Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team will welcome Concordia-St. Paul and Minnesota State this Saturday and Sunday for their final home weekend of the regular season. The Wolves will face off against the Golden Bears at 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday and the Mavericks at 12 and 2 p.m. on Sunday from the Moccasin Creek Complex.
 
Northern enters the weekend with a 20-16 record overall and 10-6 mark in the NSIC, currently sitting fifth in the league overall standings. The Wolves are hitting .313 as a team this season with 291 hits, 160 runs scored, 57 doubles, three triples, 16 homeruns, and 149 RBI. They hold a .950 fielding percentage with 694 putouts, 345 assists, and 55 errors. The pitching staff posts a 3.66 ERA through 231.1 innings pitched with a .284 opponent average and 106 strikeouts.
 
Kennady Thompson leads five starters hitting above .300 this season with a .404 average. The sophomore has tallied a team high 44 hits and 26 RBI, as well as 16 runs scored, six doubles, one triple, and four homeruns. Courtney Sjerven is close behind with a .363 average and 41 hits on the year, while Katie Dawson has belted a team leading five homeruns. Jamie Fisher leads the staff with a 16-10 record and 2.56 ERA through 161.1 innings pitched. The junior has a team leading 85 strikeouts, as well as a .257 opponent batting average.
 
About Concordia-St. Paul
- The Golden Bears enter the weekend with a 23-17 record overall and 8-10 mark in the NSIC
- CSP is hitting .326 as a team this season with 372 hits, 230 runs scored, 53 doubles, eight triples, 19 homeruns, and 188 RBI
- Defensively they are fielding .962 with 793 put outs, 282 assists, and 42 errors
- The pitching staff posts a 3.60 ERA through 264.1 innings pitched with 172 strikeouts and a .277 opponent batting average
- Nichole Thompson leads four starters hitting above .300 on the year with a .439 average, while Carlie Hart follows close behind at .437
- Aryka Knoche leads the team with an 11-7 record overall and 83 strikeouts, while Kali Kaestner holds a team low 2.96 ERA and .245 opponent average
- The Golden Bears are led by head coach Bob Bartel in his 13^th season at the helm
 
A Season Ago
- Northern swept Concordia-St. Paul in 2017 with scores of 11-4 and 1-0
- Fisher led the team in the game one victory, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI. She also notched the win in the circle throwing a complete game
- Jenna Helgeson led the team in game two going 1-for-4 with the game winning RBI
- NSU combined for 17 team hits and 12 runs scored in the two games
- The Wolves are 8-31 all-time against Concordia-St. Paul and currently on a 6-game win streak
 
About Minnesota State
- The Mavericks enter the weekend with a 26-12 record overall and 7-7 mark in the NSIC
- Minnesota State is hitting .352 on the year with 399 hits, 268 runs scored, 65 doubles, 13 triples, 25 homeruns, and 237 RBI
- They hold a .945 fielding percentage with 752 putouts, 326 assists, and 63 errors
- The MSU pitching staff posts a 3.35 ERA through 250.2 innings pitched with 141 strikeouts and a .296 opponent batting average
- Carley Esselman leads seven Mavericks hitting above .300 this season with a .458 average and 44 RBI, while Jess Meidl has tallied a team leading 57 hits
- Mackenzie Ward leads the pitching staff with a 12-6 record and 2.67 ERA through 123.1 innings pitched with 78 strikeouts and a .266 opponent batting average
- Caitlin Stone adds an 8-3 record on the mound with 34 strikeouts and a .296 opponent average
- The Mavericks are led by head coach Lori Meyer in her 33^rd season at the helm
 
A Season Ago
- The Wolves fell twice to the Mavericks in 2017 with scores of 4-0 and 7-1
- Shayla Steinley led the team in the game two loss, going 2-for-3 with a run scored and a double
- Northern is 7-18 all-time against Minnesota State with their last victories coming in the 2016 season