FARMINGTON, N.M. --- The Minnesota State baseball squad, ranked #15 nationally, squared-off against St. Cloud State for the 2010 Central Region Crown and were victorious.
The Mavericks will make the trip to the NCAA Championship Tournament for the fifth time in program history. MSU made trips in 1971, 1979, 1980 and 1986, with the best finish coming in 1980 when they finished third. The game also marked the 58th of the season, a new record for games played in a season.
The Huskies started where they let off in the days first contest, putting two runs on the board early off of a two-run homer from freshman outfielder Jordan Smith.
The Mavericks cut the Huskies lead to one run in the top of the second with a RBI single from freshman Mike Eckhart, plating junior catcher Steven Helget.
Minnesota State took advantage of three SCSU errors in the top of the third to capture the lead. MSU loaded the bases with nobody out after sophomore outfielder Ben Kincaid singled, junior righty Danny Miller walked on and junior outfielder Aaron Berner reached on an error by the second baseman.
Sophomore first baseman Matt Odegaard then reached on a fielders choice, then advanced to second on an error, allowing Kincaid and Miller to score. Sophomore second baseman Matt Kuchenbecker singled to reach first, advancing Odegaard to third. Odegaard then scored when Helget reached on an error and Kuchenbecker scored when Eckhart reached on a fielders choice, putting MSU up 5-2.
The Mavericks added to their lead in the fourth. Hattori walked and advanced to third on a double from Kincaid, both then scored on a two-run double from Miller. Miller was then batted in on a single to left field off the bat of junior outfielder Aaron Berner. After advancing to third, Berner reached home on a sacrifice fly from Helget, making the score, 9-2, in favor of the Mavericks.
In the fifth, Miller picked up his third RBI of the game on a single to right field, plating Hattori, followed by Kincaid and Miller both scoring when Odegaard reached on an error. Odegaard also reached home when Kuchenbecker reached on an error.
The Mavericks tallied two more in the sixth after Kincaid plated Rowles on a double to center, while Miller sent Kincaid into score on a double to right center, putting the Mavericks up, 15-2.
SCSU added a third run in the sixth with a solo shot to right center hit by sophomore first baseman Joey Benke.
Minnesota State piled on five more in the eighth, putting MSU up 20-3. Odegaard, Kuchenbecker and Rowles each tabbed an RBI, while Helget added two RBI, while the Huskies added three more, making the final 20-6.
Miller, who was named to the all-tournament team and named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, picked up his third win of the season in his third start. The lefty pitched seven innings, giving up three runs off of four hits, he walked four and sat down five batters on strikes. Miller also pitched the Mavericks to a NSIC title last weekend.
Other Mavericks named to the all-tournament team included Hattori, Kincaid and Mitchell.
The Mavericks tallied 23 hits, two errors and left 13 runners on base, while the Huskies finished with seven hits, had five errors and left six runners on.
Minnesota State (44-14, 4-1 in tournament play) will participate in the 2010 NCAA Championship Tournament in Cary, North Carolina at the USA Baseball National Training Complex which takes place May 22-29.
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