Box Score Winter Haven, Fla. --- Senior righthander Harvey Martin tossed seven shutout innings to pick up his first win of the year as tenth-ranked Minnesota State bested Ashland, 3-1, Thursday afternoon at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
After three scoreless innings to begin the game, the Mavericks took control with two runs in the top of the fourth. Junior Stetson Olson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with no outs and sophomore catcher Nolan Johnson capitalized by picking up an RBI on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop before junior Chris Williams plated junior outfielder Scott Lindner with a sacrifice fly down the right-field line.
 
MSU took a 3-0 lead in the top of the eighth when senior Lucas Skjefte’s single drove in Johnson, who had reached on a one-out double, but Ashland pushed a run across in its half of the eighth to cut the lead to two. Senior righthander Mahlon Zimmerman was perfect for the Mavericks in the ninth as he did not allow a baserunner to earn his third save of the season.
 
Martin recorded nine strikeouts, scattered four hits and allowed one run in seven scoreless innings to improve to 1-0.  Junior Todd Standish went three-for-three on the day, while Johnson finished one-of-three with a double, RBI and run scored and junior outfielder Parker Sullivan chipped in a two-for-four day at the dish.
 
Now 10-3 overall, Minnesota State will wrap-up its spring break trip with two more games against Ashland tomorrow morning as the doubleheader is slated to start at 10:00 a.m. ET.