Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State finished its sweep of NSIC-rival Upper Iowa Saturday with three victories this afternoon in Mankato. The Mavericks defeated the 4-3, 12-2 and 3-0 in today’s games.
In the opening contest, Upper Iowa jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first when junior infielder Patrick Arntson hit an RBI single after senior outfielder Nick Bergeman had previously reached on a single.
The Mavericks would capture their first lead of the game courtesy of a two-run double from junior infielder Matt Kuchenbecker, his 14th of the year.
In the bottom of the fourth, senior outfielder Danny Miller led off the inning with his 16th career triple, an MSU career mark, and was plated by a ground out from senior catcher Aaron Berner.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, UIU’s junior outfielder Matt Corbitt hit a two-out, two-run bomb to left field to knot things up at three.
Berner singled to lead off the bottom of the seventh, and later scored the game-winning run when Zach Rowles beat out the UIU double play attempt to reach on a fielder’s choice.
Six Mavericks recorded a hit for MSU, led by Kuchenbecker who went 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Minnesota State out hit the Peacocks 6-4 in the win.
Improving his record to 4-1 on the season was senior right-handed pitcher Luke Putz who pitched his second complete game of the season while walking one, while sitting six batters down on strikes.
In game two of the afternoon, in the second inning, junior infielder Pat Dockendorf smashed a solo homerun to left field to put MSU up 1-0. Miller then singled up the middle before scoring on a RBI single hit by senior catcher Steven Helget. Rowles followed up MSU’s first two runs of the inning with a three-run homer to left, putting MSU up 5-0 after the second.
MSU tacked on one more in the third when Berner ripped a single down the right field line, sending Dockendorf in to score.
The Mavericks made it 10-0 in the fourth with a two-run single, junior infielder Jeremy Sudbeck scoring on a wild pitch and Miller hitting an RBI triple, the 17th of his career. Miller’s RBI triple now gives him 142 RBI, the most of any player in MSU program history.
The Peacocks scored a pair of unearned run in the fifth off of a couple throwing errors by MSU, but the Mavericks would get their two runs back in the sixth, giving them the 12-2 victory.
Leading the way at the plate was Dockendorf who finished the contest 3-for-3 with a homerun, one RBI and four runs scored. MSU out hit the Peacocks 14-4 in the second contest.
Freshman Bryce Bellin picked up his fourth win of the season, pitching his first complete game, giving up two unearned run on four hits, walking none and fanning six.
In the third outing of the day, Helget put the first runs on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning with a two-run single plating Dockendorf and Miller.
Upper Iowa out hit MSU 6-5 and were led by Helget who went 2-for-3 with two RBI.
Picking up his first win of the season was freshman righty TJ Larson who now owns a 1-1 record. Larson threw seven scoreless innings, giving up four hits, walking two batters and striking out nine. Sophomore closer Malhon Zimmermann closed the contest, pitching two scoreless innings, walking one and fanning three. Zimmermann also pitched up his seventh save of the season.
Minnesota State (27-8, 19-3 NSIC) will travel to Crookston, Minn. Wednesday for an NSIC twinbill with the Minnesota, Crookston Golden Eagles. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.
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