ST. CLOUD, Minn. --- Freshman Dalton Roach pitched a complete game three-hitter as Minnesota State defeated Missouri Southern State University, 3-1, in its opening game of the NCAA Central Region Baseball Tournament in St. Cloud, Minn., on Friday.

Roach and MSSU starting pitcher Payton Walker did not allow a single run through the first five innings of play, but the Lions broke through in the sixth. Chris Hoffman hit a double and Jesse Rall followed that up with single to put MSSU up, 1-0.

The Mavericks countered back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 3-1 lead. Redshirt freshman Josh Wenzel led off the inning with a walk and senior Kevin Kramer hit a sacrifice bunt to advance him to second. Junior Kyle Toth then hit a slow grounder to the shortstop and beat it out for an infield single.

Sophomore Eric Peterson hit a single to left and Wenzel just beat the throw to home to tie up the score. Peterson and Toth both advance a base on the throw to home. Senior Max Waletich hit a fly ball to left field which was caught but Toth beat the throw to the plate to put MSU up 2-1. The final run of the inning scored off an RBI single by senior Nolan Johnson .

Roach allowed just one hit the rest of the way as he picked up his six win of the season. His pitched all nine innings and allowed just three hits, one earned run and struck out ten batters while walking three.

Senior Connor McCallum increased his hitting streak to 14 games and joined Peterson as the only two batters with more than one hit in the game. Johnson, Waletich and Peterson each had an RBI in the win.

Minnesota State, who now stands 42-7 on the season, will play the winner of Emporia State and Southern Arkansas tonight at 7:30 p.m. That game will be played at Joe Faber Field.