Box Score MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State won an extra-innings pitcher’s duel Thursday night at Franklin Rogers Park as the top-seeded Maverick defeated sixth-seeded Regis 1-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Division II Region Tournament as sophomore Tyler Ockuly recorded 12 strikeouts in a complete-game effort.
 
Ockuly and Rangers’ starting pitcher Charlie Henderson were the highlight of the evening as the pair combined to allow just six hits (three apiece) through the game’s first six innings.
 
With both teams scoreless after nine innings, Regis would pose its biggest threat in the top of the 10^th as the Rangers got a runner on third base with two outs.
 
However, Ockuly would strike out pinch-hitter Jon Shoutta for one of his 12 strikeouts on the night as the Mavericks escaped the half of the inning which set up the extra-innings heroics for junior Lucas Skjefte.
 
Freshman Connor McCallum, who recorded four of the Mavericks’ six hits on the night, led off the bottom of the 10^th with a single to center field before being sacrificed over by senior Jeremy Sudbeck.
 
McCallum was then moved to third on a groundout by freshman Nolan Johnson for the second out of the inning which brought Skjefte to the plate.
 
Henderson would proceed to allow his only run of the evening as Skjefte’s ground ball to first baseman Tony Piazza pulled him towards second base making it a play which he was only able to get in front of and not make a throw to the pitcher who was covering the base.
 
Henderson was credited with the loss after allowing six hits and two walks while striking out seven batters in 9.2 innings of work.
 
The win was Ockuly’s sixth of the season after he allowed five hits and two walks in 10 innings pitched including a pitch count of 152.
 
With the win, MSU improves to 45-10 overall and moves on to play Colorado Mesa in day two of the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament.  First pitch in Friday’s matchup of the Mavericks is slated for 3:30 p.m., at Franklin Rogers Park.