St. Peter, Minn. – Minnesota State closed out its nonconference schedule Monday afternoon with a 3-1 win over Gustavus Adolphus College.

The Gusties tallied the first hit of the game in the bottom of the third inning, while the Mavericks waited until the top of the fifth inning.

Minnesota State’s first hit of the game would lead to 1-0 lead for the Mavericks. Senior catcher Steven Helget earned MSU’s first hit, advanced to third on an error, the n scored on a sacrifice bunt from senior infielder Zach Rowles.

GAC would knot things up in the bottom of the fifth inning on a manufactured run. The Mavericks however did not wait long to recapture their lead with two runs in the sixth inning when junior infielder Pat Dockendorf scored on an senior outfielder Aaron Berner ground out, then junior infielder Jeremy Sudbeck hit an RBI single to center field plating senior outfielder Danny Miller.

The Gusties finished with six hits to MSU’s five. Helget was lone Maverick to earn two hits to lead MSU at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one run scored.

Senior right-handed pitcher Luke Putz improved his record to 4-1 on the season, going three innings while giving up no runs on one hit, walking none and fanning three. Sophomore closer Mahlon Zimmermann picked up his NSIC-best fifth save of the season, pitching 1.1 innings and sitting one batter down on strikes.

Minnesota State (21-8, 13-3 NSIC) hosts Augustana College Wednesday for a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference contests set to begin at 1:30 p.m. at MSU Baseball Complex.

-30-