ST. CLOUD, Minn. --- The first-seeded Minnesota State Maverick baseball team fell to the #3-seeded St. Cloud State Huskies, 9-4, Thursday afternoon in the second day of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Baseball Tournament.
Junior shortstop Zach Rowles slapped a single to left center to lead things off in the first for the Mavericks, while sophomore outfielder Ben Kincaid followed up Rowles' single with one of his own to left-field. With two outs, junior outfielder Danny Miller ripped a single through the left-side sending Rowles in to score the opening run of the contest.
St. Cloud State knotted things up at 1-1 in the top of the third inning. Freshman second baseman Travis Carveau singled to the shortstop, then put himself in scoring position with a stolen base. Freshman designated hitter Brian Hansen then hit a RBI double down the right-field line, sending Carveau home.
In the top of the fifth, the Huskies loaded the bases with none out, courtesy of a lead-off double from senior outfielder Tyler Horning, Carveau being hit by a pitch and freshman shortstop Sam Rindelaub reaching on a bunt single. Senior catcher Nate Hammes then put the Huskies up 4-1 on a bases clearing triple to right center, plating all three runners. Sophomore outfielder Joey Benke then sent Hammes home with his second double of the contest, putting SCSU up, 5-1.
The Huskies continued to put runs on the board in the fifth, senior first baseman Beau Musgjerd tallied a two-run double, followed up by an RBI double to right center from pinch hitter senior Jeff Heuer.
SCSU added another run in the seventh on a Benke solo shot to right-field, making the score, 9-1.
The Mavericks tallied three more runs in the eighth, cutting their defecit to 9-4 on RBI singles from senior third baseman Kosuke Hattori and junior designated hitter Pat Dockendorf, while sophomore second baseman Matt Kuchbecker hit a sacrifice fly to right-field.
Sophomore right-handed pitcher Blake Schwartz, who was named NSIC Pitcher of the Year earlier today, suffered his second loss of the season, now 10-2 on the year. The righty posted four and 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs (all earned), walking one and striking out four.
The Mavericks finished with 10 hits, no errors and left seven runners on base, while the Huskies tallied nine hits, no errors and left five on base.
The Mavericks (37-13, 25-7 NSIC) will face the second-seeded Winona State Warriors (36-13, 24-8 NSIC) in the third day of the NSIC tournament tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. in St. Cloud, Minn.
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