MANKATO, Minn. --- Fourth-rated Minnesota State took a one run lead after the seventh inning and junior Dakota Belter was able to slow down the Warriors offense to help the Mavericks to a 5-4 win on Wednesday in their first game of the NSIC/US Bank Tournament.

The Warriors jumped out a two run lead after the top of the first. Tyler Nehring hit a RBI triple and Jesus Cazares followed that up with a single to score Nehring. Nehring increased WSU's lead with a solo home run in the third. Their final run came with the bases loaded in the fifth inning after Travis Evanson grounded into a double play.

MSU chipped away at the Warriors lead in the bottom of the fifth inning after senior Kevin Kramer hit a single to right field to plate redshirt freshman Luke Waldek. Senior Connor McCallum later hit a sacrifice fly scoring redshirt freshman Josh Wenzel to make the score 4-2. Senior Max Waletich grounded out to the shortstop, but Kramer was able to score to cut further into WSU's lead.

Senior Nolan Johnson tied up the score after hitting a sacrifice fly in the seventh inning. With two outs and a full count, junior Taylor Branstad hit single right back through the middle to plate McCallum to put the Purple and Gold ahead 5-4.

The Warriors tried to mount a comeback in the top of the ninth. Belter struck out the leadoff batter but then hit the next batter. Back-to-back singles loaded the bases, but the next batter grounded into a double play to end the game.

The Mavericks starter, freshman Dalton Roach, pitched six innings and gave up six hits, four runs with three being earned, two walks and struck out eight. Freshman Christian Howell pitched one scoreless inning and allowed one hit and a walk. He ended up with the win, his sixth of the year. Belter pitched the final two innings and allowed just two hits for his 11th save of the year.  

Wenzel finished the game 3-4 with one run scored while junior Kyle Toth, Waletich and redshirt freshman Dylan Dresel finished the game with two hits each.

The Mavericks, who now stand 41-5 overall, will take on the third-seeded Augustana tomorrow afternoon at Ronken Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. The first pitch is slated for 2 p.m.