before sweeping UMary (8-0 & 6-0) to finish the regular season.

Junior Ellie Tallman leads the Maverick hitters with a .382 batting average as she has tallied 55 hits and 25 RBI. Junior Kylie Sullivan is batting .362 with seven home runs and 19 RBI also, while freshman Ava Smithson has tallied a team-leading 12 home runs and 33 RBI.

Junior McKayla Armbruster leads the Mavericks in the circle this season with an 21-8 record and a 1.62 ERA. Armbruster has struck out 197 batters and has held opposing hitters to a .220 batting average. Sophomore Sophia Del Vecchio has put together a 4-3 record, to go along with a 3.55 ERA also. Junior Kacy Nickerson owns a 5-5 record to go with a 3.80 ERA as well.

Lori Meyer is in her 39th season as head coach at Minnesota State. She owns a 1,366-731-3 record. 

Concerning the Huskies: St. Cloud State enters the week the owner of a 31-18 record. The Huskies earned the fifth seed in the NSIC Tournament as they put together a 16-8 conference record. Last weekend SCSU split both its series against Augustana (W, 4-1 & L, 9-2) and Wayne State (L, 5-4 & W, 7-1).

Holly Weinberger is leading the Huskie hitters with a .386 batting average and 61 hits. Jasmin Estrada has notched a team-leading nine home runs and 38 RBI, while Raven Vanden Langenberg has tallied six home runs, 37 RBI and a team-leading 44 runs scored.

Trinity Junker owns a 15-7 record in the circle, to go along with a 2.16 ERA and 160 strikeouts. Justyce Porter has posted a 3-4 record, to go with a 1.78 ERA also.

Mitch Roberts is in his second season as head coach of the Huskies. He owns a 67-36 record.

NSIC Tournament: Should Minnesota State defeat St. Cloud State it's next action will take place on Thursday at 12:00 p.m. The Mavericks will face either Augustana, Sioux Falls, Concordia-St. Paul or Bemidji State.

Should MSU lose to St. Cloud State it will play a second game on Wednesday, at 4:00 p.m. The Mavericks would take on the loser of the game between Minot State and Bemidji State.

Minnesota State at the NSIC Tournament: The Mavericks have put together a 36-19 record in NSIC Tournament games dating back to 2009. MSU has won the NSIC Tournament four times (2012, 2013, 2017 & 2021) in its history and owns a 3-1 record against St. Cloud State at the NSIC Tournament.

The Long Ball: Freshman Ava Smithson has recorded 12 home runs this season. In doing so, she is one of five Mavericks in program history to record at least 12 home runs in a season.

1. Amber Kral, 14 (2017)
2. Abby Wagner, 13 (2006)
3. Kelsey Thompson, 13 (2009)
4. Ashley Jay, 12 (2006)
5. Ava Smithson, 12 (2023)

Put it on the Board: Senior Sydney Nielsen has recorded 25 home runs during her career with the Mavericks. She is tied with Jessica Meidl and Amber Kral for the sixth-most in program history.

Junior Madi Newman ranks 11th all-time in home runs at Minnesota State with 21 as well.