MANKATO, Minn. --- The Minnesota State softball team continues its season this Thursday as it travels to Sioux Falls, S.D., to take on Augustana in the NSIC Tournament. First pitch is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at Bowden Field.

NSIC Tournament: The NSIC Tournament will be held from May 6-9 at Bowden Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. Ten teams will compete in the single-elimination tournament, with the tournament champion receiving an automatic bid to the NCAA Central Region Tournament.

Behind its 20-10 NSIC record, Minnesota State received the fourth seed and will face fifth-seeded Augustana. The winner of the game between the Mavericks and the Vikings will face either Winona State, Southwest Minnesota State or Sioux Falls in the semifinals on Friday at 12:00 p.m. The NSIC Tournament Championship game is scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 p.m.

Minnesota State in the NSIC Tournament: This will be Minnesota State's 17th appearance in the NSIC Tournament since the 2009 season. The Mavericks own a 36-22 record in NSIC Tournament games, including a 5-8 record against Augustana.

The Mavericks have won the NSIC Tournament four times in 2012, 2013, 2017 and 2021.

History vs. Augustana: Thursday's game between Minnesota State and Augustana marks their 144th all-time-meeting with AU leading the series 85-58. AU has won their last eight meetings, including a pair of games (7-3 & 8-0) at the MSU Softball Diamond earlier this season.

In NSIC Tournament games, the Mavericks own a 5-8 record against the Vikings. The last time MSU and AU met in the NSIC Tournament came during the 2021 season. MSU won the first meeting 6-0, before AU won the second game 5-0. In their final game for the NSIC Tournament Championship, the Mavericks prevailed 4-2.

Concerning the Mavericks: Minnesota State enters the NSIC Tournament with a 33-21 overall record, including a 20-10 NSIC record. MSU finished its regular season schedule on a six-game winning streak including series sweeps vs. Minnesota Crookston (6-0 & 10-2) and MSU Moorhead (5-2 & 5-3) last weekend at home.

As a team, MSU is batting .309 on the season and has outscored its opponents 277-227 this season. The Mavericks have also driven in 252 runs this season and have outhit their opponents 438-361. MSU has notched 153 extra base hits, including 106 doubles.

Freshman Nyah Hulbert is batting .392 with 22 runs scored and 16 RBI. Hulbert also owns a .423 on-base % and leads the team in slugging % at .686. Sophomore Hannah Tong leads the Mavericks in hits with 53 and has driven in 37 runs, with senior Gianna Lara leading the team in RBIs with 49. Junior Chloe Brandt leads the Mavericks in runs scored with 42 and in stolen bases with 11as well.
In the circle, Maverick pitchers have combined for 3.66 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. Minnesota State pitchers have also struck out 252 batters and have held opposing hitters to a .260 batting average.

Junior Maddie Oetzmann leads the Mavericks in the circle with a 16-6 record and a 3.13 ERA. Oetzmann has struck out 138 batters and has held opposing hitters to a .248 batting average. Freshman Jorey Fry owns a 13-12 record, to go along with a 3.55 ERA. Fry has struck out 85 batters as well and has held hitters to a .251 batting average.

Concerning the Vikings: Augustana enters the NSIC Tournament with a 27-26 record, including a 19-11 NSIC record. Last weekend, AU swept Jamestown (2-0 & 8-0) before splitting a doubleheader with Northern State (L, 3-2 & W, 10-2).

As a team, Augustana is batting .337 on the season and is outscoring its opponents 354-271. The Vikings have driven in 317 runs and have notched 495 hits, including 56 home runs and 119 doubles.

Kierra Lubovich is batting .435 with 10 home runs and 56 RBI. Andrea Cain leads the Vikings in runs scored with 56 and in hits with 75. Cain also leads the team in doubles with 20 and is tied with Norah Christiansen for the team-lead in home runs with 11.

In the circle, AU pitchers have combined for a 4.81 ERA and a 1.68 WHIP. Augustana pitchers have struck out 240 batters and have held opposing hitters to a .274 batting average.

Teya Speltz owns a 9-5 record to go with a 4.08 ERA. Speltz has struck out 94 batters and has held hitters to a .251 batting average. Helene Krage owns a 12-9 record, to go along with a 4.10 ERA and 80 strikeouts as well.