Mankato, Minn. --- In its first home games of 2017, Minnesota State baseball swept a doubleheader against Minnesota Duluth on Sunday at MSU Baseball Complex. The Mavericks won game one 3-1 and game two 10-3.
 
With the doubleheader, the Mavericks (13-4, 8-0 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference) completed a four-game series sweep of the Bulldogs (8-12, 3-5 NSIC) to remain undefeated in conference play and extend their winning streak to nine games. 
 
Senior third baseman Eric Peterson scored three runs on the day to move into a tie with Kosuke Hattori (2007-10) for the second most runs scored in program history with 180. Peterson is two shy of the program record of 182, which is held by Eric Lonquist (1999-02).
 
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 3, Minnesota Duluth 1
 
The Mavericks defeated Minnesota Duluth 3-1 in game one on the strength of a seven-inning complete game from junior right-hander NIck Belzer.
 
Belzer (2-0) held the Bulldogs to one earned run on seven hits scattered over seven innings. He struck out a career-high 11 batters and walked one.
 
Junior shortstop Luke Waldek and junior first baseman Dylan Dresel provided Belzer with all of the offense he needed.
 
Waldek's first home run of the season – a solo shot – got the Mavericks on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second, which gave the Mavericks a 1-0 lead.  
 
After Minnesota Duluth tied the game at 1-1 in the top of the fourth, Dresel answered for the Mavericks with a two-run single in the bottom of the fifth. Dresel's two-RBI hit proved to be the difference in the game as the Mavericks held on for the 3-1 win. 
 
Junior Nick Dorfman (0-3), who started on the mound for Minnesota Duluth, surrendered three runs – all earned – on five hits. He struck out three and walked none, but was on the short end of the decision. 
 
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 10, Minnesota Duluth 3
 
The Mavericks overcame an early 3-0 deficit as they took advantage of Bulldogs defensive miscues in a 10-3 comeback victory.
 
In the second game of the day, the Bulldogs got on the board first with a solo home run from freshman Drew Stewart in the top of the second inning. In the top of the third inning, Minnesota Duluth tacked on two more runs with a two-run homer to left-center field from Marco Lucarelli to increase its lead to 3-0. 
 
The Mavericks responded in the bottom of the third inning. After a dropped fly ball in right field, sophomore Jordan Hart and junior first baseman Dylan Dresel each drove in a run to make the score 3-2 in favor of Minnesota Duluth.   
 
The Mavericks put together a five-run fourth inning to take a 7-3 lead that they would not relinquish. Minnesota State tallied five hits in the frame and capitalized on three Bulldog errors to score the five runs – all unearned. The scoring was highlighted by a two-out two RBI double from junior center fielder Josh Wenzel.  
 
Minnesota State tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the seventh on RBI singles from sophomore left fielder Tyler Berg and freshman second baseman Tommy McDonald, and a Bulldog wild pitch to make the score 10-3.
 
Making his first appearance as a Maverick, junior right-hander Ricky Digrugilliers (1-0) pitched five shut-out innings in relief of senior right-hander Mitchell Bauer, who started for Minnesota State and did not factor into the decision, to earn the win.
 
The Bulldog's starting pitcher Kevin Stocke (1-3) surrendered seven runs – none earned – on six hits in four innings and was on the short end of the decision.

The Mavericks return to the diamond when they face Winona State in a NSIC doubleheader on Wednesday in Winona, Minn.

Watch Eric Peterson's postgame interview below.