Mankato, Minn. --- Minnesota State baseball swept Winona State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at MSU Baseball Complex – winning the first game 12-1 and the second game 11-9.
The Mavericks (15-4, 10-0 NSIC) extended their overall winning streak to 11 games and their conference winning streak to 10.
Minnesota State played as the away team after the doubleheader with Winona State (4-16, 4-6 NSIC), which was originally scheduled to be played in Winona, Minn., on Wednesday, was rescheduled for Thursday in Mankato, due to inclement weather.
GAME 1 – Minnesota State 12, Winona State 1
The Minnesota State offense erupted for 12 runs and the Mavericks cruised to a 12-1 victory in game one.
The Mavericks struck first when junior first baseman Dylan Dresel, who led off the top of the second inning with a triple to center field, scored on a sacrifice fly to left field off the bat of junior shortstop Luke Waldek.
The Mavericks' bats came alive to score five runs in the top of the third inning – highlighted by a two-run homer to left center by junior center fielder Josh Wenzel. Waldek and second baseman Tommy McDonald added an RBI single and two-RBI single, respectively.
In the fourth inning, Minnesota Stated added on three more runs to make its lead 9-0. Hunter Walsh connected for a solo home run to center field. Wenzel scored on a Winona State defensive miscue and Dresel tallied an RBI single.
The Maverick offense scored three more runs in the fifth inning on a RBI single off the bat of sophomore left fielder Tyler Berg and a two-run single by Wenzel.
Junior right-hander Dalton Roach (4-0) and the Maverick bullpen did the rest. Roach tossed five innings and held the Warriors to one run on three hits, while striking out five in the 12-1 victory.
Senior right-hander Lucas Crimmins (0-3) started for the Warriors and was on the short end of the decision – allowing nine runs (eight earned) in four innings.
GAME 2 – Minnesota State 11, Winona State 9
The Mavericks jumped out to a 10-3 lead and held off a Warrior rally to hold on for an 11-9 victory in game two.
Minnesota State scored the first six runs of the game to go up 6-0. In the first inning, junior first baseman Dylan Dresel knocked in senior third baseman Eric Peterson with a single to right field. The run was the 181st of Peterson's Maverick career – moving him into sole possession of second place on the Mavericks' all-time runs scored list. In the top of the second, Minnesota State added on four more runs – punctuated by a double to left center by junior center fielder Josh Wenzel, which drove in two runs.
After the Warriors scored two runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 6-2, the Mavericks scored four more times in the top of the fourth to go up 10-2. The Mavericks scored their runs on RBI singles by Dresel, junior shortstop Luke Waldek and senior designated hitter Hunter Walsh, and a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior backstop Hunter Harnisch.
However, Winona State flipped the switch on offense – scoring one in the fourth, three in the sixth, two in the seventh and one in the eighth, which cut the Maverick lead to 10-9.
The Mavericks tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth on an RBI single off the bat of Peterson.
Junior right-hander Ricky Digrugilliers (2-0), who came out of the Maverick bullpen to work a scoreless-final 1-2/3 innings, earned the win.
Senior right-hander Mitchell Bauer, who started for the Mavericks and allowed three runs on five hits in four innings while striking out three, did not factor into the decision.
Sophomore right-hander Brett Herber (0-4) picked up the loss for the Warriors after allowing 10 runs – all earned – on 16 hits in 3-1/3 innings.
Minnesota State returns to action against Southwest Minnesota State for a four-game home-and-home series on Saturday and Sunday.
Watch head coach Matt Magers' postgame interview below.
-30-
