ON DECK
The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team will finish Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action this weekend as it plays host to Upper Iowa and Winona State. The Mustangs will take on the Peacocks on Saturday starting at 2 p.m., and will recognize the Mustang softball parents prior to the start of the games. SMSU will close the regular season on Sunday facing the Warriors starting at noon and will recognized its two seniors.

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

STAY CONNECTED 
@SMSUmustangs is the official home for updates on the Mustangs throughout the season on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. In-game updates, stats and much more can be found at @smsusoftball, the official social media account of SMSU Softball. SMSUMustangs.com is the official online home of Southwest Minnesota State softball, as well as the home for all SMSU collegiate sports.

SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
The Peacocks will enter Saturday's doubleheader 33-13 overall, 19-5 in the NSIC and is sitting in second place carrying a four-game winning streak. UIU added two wins against the conference-leading Wayne State Wildcats on Thursday on a pair of walk-off hits. UIU has won 10 of its last 11, including three sweeps. The Peacocks are led by senior pitcher Jacqueline Flood who has a .350 batting average with a team-high 48 hits, 12 extra bases, eight home run, 11 of 13 in stolen bases and 33 RBIs. Sophomore outfielder Sammy Garrett follows with a .347 batting average and has 41 hits, eight extra bases, three homers and 19 RBIs. Flood leads the defense in the circle with a 1.52 ERA and 16-7 record in 14 starts. Senior pitcher Brooke Redmond also contributes with a 2.01 ERA and a 16-4 record. Upper Iowa head coach Amanda Bradberry is in her third season with a 77-71 overall record.

UPPER IOWA SERIES HISTORY
Southwest Minnesota State and Upper Iowa will meet for the 25th and 26th times on Saturday with UIU holding a 11-13 advantage in a series that started in 2005. SMSU has suffered a loss in the last seven games with its last win in the series a 5-1 victory on April 7, 2012. UIU holds a 6-5 record in games at Mustang Field with its last win a 2-1 victory on April 18, 2011. See full series on page 9 of game notes.

SCOUTING WINONA STATE
The Warriors will enter Sunday's doubleheader 32-14 overall, 14-9 in the NSIC and will face Sioux Falls Saturday before playing SMSU Sunday. WSU is sitting in seventh place in the NSIC and is ranked ninth in the second NCAA Softball Central Region Rankings announced on Tuesday. WSU is lead by senior outfield Reed Karsten who is batting .405 with a team-high 42 runs scored and 64 hits, while also hitting nine home runs and recording 36 RBIs. Senior outfielder Natalie Kalmes adds to the offense hitting .357 with 45 hits and 36 RBIs, while sophomore catcher Paige Keegan adds 39 hits and 21 runs hitting .351. Senior pitcher Hanna Lythberg leads the defense with a 1.51 ERA and a 16-8 record in 23 starts. Sophomore pitcher McKenna Larsen also produces from the circle with a 2.61 ERA and is 10-3. Winona State head coach Greg Jones is in his 15th season.

WINONA STATE  SERIES HISTORY
Southwest Minnesota State and Winona State will meet for the 115th and 116th times on Sunday with WSU holding a 69-45 advantage in a series that started in 1973. SMSU has suffered a loss in the last 18 games, with its last win coming in 2009 in Marshall. SMSU holds a slight 27-24 advantage in games played at Mustang Field, even though the Mustangs have dropped the last seven matchups. See full series on page 9 of game notes.

THE COACH
Jamie Dunn is in her third season as head coach at Southwest Minnesota State University and has compiled a 57-87-1 overall record and a 34-43-1 in the NSIC. 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. Dunn's complete bio is found on page 3 of game notes.

SCOUTING SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA STATE
The Mustangs continued NSIC action this past week, losing eight of the last 10 games. SMSU split with UMD on April 10, and since have won just one game. SMSU split with UMC to snap a five-game skid, but have lost the last three. SMSU faced Minnesota State Thursday and struggled to register a hit as it tallied just four knocks in the doubleheader loss. SMSU is 15-28 overall, 11-15 in NSIC play and is sitting in 10th in the NSIC standings. Sophomore second baseman Sam Flack leads the Mustangs with a .347 batting average, while tallying 42 hits, seven extra base hits and 21 RBIs. Junior shortstop Karmann Carroll adds to the office with a .273 batting average and has eight extra base hits. Junior outfielder Taylor Koloc powers the Mustangs offense with the long ball as she has hit six homers this season and tallied 16 RBIs. Junior pitcher Alex O'Connor leads the Mustangs defense in the circle with a 8-14 record in 21 starts, while carrying a 2.99 ERA and striking out 146 batters.