Box Score      MANKATO, Minn.--- The Minnesota State baseball program kicked off its home schedule with an offensive bang Monday, defeating the Bethany Lutheran Vikings 23-8.  The Mavericks collected 18 hits in total from 10 different players in the contest.

With the win, the Mavericks increased their record to 9-5 on the 2016 season.

The Vikings didn't make anything easy on the Mavericks as they got on the board first in the top of the first inning with two runs taking their only lead of the game.  With a two-out single from sophomore Nick Caldeen, Drew Quame grabbed the game's first two runs batted in with a blast over the left-field wall.  Minnesota State responded in the bottom half of the inning with three runs and didn't give up the lead from that point on.  Doubles from sophomore Luke Waldek and junior Eric Peterson and a lead-off single from senior Kyle Toth, along with sophomore Josh Wenzel taking a hit-by-pitch led to all three MSU runs in the bottom of the first.

The Mavericks generated 15 unanswered runs over the next three innings of play, including eight in the fourth, going up 18-2 after four innings.  Over that stretch the Mavericks combined for 12 hits, including doubles from senior Taylor Branstad, Waldek, junior Hunter Harnisch, Wenzel, Peterson, and sophomore Dylan Dresel, while Waldek also notched a triple in that span.  Wenzel, Waldek, Peterson, Branstad, and freshman Jordan Hart all crossed home plate twice during this time, as well, while senior Chase Lonetti swindled his way to the plate by stealing home on a throw down to second base from the Viking catcher. Dresel picked up three RBI in the offensive spark while Lonetti, Wenzel, and Peterson tallied two apiece in the three innings.

The Vikings made up some ground in the top of the fifth inning with five runs with Quame claiming his second homer on the day and batting in another three runs.  Minnesota State countered with four more runs of their own on two hits in the bottom of the inning.

Each squad pushed one more run across the plate with the Mavericks adding to their lead in the bottom of the sixth and the Vikings tallying one in the top of the seventh and final inning (due to run rule).

The Mavericks used a total of nine pitchers with junior Josh Matheson collecting his second win of the season by throwing two complete innings and giving up two earned runs on three Vikings' hits.  The right-hander also fanned three batters in his second start on the season. 

Offensively, the Mavericks were led by Waldek who went four-for-five on the day with two doubles, a triple, and a homerun, batting in four runs and scoring three himself.  Peterson also had a good day at the plate, going three-for-four with two doubles and four runs with two RBI while extending his hitting streak to 11 games.. Wenzel and Toth each went two-for-four with a double and two RBI, while Wenzel scored two times and Toth scored three times.

The Mavericks continue with action on this weekend as they begin conference play against Minnesota-Duluth at home for a pair of double headers.  First pitch for Friday's double dip is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. at the MSU Baseball Complex while Saturday's first matchup is slated for a 12:00 p.m. start.