Independent file photo In this April 2 file photo, SMSU’s Kali Tomlinson swings at a pitch during Game 2 of their doubleheader against Augustana University.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (11-13, 6-6 NSIC) will face Minnesota State (20-14, 5-7 NSIC) today at Mustang Field.

The doubleheader was previously scheduled for Wednesday, but will be played today at 2 and 4 p.m. due to the forecasted rain on Wednesday.

Game coverage

•Live stats will be available for fans at smsumustangs.com.

•Updates can also be found by following @SMSUSoftball on Twitter.

Previewing

the Mustangs

•SMSU comes into the week at 11-13 overall and 6-6 in the conference.

•SMSU ranks sixth in the conference.

•SMSU returns home after going 0-4 in a weekend road series at No. 21 Winona State and Upper Iowa.

•SMSU fell to nationally-ranked No. 21 Winona State on Friday with a 9-1 final in five innings and a 6-0 shutout in game two.

•On Saturday against Upper Iowa, SMSU fell 9-1 in five innings before a 13-9 loss in eight innings in game two.

•Emma Grote leads the Mustang offense with a .443 batting average with a team-high 31 hits including one double, two triples, and one home run.

•Grote is also 10-of-10 for stolen bases and leads the team in runs scored with 22.

•Grote missed game two against Upper Iowa due to an injury.

•Bailey Johnson comes in second with a .385 batting average with 25 hits including seven doubles, four triples, and ties for a team-high three home runs with Abbie Decker.

•Johnson is the RBI leader with 17.

•SMSU has five players all batting over .300 with a team total 11 home runs.

Previewing

Minnesota State

•Minnesota State is 20-14 overall and 5-7 in the NSIC after sweeping Wayne State on Sunday with a 6-1 and 3-1 final which snapped a four-game losing streak.

•Kayla Moky leads the Mavericks in batting with a .400 batting average.

•Cori Kennedy is the team leader in hits with 39 and a .382 batting average.

•Emma Schifferle has drove in a team-high 25 RBIs.

•Mackenzie Ward has a 10-9 record with 135 strikeouts this season. Ward also holds a team-low 2.68 ERA.

•Head coach, Lori Meyer, is in this 34th season, has an overall career record of 1,193-668-3.

MSU series history

•Minnesota State leads the all-time series 65-24 dating back to 1975.

•SMSU trails 17-11 in games played in Marshall.

•SMSU snapped an 11-game losing streak on May 3, 2018, in the conference tournament with a 4-3 victory.

NSIC rankings

•Emma Grote ranks in the top-10 in the conference in batting average with .457, runs scored (12), stolen bases (7)

•Bailey Johnson also ranks in the conference in slugging percentage at fourth (.909) and doubles (4). Johnson leads the conference in triples with four.

•Kaylee Hentges ranks fourth in walks with seven.

•Athena Golling ranks seventh with 36 innings pitched.

NCAA statistics

•NCAA stats as of April 4

•SMSU ranks fourth in triples per game (0.50).

•Bailey Johnson ranks third in triples per game (0.20).

Next up

•SMSU hosts Northern State on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. before hosting MSU Moorhead on Sunday at 12 and 2 p.m. at Mustang Field in Marshall.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications