Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. --- Third-seeded Minnesota State surrendered three runs in the top of the first inning only to retaliate with 11 over the next five frames to cruise to an 11-5 opening-round victory over fourth-seeded Emporia State in game one of NCAA Central Region action Thursday afternoon at Tech Field on the campus of Arkansas Tech.
 
With the win, the Mavericks improve to 42-9 and advance to play either second-seed Southern Arkansas or fifth-seed Arkansas-Monticello tomorrow at 7 p.m. Emporia State falls to 40-18 and will battle either top-seed Arkansas Tech or sixth-seed Augustana tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.
 
Senior righthander Jason Hoppe (11-2) tossed his seventh complete game on the season and second straight while striking out 10 to set Minnesota State career records in wins (29) and strikeouts (282) in the victory.
 
Emporia State pounced on the Mavericks and Daktronics Central Region Pitcher of the Year, Hoppe, for a trio of runs in the top of the first inning. After retiring the first two batters, Hoppe surrendered a hit by pitch and walk before a pair of wild pitches put the Hornets up, 1-0. Next, junior Price Jacobs drilled a two-run home run to left field extending ESU a three-run cushion through one half inning.
 
Minnesota State answered right back with three spot off ESU junior southpaw Jarrod Miller. With one out and the bases loaded, senior Stetson Olson spanked a RBI single through the left side, before sophomore Taylor Branstad clubbed a two-run double down the line in right field tying the contest at 3-3.
 
The Mavericks padded the lead with an additional four runs in the bottom of the second inning kick started when senior Todd Standish laid down a bunt single that was thrown away down the right field line scoring two Maverick baserunners. Two batters later, Olson banged his second RBI single of the day into right field, before senior Mike Andries tagged a sacrifice fly to left field stretching the advantage to 7-3.
 
ESU got a run back in the top of the fourth. The Hornets had two runners in scoring position with two out, before a fielder's choice to third scored the lead runner only to have the second Hornet retired at third base to end the frame. MSU fired right back with a pair of runs in its half of the inning, all with two outs, as Andries slapped a RBI single through the left side, and senior Parker Sullivan legged out a RBI infield single with the bases loaded giving the Purple and Gold a 9-4 cushion.
 
Minnesota State tacked on two more tallies in the fifth when junior Max Waletich and Olson each connected on run-producing single to right field, before Emporia State scratched across a run in the top of the seventh making it 11-5 in favor of the Mavericks which proved to be the final.
 
Branstad registered a game-high four hits with a double, a run and two RBI, while Olson finished three-for-four with a run and game-high three RBI. Standish went three-of-five with three runs, and Johnson added a two-for-five performance with a run scored.
 
Miller (7-6) took the loss for the Hornets allowing seven runs (six earned), six hits and a walk with two strikeouts over an inning of work. Freshman Wade Hanna tallied a team-high three hits for ESU.