Box Score Cary, N.C. --- Second-ranked Minnesota State came up one win short in its quest for its first-ever NCAA DII Baseball Championship as the Mavericks were doomed by a five-run second inning in their 8-2 loss to first-rated Tampa Saturday evening at Coleman Field inside the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
 
The second-place finish was the highest in the NCAA DII Baseball Championship by any team in MSU baseball history.
 
After a 1-2-3 first inning, the Spartans got to senior righthander Harvey Martin in the bottom of the second inning stringing together five consecutive hits to begin the frame and taking an early four-run lead - highlighted by a two-run double down the left field line by junior Zach Gawrych - before Martin was relieved by junior righthander T.J. Larson. Junior Connor Obrochta stroked an RBI single to into left field two batters later providing Tampa with a 5-0 lead after two innings of play.
 
MSU responded with one run in the top of the fourth when sophomore catcher Nolan Johnson was hit by a 1-2 pitch to begin the inning, and junior first baseman Stetson Olson ripped a single into centerfield putting runners at first and second with no outs. Next, sophomore outfielder Taylor Branstad hit into a fielder’s choice at second base, but the Spartan second baseman threw the ball away at first trying to turn the double-play, which scored Johnson from second base cutting the UT lead to 5-1.
 
Tampa got the run back in the bottom half of the fourth when junior Michael Danner laced a sacrifice fly into right field with one out and the bases loaded plating Gawrych and regaining the Spartans five-run cushion after four complete innings.
 
Junior righthander Chris Williams came out of the bullpen to relieve Larson in the bottom of the fifth and struck out five of the seven batters he faced in his first two innings. However, the Spartans loaded the bases with two down in the bottom of the seventh after a single and a pair of walks and stretched the lead to 8-1 when two runners scored on an error by sophomore third baseman Connor McCallum. Senior righthander Nick Sutherland came on in relief and struck out the first batter he saw to end the threat.
 
The Mavericks fought back for a run in the top of the ninth when senior second baseman Lucas Skjefte belted an RBI single into shallow centerfield that scored junior Mathias Butala, who came on to pinch-run after senior Tony Vocca reached on a two-out single, but that was all the offense MSU could muster as the contest ended in the 8-2 final.
 
Martin suffered his first career loss in two seasons at MSU as he dropped to 9-1 on the year after allowing five hits and five earned runs while striking out one in one inning pitched. Williams had a game-high six strikeouts as he allowed two hits, two walks and two earned runs in two and two-thirds innings. Junior Jon Keller moved to 6-3 overall for the Spartans after recording five strikeouts and surrendering six hits and one unearned runs.
 
Offensively, junior centerfielder Parker Sullivan went three-for-five, while Olson ended the night three-for-three.  Gawrych was one-of-three for the Spartans with a double, two RBI and two runs scored, while senior Jake Schrader went two-for-three with a double, a run and an RBI for Tampa.
 
Additionally. Johnson, Skjefte and junior righthander Jason Hoppe were all named to the NCAA DII Baseball Championship All-Tournament Team.
 
Minnesota State ends the year 42-9 overall and completes the greatest season in Maverick baseball history.