Joplin, Mo. - The Missouri Southern softball program travels to St. Joesph, Mo. as they will partake in the Missouri Western Hy-Vee Classic playing four games this weekend.

Southern (6-6, 1-3 MIAA) begins the Hy-Vee Classic with Bemidji State (2-8) and Minnesota State - Mankato (7-2) Saturday at 10 am and 4 pm. Before wrapping up the weekend playing Upper Iowa (3-6) and #14 Winona State (8-0) Sunday at 10 am and 12 pm. 

In the preseason NSIC poll Winona State and Mankato were picked to finish second and third as Alison Nowak of Winona State was tabbed as Preseason Player of the Year

Southern is led by Kara Amos with a .520 batting average third best in the MIAA. Amos ranks second in the conference with a .625 on-base percentage and is ninth with a .760 slugging percentage. Ashlynn Williams ranks second in the MIAA in RBIs per game (1.33), third in triples with two while ranking fourth in RBIs (16) and slugging percentage (.839). Yazmin Vargas leads the team with six stolen bases on the season and ranks fifth in runs scored per game (1.08). Abby Atkin leads the Lions in the circle with a 2-1 record, 2.46 ERA, pitching 31.1 innings and limits opposing batters to a .302 batting average. Amos is 3-3 in the circle with a team-high 18 strikeouts in six appearances.

For the Beavers of Bemidji State, Lisa Kossan leads with a .393 batting average and three doubles on the season. Elaina Christiansen and Emmarie Yeager have both hit two home runs on the season. In the circle Stephi Dullum is 2-1 with 20.2 innings of work, striking out 30 batters and limiting opposing batters to a .227 batting average.

For the Mavericks of Minnesota State - Mankato, Torey Richards leads with a .483 batting average, Hannah McCarville and Madi Newman have each hit two home runs on the season while McCarville leads the team with nine RBIs. In the circle McKayla Armbruster has a 3-0 record in 18 innings pitched, a 0.39 ERA, .83 WHIP, while striking out 18 and limiting opposing batters to a .185 batting average. Mackenzie Ward is 4-2 on the season with a 1.27 ERA, .70 WHIP in 33 innings of work, striking out 62 batters and limits opposing batters to a .132 batting average.

For the Peacocks of Upper Iowa, Kaylee Frenette has a .448 batting average, Katie Crogan leads the team with three home runs and eight RBIs. Abby McKay is 2-3 on the season posting a 3.34 ERA in 29.1 innings of work striking out 35 and limiting opposing batters to a .279 batting average.

For the Warriors of Winona State Sam Keller has a .476 batting average, Libby Neveau has a team-high four home runs and 16 RBIs while boasting a .857 slugging percentage, Nowak has a .417 batting average to go with a 1.116 on base percentage hitting four doubles while picking up 12 RBIs so far. Jordyn Kieman is 5-0 on the season with a 1.50 ERA in 28 innings of work posting a 1.04 WHIP and striking out 35 batters while limiting them to a .236 batting average.