Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MANKATO, Minn.--- The Minnesota State baseball team controlled their first game against Augie by sporting a 6-2, but fell in the top of the ninth inning of game two losing 10-4

Minnesota State wore a 4-0 lead all the way until the top of the fifth inning in game one where AU tallied one run in each of the fifth and sixth stanza.  The Mavericks capped off their win with two more in the bottom of the sixth en route to the 6-2 victory.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early lead, plating one run in the bottom of the first.  Junior Eric Peterson got on with a one-out single and made his way around the bases, eventually scoring MSU's first run on a wild pitch.

Minnesota State's offense produced three runs in the bottom half of the fourth to go up 4-0. A two-out single from senior Kyle Toth, who eventually made it to third base on the play, up the middle plated junior Hunter Harnisch and sophomore Josh Wenzel. Peterson came up later to knock in Toth from third for the Maverick's third run of the inning.

The Vikings got their first of two runs in the game in fifth inning.  The first three batters loaded the bases before Maverick starter Aaron Rozek exited the game.  With sophomore Brody Rodning in relief, the Vikings were able to produce just one run. Augie picked up their second and last run of the game off of a solo-home run in the top of the sixth inning.

Minnesota State cemented their win with two more in the bottom of the sixth, to claim the game-one victory.

Rozek (3-1) threw four innings in picking up his third win of the season. The left-hander gave up one earned run on seven hits with two strike outs while Rodning picked up the first save of his career, throwing three innings with one earned run on two hits and three strike outs.

Offensively, the Mavericks were led by Peterson who went 3-3 with two runs and one batted in.  Branstad and Harnisch also collected two hits in the game.

With game one in check, the Mavericks were unable to close the sweep in giving up seven runs in the top of the ninth inning.

Augie jumped out to an early two-run lead in the first inning and held the lead until the bottom of the third when MSU tallied two of their own.  A one-out single from Harnisch to left and a double from senior Chase Lonetti led to Peterson bringing both of them in with a single in the bottom of the third inning, knotting the game at two. 

The Mavericks garnered their first lead when they pushed one more across the plate in the bottom of the fifth. Branstad claimed a two-out bases-loaded walk to bring in freshman Jordan Hart for a 3-2 ball game.

Augustana scored once more to tie it in the top of the seventh before MSU regained their lead with a run in the bottom of the frame.  

The Vikings jumped on Minnesota States relief corpse at they regained the lead in the top of the ninth and then some.  Augie complied five hits, two Maverick errors, and two batters that were hit by pitches to pump out seven runs in the top half cementing their capture of game two.

Starter Jon Ludwig (0-2) did not claim a decision in his third start of the year, throwing seven innings.  Ludwig gave up three earned runs on nine hits while striking out three before he was relieved.  Senior Peter Gaustad (0-1) took his first loss of the year in giving up his first runs of the season.

The Mavericks were out hit 14-7 in the contest with seven different players accounting for the hits.  Peterson picked up two more runs batted in through out the game, totalling three on the day.

The Mavericks turn their attention to Upper Iowa University next Wednesday, April 20, as the begin their 12-game road stand. Game times against the UIU Peacocks are slated for 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. starts in Fayette, Iowa.