Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. --- Third-seeded Minnesota State produced five runs in the third inning to carry the Mavericks past second-seeded Southern Arkansas, 6-3, as MSU became the lone undefeated team at the NCAA Central Region tournament Friday night at Tech Field on the campus of Arkansas Tech.
 
The win elevates the Purple and Gold to 43-9 overall, and the Mavericks will play the winner of Arkansas Tech and Southern Arkansas tomorrow night at 7 p.m. The Muleriders drop to 39-18 on the season.
 
Minnesota State pounced on the Muleriders with a run in the top of the first inning. Freshman Eric Peterson singled and stole second, before senior Todd Standish reached on a SAU error placing two Mavericks in scoring position. Two batters later, junior Nolan Johnson tagged a sacrifice fly to deep right field giving MSU a one-run edge. Southern Arkansas knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second on a RBI double to centerfield by senior Zack Costa.
 
The Mavericks retaliated with five runs off five hits in the third inning. Three consecutive hits scored the first four tallies as Johnson spanked a RBI single to right field, senior Stetson Olson belted a two-run double down the line in left field, and sophomore Taylor Branstad followed with a RBI double of his own to left field. Junior Connor McCallum completed the assault with a single to right-center that plated a pair of Mavericks giving MSU a five-run cushion. A leadoff single and a one-out base hit into right field by junior Jon Phillips scratched across a run for SAU in its half of the third inning cutting the Purple and Gold lead to 6-2.
 
MSU senior righthander Bryce Bellin and SAU junior southpaw Timothy Buchanan settled in from there tossing five consecutive zeroes a piece on to the scoreboard until the Muleriders went to the bullpen in the top of the ninth inducing a double play to get out of a jam. Bellin began his half of the ninth as well until a pair of baserunners brought junior lefthander Matt Geislinger on for the save opportunity. The southpaw surrendered a base hit and a bases-loaded walk, trimming the lead to 6-3, before bearing down with two straight strikeouts to earn his fourth save of the season and secure the Maverick victory.
 
Bellin (6-1) twirled eight innings with nine strikeouts, nine hits and three earned runs; while Buchanan (7-4) fired eight and one-third innings with 10 hits, nine strikeouts and six earned runs.
 
McCallum registered a game-high three hits in four at-bats with two RBI as Johnson added a pair of RBI in a one-for-four performance. Waletich went two-of-four with a run in contest.