MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team has been named the eighth seed in the NCAA Central Region and will now advance on to the NCAA sub region tournament on Thursday as it takes on the first-seed Central Oklahoma Bronchos. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. CT.

NCAA Tournament History: Minnesota State's trip to the NCAA Tournament this season marks its 19th appearance at the big dance. This is MSU's first appearance in the NCAA Tournament since the 2022 season. In total the Mavericks own a 41-38 (.518) record in NCAA Tournament games.

About NCAA Central Sub Region: The NCAA Central Sub Region Tournament will be hosted by #1 Seed Central Oklahoma. Fourth-seeded Rogers State, fifth-seeded Pittsburg State and eighth-seeded Minnesota State will make the trip down to Edmond, Okla. The double elimination sub regional will take place over the course of three days from May 8-10 at Gerry Pinkston Stadium.

The other NCAA Central Sub Region includes #2 Southern Arkansas, #3 Augustana, #6 Missouri Southern and #7 Harding. The winning teams from both sub regions will face off in a best of three series at the NCAA Super Regional which will take place from May 15-16. The highest seed will serve as host.

NCAA Central Sub Region Schedule

May 8
Game 1: #1 Central Oklahoma vs. #8 Minnesota State, 1:00 p.m. CT
Game 2: #4 Rogers State vs. #5 Pittsburg State, 3:30 p.m. CT

May 9
Game 3: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 1:00 p.m. CT
Game 4: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 3:30 p.m. CT
Game 5: Loser of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4, 6:00 p.m. CT

May 10
Game 6: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5, 1:00 p.m. CT
Game 7: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 5, 3:30 p.m. CT (if necessary)

Against Central Oklahoma: Thursday's game between Minnesota State and Central Oklahoma marks their 11th all-time meeting with MSU leading the series 9-1. Earlier this season the Mavericks defeated UCO 3-2 back on Feb. 24 in Topeka, Kan.
Sophomore Maddie Oetzmann earned the win as she threw 5.1 innings, while striking out two batters. Freshman Finley Anderson notched a two-run home run for the Mavericks, while freshman Ryanne Mellum drove in MSU's third run with a single.
UCO's Sydney Ward took the loss as she allowed three runs, one earned, in 4.2 innings. Rylee Lemos notched a solo home run for the Bronchos and drove in another run with an RBI-double.

The Mavericks and Bronchos have faced each other twice in the NCAA Tournament, with the Mavericks winning each encounter in 2017 (3-0) and 2021 (2-0).

Against Rogers State: Minnesota State has faced Rogers State five times throughout its history. The Hillcats have won the last three meetings and lead the all-time series 3-2. Earlier this season, MSU fell to RSU 4-3 back on Feb. 28 in Shawnee, Kan.
Sophomore Maddie Oetzmann took the loss as she allowed three runs in 2.0 innings. Senior Sophia Del Vecchio threw five innings in relief and allowed just one run. Senior Ella Schulz notched a home run, while junior Gianna Lara and sophomore Izzy Hycnar each recorded RBI-singles.

Jade Sanders earned the win for the Hillcats as she threw 5.0 innings and struck out six batters, while allowing three runs. The Hillcats drove in three runs via RBI-singles from Bridgett Morales, McKayla Carney and Chole Bohuslavicky.

Minnesota State and Rogers State have faced each other three times in the NCAA Tournament back in 2022. MSU won the first game 3-0, before RSU won the next two by the scores of 8-2 (15 inn.) and 4-0.

Against Pittsburg State: Minnesota State and Pittsburg State have faced each other 20 times throughout their history. MSU owns a 10-10 record against PSU, including a 1-1 record earlier this season.

MSU fell to the Gorillas 1-0 in Topeka, Kan., before the Mavericks bested PSU 6-1 in Shawnee, Kan.

In MSU's 6-1 win, junior Sailor Hall earned the win as she allowed one run on three hits in the complete game effort. Senior Ella Schulz notched a three-run home run, while senior Cheyenne Behrends and freshman Ryanne Mellum each recorded RBI-singles.

