Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State completed its four-game sweep over Southwest Minnesota State Monday afternoon while in the meantime extending its winning streak to 11 games as the No. 6 Mavericks earned two victories by the scores of 6-4 and 4-3.
 
Southwest Minnesota State jumped out to a quick start as Brian Ness and Tyler Flattum each added an RBI as the Mustangs opened the first inning with a 2-0 lead.
 
The Mavericks would respond in the bottom of the inning with one run as senior Jeremy Sudbeck hit an RBI infield single which brought in fellow senior Pat Dockendorf cutting the score to 2-1.
 
After SMSU added its third run in the top of the second, the Mavericks would tie the game in the bottom half of the inning as senior Matt Kuchenbecker connected on a two-run double to right field which brought in junior Lucas Skjefte and senior Matt Odegaard.
 
A MSU error in the fifth inning led to the Mustangs taking a one-run lead, however, the Mavericks clawed back and loaded the bases in the sixth inning before Skjefte brought in the go-ahead run with his two RBI double as the Mavericks captured the 5-4 lead.
 
Minnesota State added a sixth run later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by senior Ben Kincaid before junior Nick Sutherland pitched the final inning and picked up his tenth save of the season after allowing no hits or runs.
 
Earning his first career win was sophomore Mathias Butala who allowed no runs on one hit in 1.2 innings of relief work for starting pitcher sophomore Bryce Bellin.
 
Both Skjefte and Kuchenbecker tallied two RBI as the Mavericks compiled six hits while allowing eight to Southwest Minnesota State.
 
After a scoreless first five innings to begin game two, SMSU found the scoreboard in the sixth as the Mustangs took a 3-0 lead highlighted by a two-run triple by Jon Ellis.
 
The Mavericks would do their damage as well in the sixth inning as Sudbeck’s RBI single gave MSU its first run of game two.  A Mustangs wild pitch would score Dockendorf for the Mavericks second run before MSU took a 4-3 lead on a two RBI pinch-hit single by Johnson.
 
The Mustangs would threaten in the top of the eighth as they loaded the bases but relief pitcher junior Mahlon Zimmermann was able to record a strikeout to end the inning as SMSU left the bases full of Mustangs.
 
The score would remain 4-3 as Sutherland earned his second save of the day and 11^th of the season after allowing one hit in the final inning of the game.
 
Starting pitcher sophomore Jason Hoppe earned his fourth win of the season after allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out five batters over the course of the first seven innings of the game.
 
Dockendorf, Kincaid and Sudbeck led MSU at the plate as each recorded two hits and a run scored.  Johnson led the way with two RBI while Sudbeck was the only other Maverick to drive in a run.
 
The sweep improves MSU’s overall record to 35-7 while moving to 23-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while SMSU falls to 22-21 overall and 12-16 in the NSIC.
 
The Mavericks have a quick turnaround as they travel to Winona, Minn., tomorrow to face the Warriors.  First pitch of Tuesday’s doubleheader is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.