Mankato, Minn. --- Thirteenth-rated St. Cloud State capitalized when it needed to with the Huskies taking advantage of a pair of walks in the bottom of the ninth inning to score the decisive run in a 2-1 win over #9 Minnesota State at the 2011 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Tournament in Mankato Thursday.

Both teams, which entered the tournament as the top two seeds, had lost first-round games yesterday and needed to win today to stay alive at the six-team go-round.

With two out in the bottom of the third inning, SCSU scored the game's first run when Garrett Fischer singled to center to drive in Travis Enger, who had led off with a single up the middle.

The Mavericks responded in the top of the fourth with a two-out run of their own. After Jeremy Sudbeck reached on throwing error from the SCSU shortstop and advanced to second on the play, senior outfielder Danny Miller drove him in with a single to center.

The game then turned into a dual between MSU's Blake Schwartz and SCSU's Scott Lieser. 

Lieser lasted through two outs in the eighth and did not give up an earned run while striking out eight with six hits and no walks. 

Schwartz, the two-time NSIC Pitcher of the Year, made it until the ninth when he walked the first two batters before giving way to Mahlon Zimmerman. After Brian Hansen got on with a bunt single to load the bases, Joe Peters singled to left to score Jordan Smith for the game-winning run.  Schwartz, who now stands 10-2, scattered four hits, while fanning three and walking two.  Reliever Ryne Schwenke, the last of SCSU's three pitchers in the game, was credited with the win and stands 2-0.

Now 39-9, St. Cloud State plays tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. vs. Wayne State. 

Minnesota State, which entered the league tourney having won 27 games in a row, is 39-10 for the year.  The Mavericks are expecting to receive an at large bid to the 2011 NCAA Division II tournament (48 teams), which will be announced Sunday evening.

Complete 2011 NSIC Tournament coverage is available here.