Bismarck, N.D. --- The Minnesota State baseball squad traveled to Bismarck, N.D. Saturday afternoon for a doubleheader with the University of Mary. The Mavericks downed the Marauders 12-7 in game one, then fell to UM, 3-2.
In game one, MSU put up a five-run second inning, starting with a RBI singles from junior outfielder Aaron Berner and sophomore first baseman Matt Odegaard, followed by Odegaard scoring on a passed ball and freshman outfielder Mike Eckhart and junior short stop Zach Rowles being walked in.
Senior Andy Leer smacked an RBI triple to center field, followed by Leer scoring on a wild pitch to cut MSU’s lead to three.
The Marauders continued to cut into MSU's lead in the fourth with a solo shot from sophomore Marice Burrough, making the score 5-3.
After three scoreless innings for the Mavericks, junior outfielder Danny Miller put the Mavericks back up three with an RBI single to right field.
Mary evened things up with a three-run sixth inning that started with a RBI triple from sophomore Duane Kiyota Jr., followed by a two-run double courtesy of senior Tyler Liffrig.
Minnesota State ran away with the win in the eighth inning, scoring five runs. Junior catcher Steve Helget reached on a fielder’s choice, allowing sophomore designated hitter Ben Kincaid to score, while sophomore second baseman Matt Kuchenbecker tallied an RBI single. Odegaard finished things up in the fifth for MSU with a three-run double, putting the Mavericks up 11-6.
The Marauders tallied a run in the bottom of eight, followed by the Mavericks Miller scoring the final run of the contest with a solo homer to right field, his fifth of the season.
Miller finished the game three-for-four with three RBI, including a home run, while Odegaard tallied two hits off three at bats, including a double and two walks.
Junior righty Bret Mitchell tossed six innings of action, giving up six runs off nine hits, walking five and striking out 11. Freshman Eugene Sturm finished up the game to earn his first win of the season, in three innings of work, giving up one run off three hits and striking out five.
It took four innings into game two before either team earned a run. MSU tallied the opening run when Kincaid slapped a RBI single up the middle and senior third baseman Kosuke Hattori scored on a wild pitch.
Mary cut MSU’s lead to 2-1 with a RBI single to left from Kiyota Jr., and then tallied two more in the bottom of the sixth to defeat the Mavericks, 3-2.
Kincaid led the Mavericks at the plate in game two going two-for-four with one RBI. Kincaid also pitched all six innings for the Mavericks, giving up three run on 10 hits, walking two and striking out nine. With the loss Kincaid drops to 4-2 on the year.
Hattori earned five steals on the afternoon (24 on the season), putting him first on the all-time list for stolen bases with 85, passing Gen Glynn who owns 81.
The Mavericks (24-8, 13-3 NSIC) and Marauders (9-13, 3-5 NSIC) will square-off again tomorrow for a doubleheader with game one slated for 12:00 p.m.
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To view game one stats, click HERE.
To view game two stats, click HERE.
To view season stats, click HERE.
