MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State softball opens its 2026 season on Saturday, Feb. 7, hosting Minnesota Duluth for a doubleheader inside the Maverick All-Sports Dome. First pitch for the opening game is scheduled for 1 p.m., with the second contest to follow at 3 p.m.
About the Mavericks
Minnesota State enters the 2026 season building off a 2025 campaign that featured a 39–20 overall record and a 21–7 mark in NSIC play. The Mavericks reached the NSIC Tournament semifinals before falling to Winona State, then advanced to NCAA Regional competition, where they faced Rogers State (Okla.) in the third round of regionals.
The season marked the end of a historic era for the program, as Lori Meyer concluded her career after 41 seasons as the Mavericks' head coach. MSU finished last season 12–6 at home, 7–4 on the road, and 20–10 at neutral sites, while going 1–4 against nationally ranked opponents.
A new era begins for Minnesota State softball this season as Kristle Wolcott takes over as the program's fifth head coach.
Wolcott steps into the role after serving as Minnesota State's associate head coach since 2014 and spending 14 seasons as a full-time member of the Mavericks' staff. She is joined by former Maverick All-American and 2017 AFCA National Player of the Year Coley Ries Welter, who comes to MSU as an assistant coach after leading Gustavus Adolphus College for five seasons.
Under the leadership of Wolcott, the Mavericks were selected to finish third in the NSIC in the 2026 NSIC Preseason Coaches' Poll.
Minnesota State returns 12 players from last season's roster and welcomes nine newcomers to the program, including eight freshmen and one transfer. Among the new additions is Madelyn Bode, a Mankato, Minn., native who joins the Mavericks after spending one season at Sioux Falls. Bode redshirted during her time with the Cougars due to injury and will look to make her Maverick debut this season.
A key returner for MSU is senior Gianna Lara, who enters her final season of competition with the Mavericks. Lara appeared in and started all 57 games last season, primarily at first base. She posted a .322 batting average, tallying 56 hits while leading the team in doubles (14) and RBIs (40). Her strong season earned her All-NSIC Second Team honors.
The Mavericks also return junior pitcher Maddie Oetzmann, who served as a consistent presence in the circle last year. Oetzmann appeared in 22 games, including 15 starts, recording two complete games and one shutout. She finished the season with a 3.08 ERA and struck out 63 batters across 77.1 innings pitched.
Junior shortstop Izzy Hycnar returns after starting all 57 games for Minnesota State last season. A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Hycnar batted .293 and recorded 11 doubles, two triples, and one home run. She drove in 35 runs, scored 33 times, and finished second on the team in walks with 27. Hycnar was also efficient on the base paths, going 4-for-5 in stolen base attempts.
Sophomore Carly Kimmes returns after starting 55 of MSU's 56 games last season at second base. Kimmes batted .272 with 41 hits, including four doubles, two triples, and a home run. She led the team in walks with 32, finished second in runs scored with 40, and paced the Mavericks in stolen bases with 25. Kimmes also drove in 24 runs and opened her collegiate career with at least one hit in each of MSU's first nine games.
Rounding out the group of returners is sophomore Finley Anderson, who appeared in 34 games and made 23 starts during her freshman season. Despite missing part of the year due to injury, the Aurora, Ill., native posted an impressive .446 batting average with 29 hits, including nine doubles, a team-leading five triples, and four home runs. Anderson scored 24 runs, drove in 23, and went 15-for-17 in stolen base attempts. She also led the team with a .526 on-base percentage, recorded nine multi-hit games, drove in a season-high three RBIs against Northern State, and put together a 13-game hitting streak.
About the Bulldogs
Minnesota Duluth opened its season on Jan. 30 at the Lone Star D2 College Classic in Mansfield, Texas. The Bulldogs hold a 4–1 record through the opening weekend, with their lone setback coming in the season opener against Eastern New Mexico by a 7–4 score. UMD rebounded from the loss by sweeping its remaining opponents at the tournament.
Head Coach Nat Wagner is in his second season with UMD after being named the fifth head coach in program history in Aug. 2024. In his first season at the helm, Wagner led the Bulldogs to a 39–17 overall record, including an 18–8 mark in NSIC play.
Daphne Evans has made an immediate impact in her freshman campaign, batting .556 with 10 hits and six RBIs in UMD's first five games. The outfielder has started each contest this season.
The Mavericks hold a slim 58–46 all-time advantage over the Bulldogs. Last season, the two teams split each of the two doubleheaders while playing in Mankato, Minn. The most recent meeting in April 2025 saw Minnesota State earn a 7–4 victory in eight innings before falling in the second game, 15–6, in five innings. At home, MSU owns a 23–14 record against UMD.
