MANKATO, Minn. --- Two of the top teams went at it at the MSU Baseball Complex on Tuesday afternoon in Mankato and second-rated Minnesota State won 6-5, but not before dropping game one to third-rated St. Cloud State by a final score of 5-0.

In the first game the Huskies jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run by catcher Michael Jurgella. In the next inning, Eric Loxtercamp hit a solo shot to push the lead to 3-0. Gregory Reese pitched a complete game shutout and scattered seven hits to pick up the win for SCSU.

Senior Nolan Johnson was the only Maverick to have two hits in the contest going 2-3 with a double. Senior Joey Reed started for the Mavericks and allowed three earned runs, seven hits and struck out four in six innings despite receiving the loss.

The Mavericks offense came to life in game number two. The Huskies scored two runs in the first inning off of two solo four baggers by Brandon Arnold and Zach Hoffman. MSU struck back with two runs of its own in the bottom half of the inning. Johnson hit a double down the right field line to score sophomore Eric Peterson. Junior Taylor Branstad picked up an RBI later in the inning scoring senior Max Waletich.

The Huskies rattled off three more runs in the second to take a 5-2 lead. Senior Connor McCallum led off the bottom of the second with a single and junior Kyle Toth got base after being hit by a pitch. Peterson than came up and hit a double to left center to cut into SCSU's lead.

In the fourth inning, Toth singled and advanced to second when Peterson grounded out to the pitcher. Senior Kevin Kramer than hit a single to left field to even the score at five.

Peterson scored the go ahead run in the sixth after hitting his first home run of the season. Freshman Brody Rodning came in to relieve starting pitcher redshirt freshman Aaron Rozek and pitched seven innings and allowed just two hits and zero runs while striking out four to pick up his fourth win of the year.

Peterson went 2-4 with three RBI, two runs and the go ahead home run. Kramer, Johnson and Branstad had the other three runs batted in the final game.

The Mavericks record moves to 14-2 overall and 5-1 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action. The Huskies now stand 24-2 and 8-2 in the NSIC.

MSU will continue action tomorrow afternoon against Gustavus Adolphus College. The Mavericks and Gusties will play one nine-inning game starting at noon at the MSU Baseball Complex.