On Tap: No. 20 Minnesota State heads to Florida for seven games in seven days starting on Thursday.

Last Time on the Diamond: The 20th-ranked Mavericks (1-0, 0-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) started the 2016-17 season with an 8-2 win over Minnesota Crookston in a nonconference game on Saturday night at U.S. Bank Stadium, in Minneapolis, Minn.

Winning with the Long Ball: The Mavericks launched two home runs in their 8-2 opening-night win on Saturday. Junior outfielder Josh Wenzel, who hit five home runs in 2016, connected for his first homer of 2017 — the seventh of his Maverick career —  in the first inning. Senior catcher Hunter Harnisch garnered his first home run of the season — a solo shot — in the fourth inning. The Mavericks are now 1-0 when hitting a home run in 2017.        

Pitching by Committee: In their 8-2 win over Minnesota Crookston on Saturday, seven pitchers tossed at least one inning for the Mavericks. Five hurlers tossed one inning each: senior Mitchell Bauer, sophomore Jon Ludwig, senior Trevor Patterson, junior Dalton Roach and junior Aaron Rozek. Junior Brody Rodning (1-0), who started and struck out 4-of-7 betters faced while not allowing a hit, earned his first win of the season. Junior NIck Belzer also threw two innings in relief.

NSIC Player of The Week: Junior outfielder Josh Wenzel, who went 3-for-4 at the plate with a home run, a walk, two runs scored and a game-high four RBI in Minnesota State's 8-2 win over Minnesota Crookston, was named the NSIC Player of the Week for the first time in his Maverick career.

NSIC Pitcher of the Week: Junior southpaw Brody Rodning (1-0) was named the NSIC Pitcher of the Week after striking out 4-of-7 batters faced, while allowing one baserunner to reach base in the Mavericks' 8-2 win over Minnesota Crookston. Rodning, who started and pitched two innings, picked up his first win of 2017.

Going for Two: Minnesota State had two doubles in its 8-2 win over Minnesota Crookston on Saturday night at U.S. Bank Stadium. Junior catcher Noah Bluth and junior catcher Ryan Moffett each had one two-bagger for the Mavericks.

Steal Tycoons: Sophomore outfielder Jordan Hart and senior infielder Eric Peterson each recorded their first stolen base of 2017. Hart's steal is the third of his career. Peterson, who has 38 stolen bases in his Maverick career, has eclipsed double digits in stolen bases in 2014 (19) and 2016 (13). 

Minnesota State in the Polls: The Mavericks Moved up one spot to No. 20 in the latest National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Division II poll. The Mavericks are also ranked third in the central region.

Scouting UVa-Wise: Viriginia-Wise (5-8, 0-0 Mountain East Conference), which is 2-3 in its last five games, will face Kentucky Wesleyan on March 1 before facing the Mavericks.

The Cavaliers' offense is batting .242. At the plate, junior Stuart Paz is batting .375 with seven runs batted in, six runs scored and one home run for the Cavaliers.

The Cavalier pitching staff has a 9.00 ERA in 2017. Sophomore Alex Dobry has a 0.00 ERA with seven strikeouts in 6-1/3 innings.

The Mavericks and Cavaliers are meeting on the diamond for the first time.

Scouting Florida Southern: Florida Southern (8-6, 0-3 Sunshine State Conference) enters the game with the Mavericks on a four-game losing streak, including a 9-4 loss to Flagler on Feb. 28.

The Florida Southern offense, which is batting .309, is led by junior infielder Cody Burgess, who leads the team in hits (24), runs scored (21), total bases (41), slugging percentage (.707), stolen bases (5) and on base percentage (.507). Burgess is second on the team with five home runs.

Junior pitcher Jake Walsh leads the Mocs in ERA (1.46), opposing batting average (.211), innings pitched (24.2) and strikeouts (23).

Minnesota State is 1-2 all-time against Florida Southern.

Scouting Ashland: The Eagles (2-2, 0-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) will face Kentucky Wesleyan on Friday before their two-game series with the Mavericks on Friday and Saturday.

Junior second baseman J.P. Sorma and senior shortstop Brad Hartman are batting .400 and .462, respectively. They are tied for the team lead in hits (6) and they are also tied with two other teammate for the team-lead in runs batted in (3).

Eleven pitchers have recorded an out for the Eagles' pitching staff, which has a 5.33 staff ERA.

The Mavericks are 8-3-0 all-time against Ashland.

Scouting Lewis: The Flyers (0-4, 0-0 Great Lakes Valley Conference), who have been outscored 34-13 this season, face Notre Dame (Ohio) on Sunday before facing the Mavericks on Monday.

Graduate student utility player Kenny King, who is batting .385, leads the Flyers in hits (5), runs batted in (5) and total bases (9). King is tied for the team lead in doubles (1) and home runs (1).

Lewis' pitching staff has an 11.77 ERA.  Junior southpaw Charlie Wright has a 0.00 ERA in two innings pitched in 2017.

The Mavericks are 3-8 all-time against the Flyers. 

Scouting Grand Valley State: No. 9 Grand Valley State (4-0, 0-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference)has swept doubleheaders with Trevecca Nazarene and Alderson Broadus to start the season.

The Lakers, who are batting .308 as a team, are led in hits by junior outfielder Seth Johnson and junior catcher Connor Glick — both with six hits.

Junior pitcher Noah Lamboley has yet to surrender an earned run in 4-1/3 innings in 2017. He has struck out five while holding the opposition to three hits and one walk. He has also recorded one save.

Minnesota State is 5-3 all-time against Grand Valley State.

Scouting Walsh: Walsh (2-0, 0-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) will play four more games before facing the Mavericks on Wednesday.

Walsh swept a doubleheader with California (Pa.) by scores of 2-0 and 5-2 to start the season on Friday.

Graduate student catcher Austin Szink leads the Cavaliers in hits (6), runs batted in (3), runs scored (3), slugging percentage (1.667) and batting average (1.000). Walsh is batting .238 as a team in 2017.

Senior Matt Iosue (1-0) and freshman MJ Nara (1-0) are tied for the team lead in wins (1), innings pitched (5) and ERA (0.00). Iosue leads the pitching staff with four strikeouts. The Cavaliers have a staff ERA of 0.64 in 2017.

Minnesota State is 1-0 all-time against Walsh.  

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