Box Score Mankato, Minn. --- Senior Lucas Skjefte’s RBI double in the bottom of the ninth propelled top-seeded Minnesota State to a 4-3 walk-off victory over fifth-seeded St. Cloud State in the semifinals of the NCAA Central Region Tournament Saturday afternoon at Franklin Rogers Park.
 
St. Cloud State pushed across the games’ first run in the top of the first when senior Brian Hansen hit a grounder to third with one out and the bases loaded that scored senior Phil Imholte as the Mavericks were unable to get the out at home before turning a double-play on the next batter to end the threat.
 
MSU junior righthander Bryce Bellin was on point for the next four innings allowing only one batter over the minimum until the Maverick offense provided some run support in the bottom of the fifth. Sophomore outfielder Taylor Branstad reached on a leadoff walk, moved to second on a balk and to third on a sacrifice bunt by senior outfielder Scott Lindner – who reached first on a throwing error by SCSU starter Chris Kubitz.  The next pitch Kubitz committed his second balk of the inning, scoring Branstad, and advancing Lindner into scoring position. Three batters later, junior centerfielder Parker Sullivan ripped a 3-2 pitch through the right side scoring Lindner and giving the Mavericks a 2-1 advantage through five complete innings.
 
The Huskies began the top of the seventh with an infield single by senior Sean Borman, who advanced to second on a throwing error, which prompted a move to the bullpen by MSU as junior righthander Chris Williams came on in relief of Bellin. After a single by junior Travis Enger, Borman tied the game at two apiece when he scored on a groundout to the shortstop before sophomore Michael Jurella ripped a double to the left-center field gap plating Enger and putting SCSU up 3-2, but Williams was able to end the inning without any further damage.
 
The Mavericks responded in the bottom of the eighth as Sullivan stroked a leadoff single into centerfield and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, before sophomore third baseman Connor McCallum reached on a SCSU error and junior firstbaseman Stetson Olson was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. Then senior outfielder Cory Glieden went from down 0-2 against SCSU freshman Reese Gregory to drawing a walk on a 3-2 fastball that scored Sullivan and knotted the game at 3-3.
 
In the bottom of the ninth, pinch-hitter senior Mike Eckhart lead off the inning with a four-pitch walk before advancing in scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. After a flyout to right field, senior second baseman Lucas Skjefte stroked a 1-0 pitch deep into the left-centerfield gap for an RBI double scoring Eckhart and sending the Mavericks to regional championship game.
 
Bellin finished the day with two strikeouts while allowing one walk, two earned runs and six hits over six innings, while senior righthander Mahlon Zimmerman improved to 7-0 with a win out of the bullpen after tossing a 1-2-3 ninth inning. Gregory dropped to 2-1 for SCSU after fanning one with two hits and two walks in four innings of work.
 
Sullivan was two-of-five for MSU with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base, while Skjefte was one-for-four with an RBI.
 
Now 38-8 overall, the Mavericks remain unbeaten in the NCAA Central Region Tournament and will play in the regional title game tomorrow at 12 p.m. against an opponent to be determined with a berth in the NCAA DII World Series on the line. With the double-elimination tournament format, MSU would have to lose twice to be eliminated.