Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Mankato, Minn. --- No. 14 Minnesota State surpassed the 20-win plateau Sunday afternoon with a sweep of visiting Augustana College in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action at the MSU Baseball Complex.
 
The Mavericks claimed the first game 4-3 and held on for a 6-4 win in game two as sophomore third baseman Connor McCallum extended his hitting streak to nine games.
 
Augustana opened game one’s scoring in the top of the first with an RBI single up the middle off the bat of freshman Alex Fink, but MSU answered in the bottom of third with an RBI double to right-center field from sophomore catcher Nolan Johnson and took a 2-1 lead in the fourth after a sacrifice fly by junior outfielder Scott Lindner.
 
Johnson gave the Mavericks a two-run cushion in the bottom of the fifth after roping a triple over the glove of the Augie right fielder and scoring on a passed ball, but the Vikings would comeback with an RBI double from freshman Zach Dibble in the top of the seventh and a run from sophomore Jack Goihl - who scored after a double play with no outs and the bases loaded - in the top of the eighth to knot the game at 3-3.
 
However, Minnesota State took a 4-3 lead in its half of the eighth when senior infielder Lucas Skjefte scored on a bases-loaded walk, and senior righthander Mahlon Zimmerman retired the Vikings in order in the ninth to cement the win and improve to 5-0 overall. Junior righthander Jason Hoppe received a no-decision after striking out five in six innings while allowing four hits and three walks.
 
The Maverick bats returned to form in second inning of game two as MSU tallied three runs in the frame, including a pair on a two-run single by junior catcher Mike Andries. MSU padded the lead in the bottom of the fifth when junior Parker Sullivan scored on a wild pitch and Skjefte connected on a two-run single through the left side giving the Mavericks a 6-0 lead.
 
Augustana answered back with three runs in the top of the sixth on three straight run-producing hits from junior Tony Viger, Goihl and Fink, respectively, slicing the MSU advantage to 6-3. The Vikings took advantage of an MSU error to plate an additional run in the top of the seventh, but Zimmerman would induce a fly out from Viger that stranded runners on second and third as he picked up his sixth save of the season. Junior righthander T. J. Larson moved to 4-0 after allowing three runs in five and one-third innings with six strikeouts, four walks and three hits.
 
Skjefte ended the day three-of-six with three RBI and a pair of runs scored, while Johnson went three-for-seven with two runs, two doubles and a triple
 
The Mavericks (21-7, 10-3 NSIC) and Vikings will conclude the four-game series with a single contest tomorrow at the MSU Baseball Complex. First pitch is set for 11:00 a.m.