Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Winter Haven, Fla. --- Tenth-ranked Minnesota State split a pair of ball games with Ashland University Friday to finish 7-2 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
 
The Mavericks dropped an 11-3 decision in game one before walking away with a 5-2 victory in the second game.
 
MSU junior Ben Keller scored the first game’s initial run in the bottom of the second inning, but AU answered with five of their own in the top of the fourth - keyed by a one-out triple from senior Austin Erb - who drove in three Eagles with the knock.
 
The Mavericks scored twice in their half of the fourth after RBI doubles from sophomore Connor McCallum and junior Parker Sullivan, but Ashland responded again in the fifth inning with a two-run blast from sophomore Austin Bires. AU would add four more runs in the seventh inning to complete the 11-4 final. Junior righthander Tyler Ockuly (1-2) struck out six in five innings but suffered his second loss of the year after surrendering seven runs - all earned - off 11 hits in the outing.
 
Minnesota State scored first once again in game two when senior Lucas Skjefte singled to drive in sophomore catcher Nolan Johnson in the top of the fourth inning, but AU knotted the game at 1-1 with a run of its own in bottom half of the inning. Johnson gave the Mavericks the lead once more in the top of the fifth with an RBI single that plated Sullivan before Skjefte drove in Keller with his second RBI single of the ball game to put MSU up 3-1.
 
A bases loaded walk in the bottom of the fifth pulled the Eagles within one, but MSU make it a three-run lead with two of its own in the seventh inning as the contest ended 5-2. Senior righthander Mahlon Zimmerman did not allow a baserunner in the bottom of the seventh as he recorded his fourth save to date. Junior righthander T.J. Larson earned his first win of the year after allowing two runs in four and one-third innings, while striking out five and scattering three hits.
 
Johnson ended the day three-of-seven with a triple, an RBI and a run scored, while Skjefte finished three-for-five with two RBI and two runs scored.
 
Minnesota State moves to 11-4 overall and continues non-conference action March 24th with a doubleheader against Minnesota, Crookston at the Metrodome. First pitch is scheduled for 9:15 p.m.