Mankato, Minn. – Minnesota State swept the Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs Friday afternoon in a pair of one-run victories. MSU downed the Bulldogs 4-3 in ten innings in game one, then defeated UMD 5-4 in game two.

In game one, MSU jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to a two-run single off the bat of sophomore designated hitter Lucas Skjefte in the second inning.

The Mavericks added a third run in the fifth when junior infielder Matt Kuchenbecker hit a sacrifice fly to left field, sending freshman outfielder Parker Sullivan home.

UMD would cut the Mavericks lead to one run after the fifth inning. Sophomore outfielder Orry Engebretsen would hit a sacrifice fly to left field for the Bulldogs first run of the game, followed up by junior infielder Anders Engberg hitting a RBI single to the shortstop.

Minnesota Duluth would use a senior infielder Tyler Erickson single in the bottom of the sixth inning to send the contest into extra innings.

Minnesota State would score the winning run in the tenth inning when senior outfielder Aaron Berner grounded out to the pitcher, allowing Kuchenbecker to score.

Sophomore righty Mahlon Zimmerman improved his record to 1-1 on the season, pitching 4.2 innings, giving up no runs off four hits, walking none and striking out one. Junior right-handed pitcher Ben Kincaid started the game for MSU pitching 5.1 innings, giving up three runs on eight hits, walking four and fanning two.

Skjefte led MSU at the plate, going 2-for-4 and two RBI. UMD out hit the Mavericks in game one, 12-9.

In game two, Berner gave MSU a 2-0 lead with a two-run bomb to straight center field after Miller hit in infield single. The Mavericks added two more in the inning, senior infielder Zach Rowles was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, followed by Kincaid hitting a sacrifice fly.

Minnesota Duluth scored its first run in the fourth inning when junior infielder Marcus Riewer score on a junior outfielder Mike Darely run down.

Junior infielder Pat Dockendorf put the Mavericks up 5-1 when he scored on a wild pitch in the fifth.

 The Bulldogs added three more in the bottom of the fifth on manufactured runs, making the final 5-4 in favor of the Mavericks.

Senior right-handed pitcher Luke Putz improved his record to 3-1 on the season, pitching his first complete game. Putz went all seven innings, giving up four runs on seven hits, walking two and sitting two batters down on strikes.

Berner led the Mavericks at the plate in game two, finishing 1-for-1 with a two run homer, a walk and was hit by a pitch.

The Mavericks (16-8, 9-3 NSIC) and Bulldogs (6-12, 2-4 NSIC) will finish their conference series with a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon with the first pitch slated for 12:00 p.m.

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