ON DECK
The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (25-21, 14-10 NSIC) will conclude Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play at Mustang Field Wednesday as it hosts Minnesota State (32-18, 17-7 NSIC) on Wednesday at 2 p.m. The Mustangs will then head to No. 19 Winona State (38-10, 20-3 NSIC) on Saturday for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. before concluding the regular season facing Upper Iowa (19-26, 14-10 NSIC) on Sunday with the first pitch slated for noon.

MEDIA COVERAGE
Live statistics will be available for all home games at livestats.smsu.edu/softball, while updates can also be found by following @smsusoftball on Twitter. For all other games, visit smsumustangs.com for more information.

SCOUTING SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
The Mustangs, picked to finish 11th in the NSIC, will enter this week with a 24-21 overall record and a 14-10 in the NSIC after earning a 5-3 record at home last week. Katelyn Kalkman leads the Mustangs batting .349 with 51 hits and two doubles so far this season. Jazmyne Neely follows with a .343 average while recording 48 hits, while Alysse Luttmann is also hitting .342 with 38 hits. Madisson Chadwick leads the squad with 29 RBIs this season. Alex O'Connor powers the Mustang offense with her 17-13 record from the circle while carrying a 3.25 ERA.

SCOUTING MINNESOTA STATE
The Mavericks, picked to finish second in the NSIC, enter the doubleheader with a 32-18 overall record and 17-7 in the NSIC. Tatum Klein leads the Mavericks batting .425 which is eighth in the NSIC with 77 hits and ranks sixth in the NSIC in runs scored with 44 so far this season. Ashley Theil is hitting .299 and leads the squad in RBIs with 32 and in doubles with 14. Coley Ries powers the Mavericks defense with a 17-13 record from the circle while holding a 2.74. The Preseason Pitcher of the Year  has struck out 231 which leads the NSIC while holding opposing batting averages to .220. MSU is struggling in extra innings as they hold a 1-5 record with its lone win versus Central Missouri. Lori Meyer is in her 30th season as head coach at Minnesota State.

MSU SERIES HISTORY
Southwest Minnesota State and Minnesota State will meet for the 81st and 82nd time on Wednesday with Minnesota State holding a 57-23 advantage in a series that started back in 1975. The Mavericks hold a 13-11 record in games played at Mustang Field. SMSU was swept in the doubleheader a season ago in St. Peter, Minn., but split the doubleheader in 2013. SMSU head coach Jamie Dunn is 0-2 all-time versus Minnesota State.

SCOUTING No. 19 WINONA STATE
The Warriors, picked to finish first in the NSIC, enter the week ranked No. 19 in the NFCA with a 38-10 record and 20-3 in the NSIC and was crowned NSIC Tournament Champions a season ago. WSU will face No. 9 on Wednesday before Saturday's doubleheader. Ashley Walker leads the Warriors batting .395 with 64 hits, 21 doubles and 48 runs scored. Morgan Lintz has a team-high 46 RBIs while hitting .340 so far this season. Hanna Lythberg is powering the Warriors defense with a 18-6 record from the circle as she has struck out 131 batters in 143.1 innings pitched and holds a 1.56 ERA. Greg Jones is in his 14th season as head coach at Winona State University.

WSU SERIES HISTORY
Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State will meet for the 113th and 114th time on Saturday with WSU holding a 67-45 advantage in the series that started in the 1973 season. The Mustangs struggle at Alumni Field as the Warriors hold a 29-10 advantage with the Mustang's last road win coming in 2007. SMSU has not defeated WSU in the last 16 games with its last win coming in 2009 in Marshall. SMSU head coach Jamie Dunn is 0-2 all-time versus Winona State.

SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
The Peacocks, picked to finish 10th in the NSIC, enter the weekend 19-26 overall and 14-10 in the NSIC. UIU will face Sioux Falls on Saturday before closing the regular season against SMSU on Sunday. Jacqueline Flood leads the squad batting .433 with 61 hits­, nine doubles and 44 RBIs, while Whitney Williams is batting .345 with 50 hits and 33 runs scored. Flood powers the Peacocks defense with a 10-12 record from the circle and carries a 3.80 ERA and has struck out 81 batters in 143.2 innings pitched. Amanda Bradberry is in her second season as head coach at Upper Iowa University.

UIU SERIES HISTORY
Southwest Minnesota State and Upper Iowa will meet for the 23rd and 24th time on Sunday with the series knotted up at 11-11 that started back in 2005. Upper Iowa has taken the last five games with SMSU last win coming in 2012 in Fayette, Iowa. The series is tied at 5-5 in games played at the Eischeid Softball Complex. SMSU head coach Jamie Dunn is 0-2 all-time versus Upper Iowa. 

THE COACH
Jamie Dunn is in her second season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University and has compiled a record of 40-51-1, including 26-27-1 in NSIC play. Prior to SMSU, Dunn spent the 2013 season as assistant coach at NCAA Division II Colorado Christian University in Lakewood, Colo., and three seasons as head coach at Fruita Monument High School.