PSU's Ava Laurent threw a no-hitter against the Mavericks as she fanned 11 batters in the Gorillas' 1-0 win. Kadyn Trochim drove in the lone run of the game with an RBI-double.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the week the owner of a 38-18 record as it advanced to the semifinals of the NSIC Tournament last week. In the tournament, MSU defeated Wayne State 5-4 in 10 innings, before falling to Winona State 5-2.

The Mavericks have several players batting above .300 this season, including senior Marina Carter who is batting .348 with 25 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. Junior Gianna Lara is batting .333 and is leading the team in hits (55), doubles (14) and RBI (40). Sophomore Maddie Helin has notched a team-leading seven home runs, while senior Cheyenne Behrends leads the team in hits with 56 and in runs scored with 42.

The Maverick pitching staff owns a combined 2.29 ERA on the season and has heled batters to a .256 batting average. Junior Sailor Hall owns a 13-5 record and has struck out 84 batters, while boasting a 1.84 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. Senior Brianne Stone owns a 12-6 record, to go along with a 1.92 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.

Head Coach Lori Meyer is in her 41st season with the Mavericks and owns a 1,443-767-3 record. This will be Meyer's 18th trip to the NCAA Tournament, which includes an NCAA Championship in 2017.

Concerning the Bronchos: Central Oklahoma enters the week the owner of a 46-8 record. The Bronchos won both the MIAA regular season and tournament championships. UCO has won its last five games, including three wins at the MIAA Tournament over Emporia State (8-1), Missouri Southern (4-0) and Rogers State (8-0).

Terin Ritz is leading the Bronchos offensively as she is batting .422 with 18 doubles, 17 home runs and 72 RBI. Rylee Lemos is batting .387 11 home runs and 41 RBI, to go along with a team-leading 64 runs scored.

Ritz leads the UCO pitching staff with an 18-3 record, to go along with a 1.59 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP. Shelby Beard has posted a 12-3 record and boasts a 2.18 ERA also.

The Bronchos are coached by Cody White who is in his 12th season as head coach at Central Oklahoma. He owns a 492-168 record. Thiswill be White's 10th trip to the NCAA Tournament and served as the Bronchos assistant coach when they won the NCAA Championship in 2013.

Concerning Rogers State: Rogers State enters the week the owner of a 37-13 record. The Hillcats finished the regular season in third place in the MIAA standings and advanced to the MIAA Tournament Championship game against Central Oklahoma. RSU defeated Washburn (6-1) and Pittsburg State (7-2), before falling to UCO 8-0 in five innings.

Abbey Rogers leads the Hillcats with a .481 batting average, to go along with 78 hits and 49 RBI. She has also tallied 17 doubles and nine home runs. Callie Yellin is batting .318 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI also, while Chole Bohuslavicky has tallied 10 home runs and 47 RBI.

Jade Sanders owns a 14-7 record, to go along with a 2.30 ERA, and has struck out 119 batters. Harley Culie has posted an 18-5 record this season and has struck out 127 batters while maintaining a 2.62 ERA.

The Hillcats are coached by Andrea Vaughn who is in her 12^th season at RSU, including her ninth season as head coach. She owns a career record of 358-174 record. This will be her fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament, which includes an NCAA Championship in 2022.

Concerning Pittsburg State: Pittsburg State enters the week the owner of a 38-14 record. PSU finished second in the MIAA standings and advanced to the semifinals of the MIAA Tournament last week. PSU defeated Missouri Western 10-7, but fell to Pittsburg State 7-2 in the semifinals.

Heather Arnett is batting .500 with 92 hits, 62 runs scored and 30 RBI. Kadyn Trochim has notched 12 home runs and 42 RBI, while Courtney Storey has posted 53 RBI and 15 doubles, while batting .396.

Ava Laurent owns a 16-6 record in the circle, to go along with a 2.83 ERA and 159 strikeouts. Aydenne Brown has posted a 15-6 record to go with a 3.16 ERA and 128 strikeouts.

The Gorillas are coached by Josh Barnes, who is in his first season as head coach at Pittsburg State. He owns a 38-14 Division II record and this will be his first trip to the NCAA Division II Tournament.