MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State softball is off to a strong start in NSIC play and will look to carry that momentum on the road this weekend. The Mavericks open play on Saturday, March 28, with a doubleheader against Minot State. Kristle Wolcott's squad will then travel to Bismarck, N.D., on Sunday, March 29, to face the University of Mary, with game times also scheduled for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. each day.

About the Mavericks
MSU enters the weekend on a five-game winning streak, improving to 17-11 overall and 4-0 in NSIC play. The Mavericks are coming off back-to-back doubleheader sweeps at home against conference opponents. Minnesota State defeated Jamestown on Friday, March 20 by scores of 3-0 and 4-3, then followed with a strong showing against Northern State on Saturday, March 21, winning 5-4 in extra innings before closing out the weekend with a 9-1 run-rule victory in five innings.

Minnesota State is one of three NSIC teams to remain undefeated in conference play, joining Winona State and Concordia-St. Paul at 4-0. The Mavericks currently sit in second place in the conference standings.

Offensively, the Mavericks are batting .319 through 28 games with a .492 slugging percentage. The team has recorded 234 hits and driven in 129 runs this season. In the circle, the pitching staff holds a 4.79 ERA with 140 strikeouts across 196 innings pitched.

Urbandale, Iowa native Maddie Oetzmann has been a key presence in the circle for the Mavericks, highlighted by a dominant performance in game one against Jamestown where she tossed a complete game shutout, allowing just five hits while striking out nine. She threw 127 pitches, including 82 strikes, and faced 29 batters in a composed and efficient outing. Oetzmann also took the start in game one against Northern State, pitching four innings while allowing seven hits and four earned runs with three strikeouts. 

Over her last eight games, she has gone 3-0 with four starts and three complete games, posting a 2.15 ERA across 26.0 innings. During that stretch, she has allowed just eight earned runs, struck out 23 batters, and held opponents to a .250 batting average.

Freshman Lucy Porter has been impressive in relief for the Mavericks, delivering key performances out of the bullpen. In game two against Jamestown, she tossed 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while striking out three. She followed that up with another dominant outing against Northern State, throwing four scoreless innings and surrendering just one hit in game one, continuing to provide stability and depth in the circle.

Chloe Brandt has been a consistent force at the plate for the Mavericks, highlighted by a strong performance against Northern State in game two where she drove in two RBIs. Over the last eight games, Brandt is hitting .500 (12-for-24), recording at least one hit in every game while scoring nine runs and adding five RBIs. She has reached base at a .538 clip during that stretch, consistently setting the tone at the top of the lineup and driving the Mavericks' offensive production.

Sophomore Hannah Tong, a Stacy, Minn. native, continues to be a key contributor for the Mavericks. She recorded three hits with one RBI in game one against Northern State, including a clutch single up the middle that drove in Chloe Brandt for the game-winning run in a 5-4 victory. Tong followed that performance with two hits and two RBIs in game two. She currently ranks fourth in the NSIC with a .453 batting average this season.

First baseman Gianna Lara has been a standout at the plate for Minnesota State, ranking third in the NSIC with a .453 batting average through 24 games. Lara also leads the Mavericks in RBIs this season with 25, continuing to be a major force in the middle of the lineup.

About the Beavers
Boasting a 16-12 overall record and a 1-3 mark in conference play, Minot State, led by head coach Sal Rodriguez, has gone 2-4 over its last six games. To open conference play last weekend, the Beavers traveled to St. Cloud, Minn., where they split a doubleheader with the Huskies, falling 1-0 in game one before bouncing back for a 4-3 win in game two. On Sunday, March 22, Minot State faced Concordia-St. Paul, dropping a 4-3 decision in nine innings before falling 6-4 in the second game.

Offensively, the Beavers are hitting .309 as a team with a .461 slugging percentage. They rank sixth in the conference in runs batted in with 125 total RBIs.

Sara Van Wickler leads the Minot State offense with a .350 batting average through 80 at-bats. She ranks second on the team with 16 RBIs and owns a team-best .650 slugging percentage. Senior infielder Paige Kellogg leads the Beavers with 18 RBIs and has recorded 28 hits, including two home runs, this season.

In the circle, ace Katie Newberry holds a 1.32 ERA with a 5-3 record and 53 strikeouts on the season. Her most dominant outing came against Jamestown, where she tossed five innings, allowing just two hits while striking out nine and shutting out the Jimmies.

All-time against Minot State, the Mavericks hold a commanding 23-3 record. In their last meeting, Minnesota State won game one of the doubleheader 5-1 before falling 5-4 in an 11-inning contest. The last time the Mavericks faced the Beavers at the Minot Air-Supported Dome, Minnesota State swept the doubleheader, while holding Minot State scoreless.

About the Mauraders
Head Coach Amy Schmeckpeper and her squad hold a 10-16 overall record this season and are 0-4 to start NSIC play. UMary opened conference action last weekend against Concordia-St. Paul, dropping both games by scores of 4-0 and 3-0. They then faced St. Cloud State on Sunday, March 22, where they fell 10-2 and 8-0. The Marauders are one of five NSIC teams still searching for their first conference win this season.

Offensively, UMary struggled to generate runs during the opening weekend of conference play, driving in just two total runs. On the season, the Marauders are batting .278 with 104 RBIs and hold a .366 slugging percentage. In the circle, the pitching staff carries a 4.72 ERA with 82 strikeouts on the year.

The pitching staff is led by Arria Johnson, who holds a 6-5 record this season. The redshirt junior owns a team-best 2.92 ERA, ranking 14th in the NSIC.

Kaitlyn McLaughlin leads UMary in at-bats with 92 through 26 games played. The Tucson, Ariz. native is hitting .380 and has recorded eight RBIs this season.

Historically, Minnesota State holds a 22-10 advantage over UMary and has won eight straight matchups against the Marauders. The Mavericks' last loss to the University of Mary came during the 2021 season, falling 5-4 in eight innings. Minnesota State averages 6.92 runs per game against UMary and owns an 8-2 record on the road in the series.