MANKATO, Minn. ---  The second-rated Minnesota State baseball team used strong pitching and defense along with some timely hitting to take two games against the University of Mary on Friday afternoon at the MSU Baseball Complex by scores of 5-4 and 2-1, respectively.

In game one, the Mavericks found the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning. Junior Taylor Branstad led the inning off with a double and two batters later senior Connor McCallum doubled to left center to put MSU up 1-0. Later in the inning senior Kevin Kramer hit an RBI single to right to increase the lead.

The two team's traded runs in the third inning and the Purple and Gold increased its lead in the bottom of the fourth to 4-1 off a sacrifice fly from sophomore Eric Peterson . The Marauders countered back in the next half inning with three runs of their own to tie up the game.

Neither team would score again until the Mavericks struck in the bottom of the ninth. Peterson led off the inning with a walk and stole second to get into scoring position. Redshirt freshman Josh Wenzel advanced Peterson to third on a ground out to bring up senior Max Waletich . Waletich proved to be the hero and hit a single to right field for the walk-off 5-4 win.

Senior Joey Reed started the game and allowed five hits and four earned runs in five innings of work. Freshman southpaw Brody Rodning relieved Reed and allowed just two hits while striking out five to move to 3-0 on the year.

Game two featured a great pitching duel between Minnesota State starter Aaron Rozek and U-Mary's Nicholas Stobbe. Stobbe held the Mavericks to just seven hits and allowed just two earned runs over six innings. Rozek only allowed five hits and one earned run while striking out for Marauders to pick up the complete game win to move to 2-0.

The first three innings were scoreless and the Mavericks scored one run in the bottom of the fourth after Kramer, Waletich and Branstad strung together singles. In the bottom of the sixth, senior Nolan Johnson hit an RBI single up the middle to score Peterson who led off the inning with a single to give MSU an insurance run.

Rozek ran into some trouble in the final inning of play after U-Mary's first two batters reached base. The next batter squared to bunt and popped one up to Waletich who made a great diving catch for the first out of the inning. The next batter singled to cut the lead in half but a failed squeeze bunt allowed Rozek to throw out the runner at home for the second out. Rozek then induced a ground ball by the next batter to end the game.

Johnson recorded one hit in both games to increase his hitting streak to 12 games this season. Redshirt freshman Josh Crosby , Branstad and Waletich each have eight-game hitting streaks after recording at least one hit in each game today as well.

Minnesota State, which now stands 11-1 overall and are 2-0 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play will continue action tomorrow with two more games against the University of Mary who drops to 2-14 and 0-2 in league play. Game one of the doubleheader is slated for 1:30 p.m .at the MSU Baseball Complex in Mankato.