Omaha, Neb. — The Minnesota State baseball squad improved its Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference record to, 4-0, after a pair of, 10-1, victories over Mary Monday.
In the opening contest, the Mavericks were down, 1-0, after the top of the second, but after freshman outfielder Scott Linder walked, senior catcher Steven Helget singled and junior infielder Matt Odegaard walked, sophomore infielder Lucas Skjefte ripped a three-run double with the bases loaded to give MSU the lead.
MSU added one in the fourth on a RBI single from senior infielder Zach Rowles, and six more in the sixth inning to run away with the victory, 10-1. The sixth was highlighted by, Skjefte and junior infielder Matt Kuchenbecker hitting RBI singles, and junior infielder Pat Dockendorf and Rowles hitting sacrifice flies.
The Mavericks finished the game with nine hits to Mary’s eight.
Skjefte led MSU at the plate with a 2-for-3, four-RBI performance.
Junior right-handed pitcher Ben Kincaid picked up his first win of the season, going four innings, while giving up one run on six hits, walking none and striking out three.
Closing the game for the Mavericks was freshman pitcher Bryce Bellin who pitched the final three innings, giving up two hits, walking two and picking up the save.
MSU carried its momentum into game two, scoring eight runs in the first three innings to set the pace.
In the first, Dockendorf (single) and Helget (walk) each picked up RBI, followed by junior first baseman Jeremy Sudbeck batting in two runs on a single. MSU added four more in the third when Linder (single) and Rowles (ground out) earned RBI, followed by another two-run single from Sudbeck.
Helget smashed a lead-off solo bomb in the fifth, and the two teams exchanged runs in the sixth to close out the scoring.
Minnesota State out hit Mary, 10-3.
Sudbeck led the Mavericks in game two, going 2-for-4 with four RBI.
Improving his record to 2-0 on the season was senior righty Luke Putz who gave up one run on two hits in six innings of work, walking two and fanning seven.
On the mound for the final, scoreless three innings was senior left-handed pitcher Tent Vedders, freshman righty Jason Hoppe and sophomore right-handed Josh Kubitschek who pitched the seventh, eighth and ninth, respectively.
The Mavericks (11-5 overall, 4-0 NSIC) are slated to host St. Cloud State for a pair of conference doubleheaders this Saturday and Sunday at the MSU Baseball Complex.
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