MANKATO, Minn. – Rounding out the home series this weekend, the Minnesota State softball team will host Augustana and Wayne State at the MSU Softball Complex for a pair of doubleheaders. The Mavericks face the Vikings on Friday, April 10 at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., before taking on Wayne State on Saturday, April 11 at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.
About the Mavericks
After a six-game extended weekend, Minnesota State sits in second place in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play with an 11–3 record. The Mavericks split last weekend with Southwest Minnesota State, swept Sioux Falls, and then took one of two games from the No. 23-ranked Warriors. Minnesota State now holds a 24–14 overall record under first-year head coach Kristle Wolcott.
As a team, the Mavericks are batting .311 with a .479 slugging percentage, ranking fifth in the conference. Defensively, MSU holds a .964 fielding percentage, highlighted by Carly Kimmes' two standout plays to close out games against SMSU and WSU. In the circle, the Mavericks' pitching staff owns a 4.05 ERA with five shutouts, including two earned this past weekend against Sioux Falls.
Designated player Hannah Tong of Minnesota State continued her strong season at the plate, hitting .333 (7-for-21) during the week. The Stacy, Minnesota native tallied two doubles and a home run, while posting a .733 slugging percentage in games against Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls. Tong remains one of the top hitters in the NSIC, ranking second with a .439 batting average and leading the conference with a .765 slugging percentage.
Freshman pitcher Jorey Fry delivered an excellent performance in the circle, going 2–1 with two complete-game outings during the week. She recorded a 0.58 ERA over 12.0 innings against the Mustangs and Cougars, showcasing strong command and consistency. Across 17.2 innings pitched, Fry allowed just 12 hits and four earned runs, playing a key role in the Mavericks' success.
About the Vikings
Augustana enters with a 16–19 overall record, including a 9–5 mark in NSIC play under the direction of head coach Gretta Melsted, who is in her 20th season at the helm. The Vikings are coming off a weekend where they swept Concordia St. Paul and split with St. Cloud State before falling in both contests to Wayne State on Tuesday.
Posting a .321 batting average and a .522 slugging percentage, the Vikings rank second in the conference offensively. Defensively, Augustana sits in the lower half of the standings with a .961 fielding percentage. In the circle, the pitching staff holds a 5.30 ERA through 35 games, placing them 12th in the NSIC in that category.
Desi Cuevas led the way for Augustana during a 3–1 weekend, delivering a dominant performance at the plate. The junior hit .750 (9-for-12) while posting a 1.750 slugging percentage and a .786 on-base percentage. She scored six runs, drove in three, and tallied seven extra-base hits, including two home runs, four doubles, and a triple. Cuevas' standout week earned her NSIC Softball Player of the Week honors.
Minnesota State holds a 58–83 all-time record against Augustana, having dropped seven of the last eight meetings between the two programs. In games played in Mankato, the Mavericks are 13–23 against the Vikings and average 2.94 runs per contest in the matchup.
About the Wildcats
Under the direction of Christy Warnock, Wayne State holds a 30-8 record this season going 10-4 in NSIC play. The Wildcats split both of their weekend doubleheaders against St. Cloud State and Concordia-St. Paul before rallying for a doubleheader sweep on Tuesday against Augustana.
WSC's offense holds a .324 hitting percentage tagged along by a .478 slugging percentage. In the field, the team combines for a .974 fielding percentage and the pitching staff highlights a 1.91 ERA, marking the second best in the NSIC thus far into the season.
Taylor Coleman turned in a dominant week in the circle for Wayne State, going 3–0 across two starts with a 2.00 ERA. She struck out 21 batters over 18.0 innings, allowing just four runs on 14 hits. Coleman also recorded a six-inning shutout with 10 strikeouts against Concordia St. Paul, highlighting her strong performance.
Minnesota State holds a 41–13 all-time record against Wayne State, winning three of the last five meetings between the two programs. The last matchup came in May 2025, when the Mavericks earned a 5–4 victory in 10 innings during the NSIC Tournament quarterfinals. At home, MSU is 14–6 against the Wildcats and averages 5.37 runs per game in the series.
