Minnesota State to Host Six NSIC Contests this Week

4/20/2010 2:56:01 PM

MANKATO, Minn. — The Minnesota State baseball squad (27-9 overall, 16-4 NSIC), having won 18 of its last 22 games, plays host to Concordia University for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference twinbill Wednesday afternoon. Game one is slated to start at 1:00 p.m. The Mavericks then host Wayne State for a four-game tilt this weekend with Satuday and Sunday's doubleheaders each starting at 12:00 p.m.

Last Action: MSU defeated the UMD Bulldogs in game one of last weeks doubleheader, 7-1, then dropped game two, 3-1.

About Concordia University: The Concordia University Golden Bears, currently 18-22 and 10-9 in the NSIC, swept Northern State last Wednesday by scores of 10-9 and 9-3, then took all four games from Minnesota Crookston by scores of 18-8, 13-2, 6-3 and 9-1. The Golden Bears are led by sophomore shortstop Bryan Lippincott who leads the squad in nearly all offensive categories and are coached by Mark McKenzie.

About Wayne State: The Wayne State Wildcats, currently 20-15 and 15-4 in the NSIC, swept Augustana last Wednesday by scores of 12-1 and 8-0, then took three out of four from Northern State. The Wildcats are led by junior infielder Nick Bidroski and coached by Brian Disch.

Team and Player Notes:
- MSU has outscored their opponents 270-121 on the season and out hit their opponents 373-234.
- The Mavericks have scored the majority of their runs in the third (45) and the fifth (41) innings this season, while also having given up the most runs in the third (22) and fifth (19).
- Senior third baseman Kosuke Hattori, a native of Kanagawa, Japan, is currently in the midst of a team-best 14-game hitting streak. The switch hitter owns a .341 batting average, with six doubles, three triples, one home run and 27 RBI on the year. Hattori sits first on MSU's all-time list in stolen bases with 88 and first in games played with 193. Hattori also sits tied for first in career walks with 99, second in career runs (153), second in career at bats (595), tied for second in career hits (202) and tied for third in career triples (9).
- Sophomore right-handed pitcher Ben Kincaid, a native of Eau Claire, Wis., improved his record to 5-2 after pitching his third complete game of the season last week, giving up one run in all nine innings of action in a 7-1 win over UMD. The righty leads the Mavericks with a team-low 2.60 earned run average.
- Junior shortstop Zach Rowles, a native of Sun Prairie, Wis., currently owns a seven-game hitting steak and owns team-highs in multiple categories including: a .414 batting average, 140 at bats, 50 runs, 58 hits, 14 doubles, 81 total bases and is second on the team in steals with 22.

MSU's Walks List
1. Chris Urbain (1989-92)       99
    Kosuke Hattori (2007-SA)    99
3. Fritz Polka (1984-86)        87

On Deck: The Mavericks travel to St. Paul, Minn. for a doubleheader with Concordia Univirsity April 28 for a doubleheader slated to start at 1:30 p.m., before playing host to St. Cloud State for a four-game tilt May 1 and 2 starting at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday.

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