Winter Haven, Fla. — The Minnesota State baseball, rated tenth in the nation, used 17 runs off of 14 hits to defeat Saginaw Valley State Tuesday, 17-0.

In MSU’s 17-0 shutout victory, Mavericks were up 4-0 heading into the fifth inning, before the team rattled off seven runs and an 11-0 lead.

With one out in the fifth, junior first baseman Matt Odegaard walked and advanced to third on a freshman outfielder Scott Linder single, before scoring on a sacrifice bunt courtesy of freshman outfielder Parker Sullivan.  

MSU then scored six more runs in the inning freshman infielder Cory Glieden reached on a fielder’s choice, earning a run batted in, Sullivan scored on a wild pitch, senior catcher Steven Helget was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded,  junior outfielder Ben Kincaid ripped a two-run double and Helget scored on a wild pitch.

Three innings later the Mavericks put six more on the board. Earning RBI were junior infielder Pat Dockendorf (single), sophomore outfielder Kyle Svoboda (single), senior outfielder Aaron Berner (fielder’s choice), sophomore outfielder Mike Eckhart (two-run triple) and junior infielder Jeremy Sudbeck (fielders choice.)

Kincaid finished the game 2-for-4 with three RBI and a double, while Helget went 1-for-3 with three RBI to lead the Mavericks. Eckhart went 1-for-1 with a two-run triple.

Freshman pitcher Bryce Bellin picked up the win for MSU, his first of the year, pitching four and 1/3 innings, giving up one hit, fanning three and walking none.   

The Mavericks (3-4 overall) will continue action in Florida tomorrow with a nonconference battle against West Chester at 10:30 a.m.

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