THIS WEEK - The Southwest Minnesota State University softball will open up the 2016 season this week, as it travels to St. Cloud, Minn., to play five non-conference games in the Husky Dome. SMSU will begin the week facing Fort Hays State on Thursday at 7 a.m., before playing Nebraska-Kearney at 9:30 a.m. The Mustangs will play Emporia State on Friday, starting at 9:30 p.m., before closing the weekend on Saturday facing Central Missouri at 2:30 p.m., and Missouri Western State at 5 p.m.
SMSU begins the season picked to finish 10th overall in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference. The Mustangs finished the 2015 campaign 27-29 overall-most wins since the 2011 season-while also making the NSIC tournament-first time since 2011-with a 14-16 NSIC record.

ABOUT SMSU - The Mustangs top returner is senior outfielder Jazmyne Neely who finished third in batting average with a .314 mark, 53 hits, seven doubles, 28 RBIs and 22 runs scores. Other returners include shortstop Karmann Carroll and outfielder Taylor Koloc. Carroll finished fourth on the team with a .301 batting average, 43 hits, 25 runs scored and 19 RBIs. Koloc finished with a .292 batting average, 42 hits, 11 runs scored, 21 RBIs and was a perfect 10 for 10 on stolen bases. SMSU will welcome back lone pitcher Alex O'Connor from last season. The junior started 37 games a season ago and hurled 225 2/3 innings, striking out 162 batters and walking 69. O'Connor finished with a 3.47 ERA and a 19-18 win-loss record.

ABOUT FORT HAYS STATE - The Tigers, picked to finish eighth in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association, are 1-3 so far this season after competing in the 8-State Classic last week. Adrian Mohr is in her second season as head coach at Fort Hays State University.

FHSU HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Fort Hays State will meet for the first time on Thursday.

ABOUT NEBRASKA-KEARNEY - The Lopers, picked 10th in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association, are 4-5 so far this season after opening their season at the Desert Stinger Classic and the 8-State Classic. Holly Carnes is in her 16th season as head coach at the University of Nebraska-Kearney.

UNK HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Nebraska-Kearney will meet for the third time on Thursday in a series that started in the 1985 season. The series is tied at one game apiece, as the Mustangs suffered a 4-3 defeat in the first matchup, but won the second, 4-3 on Jan. 20, 2009, at the NSIC/RMAC Crossover in Colorado Springs.

ABOUT EMPORIA STATE - The Hornets, picked sixth in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association, are 4-6 so far this season after opening their schedule at the Southeastern Oklahoma State Tournament and the 8-State Classic. April Huddleston is in her first season as head coach at Emporia State University.

ESU HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Emporia State will meet for the fourth time on Friday in a series that started in the 1992 season. SMSU holds a 2-1 advantage in the series, as it started with a 5-2 victory in 1992 at the Pittsburg State Tournament, before recording a 2-1 win on May 11, 2007 at the NCAA Regional in North Mankato, Minn. ESU won the last game of the series 4-0 on May 13, 2007 at the NCAA Regional.

ABOUT CENTRAL MISSOURI - The Jennies, picked to finish third in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association and the defending MIAA and NCAA Regional Champions from a season ago, hold a 5-5 record this season after competing in the Southeastern Oklahoma Regional and Arkansas-Monticello Softball Classic. Susan Anderson is in her 18th season as head coach at Central Missouri.

UCM HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Central Missouri will meet for the fifth time on Friday in a series that started in the 2000 season. The series tied 2-2, as SMSU started with two wins in the 2000 and 2008 season, but have lost the last two matchups, with losses in the 2009 season and in Clermont, Fla., a season ago.

ABOUT MISSOURI WESTERN STATE - The Griffons, picked to finish fourth in the Mid-American Intercollegiate Athletics Association and No. 16 in the NFCA Preseason Coaches' Poll, are 4-3 this season after competing at the Ronnie Hawkins Invitational and the 8-State Classic. Jen Bagley-Trotter is in her 15th season as head coach at Missouri Western State.

MWSU HISTORY - Southwest Minnesota State and Missouri Western State will meet for the seventh time on Saturday in a series that started in the 1999 season. MWSU holds 5-1 advantage, as it won the first five games of the series. SMSU's first series win was a 4-3 victory on March 30, 2008, at the Nebraska-Omaha Classic.

HEAD COACH - Jamie Dunn is in her third season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University and has complied a record of 42-59-1, including 23-28-1 in NSIC play. Dunn spent the 2013 season as assistant coach at NCAA Division II Colorado Christain University in Lakewood, Colo., and three seasons as head coach at Fruita Monument High School.