FAYETTE, Iowa--- Minnesota State wrapped up their series with Upper Iowa University Sunday afternoon with both Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games taking place at Robertson Woods Field in Fayette, Iowa. The Mavericks took the first contest, 8-4 and 11-2 in the second game.
Right-handed pitcher Bret Mitchell picked up his fifth win of the season, bettering his record to 5-2 on the year. In his six innings of work, Mitchell gave up two runs, both earned, on five hits, struck out six and walked four.
Minnesota State left fielder Danny Miller opened up the first game scoring in the top of the first inning with a two-RBI single down the left field line scoring first baseman Ben Kincaid and short stop Zach Rowles.
The Peacocks answered in the bottom of one with two runs of their own. First baseman Lucas Wilsing batted in outfielder Nick Bergeman for the first run, while third baseman Luis Rodriguez hit an RBI single through the left side, scoring Tom Longoni.
Maverick catcher Steve Helget gave Minnesota State the lead back in the top of the third inning when he drove in Miller, putting MSU up, 3-2.
Minnesota State tallied four more runs in the fifth to give them the 7-2 lead. Third baseman Kosuke Hattori hit a two-run shot, his first of the season, scoring Rowles and himself. Following Hattori's home run, right fielder Aaron Berner doubled to left center, sending Miller home. Second baseman Matt Kuchenbecker finished up scoring in the fifth for the Mavericks with an RBI double that scored Berner.
Hattori earned his third RBI of the contest courtesy of a single through the left side that scored Rowles.
The Peacocks picked up a couple of runs in the seventh and ninth innings from second baseman Seth Fox who singled up the middle to score outfielder Jordan Nuss and Wilsing, who singled to score Longoni.
Right-handed pitcher Mahlon Zimmerman picked up his first save of the season. Zimmerman pitched the final two innings, giving up one run on two hits.
The Mavericks out-hit the Peacocks, 14-9 in the contest, with Hattori leading MSU bats with 2 hits, including a home run and three RBI.
Game two saw right- handed pitcher Ben Kincaid improve his record to 3-1, giving up two runs on one hit, walking one and striking out seven.
The two squads again exchanged runs in the first. MSU tallied its run when Miller hit a single to right field, driving in Kincaid, while the Peacocks Longoni grounded out to second base to score Bergeman.
The Mavericks then put up four more runs in the top of the third inning to put them up, 5-1. Helget and Kuchenbecker each earned RBI singles to right field, while first baseman Matt Odegaard hit a two-run double sending in Helget and Kuchenbecker to home plate.
Wilsing hit a solo home run in the fourth, cutting into MSU's lead, but the Mavericks piled on five runs in the fifth, Odegaard, Hattori and Miller each hit RBI singles. while Helget hit a two-run single. Miller also tacked on the eleventh run on a wild pitch in the seventh to wrap up the scoring.
The Mavericks out-hit the Peacocks again in the second contest, 17-2. Helget led the Mavericks with two hits, earning three RBI.
The Mavericks (18-6, 7-1 NSIC) will play the Mustangs of Southwest Minnesota State in a home-and-home series next week, April 1 and 2. The two teams will play a doubleheader Thursday, in Mankato, Minn., starting at 1:30 p.m., and Friday, in Marshall, Minn., starting at 1:30 p.m.
To view game one stats, click HERE.
To view game two stats, click HERE.
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