The Mavericks entered the contest with a 3-2 overall record against SCSU this season, taking three-of-four games at home in the regular season, while dropping an NSIC tournament contest to the Huskies.

Minnesota State started Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Pitcher of the Year, sophomore right-handed pitcher Blake Schwartz, who entered the contest with a team and league-best 10-2 record, a 3.40 ERA, 16 walks and 60 punch outs, while the Huskies sent sophomore righty Logan Birr to the mound. Birr entered the game with a 7-2 record, a 3.75 ERA, 23 walks and 62 strikeouts.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early 1-0 in the top of the second inning after junior outfielder Aaron Berner walked on base, advanced to second on single from sophomore second baseman Matt Kuchenbecker, then was plated on a RBI single from sophomore first baseman Matt Odegaard.

In the third, senior third baseman Kosuke Hattori reached on a bunt single and advanced to second on an errored throw over to first. Hattori then raced in to score on a RBI double to left field from sophomore outfielder Ben Kincaid. Kincaid was sent home on a RBI single to from junior outfielder Danny Miller.

Kincaid's run scored set a new single-season mark for the MSU baseball program, the teams 427th run scored. The old mark of 426 was set in 1986.

St. Cloud State tallied its first two runs of the game in the bottom of the third inning after freshman designated hitter Brain Hansen singled to center and was plated on a RBI double from senior catcher Nate Hammes. Freshman outfielder Jordan Smith then doubled to right center, plating Hammes, making the score 3-2 in favor of the Mavericks.

Kuchenbecker put MSU up 4-2 with a solo shot blasted over the right center field fence, his second of the tournament and eighth of the season. Six of Kuchenbecker's eight homers have come in the last month.

The Huskies Smith led off the sixth inning with a double down the left field line, then advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a RBI single from junior pinch hitter Jeff Heuer. Horning then walked on, moving Heuer to second, followed up by a sacrifice bunt by freshman second baseman Tyler Cariveau that moved the runners to second and third. Freshman shortstop Steve Rindelaub then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, sending Heuer in to tie the game at four.

Still in the bottom of the sixth, with two out and the game tied at four, freshman outfielder Phil Imholte hit a two-run home run to right field, putting St. Cloud State up, 6-4.

The Mavericks climbed back within one run in the seventh. Dockendorf reached first after he was hit by a pitch, advanced to second when Miller grounded out to first and was sent home on a RBI single down the left field line from junior outfielder Aaron Berner.

The Huskies tabbed two more runs in the bottom of the seventh, putting the Huskies up 8-5, after sophomore first baseman Joey Benke and Smith each reached on singles, each advanced on bag on a sacrifice bunt and were driven home on a two-run single from Cariveau.

Junior shortstop Zach Rowles helped MSU close-in on the Huskies lead with a two-run round-tripper to left field, making the score 8-7 in favor of the Huskies. The home run marked Rowles' sixth of the season.

Benke added two more for SCSU in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run home run.

In the top of the ninth, junior catcher Steven Helget doubled, Rowles walked and Hattori was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Kincaid then plated Helget and Kincaid, cutting the Huskies lead to just one. Hattori then stole third and Kincaid took second, followed up by a Dockendorf batting in Hattori to knot things up at 10.

With Kincaid at third, Miller stepped up to the plate and hit a infield chopper, allowing Kincaid to tally what turned out to be the game-winning run for MSU.

Kuchenbecker and Rowles each tallied home runs in the contest, while Kincaid finished the contest four-for-six with three RBI and the game-winning run.

Rowles tallied a new single-season record for total bases in a season, piling up 137. The old mark was 132 set by Mike Carroll in 1980.

Schwartz pitched five and 2/3 innings, giving up six runs (all earned) off of nine hits, walking two and striking out four.

Freshman Mahlon Zimmerman entered the contest in the eighth inning and picked up the win for MSU, improving his record to 3-0.

Junior right-handed pitcher Luke Putz closed the contest for the Mavericks, earning his eighth save of the season.

The Mavericks finished with 16 hits, no errors and left 13 runners on base, while the Huskies tallied 16 hits, three errors and left eight runners on.

The victory marks the 43rd of the year, two shy of the programs single-season record. MSU has also played in 56 games this season, one shy of the single-season mark.

Minnesota State (43-13) advances to the NCAA Central Region Championship game at 12:00 p.m. (MST) tomorrow, while SCSU (39-16) will face the winner of New Mexico Highlands and Mesa State at 7:00 p.m. tonight to advance to tomorrow's championship game against Minnesota State.

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