Box Score St. Cloud, Minn. --- For the second day in a row, ninth-ranked Minnesota State took on Bemidji State in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament and it was the second consecutive Maverick victory as MSU defeated the Beavers, 3-1, on a windy Saturday afternoon at Joe Faber Field to earn their second straight NSIC title and fourth in the past five seasons (2013, 2012, 2010, 2009).
 
The Maverick pitching staff was dominating throughout the tournament allowing a mere two runs in 36 innings pitched as MSU has now won 19 of its last 20 games.
 
Sophomore catcher Nolan Johnson gave MSU a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning when he spanked a two-out RBI single into right field that plated junior centerfielder Parker Sullivan, who had reached on a leadoff single. The Beavers took advantage of a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fourth as junior Zach Braun advanced to third on a single before scoring on a double-play to knot the game at one a piece.
 
MSU senior starter Nick Sutherland worked his way out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh stranding a Beaver runner at second base by inducing a 6-4-3 double-play to end the threat. The Mavericks put him in position to win the game with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth inning. Senior right fielder Scott Lindner reached on an infield single before advancing to second on a bunt and third on a Sullivan base hit. Senior second baseman Lucas Skjefte stepped up with a clutch two-run double just past the glove of the Beaver right fielder to score both Lindner and Sullivan giving MSU a 3-1 cushion it would not relinquish. Junior righthander Chris Williams retired all three batters in the eighth before senior righthander Mahlon Zimmerman was perfect in the ninth for his ninth save of the season sending the Mavericks to next weekend’s NCAA Central Region tournament at a location to be determined.
 
Sutherland (3-2) allowed the one earned run, two walks and five hits while striking out three in seven innings pitched. Bray (4-4) fanned five in seven and two-thirds innings while surrendering three earned runs and six hits.
 
Skjefte was one-for-four on the day with a double and two RBI, while Sullivan went two-of-four with a pair of runs scored.  Additionally, Skjefte was named NSIC Tournament MVP, while Sullivan and junior righthander Jason Hoppe were both selected to the NSIC All-Tournament Team.
 
Now 35-8 overall, the Mavericks clinched a berth in the NCAA Division II Central Region Tournament and with learn the tournament’s location and their opponent tomorrow evening during the NCAA Selection Show scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. CST.