Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MANKATO, Minn. – Senior Pat Dockendorf connected on a game-winning two-run home run in the ninth inning of the second game of Monday’s doubleheader as the eighth-ranked Mavericks completed the four-game sweep over visiting Bemidji State.
 
After a scoreless first two innings, Minnesota State found the scoreboard in the third inning as junior Lucas Skjefte scored on an RBI single by Dockendorf to take a 1-0 lead.
 
The Mavericks would extend their lead to 4-0 the following inning as Skjefte’s sacrifice fly brought in junior Mike Eckhart before senior Matt Kuchenbecker connected on a double over the left fielder’s head to drive in the Mavericks’ third and fourth runs.
 
MSU would put game one out of reach in the sixth inning as they scored four more runs to take the 8-0 lead where the score would remain as senior Ben Kincaid picked up his seventh win of the season in a complete-game shutout effort.
 
Kincaid allowed five hits over the course of seven innings while striking out four batters in his fourth complete game of the season.
 
Kuchenbecker led the way offensively for MSU going 3-for-3 with three RBI and a run scored while Eckhart finished 4-for-4 with a run scored.  Five other Mavericks each recorded a single RBI including Skjefte, Dockendorf, senior Jeremy Sudbeck, freshman Nolan Johnson and senior Matt Odegaard.
 
The Mavericks jumped out to a 2-0 lead after the first inning of the second game as Kuchenbecker drove in an RBI single before Sudbeck recorded a sacrifice fly giving MSU the early advantage.
 
MSU would add to its lead in the second inning as Kuchenbecker struck again, this time connecting on a two out, two RBI single extending the lead to 4-0.
 
Minnesota State avoided what could have been a big inning for the Beavers in the top of the third as starting pitcher sophomore Tyler Ockuly struck out Bemidji’s Jaryd Marks with the bases loaded to end the inning.  The Beavers would record one run earlier in the inning on an RBI single by Kean Paxton.
 
Bemidji State would produce a pair of runs in the top of the sixth as the Beavers cut the lead to just one run courtesy of RBI singles by both Lewis Baumann and Paxton.
 
After inching its way back into the game, Bemidji State would take a one-run lead in the seventh inning as both Marks and Zach Braun knocked in RBI singles giving the Beavers the 5-4 lead.
 
However, it proved to be the Mavericks day as Kuchenbecker reached on a double to lead off the ninth inning before Dockendorf stepped to the plate and set flight to the game-winning home run.
 
Junior Nick Sutherland was credited with the win after allowing no runs on three hits in three innings of relief work for Ockuly.
 
Kuchenbecker once again had the hot stick for Minnesota State finishing game two 3-for-5 with three RBI and two runs scored.  Dockendorf finished 2-for-4 with two RBI as his ninth-inning home run was his seventh of the season.  Kincaid was the third Maverick to finish with multiple hits as he went 2-for-3 at the dish.
 
The series sweep over the Beavers gives MSU a 29-7 overall record and a 17-3 mark in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  BSU falls to 17-21 overall and 10-14 in league action.
 
Minnesota State returns to the diamond Wednesday as the Mavericks host Minnesota, Crookston in a doubleheader with first pitch scheduled for noon at the MSU Baseball Complex.