TOPEKA, Kan. – The Minot State softball team swings back into action this weekend, albeit a few days later than originally planned.

The Beavers (7-2 overall) battle a half-dozen NCAA Division II foes at the Washburn Invitational, which was pushed back two days because of winter weather in Kansas. Minot State now opens play Sunday at 5:30 p.m. Northwest Missouri State (4-5) then plays the host Ichabods (7-4) at 7:30 p.m. on the opening day.

Minot State continues action on Monday against Newman (2-8) at 11:30 a.m. and Emporia State (6-5) at 5:30 p.m., then closes out the road trip playing Central Oklahoma (9-2) at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, then Fort Hays State (3-3) at 2 p.m. on Tuesday.

The matchups against Northwest Missouri State and Newman both will be the first time Minot State has clashed with either while the Beavers have a history with the other four teams, including playing host Washburn and Emporia State at this same tournament last year.

The Beavers are 0-1 against the Ichabods, having lost 7-1 in their meeting last spring, and came up short 12-7 against the Hornets last spring as well. Minot State is 1-3 all-time against Emporia State, though that one Beaver win was a 1-0 victory back in May of 2013 in Minot State's first-ever trip to the NCAA National Tournament.

As for the matchup against Central Oklahoma, Minot State is 1-2 against the Bronchos with the teams last meeting back in 2018.

The rivalry with Fort Hays State dates even further back as the Tigers are 3-0 against the Beavers, but the teams have not played since 2014.

Minot State heads into the weekend on a 5-game win streak that includes a season sweep of in-state rival Jamestown.

Offensively, Anna LaCount has been smashing it for the Beavers hitting .517 (15-of-29) with 7 RBIs in nine games while Sara Van Wickler and Taylor Smith both have a pair of home runs, and freshman Sarah Misner is off to a strong debut with a home run and a .333 (6-of-18) batting average in six games for Minot State.

In the circle, the Beavers have been led by senior Reegan Floyd who is 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA and 29 strikeouts in 27 innings, while junior Jasmine Blizzard is 2-1 with a save and a team-best 0.66 ERA in her return to the circle with 12 Ks in 10 2/3 innings.