FARMINGTON, N.M. --- The fifteenth-ranked Minnesota State baseball team (42-13), who are seeded #2 in the Centeral Region, defeated the third-seeded Mesa State Mavericks (37-19), 8-7 in eleven innings.
MSU started senior right-handed pitcher Pat Lenton who entered the game with a 9-3 record, a team-low and league leading 2.90 ERA and 75 punch outs, while Mesa State put sophomore righty Kyle Davis on the mound who entered the contest with a 7-0 record, a 4.75 ERA and 37 strikeouts.
Mesa State loaded the bases in the top of the first with one out, but Lenton worked his way out of the early jam by sitting down two straight batters on strikes.
In the bottom of the first, junior shortstop Zach Rowles took his first pitch to right field for a lead-off double, advanced to third on a bunt single from senior third baseman Kosuke Hattori, then reached home when sophomore outfielder Ben Kincaid reached on a fielders choice. The Mavericks then tallied their second run of the inning after sophomore designated hitter Pat Dockendorf exteneded his hitting streak to 20 games with a double down the right field line, sending Kincaid home.
Sophomore second baseman Matt Kuchenbecker put Minnesota State up, 3-0 with his seventh homer of the season, a solo shot blasted over the right field fence. Then, with two outs, Rowles singled to left field, advanced to third on a Hattori single up the middle. Kincaid then singled up the middle, allowing Rowles to score, putting MSU up, 4-0.
Mesa State tallied their first run of the contest in the top of the third, making the score 4-1. Sophomore outfielder Jeff Popicka hit a solo shot to right field, his eleventh of the season.
Leading off the fourth for MSU was junior catcher Steven Helget, who hit a double to right center field, Hattori followed that up by walking to reach first. Kincaid then tagged a double to right center field, sending both Helget and Hattori in to score, making the score 6-1 in favor of Minneosta State.
Mesa State loaded the bases again in the fifth inning with nobody out. MSC's sophomore Chase Moore hit a sacrifice fly, deep to left field scoring one. Lenton then induced a fly ball to shallow center field, walked the bases loaded again, followed up by a two-run single from junior outfielder Brain Bello, squeezing Minnesota State's lead to 6-4.
Mesa State knotted things up at six in the top of the sixth inning after junior outfielder Ryan Shelton and and senior second baseman Kevin Becker each singled, then advanced to second and third on a sacrifice bunt from junior catcher Brett Nigbur. Popick then hit a two-run single up the middle, plating both Shelton and Becker.
In the bottom of the seventh, Minnesota State recaptured the lead after Hattori walked on, stole second base, advanced to third on a single from Kincaid, then reached home when Dockendorf grounded out to first base, putting MSU up 7-6.
MSC tied the contest at sevens in the top of the ninth, sending the game into extra innings, with a solo shot to right center field courtesy of junior outfielder Greg Anderson, his eighth of the year.
In the bottom of the eleventh, Miller slapped a double to left center, Berner then reached on an error, advancing Miller to third. Kuchenbecker then stepped up to the plate with one out and tagged a sacrifice fly to center field, sending Miller in for the winning run.
Kincaid led Minnesota State at the plate, finishing the contest three-for-six, with four RBI and a run scored. Kuchenbecker, who earned the game winning RBI, finished the contest one-for-five with two RBI, including a solo home run.
Lenton started the game for the Mavericks, pitching five and 1/3 innings, giving up six runs off of 13 hits,walking one and striking out three. Junior righty Luke Putz entered the contest in the ninth inning and picked up the win after pitching three scoreless innings, giving up two hits and punching out four. Putz now sits 1-1 on the year.
Minnesota State finished the contest with 18 hits, two errors and 11 left on base, while Mesa State tallied 20 hits, one error and left 15 runners on base.
The Mavericks (42-13) advance to face the sixth-seeded St. Cloud State Huskies at 11:00 a.m. (M.S.T.). Both teams enter the contest with 2-0 records in NCAA tournament play.
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