Box Score RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. --- Third-seeded Minnesota State eliminated top-seed Arkansas Tech with a 5-2 win Saturday night at Tech Field as the Mavericks scored all five runs in the fifth and sixth innings to advance to the NCAA Central Region championship game for the third straight season.
 
The victory elevates the Purple and Gold to 44-9 as it will play Emporia State tomorrow at 1 p.m., with a berth in the NCAA Division II College World Series in Cary, N.C., on the line. MSU needs just one win in two games to claim its fourth region title in the past five seasons. ATU's season comes to an end with an overall record of 44-12.
 
Arkansas Tech strung together four consecutive one-out base hits in the top of the first inning capped by a RBI single to centerfield by senior Zac Johnson giving the Wonder Boys a one-run lead after a half inning of play.
 
From there junior righthander Mathias Butala and Tech freshman righthander Trent Armstrong fired four straight scoreless innings each until the Mavericks capitalized on two Wonder Boy errors in the bottom of the fifth. Junior Connor McCallum reached on a throwing error and senior Parker Sullivan laid down a bunt single, before both advanced on a sacrifice bunt. Then, senior Todd Standish scored McCallum with a fielder's choice to the shortstop, junior Max Waletich plated Standish on a RBI single to centerfield extending MSU a 2-1 lead.
 
Minnesota State padded the advantage with three additional tallies in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Mike Andries began the scoring when he belted his third home run of the year, a two-run shot, over the fence in right field. Sullivan drew a two-out walk and stole second base before scoring when a groundball went under the glove of the Wonder Boy shortstop giving the Mavericks a four-run cushion.
 
The Wonder Boys cut the deficit to 5-2 with a run in the top of the eighth on a RBI double to centerfield by junior Kris Ayers. Junior lefthander Matt Geislinger relieved Butala in the top of the ninth and proceeded to strike out one in a perfect inning securing the win and his fifth save of the season.
 
Butala (5-2) scattered eight hits with three strikeouts and two earned runs over eight innings of work, while Armstrong (7-1) surrendered seven hits and five runs (two earned) with a trio of strikeouts across 5.2 frames on the hill.
 
Andries finished one-for-three with a home run and game-high two RBI, while Sullivan went two-for-two with a run and a stolen base. Waletich added a two-of-four performance with a RBI.