Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State swept the Augustana College Vikings Thursday afternoon in a cold and rainy outing, defeating the Vikings 16-1 in the first contest and 7-4 in game two.

The Mavericks would strike first as they took a 2-0 lead on an RBI double by junior infielder Jeremy Sudbeck before junior infielder Pat Dockendorf scored when senior infielder Zach Rowles was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.

Augustana would cut the lead to one in the following inning courtesy of an RBI groundout by senior infielder Charlie Dubanoski.

However, the Mavericks responded quickly with a four-run third inning highlighted by senior outfielder Aaron Berner’s two-run triple.  The Mavericks also received RBI singles from senior catcher Steven Helget and Rowles extending their lead to 6-1.

The Mavericks took a 7-1 lead in the fifth inning as Augustana’s shortstop committed a fielding error which scored sophomore outfielder Mike Eckhart.

Minnesota State would break the game open in the sixth inning scoring nine runs giving the Mavericks a 16-1 lead where the score would remain.

The scoring started as Berner drew a bases loaded walk scoring Dockendorf giving the Mavericks an 8-1 lead.  With the bases still loaded, Helget ripped a bases clearing double giving the Mavericks an 11-1 lead.

Following run producing hits by both Eckhart and junior infielder Matt Kuchenbecker, Dockendorf connected on his team leading fifth home run of the season bringing in three more runs sealing the 16-1 victory for the Mavericks.

Minnesota State was led offensively by four players who recorded multiple hits.  Helget finished 2-for-3 with five RBI and two runs scored.  Rowles drove in one run on a 2-for-4 performance, while Dockendorf and Berner each recorded two hits while driving in three runs.

Earning his seventh win of the year was senior starting pitcher Danny Miller who allowed one run on five hits while recording seven strikeouts in his second complete game of the year.

In the rainy game two, the Mavericks found the scoreboard first as Kuchenbecker hit a two-run home run in the third inning giving Minnesota State an early 2-0 lead.

The Mavericks wouldn’t possess this lead for long, however, as Gates Cook hit a two-run single in the top of the fourth inning evening the score at 2-2.

However, in the bottom of the fourth, Minnesota State scored three runs to retain the lead as Sudbeck and Skjefte recorded RBI doubles and Berner recorded an RBI single giving the Mavericks a 5-2 lead.

Minnesota State added one run in the sixth inning as Helget hit his second home run of the season extending the Mavericks lead to 6-2.

The Vikings would cut two runs off the lead in the eighth inning courtesy of an RBI double by Mark and an RBI single by Dubanoski.  The comeback attempt would end at this point, however, as the Mavericks picked up an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Kuckenbecker’s sacrifice fly scored Berner sealing the 7-4 victory.

Minnesota State starting pitcher Blake Schwartz picked up his seventh win of the season as he allowed four runs on 12 hits while picking up seven strikeouts in seven innings of work.

Sophomore right-handed pitcher Mahlon Zimmermann picked up his sixth save after recording two strikeouts in a perfect ninth inning.

Minnesota State (23-8, 15-3 NSIC) continues its homestand tomorrow afternoon when they host the Upper Iowa Peacocks for a doubleheader that is slated to begin at 1:30 p.m.

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