The Northwest Missouri State softball team will take part in the ESU Classic that will be played over the course of three days. The ESU Classic begins Saturday, Feb. 18 and ends Monday, Feb. 20.
 
The Bearcats first four games Saturday and Sunday will be played at Shawnee Lake Field in Topeka, Kan., and the final two games Monday will be played at Gahnstrom Field on the campus of Washburn University.
 
Northwest will play Minnesota State and Concordia St. Paul Saturday, Feb. 18. On Sunday, Feb. 19, the 'Cats will face Winona State and Sioux Falls. Northwest will close out the ESU Classic with matchups against Minnesota Duluth and Quincy Feb. 20.
 
Saturday, Feb. 18
Shawnee Lake Field | Topeka, Kan.
12:15 p.m. | Northwest Missouri State vs. Minnesota State
Minnesota State is 24-7 in the all-time series against Northwest. The Bearcats last victory over the Mavericks came Feb. 21, 2022.

Saturday, Feb. 18
Shawnee Lake Field | Topeka, Kan.
4:45 p.m. | Northwest Missouri State vs. Concordia St. Paul
The all-time series versus Concordia St. Paul is knotted up at 3-3 with the most recent Northwest win coming Feb. 4 in the team's third game of the 2023 season.

Sunday, Feb. 19
Shawnee Lake Field | Topeka, Kan.
12:15 p.m. | Northwest Missouri State vs. Winona State
Winona State has seven wins to the Bearcats three in the all-time series. Northwest won the most recent matchup March 20, 2022, by a score of 8-7.

Sunday, Feb. 19
Shawnee Lake Field | Topeka, Kan.
4:45 p.m. | Northwest Missouri State vs. Sioux Falls
The 'Cats are 7-1 all-time against Sioux Falls and have not lost to the Cougars since Feb. 28, 2014.

Monday, Feb. 20
Gahnstrom Field | Washburn University
10:00 a.m. | Northwest Missouri State vs. Minnesota Duluth
Minnesota Duluth has an 11-5 all-time record against Northwest. UMD defeated the Bearcats 9-2 Feb. 3 of this season. Northwest's most recent victory over Minnesota Duluth came Feb. 20, 2022, by a score of 9-1 in five innings.

Monday, Feb. 20
Gahnstrom Field | Washburn University
12:15 p.m. | Northwest Missouri State vs. Quincy
When facing Quincy, the teams are tied with nine wins apiece. The squads have not met since the 2014 season.  
 
The Bearcats currently have a record of 1-3 after securing their first win of the season against Concordia St. Paul at the MSU Invitational in Mankato, Minn., two weekends ago. Northwest defeated CSP by a score of 9-2. The Bearcats have two losses to Minnesota State and one loss to Minnesota Duluth so far this season.
 
Aubrey Griffith had a great start to the season as she went 5-for-10 at the plate during the MSU Invitational and leads the team with a batting average of .500. Griffith also tallied three RBIs.
 
Omara Love is just behind Griffith with the second-best batting average on the team at .455. Love had five hits in 11 at bats while recording two runs and an RBI.
 
Lela Bryant had two hits at the MSU Invitational to go along with three RBIs and a double.
 
Olivia Daugherty is the lone Bearcat with a homerun so far this season and she has a team-best four RBIs.
 
Lillie Filger has a team-high 14 at bats and is tied for the team-high in hits with five.
 
Raven Defrain secured the pitching win for Northwest when the team defeated Concordia St. Paul Feb. 4. In four innings pitched in the win, Defrain faced 18 batters, gave up five hits, had one strikeout, and allowed two runs in the 9-2 victory.
 
Breck Dickey leads the team in innings pitched with seven as well as strikeouts with nine.