MINOT, N.D. -- After an 18-day layoff, the Minot State softball team returns to action this weekend at the Emporia State Softball Classic.

The Beavers, who are currently 12-4 on the season, last played on Feb. 25 in the Air-Supported Dome against Minnesota Crookston and Carroll. Minot State will face Central Oklahoma and Northeastern State on Friday (March 16), Pittsburg State and Emporia State on Saturday (March 17) and Missouri Southern State on Sunday (March 18).

Minot State was originally scheduled to compete in the HyVee Classic hosted by Missouri Western State, but that tournament was cancelled due to weather and field issues.

Minot State enters the Emporia State Softball Classic as one of the top offensive teams in the nation as the Beavers are currently 11th in the nation with a .363 team batting average and 11th in the nation scoring 8.1 runs per contest.

Senior Tori Zimmermann leads the Beavers with a .517 batting average, 17 RBIs and eight doubles. Zimmermann is ranked 15th in the nation in batting average in NCAA Division II.

Sophomore Julia Suchan is hitting at a .481 clip and leads the team with 23 runs scored and is tied for second on the team with 16 RBIs. Isis Cabral (.415) and Lauren Cowden (.408) also are batting above .400 on the season, while Kyla Larson is hitting .389 and Ashley Hill is batting .388 on the year.

Kylie Patrick and Laura Mendez form the one-two punch in the circle for Minot State. Patrick is 8-2 with a 3.97 ERA, while Mendez is 4-2 with a 5.42 ERA.

EMPORIA STATE SOFTBALL CLASSIC SCHEDULE
Friday, March 16
Minot State vs. Central Oklahoma, 2 p.m.
Minot State vs. Northeastern State, 4 p.m.

Saturday, March 17
Minot State vs. Pittsburg State, 10 a.m.
Minot State at Emporia State, 2 p.m.

Sunday, March 18
Minot State vs. Missouri Southern State, 10 a.m.