On Tap: Ninth-ranked and second-seeded Minnesota State will face seventh-seeded Minnesota Duluth in the opening round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference tournament tomorrow at 3 p.m. at Joe Faber Field in St. Cloud, Minn., as the Mavericks aim to pick up their fourth NSIC postseason crown in the past five years.
 
Last Time on the Diamond:  The Mavericks swept a two-game series from Concordia-St. Paul last Tuesday by margins of 8-1 and 9-0 to complete the regular season 31-8 overall and 18-4 in NSIC play. MSU has won 14 of its last 15 contests entering this week’s NSIC tournament.
 
Freshman righthander Josh Matheson (1-0) earned his first career win in his first collegiate start by striking out four and allowing only two baserunners in game two’s win over the Golden Bears earning NSIC Pitcher of the Week honors as a result.
 
At the plate, senior second baseman Lucas Skjefte ended the afternoon three-for-four with three RBI, two runs scored and a pair of stolen bases, while sophomore backstop Nolan Johnson went four-for-seven with a double, two runs and five RBI.
 
NSIC Tournament First-Round Schedule:
Date       Teams                                                                     Time                  Location
5/08        #1 St. Cloud State vs. #8 Bemidji State            11 a.m.              Joe Faber Field
5/08        #4 Winona State vs. #5 Concordia-St. Paul     11 a.m.              Dick Putz Field
5/08        #2 Minnesota State vs. #7 Minnesota-Duluth 3 p.m.                 Joe Faber Field
5/08        #3 Augustana vs. #6 Wayne State                    3 p.m.                 Dick Putz Field
 
A Look at the Bulldogs: Minnesota-Duluth stands 14-24 overall and finished seventh in the NSIC with a 14-10 mark after taking three-of-four from host Northern State last weekend in Aberdeen, S.D. Offensively, UMD is sixth in the league in batting average (.295) and seventh in runs per game (5.61), while the Bulldog pitching staff ranks tenth in ERA (5.72) and opponent batting average (.306). UMD is led by head coach Bob Rients who is in his eighth season at the helm and owns a 172-214 career record.
 
A Look at the Huskies: No. 8 St. Cloud State owns a 31-7 overall record and 19-3 mark in league play - which secured SCSU the regular-season NSIC title - after it took three-of-four from host Bemidji State last weekend. SCSU boasts the third-highest batting average (.307) in the conference, while scoring the fourth-most runs per game (5.95). On the mound, the Huskies lead the league in ERA (2.04) and opponent batting average (.207). Manager Pat Dolan is in his sixth year with the Huskies and has taken SCSU to three straight NCAA postseason appearances.
 
A Look at the Vikings: Augustana completed the regular-season 36-16 overall and 21-7 in conference play after sweeping all four games from visiting Wayne State last weekend including three wins in very convincing fashion. Augie is second in the NSIC in batting average (.327) and first in runs per game (7.60), while the Viking pitching staff is seventh in ERA (4.56) and fifth in opponent batting average (.260). Skipper Tim Huber owns a 159-106 career record in five seasons leading the Vikings.
 
A Look at the Warriors: Winona State finished fourth in the NSIC with a 22-15 overall record and 16-7 mark in league play after splitting four games with visiting Sioux Falls last weekend. WSU is tenth in the conference in batting average (.284) and sixth in runs per game (5.78), ERA (4.55) and opponent batting average (.272).
 
A Look at the Golden Bears: Concordia-St. Paul secured a fifth place finish with a 20-14 overall record and 13-7 mark in NSIC play after sweeping four games from host Upper Iowa last weekend.  CU is second-worst in the league in batting average (.261) and runs per game (3.76), but stands fourth in ERA (4.07) and opponent batting average (.255). Head coach Mark McKenzie is in his 14th season with the Golden Bears and led them to their best NSIC finish in the past five years.
 
A Look at the Wildcats: Wayne State ended the regular season 26-18 overall and 18-12 in league play after being swept by host Augustana last weekend. WSC is 12th in the NSIC in batting average (.275) and runs per game (4.77), while ranking third in ERA (3.79) and opponent batting average (.254). Skipper Brian Disch owns a 110-78 mark in four seasons with the Wildcats.
 
A Look at the Beavers: Bemidji State secured the final spot in the NSIC tourney with a 22-20 overall record and 13-13 mark in league action after dropping three-of-four last weekend against visiting SCSU. BSU stands first in the conference in batting average (.330), third in runs per game (6.38), fifth in ERA (4.15) and eighth in opponent batting average (.287). Manager Tim Bellew is 131-250-1 in eight seasons with BSU.
 
Minnesota State History: The 2013 season marks the 74th for Maverick baseball. MSU owns a 1,573-812-7 (.659) all-time record in 2,392 total games. Minnesota State has five Northern Intercollegiate Conference titles (1968, 1969, 1979, 1980, 1981), 19 North Central Conference championships (1970, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2006, 2007) and three Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference crowns (2010, 2011, 2012). The program has 31 appearances in the NCAA Division II National Tournament (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012) and six in the NCAA Division II World Series (1971, 1979, 1980, 1986, 2010, 2012) including two third-place finishes in 1980 and 2012.
 
Additionally, five Mavericks have been selected as All-Americans.

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